Celebrating What's Right With the World
A business colleague of mine introduced me to a DVD by Dewitt Jones entitled "Celebrate What's Right With the World." Jones spent over 2 decades photographing images around the world for National Geographic Magazine (http://www.nationalgeographic.com). The DVD and Jones's web site (http://www.dewittjones.com) are dedicated to helping individuals identify the deeper purpose in their work and lives by viewing life through the "lens" of all that is good, beautiful and wonderful about the world in which we live and about ourselves. Like the writings of St. Paul, which encourage us to contemplate all that is beautiful, lovely, etc., Jones's DVD and web site offers us the same message: life is truly wonderful if we choose to view it in all it's abundance and wonder.
How does this tie in to the work of Victor Frankl and Dr. Alex Pattakos? Frankl and Pattakos describe man's "Will to Meaning," which is the exercise of our consciousness to identify and define for ourselves, in every moment, the meaning of our lives. Jones describes the difference between living a life of "success" (in the conventional, materialistic sense) and a life of "significance," which comes about through a shift in consciousness from all that is "wrong" with the world to all that is "right" with it (inlcuding all that is "right" with ourselves). Having said this, it's also important to note that Jones, Frankl and Pattakos are not "Pollyanna's." Indeed, for Frankl at least, meaning can be found - indeed, must be found - in the inevitable suffering and heartache that is part of human existence.
Jones offers us a method of refining our consciousness so that the lens with which we view our condition is one of beauty, hope and abundance. From that perspective, Jones suggests that life is no longer about finding "the" right answer, but rather remaining open to all of life's possibilities. Jones challenges us to refine and hone our God-given talents and to position ourselves in the place of the most potential, so that when life presents an opportunity (which it will if we are keeping our eyes open for it, if we prepare ourselves by refining our talents, and if we position ourselves in the best place to maximize those talents), we are ready to seize the moment. In short, life is not about finding "the" right answer, but rather about continously looking for the "next" right answer that presents itself to us.
In following the methodology Jones describes, one can define the significance of one's existence (Frankl's "Will to Meaning") and in so doing, lead a life of significance. If that's not success, I'm not sure what is.
How does this tie in to the work of Victor Frankl and Dr. Alex Pattakos? Frankl and Pattakos describe man's "Will to Meaning," which is the exercise of our consciousness to identify and define for ourselves, in every moment, the meaning of our lives. Jones describes the difference between living a life of "success" (in the conventional, materialistic sense) and a life of "significance," which comes about through a shift in consciousness from all that is "wrong" with the world to all that is "right" with it (inlcuding all that is "right" with ourselves). Having said this, it's also important to note that Jones, Frankl and Pattakos are not "Pollyanna's." Indeed, for Frankl at least, meaning can be found - indeed, must be found - in the inevitable suffering and heartache that is part of human existence.
Jones offers us a method of refining our consciousness so that the lens with which we view our condition is one of beauty, hope and abundance. From that perspective, Jones suggests that life is no longer about finding "the" right answer, but rather remaining open to all of life's possibilities. Jones challenges us to refine and hone our God-given talents and to position ourselves in the place of the most potential, so that when life presents an opportunity (which it will if we are keeping our eyes open for it, if we prepare ourselves by refining our talents, and if we position ourselves in the best place to maximize those talents), we are ready to seize the moment. In short, life is not about finding "the" right answer, but rather about continously looking for the "next" right answer that presents itself to us.
In following the methodology Jones describes, one can define the significance of one's existence (Frankl's "Will to Meaning") and in so doing, lead a life of significance. If that's not success, I'm not sure what is.
posted by Chris Kenny at
9:25 AM
