John Stepper

ᴏɴ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ I've been practicing meditation for more than 30 years. It is singularly the most important habit I've cultivated and has reaped huge benefits for me. I found this piece of text in a treatise called The Practice of Intent by Etsko Schuitema that sums up meditation beautifully. I've put a link to the treatise in the comments section. It's an important piece of work dealing with the issues of prayer, meditation, keeping a journal and attention (predatory/receptive). ᴍᴇᴅɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ By Adnan Al Adnani > Meditation is not concentration, it is relaxation into oneself, awareness. > Accept thoughts, no denial, no tension, no rejection, no struggle, and no conflict. > Meditation is not introspection. Introspection is thinking about yourself. > Introspection is analysing, judging, and rationalising a situation (reaction), not the self. > Meditation is simply awareness of yourself (remembrance). Awareness of a reaction (e.g. anger) before it materialises will dissipate the reaction. > Meditation is not an experience, it is a realisation, it is a stopping of all experiences. > Experience is something outside of you. The experiencer is your being. False spirituality is concerned about the experience. Experiences continually change, the experiencer is changeless (real). > Awareness cannot exist with duality, and mind cannot exist without duality. > The mind wants to be somewhere else, something else, to become. > The mind does not allow being. > The mind is becoming and the soul is being. > Time exists only with becoming (desiring). Future exists because you desire. > Mind cannot stop out of effort. Mind stops out of understanding, awareness. Watch and understand the cause of these thoughts. Through looking deeply into those causes those causes disappear, then mind slows down. > Witnessing is the beginning of meditation, and no-mind is the completion. > Witnessing is the method to reach no-mind. > Witnessing is in your hands, but no-mind is beyond your control. > No-mind means that the higher self is in control of the mind. > Mind is a medium for external communication that is used when needed. > No-mind is enlightenment, is liberation, is freedom from all bondage, is the experience of immortality, is the Higher self.

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Out of heteronomy into pure life! 3 concrete steps for more self-determination. Why 8 September 2022 will always be a special day for me and what it has to do with self-determination. https://lnkd.in/gZjYj-FT

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It was a pleasure to have Oliver Kannapin, Lead Consultant in FranklinCovey DACH and co-author of best-seller "The 4 Effective Leadership Strategies" in German, join me on The Nature of Leadership podcast. Below is one of many valuable insights that came out of our conversation around the influence of leadership, with a focus on the connection between strength of character as a leader, and high-trust, effective teams. I'll ask you the same question I asked Oliver: What's emerging about the nature of leadership that you think we should all take notice of? https://lnkd.in/eFffnW26

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Here’s the Myth About Moderation We’ve all heard it: “Just drink in moderation, and it’ll be fine!” But is it really that simple? 🤔 The idea of moderation can sound appealing—it gives the illusion that we’re still in control while enjoying our favourite drinks. But here’s the truth: for many of us, moderation can be a slippery slope. One drink becomes two, then three, and suddenly, the line between “moderation” and excess gets blurry. Some say moderation works for them, while others find it exhausting to maintain. So, is it a sustainable long-term solution? Or does it simply keep us stuck in a cycle? I’m curious—what’s been your experience with moderation?

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𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 It would be great if team culture change were a smooth process, but it’s more likely that we’ll experience some friction on the path to progress. That’s the nature of doing something new. Often this friction takes the form of pushback from your team. Your first reaction towards this might be frustration or disappointment but the occurrence of pushback is not always fully negative. While it can sometimes indicate a poorly managed change process, even if you’ve done all you can to communicate and include everyone, this tension will provide you with information. It could even be evidence that you’re moving in the right direction. Change brings uncertainty and the present situation, however unproductive, is certain and familiar. Your team may consciously or unconsciously try to protect the status quo because this is where they feel more control. Even if you all agree the future direction will be better, those initial steps away from the predictable day-to-day can be challenging, especially when your team is busy and the required effort feels like yet another thing to do. This may be particularly true for a team that hasn’t previously spent any focused time on team culture. It is a completely new and unfamiliar experience. Alternatively, your team could be asking lots of questions. This might feel messy, but it demonstrates that your team is engaging. It could be an indication to slow down and have more conversations. More questions are an opportunity to involve your team in shaping the next steps. https://lnkd.in/e4ntFctf #teamculture #WorkshopCulture

