Like asking the eagle to lumber or bear to fly, you will never find your own graceful state of being by looking outward for direction. Grace appears when you step inward to your unique essence and walk your own path. (108) Humans Being is a book dedicated to all who long to find their voice, pursue their passion, and live more fulfilling, creative, and healthier lives. It offers a simple framework in the form of the Universal Soul Grid for reconnecting with unique purpose and voice and for recognizing unconscious choices that block creativity, insight, and lives of ease. The exercises are designed to provide practice fields for readers to engage at their own pace and to reinforce what it means to live in grace, listen to the heart, and lead a life of clarity and courage. The path to lives of ease and grace is available to all, and yet: Not all of us have been engaging all aspects of this path. But its influence and prompting in your life become clear when you look squarely at who you are becoming, the results of your choices, and the relative ease or difficulty of your life. The simple truth in your heart-in whatever form you recognize it-serves your own unique journey. As long as you remember that point, faith and courage more easily follow. The desire to open your eyes and see where you invest your energy to hold yourself back-for whatever reason-becomes a curiosity, rather than a failure. And the possibility of greatness and living your dreams emerges much more clearly. (p. 15)

Humans Being

Creating Your Life From the Inside OutBy LOU ANN DALY

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 LOU ANN DALY, PH.D.
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-6596-3

Contents

Imagine the Impact........................................................1The Journey...............................................................5In Service of Truth ... and Ease..........................................9I Never Met A Distraction I Didn't Like...................................15In-Dwelling...............................................................20My Experience.............................................................23Create the Space to Go Inward.............................................26Shine the Light on Unconscious Patterns and Behaviors.....................49Discern Inner Wisdom from Noise...........................................60Reflection Checklist......................................................70Conscious Living By Design................................................74Design Your Garden for Growth.............................................75Step into Your Grace......................................................93Speak from Your Heart.....................................................103Lead from Wisdom..........................................................112Reflection Checklist (Revisited)..........................................122Finding Your Self on the Universal Soul Grid..............................124Path to Mastery...........................................................137Glossary..................................................................146Table of Exercises........................................................148End Notes.................................................................149

Chapter One

Imagine the Impact

If one cell can mutate and multiply to the point of transforming a healthy body, imagine what one healthy person who touches and inspires others can do. Imagine a world filled with people who choose joy, health, and peace, people who foster abundance rather than scarcity. What if I told you this is not a pipe dream if you choose to make it real? Stop for a moment and think about how your impact on the health of the world could transform lives today if you choose to lead life from your heart. Imagine.

What would be possible in places of learning around the world?

With more conscious teachers, staff, and administrators, schools could become cultures of celebration where diversity is welcomed, embraced, and sought for the richness it brings to the learning experience. Students would learn from role models how to live from the wisdom of their hearts and greet differences with receptivity and curiosity. Differences would become growth opportunities rather than sources of fear and alienation.

When administrators see their work as creating environments where all school personnel celebrate contributions-in whatever form they take-there will be a place for everyone to bring whatever gifts she or he has. Our educational systems would change-one teacher, one administrator, one custodian at a time. By building on a foundation of leaders "being," becoming more whole as individuals, and creating cultures of celebration, teachers and other school leaders would create a whole new context for learning, and a brighter future for learners.

What could happen if social systems change?

Imagine what would be possible when the leaders and workers focus less on heroic rescuing and more on helping those they serve to live into their own gifts and potential. Imagine what could change when the leaders choose to reconnect with their hearts and disconnect from ego-driven roles where they unconsciously take accountability for other people's lives. By unconsciously doing what we have always done in large social systems such as health care and child and family services, we create cultures of entitlement, dependency, and hopelessness. These are not the qualities that result from conscious choice and courage.

What is possible when people see others in need and consciously choose to help is what happens whenever we experience a natural disaster. People step into the Highest in themselves and focus on raising others up, until those in need can help themselves. What if our social systems did the same? Imagine what could happen if social systems were designed to remind people that their voices make a difference and their gifts matter. No more focus on hand outs; instead hands would be outstretched contributing and sharing the abundance of gifts in all people.

What could happen if business leaders drive conscious choices in the workplace?

Imagine what it would be like for leaders at every level of an organization to consciously consider who they will be, what they will stand for, and what kinds of organizational cultures they will make their personal legacy.

Conversations would change to support courageous decision-making, rather than fear-based silence or withdrawal. Intentions would matter. The ways we treat each other in getting the work done would matter. We could learn to see the whole person instead of the role someone holds in the organization. Imagine what it could be like to work in a company that inspires its people to develop themselves and each other, rather than fear and compete with each other.

It would not be so difficult to imagine a workplace where the whole person comes to work and people communicate in ways that continuously support the best in themselves and in each other. Imagine working in such workplaces everyday-and imagine the levels of inspired innovation and business results!

How could being more conscious change parenting?

Imagine remembering-in every interaction-the dreams you hold for your child and for the kind of parent you want to be with him or her.

Conscious parents would return to the clarity of their heart to ask whether the way they are behaving or choosing to respond in a particular situation is consistent with the kind of parent they choose to be. Conscious parents would be acutely aware of their own gifts and passions, modeling for their children the journey of following their hearts.

Imagine how our children would be raised when parents feel celebrated, valued, and connected with what is Highest in them. Imagine.

If we were more conscious, what kind of world could we create?

What does it take to create a world where people live into their potential while supporting the best in each other? It takes conscious choice-that's it. By waking up to what our hearts know and choosing to follow the wisdom and truth of our very being, we create a place for individuals, communities, and whole nations to prosper.

World peace starts with inner peace and inner peace starts with going inward to discern what is true in your heart. The awareness that comes from living that truth creates a spirit of generosity, grace, and gratitude. It is about listening, not telling. It is about asking who people want to be and what they want to create. It is about raising each other up to fulfill dreams. It is not about who gets more. Awareness means knowing that there is enough for everyone.

More conscious people would experience inner peace and create environments where others learn that they can have the same, if they choose. Leaders would live into their potential. Abundance. Clarity. Courage. This is leadership from the inside out. It is about being. The conscious path for each person relies on...