Some Kind of Wonder-full…

Core Values

If I can live a life consistant with these values, I shall be one happy-bunny!

1) Wisdom

In Matthew 10:16, it says, “be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.”

On the one hand, this means acting in a way that is above reproach, that cannot be construed as anything but “good” and well-meaning: being “angelic”. On the other hand, it relates to being fully aware of your surroundings – the violent intentions that may lie in the hearts of men (to trip you up or catch you out) – and not having your head up in the clouds: being “cunning”.

It means being a person that looks for the good in others, but is conscious of the potential for violence and is fully-armed to deal with it; perceiving individuals as grey, neither black nor white.

Wonder

“I don’t know about you, but I practice a disorganized religion. I belong to an unholy disorder. We call ourselves “Our Lady of Perpetual Astonishment.”

From Vonnegut’s, A Man Without A Country

By wonder, I mean continually being in a state of expectancy and enchantment. In “Summer Holiday”, the French mime says that when you’re travelling, you’re always “beholded”: thus, whatever happens, you always appreciate it.

Wonder leads to gratitude, and gratitude leads to joy.

Who can look at the moon and the stars and not feel a faint, ‘wow!’ echoing in their soul?

Whether it is a direct or indirect acknowledgement of Something More does not matter. What matters is seeking out those moments.

“may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old”

(ee cummings)

3) Tender-heartedness

“If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.”
(Emily Dickinson)

To have a hard heart is to be closed off from the suffering of humanity. Though we can be joyous in all moments, we cannot pretend away suffering.

To feel their pain, with empathy.

To suffer with them, with compassion.

And most of all, to act, somehow, someway, however small.

May I never walk past a person in tears and not reach for a hankerchief.
May I never walk past a person hungry and fail to give them food.
May I never walk past a person “invisible” and fail to greet them through the eyes.

4) Authenticity

“And this above all, to thine own self be true” (Shakespeare)

This is not about being self-centred and doing what you want at the expense of other people. The example that comes to mind is a person have an extra-marital affair, and saying they’re following their heart.

I see it more as a movement away from the Ego (the socialised self) towards the Id (what you are when no-one’s looking). It means finding that spark of divinity – a jewel within you – and not hiding it away in embarassment. Dare not be less for society’s measly sake; be more, for the sake of Something More.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. “ (Nelson Mandela)

5) Playfullness

Play is a much under-rated value. Somehow, people think work is something grown up and serious, and play childish and frivolous. I could not differ more.

In Alexander Technique lessons, we talk about a child learn to write. Over and over, they get the letter upside-down or back-to-front. Over and over, the parent/teacher makes the child repeat it. As the parent/teacher gets steadily more stressed, they tense up their body saying ‘concentrate!’ The little child, imitating the adult, will tense up their body and try really hard to please the parent. And maybe this time they get it right. The parent commends them, and from this day on, the child will associate concentration and effort with reward.

In actual fact, when we are in a state of “play”, we learn much more, we are more open to possibilities, linkages and ideas.

To play is one of the most important things we can do.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
(George Bernard Shaw)

6) Nonviolence

(I did try to make it 5 – for neatness – but it was impossible!)

Violence is anything that dominates, diminishes, dehumanises or destroys yourself or anyone else.

To be nonviolent, therefore, is to hold this tension. To walk the tightrope between being dominated or dominating others.

This strand runs through many of the famous texts:

“Love you neighbour as yourself” springs to mine.

“Live half for yourself and half for others” (Doshin So) also.

The Golden Rule.

It is a fascinating, endless exploration and one that shall endure for a life-time.

To live gently without being trampled; to make an impression, not a mark.

How about you? What are your core values and why are they important?