Dealing gracefully with adversity (p. 46)
Life's roadblocks in previous stages
In Evolutionary Teal
Illness
Bad Boss
Difficult Marriage
How we face them
Feelings that disconnect us from others and ourselves
Useful shields for the ego, Poor teachers for the soul
Anger
Shame
Blame
We embrace possibility that we were part of creating problem
We are ready to let go of anger, shame and blame
Obstacles are seen as life's way to teach us about ourselves and the world
We inquire what we can learn so as to grow from it
In earlier paradigms
We convince ourselves that everything is alright until a problem accumulates and hits us like an avalanche, forcing change in our lives
Change on a personal level feels threatening
We make frequent small adjustments, as we learn and grow from problems we encounter along the way.
There is often enjoyable tension in the journey of personal growth
When Life is seen as journey of discovery
We deal more gracefully with setbacks, mistakes and roadblocks in our lives
We start to grasp the spiritual insight that there are no mistakes, just experiences that guide us to a deeper truth about ourselves and the world.
Wisdom beyond rationality (p. 47)
Orange
Rationality is king. Rules unquestioned in the decision pursuit for the best outcome.
Facts & Logical reasoning are main sources of insight
Attachment to outcomes clouds the ability to see reality clearly
Teal
More easily accept the unpleasant truth of reality
Less attached to outcomes
Rational thinking can be more accurately informed by data
Green
Rejects analytical 'Left brain' approaches for 'right brain' feeling as a basis for decision making
Wary of emotions that could cloud our ability to reason rationally
Happy to tap into all domains of knowing
Intuition
A muscle that can be trained
Wisdom can be found in intuition
There's wisdom to be found in emotions, if we learn to inquire their significance
Why am I angry, fearful, ambitious or excited?
What does this reveal about me or about the situation that is unfolding?
Honors the complex, ambiguous, paradoxical, non-linear nature of reality
Unconsciously connecting patterns in a way that our rational mind can't.
When we learn to pay attention to our intuitions, honor and question them for the truth and guidance, more intuitive answers will surface.
People take on regular practices to deepen their meditative, contemplative, flow and peak experiences
Ability to reason on paradox, transcending the simple either-or with more complex both-and thinking
Either-or: We see breathing in and out as opposites.
Both-and: we view them as two elements that need each other
The more we can breathe in, the more we can breathe out.
freedom and responsibility, solitude and community, tending to self and tending to others
Teal turns the page from rational-reductionist world-view of Orange and the post-modern world view of Green to a holistic approach to knowing.