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🎁 Looking for a gift with meaning this year? 🎁 Consider gifting one (or both) of my books, each offering unique perspectives on work and leadership for today’s world: ➤ Open Up Your Organisation (in English) – A guide for leaders on fostering inclusive leadership and building open, resilient teams. This book offers actionable insights for creating workplaces where everyone feels valued and empowered. ➤ C’est pas personnel (in French) – This book dives into the rarely-explored dynamics of corporate life, exposing the challenges, complexities, and power struggles that shape our workplaces. A story that reflects our time and invites reflection. These books are perfect for colleagues, friends, or anyone who’s ready to explore fresh perspectives on work and leadership. For a thoughtful gift this holiday season, choose a book that inspires and challenges. 📩 Contact me by email ([email protected]) for special orders and to get signed copies!

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Being in control of yourself leads to feeling happy. An article called “Yes, but Are They Happy? Effects of Trait Self-Control on Affective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction” by Wilhelm Hofmann and other researchers looked at how being good at controlling ourselves affects how we feel and how satisfied we are with our lives. They conducted three studies with different groups of people and found that when people are better at self-control, they tend to feel better and are more satisfied with their lives. Being able to handle challenges and goals well was a big part of why that happens. The study also showed that self-control helps people not feel too stressed and keeps them balanced when they’re working toward their goals. (**This is taken from my new book, "Lessons from Abdul: The Hidden of Receiving Anyone, Anytime") To purchase your copy, go to: https://lnkd.in/eK4iBWF4 #Leadership #InsideOutLeadership #PersonalGrowth #LessonsFromAbdul #BookLaunch #PassionProject #Mentorship Holman International Lessons from Abdul

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YOUR PURPOSE IS LOOKING FOR YOU… AND WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION I am feeling inspired and about the epic retreat I’m co-creating with my partner in purpose Julie Moksim We meet on Koh Phangan, Thailand, October 5-12. This is my only in-person offering this year so all my creative energy is pouring into this… Since we started this collaboration, it has been rewiring my neurons for a new reality of co-creation. It is happening with so much ease with movements in flow underground, unseen. There’s tons of mutual appreciation, synergy in the gifts we bring, and alignment in our desires for humanity. We both stand for embodied, awakened leadership as something that the world urgently needs more of. And we are creating something very special together to support the emergence of this. This one is for those who have been “doing the work” already… practicing yoga and meditation, healing your trauma, reconditioning the mind, and growing your multi-dimensional capacities… This is for you if you are ready to ground this work into physical reality — to integrate spiritual wisdom into material creation. Let’s go! This is our time. I can’t wait to see who’s going to come along with us on this journey… (Soon!) The first 4 registrations will be offered a steep discount, as a thank you for helping us anchor the group energy. You have a few days to get on our pre-launch email notification list. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gZECYvWJ We will send details to the early notice list a week before launch, so you get first dibs on those discounted spaces. #thailandretreat #regenerativepurpose #purposeretreat #onpurpose #soulpurpose #purposecoach #purposecoaching

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✨ Breaking Free from Unrealistic Beauty Standards ✨ In today’s podcast episode, we’re tackling a topic that affects so many women—how societal pressures shape our views on appearance and self-worth. From unrealistic media portrayals to cultural expectations, these standards often feel impossible to live up to. Tune in to learn practical tips for embracing your unique beauty and letting go of harmful myths. 🎧 Join the conversation, share this episode with someone who needs it, and follow on Spotify to never miss another empowering discussion! #SelfAcceptance #BodyPositivity #Podcast #BeautyStandards #LoveSoulConnection Hello, I am Meeta, an Intimacy & Sexuality Coach. I empower women to go from Confusion to Clarity in their Sexuality in 3 Months with my Intimacy Coaching Program. Connect with me for a 1:1 call!

