#74 - Age of Genius

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDDE8JUm9jA



How often have you contemplated the extinction of the human species? I hadn't, until I watched The Age of Stupid last year (see trailer above). The premise of the film is that it's 2055 and we humans have made our planet uninhabitable through our climate-changing activity. The film premiered this weekend in London in true walk-the-talk fashion: solar-powered projection, pedal-powered popcorn maker and celebs arriving on bikes or by tube.

When I first watched the film, I felt total despair. It's like receiving news that you have a terminal illness... and that the entire human family has it too. It is so important that we give ourselves space to feel the enormity and potential tragedy of the situation AND that our feelings can be channelled into impassioned action. It's perfect, then, that this film is now launched in conjunction with the Not Stupid campaign, aiming to turn 250 million passive viewers into climate change activists in time for the all-critical Copenhagen Climate Conference later this year.

What is it to be an activist? Well, writer/director Franny Armstrong and her crew made this film. A client of mine joined her local carbon reduction group the day after seeing the film. Many of us will vote with our feet by marching on 28th March and 5th December. The President of the Maldives has announced his nation's commitment to becoming carbon-neutral in the next ten years. Actor Pete Postlethwaite has pledged that if the Kingsnorth dirty coal power station is commissioned, he will give back his OBE and ask the Queen to dissolve this present parliament. We are all finding our role, our Contribution Footprint as I call it, and I am privileged enough to work with individuals who take that journey.

We need nothing less than a revolution, nothing less than a miracle. The good news? We're fully capable of that. Our history books have told us about human potential and reminded us never to underestimate the significance of the one and the power of the many. We have had many dress rehearsals for the revolution now needed. Let us not limit our imagination; let us change our climate to one of individual empowerment and collective solution-creation.

My perspective is that we are now entering the Age of Genius - a time in which we are engaged, empowered and uplifted, connected to our community and confident about what we have to offer. I don't believe we are stupid. I don't believe that when we really see what is happening, we would choose to make a collective suicide pact. I believe that after millennia of societal evolution, this is our opportunity to be what we've deep down hoped we are: Genius.

Do Things Differently

1) This week, enjoy being part of a revolution; get aware and get active. As Franny Armstrong, writer/director of the film says, it's not about 'the one thing I can do', it's about doing everything we can. Watch Age of Stupid this weekend, watch the clips from the premiere on YouTube, join the Not Stupid campaign and check out what Stop Climate Chaos are up to. Find ways of politically engaging by connecting with your MP, signing petitions, marching or joining a local group.

2) Notice what emotions and 'stories' arise within you - "One person can't make a difference" "What do I have to offer?" "I'm a nobody compared with all these people". Or maybe "It's all their fault" "This is a fight" or "How can I live with my guilt?" Notice, give space and decide what you want to do with this internal monologue.

3) Here are a few other options to throw into the mix. A couple of films on my radar: Fuel and The Next Industrial Revolution. We also have Earth Hour coming up on Sat 28th March and finally, if you'd like 100% renewable electricity, sign up to Good Energy, quoting GEP0071 when asked how you heard.

4) Join the discussion here. Seen the film? What were your thoughts/feelings? Don't want to see it? What are your reasons? I'd love to hear....

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009.

** Are you desperate to make your contribution to this Age of Genius, but notice fear of failure holding you back? Perhaps it manifests in procrastination or disengagement? Time to address this very common block. New date for Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word workshop: Saturday 20th June 09, Euston, London, 10am - 4pm. For more information and to book, click here. **

#70 - Give Me A Journey

I have been immersed in workshops this weekend. I ran my full-day Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word on Saturday and then threw myself into the experience of Katie Rose's Singing The Song That We Are on Sunday. Both were gloriously full with eager participants, despite the snow and distance they had to travel.

Many of us have been to workshops which engaged only our brains. We've sat with paper and pen, talked through relatively superficial questions, and left without knowing each others' names. When I go to a workshop, I want to be taken on a journey. I want to go from somewhere to somewhere and I want to trust the workshop facilitator to be my guide. I want them to have a map, but not grip on to it too firmly. Katie did this beautifully. There was a flow from one exercise to the next and my whole body was involved through sound, movement, words, drama and more. She stood back and allowed us to explore and then stepped in with her exquisite intuition to nudge us towards new places to look. I left the day with so much serenity, humming contentedly to myself all the way home.

When I go on these journeys, I also want to feel like others are there with me - that's we're seeing each other and being seen. I am always blown away by how my fear-of-failure-busting gang connects and supports each other. This group shared hugs and tears, acknowledgements and whoops of celebration. They've all swapped emails and are already continuing their conversations. In fact, a couple of them have suggested that they have a six month reunion - and this is a group who spent just six hours with each other.

It is a precious honour to be trusted to guide people through a learning journey and this weekend I've been reminded of how equally wonderful it is to find someone, such as Katie, who can do that for me. It's a true skill to create a space safe enough for a group of strangers to explore an issue such as fear of failure, resistance, self-doubt, and insecurities. After my workshop, one of the more apprehensive participants said to me: "It was amazing how quickly and easily I could open up to people I didn't know. I realised that we were all in the same boat so no-one was judging anyone else". If as a workshop facilitator you can set up the expectation of openness and model vulnerability, something sacred is created. It's a container which allows people to let go and go deep. They can cry and sing and shout - as they did this weekend! - and actually move through a block, rather than merely thinking about it.

Do Things Differently
1) What kind of journey do you already take others on? Fear to freedom? Stress to calm? Overwhelm to simplicity? Unfitness to health? What do you do naturally, just because of who you are? - and are there ways in which you could package this and actually offer that journey as a 1-1 or group process?
2) What journey are you ready for? Where do you want to go from and to? Who can be your guide?
3) Check out Katie's website, The Rose Window, for her full moon chanting, workshops & upcoming second album launch.


(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

** There's no Doing Things Differently next week so here's a challenge... If YOU were writing this blog, what would you write about? Where are you noticing yourself doing - or wanting to do - things differently? How could your experiences help others in finding new pathways? **

** Fail workshop coming to London.... June 2009, date and venue tbc. Book early to avoid disappointment**