Changing Hearts & Minds: A Balancing Act

My "artistic" attempt to signify balance in life: yoga & heels

Since I am interested in both business and balance (my chosen method being yoga), I closely follow the movement of social entrepreneurship (SE). A recent article proposed a possible distinction between SE and cultural entrepreneurship(CE).  Of course I had to wrap my brain around this one. What really grabbed my attention was how the authors, stated that, "a new distinction must be made between innovations that focus on changing markets and systems and those that change hearts and minds". Aaahhhh...yesssssssss.

Last night around 11PM I opened my email and had received my weekly newsletter from Social Edge, the online community operated by the Skoll Foundation. The main topic, to my delight, was CE. I opened the discussion and felt compelled to contribute my two cents on the subject. So much so that I stayed up until 2AM crafting my response! So unlike me, but when passion is alive...

I hope I don't entirely bore you, but I thought I would share my contribution on the subject, as I hope you will see how a balanced and heart-centered approach to enterprise ties into the balance and peace we seek through yoga. I would love for you to join this conversation!

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At first glance I love this distinction and find it useful albeit slightly confusing (as I will explain below). Just as we separate sociology and psychology, as they are each working on different levels of the human experience, these two types of entrepreneurship are working on different levels of societal influence. I would say that cultural entrepreneurship is more psychologically inclined and henceforth has the possibility to create far more impact than that of social entrepreneurship. Approaching an issue from the inside (or the mind/heart level) will always be more effective and more sustainable than doing so from the outside. Although I cannot say it is easier. In fact, it is something that takes a quality somewhat lacking in today’s fast-paced world: patience.

And thus he issue of how to measure the impact of such campaigns and enterprises arises. Can one measure how many hearts have been uplifted from a sermon or a yoga class? Can one measure how a new leader affects the livelihoods of their constituency? The answer is yes, but with time; more time than it takes to measure how many people are now wearing shoes or glasses.  But there are indeed metrics that can be set up and measured over time requiring investors and project managers alike to take on a patience that does not come easily or naturally with our number-crunching, analysis-hungry professional society. (Maybe we should start a cultural movement to address this? Hmm)

I do not believe that CE interrupts the organic creative process of art and writing. Who is to say that all forms of art aren’t always a message for society, for humanity? Is it any different to paint a piece for an art gallery or for a campaign? Can a person’s need to express themselves and their urgency for change in the world through film, word or any other canvas be discounted as not being entirely creative? I see no disruption here. It is for each individual to decide how their creativity is manifested through their work and/or leisure.

Key influencers in such movements would seem quite easy to pin down. Who has the Twitter following? Who is selling the most books? However, anyone who has studied psychology or even philosophy (especially eastern) might argue that it is not always as it seems who holds the key to the hearts and minds of people. It seems this task will also fall under the somewhat ambiguous and hard-to-pin-down category as the impact metrics. This will require an increased level of patience but more importantly a leadership that is as good at listening to their own hearts as they are listening to logic and reason. Intuition, as pointed out in Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, is a highly effective tool and when properly attuned can produce great results. I propose that within cultural entrepreneurship it is not only that we are looking to change the hearts and minds of people and society, but we are doing so from within enterprises and leadership that already have these two areas aligned. And since social entrepreneurs should also have these attributes, they too contribute to this larger cultural change. In this I see the term “cultural entrepreneurship” as the larger of the two types, perhaps the more important of the two, but certainly they are in synergy.

The confusion I mentioned in opening is due to the fact that culture is generally part of society, and so one might assume that societal change would be the more important of the two. However, I find cultural change far more pressing in creating lasting, sustainable change. Social entrepreneurs address issues arising from cultural influence (example: providing glasses in a society whose culture has not yet produced healthcare options or coverage). Cultural entrepreneurs influence the people who comprise said cultures (example: campaigns to spark interest in public policy). These people and their ever changing cultures go on to influence and change the social issues addressed by social entrepreneurs. (Now that was a mouthful!) It's both! It's synergy. We need both so let's keep up the momentum!*

*This response has been slightly altered from original to make sense away from the original prompts.

