The problem with the world
(There is one day out of 365 when I get philosophical. Today is that day.)
This blog is about success, but we often forget how success -- the true kind that is priceless and that nobody can take away from you -- is intimately linked to one's inner peace.
In my own search for inner peace, I became an accidental intellectual (that is, someone who uses the power of ideas and words to try to effect positive change in the world).
After several years of hard thinking, I came to this sentence which I think summarizes the problem with the world today:
"Manhood needs repair, motherhood needs support and womanhood needs inspiration."
Womanhood needs inspiration because today, women can do ANYTHING. At work, in business, in the media, in politics, in the arts, etc. there are few limits remaining that will block a woman's pursuit of her dream.
The only remaining obstacle may be herself. In other words, a woman's attitude about what she can achieve, might be the ultimate obstacle to her realizing her full potential.
Perhaps this is why women need inspiration and need to see visible role models who show the way. This is probably why Oprah is so popular (and so rich! The woman is worth 500 million dollars!).
This is why I partnered with my sister Zoonie and created a company dedicated to helping women advance in their dream career (www.talentelle.com).
Manhood, for its part, needs repair. This is obvious to everyone. Wars, corruption, drugs, etc. are all the result, I think, of men being largely misguided about what it means to be a man. There are correct, highly productive ways of channeling our male energies to create something enduring, something that will benefit mankind.
But there are also misguided ways of expressing our virility. Destruction, chaos, danger, etc. are the result of those misguided ways of expressing one's manhood.
I believe too many men associate manhood with power, whereas it might be more compassionate and productive to associate manhood with bravery and magnanimity. In a post-9/11 world, all of us men have the opportunity to redefine manhood, and how we redefine it will influence what we do to create a better, more peaceful world.
Motherhood needs support, and one great book I recommend is The Price of Motherhood, by Ann Crittenden. In the book, she explains why motherhood, the most important job in society, sadly is also the least recognized and rewarded job.
What do manhood, motherhood and womanhood have in common? Humanity. The need for all of us to survive in a world that is becoming more and more unstable, dangerous and risky.
In the end, we live in one world, one that is becoming more and more connected. I think that it is possible to shape our pursuit of individual success in a way that also serves collective justice.
After all, what would be the point in being successful if the world around us crumbled and we collectively forget how important it is to gently reform manhood, unconditionally support motherhood and enthusiastically inspire womanhood?
This blog is about success, but we often forget how success -- the true kind that is priceless and that nobody can take away from you -- is intimately linked to one's inner peace.
In my own search for inner peace, I became an accidental intellectual (that is, someone who uses the power of ideas and words to try to effect positive change in the world).
After several years of hard thinking, I came to this sentence which I think summarizes the problem with the world today:
"Manhood needs repair, motherhood needs support and womanhood needs inspiration."
Womanhood needs inspiration because today, women can do ANYTHING. At work, in business, in the media, in politics, in the arts, etc. there are few limits remaining that will block a woman's pursuit of her dream.
The only remaining obstacle may be herself. In other words, a woman's attitude about what she can achieve, might be the ultimate obstacle to her realizing her full potential.
Perhaps this is why women need inspiration and need to see visible role models who show the way. This is probably why Oprah is so popular (and so rich! The woman is worth 500 million dollars!).
This is why I partnered with my sister Zoonie and created a company dedicated to helping women advance in their dream career (www.talentelle.com).
Manhood, for its part, needs repair. This is obvious to everyone. Wars, corruption, drugs, etc. are all the result, I think, of men being largely misguided about what it means to be a man. There are correct, highly productive ways of channeling our male energies to create something enduring, something that will benefit mankind.
But there are also misguided ways of expressing our virility. Destruction, chaos, danger, etc. are the result of those misguided ways of expressing one's manhood.
I believe too many men associate manhood with power, whereas it might be more compassionate and productive to associate manhood with bravery and magnanimity. In a post-9/11 world, all of us men have the opportunity to redefine manhood, and how we redefine it will influence what we do to create a better, more peaceful world.
Motherhood needs support, and one great book I recommend is The Price of Motherhood, by Ann Crittenden. In the book, she explains why motherhood, the most important job in society, sadly is also the least recognized and rewarded job.
What do manhood, motherhood and womanhood have in common? Humanity. The need for all of us to survive in a world that is becoming more and more unstable, dangerous and risky.
In the end, we live in one world, one that is becoming more and more connected. I think that it is possible to shape our pursuit of individual success in a way that also serves collective justice.
After all, what would be the point in being successful if the world around us crumbled and we collectively forget how important it is to gently reform manhood, unconditionally support motherhood and enthusiastically inspire womanhood?
posted by Super Peter at 12:11 PM
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