Cooperation – Division of Labor – It Takes a Village

Even the Loneliest Warrior Requires a Team – Time to appreciate those around you keeping the lights on, the food fresh, making the shoes and paving the roads. Where would we be without them? Luckily for us we don’t have to do everything. You’re busy enough, don’t try to reinvent the wheel out of misplaced pride.

DREAMS – Do you dream of Getting Help? You are engaged on any difficult task and Someone Else shows up to assist? Do you dream of villages or businesses that run seemingly effortlessly – everyone like the mailman, the crossing guard, the fruit seller, the fireman – setting about their Daily Chores like characters in a children’s book? We’re all nostalgic for that Perfect Swiss Watch World that never in fact, existed.

You’re not responsible for everything. What a relief! Children are very solipsistic thinkers – they “assume” magical responsibility not just for parental divorce but for World Wars. Part of taking command of your life as a Warrior involves recognizing when we are tiny cogs in a huge enterprise. Every task we assume is part of something much bigger. There’s very good news here. Add a Gratitude Practice to your Meditation. We are surrounded by helpers, if we could only see it. Stop feeling sorry for yourself!

Challenge –In life we have Group Tasks and Individual Tasks. The challenge is to figure out which is which. Social pressure tends to ‘erase” the importance of our personal, individual tasks because the daily round is so overwhelming. Yet we must cling determinedly to our Personal Goals of Maturation, Mastery, Learning, Finding Meaning & Bliss, Growing Love. Cooperation surrounds us in all these challenges if we could only access its benefits.

Danger – Unfortunately capitalist societies are based on competition and scarcity. Politics maneuvers us into seeing others as competitors for scarce resources, instead of willing hands helping us build. No wonder Main Street is falling into disrepair, volunteer activities go begging and community resources are depleted! Without a sense of community we can’t see each other as anything but rivals. When assembling any team it is wise to re-visit our previous Wisdom warnings about avoiding people who seek not helpers but hostages. Transfer how to recognize these to your Training Journal:

1. Insincerity: Fake nice people may appear polite and friendly, but their tone of voice, body language, or facial expressions may reveal a lack of genuine interest or concern.
2. Gossiping: Fake nice people may engage in gossip or speak negatively about others behind their backs, despite putting on a pleasant face in front of them.
3. Inconsistent behavior: Fake nice people may behave differently in private than they do in public, or may switch between being friendly and cold depending on who they are with.
4. Flattery: Fake nice people may use excessive flattery or compliments to gain favor or manipulate others, rather than expressing genuine admiration or appreciation.
5. Superficiality: Fake nice people may focus on superficial or materialistic topics, rather than engaging in deeper or more meaningful conversations.
6. Lack of empathy: Fake nice people may be unable or unwilling to empathize with others’ feelings or experiences, and may prioritize their own interests over others.
7. Disregard for boundaries: Fake nice people may ignore or dismiss others’ boundaries, such as by invading personal space or overstepping social norms.
8. Self-centeredness: Fake nice people may prioritize their own needs and desires over others’, and may become hostile or defensive if they feel their needs are not being met.
9. Insensitivity: Fake nice people may make insensitive comments or jokes, or may trivialize others’ problems or concerns.
10. Inauthenticity: Fake nice people may present a false image of themselves, either by exaggerating their accomplishments or interests or by hiding aspects of their true personality or beliefs.

Opportunity – You will meet Your Best Friends Ever! You will forget meaningful alliances that can last your whole life long. This is even more important than Getting the ACTUAL JOB DONE! Because real friends change YOU. Reach out for advice and cooperation to all who treat others with respect. You won’t be successful ALL the time – no one is – but you will learn so much about How to Live In the World and Who to be.

#Haiku: Bottom Is When You Stop Digging

Smallest soul cries
to emptiness: help me
find Myself
in Otherness