TIME How we screwed up our relationship with the universe and how to get it back, Part 10 By Dr Eric Zabiegalski and Per Brogaard Berggreen

In January of 2023, my writing partner Per Brogaard Berggreen of Denmark and I began this series of whimsical, yet serious, articles about humanity and its precarious standing with a powerful and (seemingly) benevolent universe.? The title picture above depicts the closing scene from an iconic movie from the 1970’s that forever etched itself on my psyche. It’s a recurring theme which has persisted throughout my lifetime, and humanity.? One to which we ultimately watch ourselves helplessly contribute to the dismantling and demise of our own established and sacred structures. Why we keep dreaming of cataclysm and calamity is a great question and possibly one of humanities biggest poker tells.? How’s it going so far?? For Per and me the articles we’re writing are actually going great, we have had so much to say and so much rich material to share on this subject that we actually don’t know when we’ll finish. We had to take a break recently to write on topics more “business” related in nature but now we’re back.? And regarding that, I would argue it’s all business related because it’s all life related, it’s simply a matter of whether we’re mentally breaking up the little rocks or the big ones.? How it’s going with the universe, however, is another matter. In this area I dare say things might not be going as well for us humans and I fear we might end up like our poor astronaut character George Taylor, or worse.? Let’s face it, the universe could squash us like a bug at any moment, turning us back into so much stardust and space-junk. Yet knowing this doesn’t seem to make us any more appreciative, reverent, or respectful towards an omnipotent universe, our planet, the variety of life inhabiting it, or one other. Nor does it seem to make us change our ways. As if we just don’t care, it almost feels as if we’re completely clueless to all of it (the whole of life) happening around us, paralyzed to act, or are unabashedly arrogant, I actually think it might be all of these things. Maybe that’s why we keep vision-boarding disaster, the purpose of life and its reshuffle. What can we do to pull our heads out of our proverbial nether regions, wake up, and change our behavior? Plenty, but it’s going to take a shift in consciousness, our way of thinking, and it needs to happen sooner vs later. Perhaps some good news is that there’s an undercurrent of thought, research, and writing around this subject that’s happening right now (including this conversation) which is gaining momentum globally, with many believing a shift in awareness, an awakening of sorts, will happen in our lifetime. Per said something recently which caused me to stop (dead) in my tracks and reflect: “life is about doing it, not getting it done.” ?The idea that life is nothing more than a checklist with boxes to hurriedly tick off and complete is one problematic pathological behavioral pattern that, changed, could lead to the awakening we long for.

Join us once more as we explore why we frequently feel so disconnected, isolated, alienated, and frustrated from everyone and about everything in life and the universe, and what can be done to change it.?

Power vs Force, a difference of (universal) opinion

It’s been said there is a big difference in the way in which the universe and humanity express power, and this could hide a clue as to why we keep inching toward extinction.? According to spiritualists, humanity expresses (practices) a “coercive,” “forceful” type of power while the universe practices a permissive power. Knowing this begs a sobering question; why do we humans feel the need to push so unnaturally hard for everything we want and feel? Is it insecurity?

?Several years ago a colleague introduced me to David Hawkins, MD and PHD, and his chart (above).? It can best be described as a consciousness maturity model calibrated to attributes.? Hawkins attends that many people calibrate around 250, or lower, with fewer and fewer the higher you go up the scale.? Hawkins’s chart is a way to see where people are in terms of how they think about things, with self-interest being the lowest and enlightenment and spiritual pursuits being the higher levels.? This maturity model forces one to admit where they are on the scale and where they need to go to improve.? Below 200 represents life draining energy, and above, life supporting energy.? Along the left column, power and force represent that people on lower levels are more apt to use force to get their way, i.e. bully and push people around to get results.? Power on the other hand is about inspiring, enlightening, and connecting so people go along willingly, they are not coerced. This scale also speaks to emotional intelligence.? Hawkins says society in general hovers around 250 plus or minus 100 points.? At 175 and below there is no courage to stand up and do the right thing and too much pride to admit they have done something wrong. There is also anger, insecurity, and fear of those who are different.? People at lower levels also tend to default to basic human desires and blame others for problems, never accepting responsibility.? To consider the people who achieve the higher rankings think of people like Jesus, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Confucius, or the Pope.? Those who meditate regularly have higher rankings as they have calmed their minds and connect with a larger world.? As we evolve, we will naturally increase the numbers of people who occupy the upper levels and start to see more harmony with all things.? Today we currently don’t do much to raise our levels of consciousness but there are some that dedicate their lives to it, and they see the world vastly different than most.? Jesus saw the world very differently than just about everyone else 2000 years ago. I wonder how we might see the world in another 2000 years.

