Soul Tap

This is fresh on my spirit, and mental. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Well, this post is specifically about an episode of Super Soul Sunday. Oprah sat down with the author of The Road to Character, David Brooks. You may be familiar with him from his role in the media, and information sharing.

However, this experience (episode) is loaded with so many gems of thought, beauty, knowledge, and just….overall goodness that I have to share it with you.

When an episode opens asking, “What is the price we pay for our souls, and our character?”, it is truly a cause for pause. Paper and pen. CHECK! Italian creme laced Java. Check! Open mind, and heart. Check! Attention…Engaged. I’m sure a unicorn munching on a starburst passed by as well. Moving right along….

If you want to take a moment, and add to your To Read list, Here is the link to the book on Goodreads. Press Me 🙂

I really encourage you to watch the episode. It will do more than this snippet of info.

Focus. Focus. Okay, in this episode, i was introduced to the two set of virtues that David Brooks shared. Resume Virtues, which are the things that make you good at your job, and Eulogy virtues. These are the things that people say about you after you have passed away. Dead. Take a moment and think about each one of those. What are your resume, and eulogy virtues?

Oprah and David went on to talk about humility. David stated, “And to me, humility is not thinking lowly of yourself. It’s accurate self-awareness from a distance.” Let me help you pick your jaw up. Well stated huh. Yes, I thought so too. Double snaps for David.

Personally, I think self-awareness is what many people are afraid of. They attempt to remain distracted by so much outside of self, so that they don’t have to maintain accountability, or address the one person you take with you Every. Where. You. Go. SELF! Self has higher reward miles than your last vacation flight. Always present. To know SELF feels like the universe has unlocked another level that can only be felt from within. No cheat codes. Full Step into the Matrix.

Here is another lovely quote offered up by David: “The noise  of fast and shallow communications makes it harder to hear the quieter sounds that emanate from the depth. We live in a culture that teaches us to promote and advertise ourselves and to master the skills required for success, but that gives little encouragement to humility, sympathy, and honest self-confrontation, which are necessary for building character.”

Ding Ding Ding. I totally agree. You know what, I will wait while you write that down, and take a brief walk to reflect on that.

Welcome back Kotter. Wasn’t that an illuminating, and truthful statement? We already knew that, and yet, it still resonates with you.

If you want more homework, ask your kids (or youth), “What do your parents care more about, that you get good grades or that you’re kind?” Yep, they discussed this too. It was a question asked of 10,000 junior high kids in a Harvard School of Education Survey. And what do you think the results of that survey were?! You in the back, with the pointy hat..grades?! You in the green polka dot flamingo dress…kindness?! Drum roll please…….80% of the kids stated Grades were more important.

Soul Smash Indeed (depending on the person).

Are you still reading, and hanging in here with me? Hope so.

Because I want you to watch the episode, I will chop this down to some quotes, and notes to ponder.

Here you go:

Think Zone #1 : Paul Tillich said that suffering takes us below the everydayness of life and reminds us we’re not who we think we are. It carves both beneath what we thought was the basement of our soul, and carves through the floor and reveals  a cavity below. Hmm, let that marinate.

Think Zone #2: “No one has the power to defeat the power of selfishness and self deception. We’re sort of lying to each other all the time. So we all need assistance from outside.” (David Brooks). Let that marinate in your self awareness/ community spaces.

Think Zone #3: “When you’re in love, it eliminates the distinction between giving and receiving. When you give to the person you love, you’re giving a piece of yourself, so it’s actually more fun to give than to receive.” (Montaigne)  PREACH!!!! Someone get the collection plate, and pass it around. Ushers take your post because this is a message.

Think Zone #4: “Can you serve causes that can’t be completed in a single lifetime?” (David) Boom!

Think Zone #5: “What will people say about the way you made them feel?” (Oprah). I sure hope the responses are on the positive side. If not, there is some tweaking that is in order.

Think Zone #6:  “Am I living the full expression of my values?” (Oprah) You bet your sweet bippy I am. Every day I get better, and better. Growth is welcome, and constant.

Okay, so put that into your mental churn. Thanks in advance for taking a moment to critically think, and increase your self-awareness. You even took a moment to get some exercise ( a walk).

Allow me to leave you with this statement from David that I can’t cosign enough. I feel the same wayyyyyyy!!!! You want to read it, here it goes. “I’m a big believer in admiration, in admiring people, that they feel valued and they feel admired.”

I truly hope (and send energy your way) that you feel valued, and admired. I hope you are making others feel a boost as well…to the umpteenth power.

Alright, you can have your time back. Thanks for reading this! 🙂 Greatly appreciated.

 

Disclaimer: If this was a bit random, it’s who I am. Embrace it. I have.