I have long been someone who will go out of my way to assist. Sometimes, i will help someone to my own detriment. Although I grew up in chaos and received a bit of over zealous parenting, I emerged a fairly healthy adult and have enjoyed a fair amount of success. Sporadically I would help others either physically, financially or just as a listener. I think my subconscious worked me over through 30 years of adulthood to be more benevolent. Five months ago my life changed forever and I am thankful.
I have know this friend for about 10 years and we have spoken on and off. We had the opportunity to reconnect and began to catch up. As we talked we struck on the topic of helping others. This included improving our individual lives to have the bandwidth to really do some good. We had both just ended personal relationships as well as doing professional reboots.
In the process I offered to help him in various ways that would jump start his efforts. We scheduled some time the next week to discuss the details. We met the following week and talked about his kids and light hearted things. He then said, “I want to do something for you.” “ I want to gift you something that will change your life because you have always shown the giving side of yours.”
I was flattered and smiled. He produced a gift letter and Zim note and proceeded to give me his history especially his last 15 years. If you met this man you would immediately enjoy his aura, company and poise. He outlined for me the impact of the GCR to humanity. For the next 2 hours we talked and brainstormed and I listened and learned.
Through my life I have made decisions against my intuition, my gut feel. In hindsight I knew I should have followed my gut. I have gotten better at paying attention. During those moments with him I discussed some significant projects for humanity. His projects and my projects flowed for hours. I was exhilarated and exhausted after our time together. This was the life changing moment and I would not go against my gut.
Over these last few months during my day to day I realized I was making plans on projects regardless of the GCR. I was having conversations with influencers that had similar interests, without mentioning the GCR. I was Creative Courage in motion. In the last few months I’m thrilled to say I have formulated a handful of tangible projects that can employ, mentor, lift up, re-energize others domestically and internationally. I have a sense this could be in the hundred of thousands of people. Yet through their own will, drive and courage, without having my will imposed upon them.
There is an author of many books named Rollo May. The title of this post taken from one of his more widely read books - The Courage to Create. I bring this up because one of the most powerful chapters explores the theory of Creativity and Encounter: Creativity occurs in an act of encounter and is to be understood with this encounter as its center.
Each of us benefiting from the GCR have our own encounters and they are possibly endless during our remaining years. If we allow ourselves our intuition and creativity during a significant encounter I feel we open ourselves to a broader connected world. The GCR has the ability to calm our thoughts and inspire our ideas beyond a passing notion.
Mr. May explores types of courage: 1) physical courage, 2) moral courage, 3) social courage and lastly 4) creative courage.
It is Social Courage that extends ourselves to the world. It is the courage to relate to other human beings, the capacity to risk one’s self in the hope of achieving meaningful intimacy. It is the courage to invest one’s self over a period of time in a relationship that will demand an increasing openness.
He quotes modern novelist James Joyce from his book “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” -
Welcome, O life! I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race.
It is a profound declaration: Each new event/encounter requires another assertion of courage.
He notes: The task will be “to forge in the smithy of my soul,” as arduous as the blacksmith’s task of bending red-hot iron in his smithy to make something of value for human life.
Each of us GCR participants or not have the Courage to Create - in endless ways. Satisfy yourself and without imposing a heavy hand - create generous paths of love and respect to help, mentor, and inspire humanity - one person at a time.