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Hey Dude, want to drop some acid with the CFO?
The answer is a hard “NO”. There is a trend now for executives to take hallucinogens to reach enlightenment and/or come up with more creative ways of selling yoga pants. Depends on who is selling the experience. I just read a fascinating article in the NYT about a retreat for CEO’s to take a “guided” psylocibin trip with a former oil and gas company CEO turned Guru and Yoga instructor. Boy, this hits all the fads that make me laugh and freak out at the same time. Guy has no noted medical training. Looks like he personally had a mushroom trip realized what a jack ass he was and retired to being a Guru. This fits with all my fears and biases of everybody and their cousin becoming a “coach” now.
The issue is not taking the drug. The issue is what you are trying to accomplish with one more “pill” to short cut way to self-development. Enlightenment isn’t a weekend retreat, not a one and your done deal. It is a lifetime pursuit. Look, I was a Psychology major is the 60’s and early seventies. I did dabble in a couple of mind-expanding experiences so I’m not judging. But I am looking back at those events with 50 years of hindsight and experiences and hard damn work to contextualize them.
Sure, it was for me a fun interesting experience. I think your 20’s is all about experimentation. But I was also training to be a psychologist, hanging out with some wonderful friends, playing Rugby, reading lots of books and trying to find my place in the world. I started backpacking and exploring the joys of nature. I learned a bit about meditation and T-groups and the human potential movement. I studied and worked with great mentors in the world of psychology who taught me tons about the possibility of making people’s lives better through, empathy and understanding the human mind more each year.
During my development as a parent educator, I met the love of my life. We got married and had two wonderful children. Now that is a real “trip” which in no way compares to the silly chemically induced ones of my youth. No experimentation of my youth compares to the moment the doctor lifted Charlie over the curtain in the operating room. Taking a chemical does not compare to the everlasting effect of living with one of the most dedicated, selfless human beings on the planet. None of the dalliances of my youth was as satisfying as seeing the decent caring men my sons have become.
But the real “trips” of my life are born of hard work, listening, screwing up, trying to correct, screwing up again and doing my best to never give up on the journey. Not taking a pill and listing to music with a former fossil fuel exec. I now refer to what I have learned in “my life’s work”. All that I have accumulated over 76 years.
I have the deepest respect for our clients who have spent years trying to explore their own humanity and make the world a better place for the people around them. I appreciate what each of you have contributed to my development by being in my classes. I invite you to continue your quest for self-development and becoming a better person just don’t think its’s going to happen over 2 days in the mountains with Bob the former CEO.
As always we invite your comments.
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