If you’ve ever wondered about the mysterious and fascinating topic of near-death experiences, check out the BBC documentary called “The Day I Died.” It’s on video and available as segments on YouTube.
Most of us have probably heard about the commonly uncommon experiences of people across all cultures who have clinically “died” only to be revived sometime later: the out-of-body experience, the tunnel, the being(s) of light, and the overwhelming feeling of boundless, unconditional love that surrounds and welcomes them.
None of the survivors comes back from such an experience unchanged. Nearly all adopt a more generous, loving, holistic perspective on life. They see that this life and the one they glimpsed are united in love. They reach out to others and make the most of their talents and time helping others, all the while longing to return to the realm of light and love.
To my knowledge, not one of them has come back with a new-found dedication to working longer hours in order to make more money, or to “get what’s theirs,” or to start a new brokerage business specializing in credit default swaps or derivatives.
So, why do we need to DIE to understand this?
Let’s LIVE, instead!
That’s what I’m trying to do, at least, in my imperfect and stumbling way. I’m living my OPUS trying to help other people discover and live theirs. That’s the gift I was given a couple of years ago when I first encountered my friends from BUILT TO LEAD. I “woke up” and saw how my personality, passions, and principles could inform a new vision and purpose for my life. I am now on the “Builder’s Journey” living out my purpose through an imperfect process whose progress is never a straight line “up and to the right” but that, through practice, is getting better and better.
BUILT TO LEAD was my “near-life experience.”
Now, the only “dying” I’m doing is to old patterns of life that no longer serve my OPUS or other people–my ego, my selfishness, my incessant need to be “right” as if there were such a thing as being “right.” Thank God I’ve died to the need to know how Twitter tweets can get people to buy more junk…
You might not have noticed, but I’m even trying to “die” to writing blog posts longer than 500 words! (I’ve got some more dying to do on this one…).
So I’ll conclude as usual with a question: How can I help you live a better life?
That’s what I’m here for.
BUILT TO LEAD 