Where to Now?

Inclusion is transcending (not eliminating) one's own personal identification to become part of a greater whole; to create a unity of One. I know we all like to identify with a "Tribe." We are American, Christian, African-American, French, Liberal, Democrat, relationship-oriented, group-oriented, individualistic, and on and on. We have so many forms of identification of who we are it must be confusing just to keep up with them all!

Why not simply be a human being. In every sense of that phrase. Be a "spiritual being having a human experience," and you'll probably get along with everybody. You'll also establish the basis of a relationship to truly collaborate with others--not simply cooperate. Cooperation, again, simply involves trade offs where in the end I am always looking for what's in my best interest.

I understand that with a survival-based mentality, we are always limited to a small dimension of who we can possibly be--the descriptors above. Thus, we always have the basis for differences prevailing as the major driving force for human interaction. Primarily, the endless process of proving one descriptor is better than the other and ultimately doing whatever is necessary to have one's way of thinking prevail. This mode of thinking and behaving will not produce collaboration or a unity of One!

To give up one's sense of personal identification can be challenging or down-right scary. "What will the group think?" "What about my friends?" But the scariest question of all is, "Who will I become?" "Just another human being without distinction from the others?" Well, you'll have to take a leap of faith in yourself that the defining spiritual character about yourself cannot disappear by the process of becoming a greater dimension of who you can be. But I can guarantee you, you'll not only like what's on the other side but you'll never fit into that limiting form again. The old shoe will no longer fit!

So, inclusion involves dealing with the self-limiting prejudices, biases, ethnocentric attitiudes, and feelings of superiority we all have with respect to others. Give up the endless process of trying to succeed at the expense of others. Give up the "you or me" attitude based on scarcity. Even if you want to be a multimillionaire, you can only eat one hotdog at a time. Think and behave more of supporting the success of others. These are some ideas for adopting a "consciousness of collaboration."

Wynton Marsalis (jazz guy from New Orleans) said it best,

"The feeling that 'our way' is more important than my way."

By the way, thanks for the recommendations for others to visit the site. The numbers went up from the day before. I will keep you posted of our success.