Breakthrough
Newsletter
VOLUME XII ISSUE NO. 9 | SEPTEMBER 2020
Breakthrough
"Productive insight; clear (often sudden) understanding of a complex situation." Free Dictionary

Pop the bubble of conditioned thinking and emerge into the creative realm of "no absolutes," continuous change, uncertainty and unlimited possibilities.

Then, there can be innovation, adaptation and optimal performance.
Performance and Open-minded Mindfulness
Open-minded: questioning everything, accepting diversity and uncertainty.  

Mindful:  consciously aware; concentrated. 

Foundation for blending process, project, engagement and knowledge management into a cohesive approach to optimize performance.
Make the Earth Green Again - Warriors of the Rainbow
By George Pitagorsky
"When the Earth is dying a new tribe of people
shall come unto the Earth from many colors, classes, creeds, who by their actions and deeds
shall make the Earth green again.
They will be known as the Warriors of the Rainbow." 
~Attributed to Hopi Prophecy

Sometimes I think prophesies are aspirations rather than inspired visions of the future. Though, it is comforting to think that they are magical emanations of wisdom, destined to come true. Either way, what we do, say, and think matters.  

No doubt the earth is dying. Everything dies. The timing and the quality of life along the way are influenced by how well something is cared for. Our bodies are likely to last longer if we treat them well, with the right exercise, mindset, and diet. Abuse them and old age is more uncomfortable than it needs to be.

The earth is like that. It may not die quickly, but the prognosis for a comfortable aging is grim if we continue to abuse her.

The Time Before 
What is a dead earth? It is one that no longer sustains life. Hopefully, that is a long way off. But what of the time between now and then?  

Think of the consequences of the continued use of pollutants that poison water and air and practices that destroy forests. Imagine growing up and old in an environment that has no green - unless you are wealthy enough to have your own. Imagine if air quality was so poor that each unfiltered breath killed a little bit more of your lungs. Imagine if your water was laced with lead and it poisoned your children.

Warriors
But there is hope. We can be Warriors of the Rainbow.  

The path to warriorship begins with oneself; with one's intention and one's ability to not get lost in fear, anger, or impatience. It includes compassion for those who hold to their comfortable and profitable destructive ways or who fail to take part in the change.  

The intention is to cultivate a future that is built upon respect for the earth and its inhabitants.  

Responsiveness
Warriors are responsive.  

The ability to not get lost is the key. It relies on the awareness of the difference between reactivity and responsiveness. Reactivity is a response that does not leave space to choose. Reactivity is destructive more often than not.  Responsiveness is the quality of acting in a way that supports goals and objectives and fits the situation at hand. Responsiveness assumes choice.    

Responsiveness requires effort. In particular, the effort to cultivate mindful awareness so that when faced with strong feelings, like righteous anger or depression, one can step back, assess the situation and then choose what to do.  

What the warrior does depends on her abilities and conditions. Some may plant trees. Some speak out to promote ecology consciousness. Others remind their friends and family that using single use plastic containers damages the earth. Others support and vote for leaders and representatives who will promote ecological health. Still others buy green and invest green. 

Rainbow Warriors look beyond ecology and recognize the relationship among environment, social justice, economics, and wise governance.

Be a warrior. Do what you can to sustain a healthy earth.  
How to be Happy Even When You Are Sad, Mad or Scared:

How to be happy...How to be Happy Even When You Are Sad, Mad or Scared is available on Amazon.com. It is a book for children of all ages (including those in adult bodies). Buy it for the children in your life so they can be better able to “feel and deal” - feel and accept their emotions and deal with them in a way that avoids being driven by them. You can order the book at https://www.amazon.com/How-Happy-Even-When-Scared/dp/1072233363
Performance and Open-minded Mindfulness
Open-minded: questioning everything, accepting diversity and uncertainty. 
 
Mindful: consciously aware; concentrated. 

Foundation for blending process, project, engagement and knowledge management into a cohesive approach to optimize performance.
By George Pitagorsky

Success is measured in how well and how regularly you meet expectations. But what exactly are expectations, and how do you effectively manage them when multiple priorities and personalities are involved?
Using the case study of a Project Manager coordinating an organizational transition, this Managing Expectations book explores how to apply a mindful, compassionate, and practical approach to satisfying expectations in any situation. George Pitagorsky describes how to make sure expectations are rational, mutually understood, and accepted by all those with a stake in the project. This process relies on blending a crisp analytical approach with the interpersonal skills needed to negotiate win-win understandings of what is supposed to be delivered, by when, for how much, by who, and under what conditions.
Managing Conflict in Projects
By George Pitagorsky

Managing Conflict in Projects: Applying Mindfulness and Analysis for Optimal Results by George Pitagorsky charts a course for identifying and dealing with conflict in a project context.

Pitagorsky states up front that conflict management is not a cookbook solution to disagreement-a set of prescribed actions to be applied in all situations. His overall approach seeks to balance two aspects of conflict management: analysis based on a codified process and people-centered behavioral skills.

The book differentiates conflict resolution and conflict management. Management goes beyond resolution to include relationship building that may serve to avoid conflict or facilitate resolution if it occurs.
 
The Zen Approach to Project Management 
By George Pitagorsky

Projects are often more complex and stressful than they need to be. Far too many of them fail to meet expectations. There are far too many conflicts. There are too few moments of joy and too much anxiety. But there is hope. It is possible to remove the unnecessary stress and complexity. This book is about how to do just that. It links the essential principles and techniques of managing projects to a "wisdom" approach for working with complex, people-based activities.