Chronotypes

Since this series of articles is also about time, can we create better time architectures within the universe and better synch our biological (and mental) clocks around it, or at the very least not interfere with those who are synched up and mess up a finely tuned universe? Camilla King PhD thinks we can, she studies the biology of time.? Camilla says different people have different chronotypes, some early rising and some late. What if we could somehow synch our unique chronotype, our flow and perception to coincide better with that of the universe and activities we participate in? Instead of shoehorning everyone into a “one size fits all” model contrived from unrealistic mechanized plans of someone else’s design? The point here is to understand yours and others patterns, check your expectations, and play to everyone’s strengths, help the universe out!?

Satisfaction (get some)

In a conversation at a weekly event hosted on LinkedIn called the friendship bench started by my publisher friend Dennis Pitocco , guest speaker of the week Paul Haury asked an interesting question: “what does it mean to be enough?”? I didn’t contribute during the talk that day as there was a lot of engagement although strong feelings came up for me during the discussion. I’ve been plagued throughout much of my life with thoughts of not being “good enough,” even at work. Though I retired from the United States Air Force as a crewmember aboard Air Force Two and in support of Air Force One (jobs requiring a rigorous hiring process) still, that didn’t matter.? For me, the days that I felt good enough to be there deep down inside were my best days, other days I hid it well.?

I’m happy to say however that I no longer feel this way and it’s refreshing to not wear the garb of an imposter, experiencing imposter syndrome .? What’s my secret? What did I do to fix it and what changed? The answer I was looking for came to me one day while listening to motivational speaker Jack Canfield , author of the popular 1996 book Chicken Soup for the Soul .? Canfield was talking about the topic of “satisfaction”, something I had never given much thought to other than the great Rolling Stones song and the satisfying way frontman Mick Jagger belted out the sultry tune.? What I learned from Jack (and Mick) was to ask myself if I was satisfied with the particular outcome I happened to be involved in, and if I felt satisfaction toward the event. If the answer was yes, it was a sign to me that I had done all that I could, I had given 100% effort. Why was this? Jack said that in the word satisfaction the Latin prefix “satis” meant enough, so “satisfaction” literally translated means “enough action.”? Now, any time I hear alarm bells going off or have doubts that maybe I’ve let someone down, not delivered, done my part, helped, brought my “A” game (my best) or wasn’t “good enough”, I simply ask myself if I feel satisfaction, if I have provided “enough action.” The answer that comes back tells me what to do next; do more, explain myself, or relax, in which case I tell my brain “You’ve done your best, go sit down.” Thank you, Mr. Canfield, and thank you Mr. Jagger!? Come and join the friendship bench any Thursday on LinkedIn at 11:30 EST,?here’s the link .? I promise you won’t be disappointed and will be spending your energy on a satisfying experience.

Dr Zabiegalski and Per Brogaard Berggren are available to talk to your organization or venue about ambidexterity research or speak informatively and eloquently about organizational culture, leadership, strategy, learning, complexity, IT, business neuroscience, creativity, mindfulness, talent management, personal success, emotional intelligence, Action Learning, and storytelling. Contact Eric, or Per on LinkedIn about a talk, keynote presentation, or workshop today!