Chapter nine is about finding meaning and purpose in our lives. Pink recommends that we begin taking spirituality and happiness seriously. He states that people have all the material goods they need to survive and much of the suffering and hardship have been removed from the advanced world. Now we need to focus on being fulfilled in non-material ways.
Pink tells about the “investigating the Mind” conference at MIT where scientists and spiritual leaders gather to learn about the science of spirituality. They have scanned the brains of meditating monks and of nuns who have experienced religious ecstasy. This new field of study is called neuro-theology and it is devoted to studying the relationship between the brain and spirituality.
People who live healthy spiritual lives are also healthier in body. Many studies have shown that people who attend church and pray regularly have lower blood pressure, less heart disease, suicide, and cancer. Generally, spiritually fulfilled people live longer than people who do not seek a higher power. Pink points out that this doesn’t mean we should stop going to medical doctors, but that we should have a balance, “L-directed reason combined with R-directed spirit.”
Additionally, businesses can benefit from aligning spiritual values with company goals. Research is showing that employees crave jobs that acknowledge their spiritual needs. Pink says that companies who meet these needs outperform companies that do not.
Pink gives practical recommendations for finding meaning and happiness. He says to practice expressing gratitude, think about how you would live your life if you were dying, replace “but” with “and” to get rid of excuses, take a Sabbath day to reflect, rest, and pray, and picture yourself at 90. One of my favorite suggestions was to make a short list of your favorite people, activities, and values and then check to see if the way you spend your time aligns with your list. Finally he suggests visiting a labyrinth. Has anyone tried this? It sounds fascinating.
I really like how this unit was summarized. It seems so very simple that we should just "do" these things to have a more fulfilling and productive life. Businesses do better, and individuals have a longer, more rewarding life when they take into account what is most important to them and really focus on those things. What a wonderful concept to keep in mind in this hectic, wild and crazy life!
ReplyDeleteI have visited a babyrinth. Traveling the labyrinth does have a calming sensation. I'd like to visit more. I think the design has everything to do with the experience. I think it would be interesting to have a labyrinth on every elementary playground. They are asthetically pleasing to the eye, and I think many teachers and students would benefit from the experience. Our school does not allow the students on the front lawn. I'd like to see a labyrinth in that area. How to manage it would need to be taught just like any other activity on the playground. Why not?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the summary. I have not tried the labyrinth, but am intrigued to try now. I found myself drawn to the portions about Viktor Frankl. I think the quote that struck me the most this chapter from Frankl's work "People have enough to live, but nothing to live for: they have the means but no meaning." Powerful words. Do our lists align like the activity you suggested? Our we living our life to the fullest?
ReplyDeleteI think, that for many of us, exist is a more appropriate word than live. We worry so much about acquiring and getting "more" that we forget to trully enjoy what we already have.
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