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𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝘀: • Simply reading the author's speculations, written in such poetic prose, elevated the quality of my contemplations. • My perspective shifted to the business world—specifically how the ideas shared could influence leadership and what I’ll call “learnership.” LEADERSHIP 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 Leaders are the guides we depend on to shape our work, lives, and functions. This essay left me pondering: 1. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 "𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝘄𝗲" when it comes to enriching their strategic thought processes, which ultimately impact so many lives? 2. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗖-𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆? The considerations are vast—from market share to customer satisfaction, operational costs, and long-term employee effectiveness. 3. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹? Could activities that counterbalance the tightening grip of technology help the nuances of humanity resurface, providing the "x-factor" that differentiates businesses? LEARNERSHIP 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 To me, "learnership" is both an individual responsibility to grow and the influence we in L&D have on learning experiences. 1. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 to prompt personal revelations that benefit learners’ professional development? 2. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 "𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆" in L&D to invigorate learners, foster deeper solutions, and anchor learning? 3. 𝗔𝗺 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (or challenging stakeholders) due to fears about receptivity? This article feels timely as I reflect on insights from a recent 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 course. My mind is abuzz with ideas for maximizing the depth and impact of professional development. (PS: I highly recommend the course from Intrepid by VitalSource, led by JR Burch!) #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LifeLongLearning #PersonalGrowth #L&D #LearningAndDevelopment 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘: [Tech-vexed: How digital life threatens our capacity for awe](https://lnkd.in/gYpFWZ74)

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Today on world mental health day, here’s how #coaching for #innerpeace can help create a more peaceful and connected world full of individuals who care .. For themselves as much as others.✨

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Nonviolent Communication Marshall Rosenberg, the person and pioneer behind nonviolent communication (NVC), developed this profound method after observing and understanding how people connect across various cultures and situations. His deep-seated belief was that genuine communication holds the power to heal conflicts and foster peace. With an open heart, Rosenberg shared NVC in over 60 countries, impacting countless lives worldwide. His teachings continue to resonate deeply with those yearning for more harmonious relationships. Understanding Nonviolent Communication Nonviolent communication is more than just a conversation style; it's a heartfelt approach designed to create safe spaces where everyone involved can express themselves openly and with empathy. Emerging in the 1960s, NVC gained traction based on the beautiful premise that every human carries within them the seed of compassion. According to its principles, individuals only turn to violence or harmful behaviours when they struggle to find better ways to meet their needs. NVC aims to nurture more loving and peaceful interactions by gently guiding people towards peaceful resolutions through empathetic language and understanding. *Observations** Simply stating what we notice without adding our judgments or interpretations helps create an environment where the other person feels safe to express themselves. For example, instead of saying, "You're always late," try saying, "I noticed that you arrived 30 minutes after the scheduled time." This way, you're sharing an observation rather than making them feel criticized. **Feelings** Sharing how certain situations affect us can foster genuine connections and deeper understanding. If someone's lateness negatively affects you, instead of saying, "You're always late, and it's so frustrating," share your feelings openly: "I feel anxious and stressed when someone is late because I'm worried about not being able to complete everything on time." **Needs** Clearly stating what you need in a situation can make it easier for more effective communication and collaboration. For instance, if punctuality is essential to you for smooth functioning, Instead of expressing anger by saying something like "You're disrespecting my time," explain your needs calmly: "I need clear expectations and reliable timelines to feel comfortable and work effectively." **Requests** Inviting others to meet your needs through specific requests encourages cooperation. Rather than pointing fingers with statements such as "You're always late," frame it as a request like this: "Can you let me know in advance if you're running late next time so I can plan accordingly?" This approach focuses on finding solutions together. --- For a more in-depth conversation Alexandria S.puts it into perspective Listen now ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ewSabWms

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