Om tat sat! 

Ohhh Right...Goat's Milk

I have been going back on forth on my stance of dairy consumption for years. I go through periods of time where I eat it, and other times I don't. I can't really say in which periods I feel 'better'. But every time I am not eating it, there comes some point where I am craving it. SO...there must be something in there my body likes. Period. I have taken the stance that it's not something I need to eliminate so much as to be mindful of in my consumption. How much am I using? Is it an emotional or physiological craving? What is the quality? How were these animals treated at the farm? What it a real farm or a factory farm? Lots to consider!

And on the dairy subject, I had a breakthrough the other day regarding the difference between cow dairy and goat dairy products. I stopped into the amazing local raw foods spot, Oasis, for a Maca-infused (more on Maca Root in an upcoming Superfoods post) warm beverage and ended up having a great discussion with the owner who is also-you guessed-amazing. We were chatting about the dairy issue and how it's such a sticking point in various dietary theories. I was explaining how I have been studying and practicing Ayurveda (promotes milk, yogurt and ghee for certain doshas) but also combining it with some modern studies by Dr. Mercola (he says raw dairy is good) and wanting to infuse the knowledge of the raw foods movement. What she said next blew me away. She mentioned that her body likes goat's milk much better than cow's because they are more her size. A goat is more her size...and my size...and (hopefully) your size too. OHHHHHHHHHH...OK- that makes sense! Cow milk is produced to grow COWS. Goat's milk is produced to grow GOATS. And yes indeed, I am closer in size to a goat than a cow and I intend to keep it that way:)

So in the end, where I am today with my view on dairy, is that I will use (sparingly) mostly goat's milk products that are organic, grass-fed and raw (unpasteurized). How about you? What do you think about our nation's obsession with dairy? What's your relationship with it like?

Bon Appetite!

I Voted Yesterday-You Did Too!

Our personal power to make magnificent change in the world through what we choose to buy has been an interest of mine for some time now. After working in product marketing for a consumer goods company making their products in factories overseas, I have come to see the immense value in products that are made with integrity and with the health of the planet and its people in mind. We were trained to cut costs at every corner-at the expense of many. And while I am well-versed in understanding that companies need to be profitable, the amount of greed I have been exposed to (we all have) in a culture of careless consumption has pushed me to speak out about the issue. We simply cannot keep TAKING. As our nation's horrendous case of affluenza doesn't seem to be tapering off all too quickly...we all need to be talking about taking less.

This is a subject I will write about often as one post could never cover the many facets of how we can make changes in local and global economies as well as our environment, simply by how we choose to spend our money. To get a comprehensive overview of the subject and to learn about the Materials Economy -the process involved in our getting all of the 'stuff' we buy-watch The Story of Stuff. It's awesome: eloquent, short, and full of great information. Then listen to this radio interview I did a few weeks ago, focusing on the importance of where we put our cash during the holiday shopping rush.

This morning I was reading an article by Dr. Mercola. In the article he is warning us of the dangers of Genetically Modified foods (GMOs) to our health. GMOs are being linked to issues with fertility and overall disease in the body. And we know it can't be doing any favors for our soil. Think about it...sterile, genetically altered soil...GMO plants...make GMO people! Who can't reproduce. Not a good thing. Dr. Mercola goes on to say that we do vote with our pocketbooks when we refuse to buy these foods. We send the strong message that it's not acceptable to alter the way nature has created and provided food for our species for millenia in such complicated and dangerous ways. At the grocery store check-out we need to vote for real food that can be grown sustainably. Here is the list of eight foods Dr. Mercola describes as the crops most genetically modified:

Soy
Corn
Cottonseed (used in vegetable cooking oils)
Canola (canola oil)
Sugar from sugar beets
Hawaiian papaya
Some varieties of zucchini
Crookneck squash

I knew I hated Canola Oil! The easiest way to avoid GMO foods is to do some research and planning before you shop. Here is a link to the Dr. Mercola interview and other related articles.

