tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341878276433280761.post2354261141606689902..comments2019-06-20T14:47:24.534+01:00Comments on Avoiding Bethel: MeeknessChristopher Willmothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08547452741717805076noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341878276433280761.post-75949065974908228732009-05-01T11:01:00.000+01:002009-05-01T11:01:00.000+01:00Well, yes. But I still think that is adding to th...Well, yes. But I still think that is adding to the clutter. One of our difficulties today is there is simply too much information. I would much prefer the onus to be on the consumer.<br /><br />But we live in the world we live in, and I suspect I'm being too idealistic there. As you say, the intention counts for a lot: I think people are quite sensitive to that and modesty (even unsolicited) generally speaks well of us.Christopher Willmothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08547452741717805076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341878276433280761.post-66236844539446083152009-05-01T00:23:00.000+01:002009-05-01T00:23:00.000+01:00I initially alienated myself from my family becaus...I initially alienated myself from my family because I thought I was different, as time went on it then became a habit ........ how wrong was I. <br /><br />My dear Chris I totally agree with (and practice) everything you've so eloquently said.<br /><br />However word of mouth advertising is a very slow process. Surely if your intentions are pure and your only informing people of your abilities e.g. Google then any form of advertising is good.chiki52https://www.blogger.com/profile/03362659049148844865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341878276433280761.post-52909480881815377422009-04-28T22:50:00.000+01:002009-04-28T22:50:00.000+01:00Yes, I see your point.
First, doesn't "making yo...Yes, I see your point. <br /><br />First, doesn't "making your mark" comes in both flavours? The difference is whether the new contact feels supported (empowered, free) or used (threatened, trapped). <br /><br />I would class all blanket advertising in the second category. When we need something we know that we need it — its part of the definition of "need". So a company telling us we "need" their new product is not treating us honourably. Like false care, it feels bad when you're on the receiving end. <br /><br />But that's not what you are doing. Your aim is to support and enable your clients. In this case word-of-mouth (or some other human-scaled) outreach is usually most appropriate and effective.<br /><br />Second, I think your aims are different. Rather than "advertising for customers" you are inviting people into your circle of care. <br /><br />You are only secondarily trying to make a name for yourself. Once you have as many clients as you could personally support you wouldn't wish to recruit more (unless you've trained an assistant to your satisfaction). If you couldn't serve them as they expect you wouldn't take their money.<br /><br />I see it as part of a cosmic cycle of give-and-take; quite different from seeing customers as sources of profit. Someone offering a service should have their needs met in return; by their clients giving them money in lieu. IMO the difference is whether there is genuine caring for the potential clients or whether they are just being used to boost the provider's profile or income.<br /><br />I believe meekness provides a viable, genuine business model. Instead of the value of the business being measured in money, it is measured in customer satisfaction. I see no reason why such a business could not be extremely prosperous. <br /><br />As far as I can tell, Google is still an honourable business. (They aim to make everyone's life better and raise money so they can be more effective). One clue is the modest, almost self-effacing way they advertise: trying to offer information rather than undue influence. Do you know of a Google customer that feels used or constrained or belittled by the company? It will be interesting to see if they can pull it off.Christopher Willmothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08547452741717805076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341878276433280761.post-12751577704798401182009-04-28T21:18:00.000+01:002009-04-28T21:18:00.000+01:00I enjoyed this post Chris. Hey I could understand ...I enjoyed this post Chris. Hey I could understand it too! ;-)<br /><br />You wrote:<br />"Avoiding the temptation to "make our mark in the world" is possibly one of the most powerful decisions we can make. In willingly limiting our sphere of activity to those who already know us, we are already co-operating, acting the "sailing-boat" way."<br /><br />So what do you say about a situation like mine where I advertise to tutor children and parents, who I do not already know, come to me and I tutor their child? All parties are happy with this situation (including the children).<br />Also, people who I do not already know, may (hopefully) come for an EFT session. <br />I think I am being a sailing boat in both situations but I am 'making my mark on the world' both times.Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00385894170644666733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341878276433280761.post-47010740327706543212009-04-28T17:02:00.000+01:002009-04-28T17:02:00.000+01:00Hi Baptiste, thanks for your interesting comments....Hi Baptiste, thanks for your interesting comments. :-)<br /><br />I totally agree about our not really being in control of what we do (we only think we are). <br /><br />For me, that only produces one recommendation: forgiveness. We should be slow to judge and always prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt. <br /><br />Beyond that, though, I would strongly fight against any "rules" of how to live together. That's already been tried by the Church, and it wasn't exactly a success!<br /><br />---<br /><br />You mention utopia, but I don't see what I was writing as utopian. It isn't necessary for everyone to behave the same way for it to work.<br /><br />It works in a society with all kinds of people in it. The beauty of humility and meekness is that these are things aggressive and domineering people actively avoid. Most people don't <I>seek</I> the lowest place, leaving lots of space for those of us who do! <br /><br />See <A HREF="http://avoidingbethel.blogspot.com/2009/03/fruit-tree_21.html" REL="nofollow">The Fruit Tree</A> for how this sort of "bottom up" approach actually <I>needs</I> the bad behaviour of other people, because it feeds on the crap to produce the good fruit. That's the beauty of it. Once we realise we <I>don't</I> need what we were told we need, the whole world opens up before us. Neat!Christopher Willmothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08547452741717805076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5341878276433280761.post-83806378061336016422009-04-28T16:19:00.000+01:002009-04-28T16:19:00.000+01:00Hello Java ;),
I'm really interested in your arti...Hello Java ;),<br /><br />I'm really interested in your article, this is actually one of my current internal research :). <br /><br />But there is some things I don't really agree. <br /><br /> "On the other hand, acting outside our horizon of care, we are like a monster truck oblivious of the traffic: an accident waiting to happen. Some personal motivation, unrelated to our field of activity, drives us on. Powerful actions have powerful consequences and care-less actions are almost certain to cause trouble."<br /><br />In fact those actions are studied by psychology. Our brain is driven by chemical. We are like feather in wind, we can control some states but direction is always blur. So in fact when we are taking any decision, it is mainly our mood decision. Futhermore our occidental philosophy seperate mind and body which is ridiculous according to modern science (not only). This means that people who leave together can't really control there own life cause they don't know what will be next state of their own mind. Maybe they will be angry or something, this will describe what we commonly call personnality.<br /><br />But thinking that way is being blind cause as long as we don't know this, we think that all is normal. Some stuff happen but this is life.<br /><br />That's why we begin an other way of thinking. "Maybe we should care about people". Then we develop a long list of things we should do to leave together.<br /><br />---<br /><br />The interesting thing in your article is that the conclusion is finally the same as we learn from catholic. We have to care about other people around us. But not just some cheap stupid care but the true one. The one Daila Lama is thinking of it. This is also a state of mind ! Some research are done in this field and conclusion are really interesting. <br /><br />--<br /><br />There is an other point I would like to talk about. Saying that all people should care, all people should have compation. This is utopia ! I mean you can't say ok people just practice some meditation and then come back to earth you'll see that we will live better. In fact we have build an other society that will permit to live together without carrying the state of mind you are ... I thought about studying social movement with evolution concepts ...<br /><br />This is happening right now, people all around the world are trying to change this place. I'm just worried if we will take the sailing way, and if we can make it just in time ....<br /><br />Only thing Inanobapthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01287490321065085114noreply@blogger.com