On the Realization of Human Potential: A Path With A Heart

1. Article 1 On the Realization of Human Potential:A Path With A Heart Article Synopsis & Discussion led by: Tom Callinan & Rob Penn

2. Talking Points • Summary of Article (3) • Tom’s & Rob’s Experience & Comments (3) • Open Discussion (5 – 10) • Manifestations of themes in classmates’ lives • Questions for the group based on article • Closing Remarks (4)

3. Summary: Main Points • A life worth living is undermined by our institutions: • Parents downplay individual strengths, afraid kids will fall behind. • Schools teach the same things to all, regardless of individual skill • Organizations suggest that career is the most important. • These institutions collude and conspire to distort human behavior and our image of ourselves. • Society uses “deficiency motivation” to influence behavior – unfulfilled needs generate quest for approval at any cost. Those who succeed are “A Students.” • The patterns we learn serve society – not ourselves. • Society then exploits unique strengths to its advantage. • We are left unfulfilled & society unhealthy.

4. Institutions & Individuals Influence one and the other will follow.

5. 3 Indicators of Life Worth Living • Tone • feeling good about yourself, alert, alive, engaged, flexible • Resonance • The nature of your relationships w/ people and your environment is positive • Perspective • Feeling good about the choices in your life • You are able to find the humor in things * Indicators may be taken figuratively or literally. Body and Mind are not separate when it comes to assessing self.

6. Summary: Prospects for Change How society needs to change: • Begin to free human potential. • Pursue our own vision of excellence. • Discover the “play” in work. • Recognize the interconnectedness of tone, resonance and perspective. How institutions are already changing: • Industries are beginning to change focus to individual. • Technology is highlighting the importance of the individual

7. Our Experience: Tom • Career • Rapid promotions • Successful entrepreneur • Rapid promotions again when reentered corporate world • Impact of Choices • Success by societal standards but not always fun • 60% travel requires family trade-offs

8. Our Experience: Rob • Education • Prep School highlighting conformity & traditional marks of success. • College: Great at language, disinterested in other topics • Career • Touring musician and actor • Internet professional • Massage therapist • Corporate/Technology Project Manager • Impact of Choices • Career fed by diversity of background • Confidence hampered by oddity of history Career

9. Open Discussion • Is there truth in Shepard’s article in your experience? • How has the social contract Shepard describes benefited you in your life? How has it hurt you? • Have you ever reassessednot only your career objectives, but your life objectives? • When in your life (work or play) were you doing something well and enjoying it very much? • What was satisfying about this? • How do you know when you are in the right place professionally? Is this a conditioned response akin to the themes of Shepard’s article? • How does your body and mind feel when you are truly engaged? • What can you feel from the communion with others that confirms your own life as fully worth living?

10. Closing Remarks • Why does this happen? • Society’s interest in perpetuating this condition comes from drive to survive – in essence from fear. • What physical condition does fear breed? • Lack of tone (tension) • resonance (lack of communication) • perspective (myopia). • Society: a struggling organism: • Like other organisms, society survives because it finds a method of operating that appears to ensure its survival. What Shepard describes of our societies institutions is true, but par for the course in our society – an organism that is still growing. The next step is for us to influence a change in our institutions and in ourselves that will continue to work and promote a healthy society.