Educate yourself and know that every single day you are voting. These are the votes that impact us all more than any election for political office ever could. Period.

Om tat sat.

Monday Meditation: Peace in the Pew

I went to church yesterday with my mom. It's the church that I attended growing up. It's a nice church. Nice people, pretty building, talented ministers. I did find the services boring at certain points in my life, most likely because I was being forced to attend against my will. One can imagine that a teenager would much rather be in bed at 9AM on a Sunday morning than sitting on a hard pew listening to parables and announcements usually regarding things furthest from said teenager's mind. But yesterday was different. As was the time I attended this same church a few weeks earlier on my own. And here is why (other than that I haven't been a teenager in 10 years!):

I spent 7 months waking up at 5:30AM to sit for half and hour in silence to meditate. I filled two journals in that time with insights and wisdom that would surely only come to me in those dark and quiet moments. And while I have not been able to maintain a self-discipline to sit myself down for half an hour each morning since I have departed the community and structure that an ashram brings, I am discovering a few tricks. And one is church.

Because I would never describe myself as religious, I do believe this would work in almost any center for spiritual communion, not necessarily only in a Presbyterian church. But what happens during the service is simply this-you can't get up and leave. I mean you could if you really wanted or needed to but in essence you are committed to being somewhat still and present for about an hour. And within that hour there is some standing, some singing, some messages from the Bible, as well as some moments for prayer-both led and silent. Aside from the standing aspect, this is not too different from Satsang at the ashram! Sit still, quiet the mind, empty your 'self' and your 'Self'/God just may swoop in with some answers. Of course I believe those 'answers' are always there, we just can't really hear them through all of our over-analytical, frenzied thinking. And on this particular Sunday, having spent the previous afternoon at a bookstore reading many of the political and social journals and magazines, my mind took me here in the midst of the silence:

NOTE: This is verbatim, written on a small orange notepad my mom was miraculously carrying around with her. I now know to bring my journal to church. Also note that the minister's message for the morning was about the prophet Jeremiah, who was incredibly unpopular for the prophecies he would bring to the people-so much so he was eventaully thrown in jail. I suppose we have a long history of those who cry for change being belittled and hated, even when what they bring is TRUTH. (Especially then). This is my truth and I share:

I am choosing in this first statement to focus only on idealism and optimism when looking at our nation: We have done wondrous things in a mere 300 years. We have created infrastructure like no other in size, breadth and effectiveness. Our achievements are many and they are grand.

Now, I add the realist tilt, the view that is gaining popularity but still will never be a delivery of 'good news' in conventional circles. Was this great building of cities and infrastructure done with mindfulness? No. Was is done with greed, with the mind on the fiscal progress of the few and the feeble benefit or poeverty of many? Yes.

I do happen to believe that everyone does their best. Meaning that in a given situation, humans will, with their frame of reference in that moment, make the best decision they can at that time. And so I don't shed blame. It is clear that the best that could be done with our collective frames of reference was done. And now? Now we see the error of our way. We do need to feel a sense of pride in our progress in the sense of technology and discovery, but also an even greater sense of calling to repair the wounds that have resulted in our haste.

The prescriptions of consumerism and capitalism to heal the wounded American/Human spirit, have proven to have disastrous side-effects. And rather than to continue on this unsustainable 'pharm-cycle' of a pill-for-an-ill, the time has come to address the cause of the disease rather than simply treating the symptoms. We are killing our environment and its inhabitants with the weapon of human greed. How do we heal this? What is the right prescription? (Grassroots, grow-your-own...the people need to WANT to stop buying crap...)

Om tat sat.

This Gives Me Goosebumps!

I love this kid! OMG! It so truly warms my heart and gives me so much hope as the generations coming up are totally understanding the craziness that is "frankenfood". This video brings together two things that I truly love: the sustainable agriculture movement and the TEDx conferences. When together there is a 'viral' ability to spread the good news that there are MANY people out there, young and old, that understand how many many many of the 'issues' we face in our world: climate change, fossil fuel reliance, the economy; are connected to the fact that we have too many over-chemicalized, under nutrient-rich foods circulating in our food chain. While many of the wealthier nations are stuffing themselves silly with these 'foods' that come in shiny wrappers, others are starving due to soils that cannot grow foods and unstable governments and environments that limit the ability to establish a sustainable growing system.

