Objective compassion

Listening to a podcast today I heard an author refer to the Dalai Lama speaking about objective compassion. This expression is one that really stood out to me today on many levels so I share it with you.

What is it?

Most people are acquainted with the concept of compassion. It is a common virtue and often cited in our pursuit of truth and support of others. Definitions commonly refer to the ability of a person to really understand and feel the pain and suffering of another being with the view of alleviating the situation. There is the assumption of action taken in the form of perhaps pity or mercy.

The objective part of the equation adds another dimension. Rather than having a compassionate view that draws us into fixing or rescuing a person from their own learning and experience, we stand apart and allow them their experience. In other words we detach somewhat so that the experience of the other is theirs and not tainted by our judgement and desire to change.

CoachingJenn Shallvey17 July 2008

Sensationalism versus the truth

My post comes from the fresh experience of doing some research on a new job.

Whenever I work with a business client I like to learn as much as I can about their business. I feel almost like a curious detective wanting to know the whole story in the shortest amount of time. (This is part me and part being an ex auditor :-))

What is available today to understand a business is unquantifiable given the power of the internet and Google. A simple question typed in produces a rich bounty of information far exceeding that usually contained on the company website.

In exploring the various resources available I came across some less than desireable stories. Yet based on my connection with the person representing this business I can not see the truth in these stories. Instead I see people taking advantage of a few individuals wanting to seek revenge and then sensationalise the situation with onesided opinions.

CommunicationJenn Shallvey16 July 2008

Patience for the patient

Today I spent a good part of my afternoon in the waiting room of a hospital clinic. My purpose was to take my son for his after care appointment following the broken collarbone experience a week ago. I write about this as a work related post for two reasons. The hospital is a workplace that we all take for granted. The people who are patients also work or rely on others who work for their livelihood.

So in this context who has priority.

In the post regarding my visit to emergency the priority system is a given – triage. Clearly we would like to ensure that the patient that is most critical is looked after immediately, especially if it is a matter of life or death.

But what happens when it is no longer about life or death and more about convenience, timing, understanding the system, managing yourself. This is what I observed today. I also experienced my own learning journey in the process leading up and being part of the visit.

ReflectionsJenn Shallvey15 July 2008

Really know the positive aspect of you

Many of us go around focusing or reflecting on the things we can’t do, mess up on, or fail in. For some we also acknowledge our strengths and gifts with appreciation.

The value of seeing the positive

For all of us though it is imperative to truly know ourselves and see the positive in us in order to have a positive view of ourself. High self esteem is directly related to our ability to see ourselves in such a way.

Getting insight

At a professional level we can complete feedback surveys and obtain objective information. I think this insight is invaluable for raising awareness and behavioural change.

Self awarenessJenn Shallvey12 July 2008

Getting started with me

Do you know what you what you want to do with your life? Do you care? If you do then this post will start you thinking about your direction. It is exactly that...YOUR life and YOUR direction.

Start with time

So where do you start? This is the most common question we all ask ourselves. It is also a great excuse for us to keep puting off decisions. Making decisions in our lives can be challenging. In our younger years we find people, consider time dispensable. We can waste it. As we get older everything takes on new meaning. Time in particular.

So a starting point may be to first decide how much time you want to spend on this process. In other words how important is it to make decisions that are right for YOU and YOUR life?

PurposeJenn Shallvey11 July 2008

A magpie pooped in my kitchen today

Today I thought I would share another wisdom story for some entertainment and insight.

I heard a thud and a sound like something had fallen in my kitchen. I went to check it out. I came up the stairs to the landing in the kitchen and found a pile of poop on the floor. Not just a small dropping but a big pile from a big bird. The culprit – my friend the magpie. I know because he sat on the railing just outside the open door facing me. He looked at me with a cheeky cock of his head as if to say “you can’t catch me but I can certainly sneak in and get your fruit when you aren’t looking”.

My kitchen table was covered in fruit – much more than normal. I had a bag of mandarins, a giant bowl of pears, one of bananas and two of apples – one green, the other red. A true feast and smorgasboard for any passing bird I am sure!

So I figured it out quickly. Not able to resist the temptation of this feast, the magpie actually risked coming into my house to see what he could get.

Wisdom storiesJenn Shallvey10 July 2008

Behind the curtain is another curtain

Many people I meet want to know where they are headed, what is going to happen next. These people seem to get fixated on the future at the expense of the present.

So I reflected further on this concept today.

A blocked view

Our life is like a series of curtains blocking our view. What we see in front of us, in our view now, is all that we can see. Yet when you finally move the curtain what happens? A new curtain appears. Why because you have reached the next stage of your journey, whatever it is that you are seeking.

On another level, you can push through the present moment only to end up in another present moment.

ReflectionsJenn Shallvey9 July 2008

Take care

We stumble through life sometimes not paying attention to what is happening right now. What if you were to stop and look around. Would you see the world any differently?

Let's go there...

Jenn

ReflectionsJenn Shallvey8 July 2008

Be real

Children remind us what it means to be real.

A bad fall

Today I and my husband had the unfortunate experience of taking my son to emergency following a nasty fall on the football field. End result he had a broken collarbone. Being a Sunday, the process of diagnosing and treating him took about 6 hours. So I had a lot of time to observe life in the pediatric emergency room at our local hospital.

We were one of 9 patients being looked after this afternoon. On staff were nurses and other staff helping. There were two doctors that I could observe. I had seen them before on other visits to emergency. This place is familiar to a lot of parents of young children.

Self careJenn Shallvey7 July 2008

You are what you read

I read a lot of books. My preference is for non fiction self help, personal development, professional business, the occasional motivational book and a good novel.

The Ubuntu Collection

Recently I discovered a beautiful book series called the Ubuntu Collection, published by Hachette with support from Archbishop Desmund Tutu. I believe this series bypasses any genre. It fits in a class of its own I will call "Leadership Legacy" writing.

The books

Captured artfully in well designed binding, the series features a range of leaders who are (with the exception of Archbishop Tutu), no longer with us, and their inspiration words. So not only do we get to relive the life of these inspirationa

BooksJenn Shallvey6 July 2008