Education and Maturity - Thoughts from Robert Greenleaf (Part 4 of 4)

What makes you unique? This is an interesting question to me. We are all unique, yet, there is still a need to examine this question. How should someone approach this question? Is it something that makes them stand out? Is this something they uniquely believe about themselves? Or, does this question have to do with the awareness we have about our own self?

As you ponder how to interpret a question like this, Greenleaf offers a perspective as it relates to maturity. Greenleaf talks about the importance of the word entheos. In this context, he defines it as, "the power actuating one who is inspired." Entheos comes from the same root as enthusiasm, which would be defined as possessed of the spirit. If we think of maturity as becoming, according to Greenleaf, then we can look at this word - entheos - like a lamp. In other words, What makes you unique? It's the "thing" that lights your lamp.

Greenleaf expands on this by stating, "I see entheos as the essence that makes a constructive life possible; it is the sustaining force that holds one together under stress; it is the support for venture-some risk taking action...it is the prod of consciousness that keeps one open to knowledge..."

So, what makes you unique? It is the "thing" that sustains you. "It" keeps you going when you are faced with stressful situations and "it" is the thing that pushes you to do the uncomfortable -even when being comfortable is easier. What I appreciate about what Greenleaf is telling us is the openness to uniqueness - different interests, different passions. We are all driven by something - I would argue. Have you thought about what that "thing" is? If not, why not? In the second issue, we discussed the idea of conforming. We know we will conform to the environments we are in - is this conforming something that will give you energy? Will this motivate you? Will this conforming cause you to become? If not, then we need to exercise our choice and control over our own lives and find that environment where our passion allows us to thrive.

Greenleaf makes a powerful statement when he says, "All that can be willed is the search."

I want you to re-read that and take some time with that statement.

This statement offers a significant challenge for each of us. According to Greenleaf, "One of the greatest challenges of maturity; find your own growth pattern in the search for entheos." This statement has made me consider a few things:

1. Does this mean that my entheos can change over time?

2. Does this mean that I may have more than one entheos?

3. Could this indicate that we all find our enthoes at different times? Is there a "finish line" or true identification?

Again - entheos is the power actuating one who is inspired. So, how will we know if we have found our entheos? Greenleaf argues that there is no one perfect way to do this, but does offer some misleading indicators that could throw us off:

1. Status of material success: The things we own may show one thing, but it does not mean someone has found what is important to them.

2. Social success: "The non-growth people are sometimes more comfortable to be with."

3. Doing all that is expected of one: "Who is doing the expecting, and what do they know about what I should be expecting of myself?"

4. Family success: Family may appear to be a good balance, but it may be taking more than it is giving.

5. Relative peace and quite: "This may simply mean the doors of perception are closed."

6. Busyness - compulsive busyness: "Beneath the surface of much action there is the drive to avoid the implications of growth."

While each of these indicators can be good, we must acknowledge that they are what makes our comfort zone exist.

So, what might be some valid tests? Greenleaf offers the following:

1. First, two paradoxes, a concurrent satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the status quo.

   1. It's not that you are not happy, but you know there is more. You have a constant drive asking, "What am I trying to do?" "One is constantly reaching out for wider horizons, new levels of experience and at the same time the idea of "this one thing I will do" is in the ascendency.

2. There are changing patterns and depth's of one's interests.

   1. "Old interests to which one was once attached drop away and newer and deeper ones take their place." "As entheos becomes more of a constant companion, one moves toward the minimum difference between the outside and inside images of the self; one becomes more willing to be seen as they are."

3. A growing sense of achieving one's basic personal goals through one's work.

   1. "The only place to achieve one's personal goals is where one is."

Ultimately, Greenleaf tells us that we come to a place of unity. Where our passions, interests, and entheos are aligned.

But - how do I know? How will I actually know? Let's consider the question of what makes us unique? Within all of this is the beauty of the question and the reality that we need to accept - "The ultimate test of entheos...is an intuitive feeling of oneness, of wholeness, of rightness; but not necessarily comfort or ease."

There is no perfect situation. So, instead of seeking perfection, shift that focus to what gives you happiness. What fuels your flame. THAT is where we will find our unity and connectedness.

So, what makes you unique? What drives you? I'd love to know! Because here is another truth, if we don't tell someone, we aren't giving people the chance to support us.

Regards,

Jason R. Weber, Ed.D.

Owner / Advisor at SLI Coaching and Consulting

www.slicoaching.net

Greenleaf, R. K. (1962). Education and Maturity. The Robert K. Greenleaf Center