OK-as I step off my soapbox, I encourage you to WATCH THIS!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7Id9caYw-Y

Om Om

PS-I totally am aware of the possible 'brainwashing' people might see here. But Birke IS 11 and not 7 and that is totally a big difference. I choose to simply stick with the message :)

Where is the FOOD?

I can appreciate that I may have been spoiled in the past when it came to choices for eating. I lived in Providence for a year where there were 3 Whole Foods in one small city. I had a stint as a local foods buyer in Maine where I could order whatever produce and specialty items I wanted and talk to the farmer who grew it. I spent 7 months living on an ashram where we ate 100% organic vegetarian meals. Much of our produce came from our own gardens and I participated in a lot of the cooking. I knew what was going into our meals. And most recently, I spent 3 months living in Boulder, Colorado. Now if anyone doesn't know about Boulder let me sum it up in a few choice words: healthy, organic, sunshine, smiles, athletic, yogic. I could seriously walk into every 3rd restaurant and find gluten-free beer on tap, organic salads made with goat cheese from a farm 5 miles away, and grass-fed beef burgers (if I had wanted them). And if I had a sniffle-I had over dozen herbalist apothecaries to choose from. It was a health-nuts dream come true. But it's NOT reality. For the special few who can afford to live in a town like Boulder and then also afford the price tag of those healthy menu items, reality it might be. But for most, that world it is simply out of reach.

This reality has come crashing down on me as I have returned to the area where I grew up-greater Philadelphia. Within the 30 mile radius of the densely populated suburban region where I am currently residing, there are 2 Whole Foods markets, and maybe 4-5 small 'natural' grocery stores. This may seem like a decent amount but I can tell you-it's not. I find myself needing to go between 3-4 different stores to get all of the different items I am used to be able to find in one store. Decent eggs from this store, flax oil from that one. The same box of cereal at one store might cost $3.59 and at another $5.99. When you start to notice this it's hard to justify buying the more expensive 'version', hence furthering the need to traverse between multiple shopping locations. And let me clarify that it's not just that I need to have 'organic' foods. It's that I need to have food, as opposed to 'food-like products' AKA chemicals. My body is very sensitive to artificial preservatives and additives and I notice right away when I start to eat packaged foods that the headaches creep in, my anxiety goes up, and my attention span dissipates.

I recalled the last time I was in the area going into a certain grocery store. It is a large chain and they had a nice little organic section where I could find some of the items I am used to buying. Today I waltzed in after a stop at the bank thinking I would pick up a few tasties for the weekend-some Gouda and organic apples. Maybe some spinach and pecans, some organic goat cheese (I was hungry). Imagine my shock when one of the stock boys told me that along with the recent 'renovation' of the store they got rid of the organic section!!!!!!!!!!!! He said I would have to look amongst the other inner-aisle goods (see the Food Politics site or read The Omnivores Dilemma for more on that) to find their organic counterparts. This proved tough. Over in produce 4 organic apples cost $4.99! And they were on a Styrofoam plate covered in plastic wrap!?!?! Does anyone else see how backwards this is? I was in grocery store hell. I couldn't find a darn thing to eat in an entire store dedicated to food. Or wait...is that what they are dedicated to? NO. The truth is they are dedicated to money and to providing whatever it is that fills their pockets. (Read Marion Nestle's amazing book What to Eat).

I left the store with a jar of almond butter (they didn't have organic-even if I could afford it at around $15/jar), rice cakes (no organic option), a box of Corn Chex (only gluten-free cereal I could find) and a bag of frozen sweet potato fries. Since tomorrow is Saturday I can get my produce from a farmer's market. (But what about in November?!) Some good that comes of all of this is my further burning desire to open my own natural food store and apothecary!