Smart Questions, Crisis, and Creation

One of the things that throws me about politicians and voters is that they think changing one's mind is bad; The fact is that times change and it is both irresponsible and dangerous to not be continuously re-evalutaing. There was a time that we thought the world was flat, that the sun revolved around the earth, that man would never fly, ... and that the resources of Earth were more than enough to sustain us.

I slipped that last one in... because the reality of limited resources is the new truth. Simply sending production to another country for its relaxed environmental regulation does not cut it anymore. Sending goods overseas and shipping them here now involves lost local jobs, economic woes, and huge shipping costs. The environment is not a backseat issue anymore - This is a reality that many have already discovered and the move to green solutions is gathering steam. The USA is behind many countries and it is another failing that may limit us also in the market. But the reality of limited fuel, poor water management, depleted soils and failing food supplies, and global warming are obvious and fundamental realities now.

The thing that throws me is how much we refuse to adapt and learn, when we are the one species who does it best. Man through his intelligence has the ability to overcome so much, but generally stands alone and afraid most of the time. We want simple answers and things to be done for us. We want our beliefs and fantasies to continue and change to stay away. If you are a religious person, you may believe your god chooses for us; But I think the gift of intelligence and choice though is one to take seriously. Empowered by these, we are compelled to be responsible owners and creators of our own reality.

In our fear, we often silently look at choice and knowledge as lemons; But we have all the tools we need to make lemonaid. A silly metaphor perhaps... But the choice is really that simple. Complain, blame, and cower - or - Own, risk, and create. I have no trouble seeing myself as imperfect and seeing the world as an ongoing challenge; Life would be boring without these... Life may be hard no matter what - But it does not have to be boring.

We stand now in a place where all of us can truly make a difference; Individuals and grass roots movements can have an effect. And personally reviewing your own choices, beliefs, and actions - and adopting real changes - can make profound differences. Critical thinking, scrutiny, and responsibility will yield ideas, opportunity, new choices, and truth. We end up in a bubble when we close our minds and bubbles seem to burst more often now; But if you can see past them - if you are willing to look and ask smart questions - and change yourself - we all have the freedom and ability to create a better world.

Questions to start with... On every belief... And on everything a politician tells you:

• What if I am wrong - what might be at risk? What if this politician is wrong - What might be at risk?
• What am I gaining by holding on to this belief? What am I giving up? What motives am I not seeing?
• What untruths am I telling or being told? What are the motivations behind them?
• Am I angry or bitter or depressed or frustrated about anything? (You would be surprised how taking action can displace the problems of daily life)

And before you dismiss anything... because you think history suggests your belief to be valid... consider that history has not always been a good indicator of major truths. Man has learned how to fly, how to rise above the cold, how to live without plastic and petroleum, how to replenish what has dwindled; History is most often a tale of missed opportunity. You have the entire world now at your feet. But you are not just a consumer anymore - You have said these words to yourself and the truth is unavoidable; You are a steward also in protecting the future, in doing the right thing, and in creating the future.

So - today - what are you willing to change or improve? What challenges are you willing to face? What uncomfortable truths will you start to deal with? What beliefs and decisions are you willing to review? If you can not change - what are you giving up? You are your own worst impediment.... Start creating and life can be exciting and meaningful again.

There it is... the meaning of life... why we are all here; In a nutshell. We have a contrbution to make. Own it - see the world from a pioneers eyes - and start to change the world.