These are hard times for millions – transformation is the only practical option.
I’ve been working with most of my clients recently through painful transformation brought about by the recession.
An interesting metaphor really because, since the first wave of uncertainty in the UK banking system triggered panic, I 
have been picking up on that uncertainty.
That uncertainty feels like it’s stalking the globe at the moment; one has been aware of an underlying fear that was difficult to name and source in me. It has been rather like a deep river in that whilst the surface feels slow moving, currents are moving things powerfully below.
For example, we now are the proud owners of 6 Light Sussex chickens. Our youngest son, Sam, and I have dug up the back lawn and planted vegetables and built a poly-tunnel. We are also planning to install a wood burning cooker. Right back down to the base of Maslow’s pyramid.
These feelings have brought about such change everywhere and I wonder seriously whether we will ever return to what was, indeed, would we want to?
I might not have mentioned it in previous Posts but as well as an engineering background, in latter years, I have focussed on the interpersonal and success in business founded on quality relationships, integrity and, vitally, awareness.
To inform this, some 6 years ago, I embarked on an MA in Core Process Psychotherapy, primarily to work on myself so that I could be the best I could be in my relationships in and out of work.
The point I’m trying to make is that the same panic I notice in many of the companies I work in, and in me, is based on fear of the unknown and on a lack of trust in abundance in all it’s forms.
We get more of what we focus on. So we can choose to focus on the constant news of more difficulties, hardship and redundancies or, we can focus on what is working. In the workplace it has been pulling people together across functions and sites and pooling resources and ideas.
When we realise we’re not doing this alone it’s amazing how much lighter a load can feel and how much more inspired we feel. I also notice how humour begins to flow and what a powerful antidote for doom and gloom that is.
Transformation is never easy but the rewards exceed the effort put in ten fold.
So what is it going to be? Are we all going to bow down to the god of Doom & Gloom, fear and anxiety, heaping more and more gifts around it; as most media focusses on, or are we going to start noticing and focussing on the other neglected god of relationship; joy, trust, abundance and light?
Whatever the future holds for us, a belief in our inherent ability to adapt and change and focus on the greater good rather than fear, anxiety, greed and selfishness is the only sustainable way forward.
By Jon Lavin
Learning from Dogs 
Transformation means education. Education means a huge societal effort, led by the government. It cannot be led privately alone. Anti-government propaganda in the USA, on the very merit of the concept of government, prevents this, though.
PA
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I actually disagree that the government should provide eduation. I am probably overly influenced by what I saw as a professor in public and private universities, and by the Federalist Papers, which make for very interesting reading on this topic. And I don’t have a very good substitute idea, other than privately run “home schooling” equivalents which could perhaps charge tuition based on the quality of the education provided and would cost much less than the tax dollars spent on schools today. What about families who can’t afford so-called private education? I can only speak from my own experience: I grew up very poor. My parents taught me to read and my older siblings taught me math before I ever set foot in a public elementary school. In public high school, I taught myself trigonometry while the teachers walked the picket line. If there had been no public school, my parents would have had to make other plans, and “schooling” would have evolved like any other desired industry. All the wonderful initiatives led by teachers and parents and students and neighbors would still take root and bloom…. but I know it’s a very emotional and controversial topic. so I’m usually quiet about it, and will likely regret bringing it up!
I just see how badly most public schools are doing, and the ones that are working do so not because of the beaucracy that is the Department of Education and the unions, but despite it. Making the government responsible for public education opens the door to politics and interest groups, to politically incorrect and politically correct thought, and to educators being more accountable to politicians than to parents.
We obviously need to keep what we have until a better answer comes along. But I can’t help but think that we could do it better. Home schooling is some evidence of that, at least.
Sherry Jarrell
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