Stephen's Thoughts and Things

Human cooperation will increase when the bridge between traditional, conventional thinking and progressive thinking is strengthened. This melding includes practices regarding individual healing, community and economic development, spirituality and education. We are all humans on this earth. We each have individual needs and differing approaches to meeting those needs. Failing to work through these conflicting views in a collaborative and peaceful way can destroy community living. There seems to be a prejudicial gap among various groups that is keeping our communities from seeking this collaboration. In spite what some think these differing groups are not mutually exclusive. This is not an either or, black or white, kind of debate or discussion. Every individual has their own perspective. Promoting and expanding our differences causes more conflict and discord. We certainly must understand and respect our differences. But that is where it should end. We should pay attention to the concepts that bring us together. This page promotes a collaborative mission encouraging a democratic and ecumenical tolerance for people with different cultural, community, economic, religious and personal values. It supports and embraces all the common core values of being human.

Some of the common core values that we all strive for include an individual vision to live a peaceful and secure life filled with human cooperation, love and joy. And...gratitude for the goodness of life which helps maintain and nurture this view.

Another important part of living on earth is economic opportunity, people all over the world must have a reasonable way to make a living in the community they live. The source of this economic opportunity must be ethical and transparent. It must maintain human dignity. Only then will it sustain the individual, the community and the world.

We each must feel secure physically, economically, emotionally and spiritually. A significant part of this philosophy is that individuals take personal responsibility for the development of our local communities, workplaces and themselves. Working in your local community is a great start. Volunteer in your local community or place of work to make it a better place.

A great example of world cooperation is the hungersite.com, just one click helps feed the hungry worldwide. Another site is KIVA: Loans that Change Lives where individuals can invest in small businesses around the world.

Many individuals are also actively seeking individual healing and sustained health through various self directed activities such as prayer, meditation, good nutrition, life long learning, and regular exercise including stretching and/or yoga. The work of Andrew Weil and Bruce Lipton are good examples of personal health approaches that include a paradigm shift, which will help evolve health care and medical practice for the foreseeable future. I also have experienced wonderful benefits from centering prayer, it promotes an internal spiritual sustinence by triggering the relaxation response, adding an conscious intention and encouraging you to "just be" with your creator and all that entails. Don't worry about defining creation or where it comes from just be with your source. Meaning will comes as you quiet yourself with the intent of being one with your source of life. It can transform one from being self centered to creation centered. It is also called contemplative prayer.

My particular professional expertise and interest is in education, vocational rehabilitation and public administration from a moderate and Constitutional perspective. Continuous Improvement practices combined with focused life work are critical areas all humans must encourage, sustain and promote in them selves and others in order to live a full life. Individuals need however, to find balance in their lives by identifying the various internal and external systems (beliefs, people, organizations, etc.) that support their life, including work and learning then consciously strive to attend to these systems by doing what needs to be done. Avoid your feelings and get it done. A good strategy for keeping on task and not letting our feelings sidetrack us is by reviewing The Constructive Living Maxims by David Reynolds. These sayings, used as a thoughtful break from possible down sliding and/or overwhelming thoughts, will help you overcome the feelings and take your next step to achieving balance in your life, community and workplace.

This strategy can be used in governments, communities, families, work environments and each individual human. These concepts are universal and can be applied by any human being, community or workplace that is striving towards more balance and continuity with the environment they exist it. This awareness creates a paradigm shift, which occurs when this practice becomes part of everyday choices. It then moves each individual entity from an isolated self preservation perspective to a local and world community preservation perspective. We realize we are all connected in some way. We center ourself, then, when we cooperate with and attend to the systems that sustain and support our existence, individual, community and global balance is achieved because we each cooperate with multiple systems and ultimately the source of creation. These systems, including our own thrive. Community is born and sustained through individual focus and effort.

We must teach our children this gift. It starts with sound educational policies. Organizations that promote and attend to the needs of children are critical for the future of our world. It continues with local, state and national governments and in the work place.

We all want thriving workplaces, vibrant communities, and personal contentment. When all individuals and communities are thriving through cooperative efforts, we will each have found inner peace, and then will we truly be a healthy planet as the The Earth Charter envisions.

This is a worthwhile global goal for humanity. This page is dedicated to promoting human cooperation in daily community living and in the work environment. Promoting individual and global sustainability

Thanks for visiting my web page
Keep the Faith

WE frown they hide their heads, We smile they come alive
WE hurl belief at them
and,... they succeed

"Take care of yourself by caring for humanity"
Stephen

Copyright (C) 1997 - 2009 Stephen C. Crate, MPA,CRC
Permission is granted for academic use of this material if cited appropriately.

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
Mohandas Gandhi

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