Hey Everyone!
Good day... I just wanted to pass along a great post from the blog Goodlife Zen on 11 Ways to Be More Aware Today. It might look like a little bit of reading, but please take the time and enjoy it. Also be sure to check out the amazing images along with it. Take care!
Click here to view the entire post.
Adrian
Since we’ve been pitted against all sorts of different marketing agencies lately — from PR firms to interactive shops to megalithic advertising agencies — I’ve been thinking about the interplay of these disciplines.
How can we help the average corporate marketer distinguish between these puzzle pieces, since Social Media has created such a mash-up of our thinking?
Thus the Awareness Scale. It’s a simple way of thinking about how Social Media, Public Relations and Advertising fit together in an ideal way.
Smart brands are coming to understand that Social Media is an ongoing behavior change that pays homage to grassroots communications: it’s a splendid scary mix of monitoring, communications, customer support and evangelism. Newly-minted consumer evangelists can provide a bulwark against criticism and better yet, can gin up a wave of goodwill for new products and services.
And what better foundation for a rock-star Public Relations program? The public approbation found via Social Media engagement softens the beach head for a mainstream media outreach program. Approving articles in the mainstream are picked up and shared by a brand’s fans, effectively “giving proof” to their belief in the company.
That’s where Advertising comes in: advertising can play defense. Don’t take that the wrong way. Ask any sports fan — “Defense” makes or breaks a team’s performance. As a form of earned (i.e., paid-for) media, Advertising is great for capturing attention that reinforces the consumers’ perception of the brand. This makes it 10X harder for start-ups to capture mindshare.
This is the Awareness Scale. It’s a mountain all great brands are learning to climb.
This mirrors very closely the idea of subpersonality work, like that of Voice Dialogue. We need to separate out the voices, speak to each voice, and that way we will finally get to the quiet peaceful place within all of us.
Robina Courtin...a style all her own...
"Balance is the path."
Learning how to care for and respect the planet that we live on is an important lesson for all children to learn.
There's a wide variety of activities parents can do with their children that will not only teach them how to live a "greener" life, but will also encourage them to be more considerate of their planet.
1. Explore the great outdoors together: Through exploring nature, children are better able to gain an appreciation of the world around them. A nature walk can give you the opportunity to teach your children about life cycles and natural habitats. Find out what animals live in your area and teach your children about them. Write out a list of items you can search for on your walk and make the activity into a fun game.
2. Use Eco Bucks: Eco Bucks can be given out, much like an allowance, for every eco-friendly activity your child does. At the end of the month those dollars can be donated to the environmentally friendly charity of your child's choice.
3. Read Green: Buy one of the many eco-conscious books on the market such as William is Going Green by James Martin II; My Bag and Me by Karen Farmer; How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World by Juliana, Isabella and Craig Hatkoff; and Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel
4. Grow an indoor herb garden: Get their little fingers dirty by showing them how to grow their own indoor garden. Ask them what herbs they would like to eat and then let them go to the store and pick out seeds. Explain how a plant's life cycle works and teach them about the importance of nurturing their garden. When their garden is ready to be harvested, teach them healthy ways to prepare the herbs and allow them to cook a few recipes.
5. Reduce your carbon footprint: Calculate your environmental footprint together by using the online calculator at www.conservationfund.org. Let your children type the numbers into the calculator and then discuss what your "carbon footprint" means. Come up with ways you can all help to reduce your environmental impact. Plan a Carbon Footprint Challenge where you spend the month living more eco-friendly. After the month is over see if you've reduced your footprint.
6. Make some paper: Paper making is an easy way to recycle used paper and is very eco-friendly. Invite a few of your children's friends over to have a paper-making party. Let children choose different patterns and designs for their paper, and teach them about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling.
7. Go bird watching: Try identifying birds in your neighbourhood. Once you have figured out which birds are which, go online and do a little research. Find out what type of nests they live in and what kind of food they eat, then build your very own bird house and bird feeder. This will teach children the importance of caring for and respecting the animals.
8. Pick up litter: Put on gloves and walking shoes, and take the kids out to pick up garbage in your area. Teach them how important it is to clean up after themselves and dispose of garbage in the appropriate places.
9. Plant a tree: Trees are a simple and inexpensive way to help better the planet and fight climate change. Research what trees grow best in your area, and then let your child pick one to plant. Explain to them how trees clean the air, store carbon, increase wildlife habitats, provide shade and prevent flooding.
10. Get the Buzz: Help the diminishing insects by planting the flowers they love. Plant bee and butterfly-friendly flowers in the spring and watch them come calling in the summer. Teach your children about the importance of these insects and the role they play in pollination and how without them, we would not be able to raise the crops that provide our food.
Here's a visual. I'll call her "one woman", but it could be anyone. We're all the same, and we're also all different. What's the same in us, though, is, that we have different formulas of subpersonalities. So follow my little story... There is a home that some people live in. Several people live in this home. It isn't very large, but it has quite a few inhabitants. It's a two story home, with a basement, too. From the outside, the home looks lovely, just like other homes. Lots of homes on the street are similar in look and feel, but it's paint, garden, decor, etc. makes this home unique, and all the other homes on the street are unique in their way. This particular home that we are talking about, though, inside and out, has a modern, yet warm, earthy, homey feeling. You walk inside. The home is decorated in a most pleasant combination of earthy colors, modern shapes, lived in and welcoming. It's a combination of earthy (not country) and contemporary. The person living in the house with the most "personality" decorated it and controls it. That family member, modern, outgoing, warm, democratic, progressive...is sitting in the living room, living her life, as you enter her home to visit. This particular person, let's call her IN THE NOW/MODERN, controls that house. That house is me, aka "one woman". IN THE NOW/MODERN is so strongly identified as me, "one woman", that she thinks she IS "one woman", but she's not; she is simply a part of "one woman". The big twist is that most of her life, until this was learned, "one woman" went about on HER merry way thinking that SHE was IN THE NOW/MODERN. "One woman" did not understand that the IN THE NOW/MODERN is only a part of "one woman" that "one woman" seems to indentify with and define herself as. This, however, is very limiting, and also, very likely, an inaccurate definition. The IN THE NOW/MODERN is a separate entity living inside of "one woman"...simply living HER life INSIDE of "one woman". She has a whole story, life, belief system, feelings, nature, etc. If you sat on the living room couch inside of "one woman's" home and spoke to that part of "one woman", she could tell you her full life story...when she was born inside of "one woman", why she exists, how she saved "one woman", how she protects "one woman", who she's stifling, why inside that same house lives a TRADITIONAL side, too. That TRADITIONAL side stifled inside of "one woman" is is forced to live in the basement, hiding in a corner. The IN THE NOW/MODERN side won't let the TRADITIONAL side come out and be free. The TRADITIONAL side is stifled, and angry, and, because it's been stuffed down for so long, it has become bigger than it really is. It really is a small part of "one woman", but, without attention, it grows and grows, longing to be heard and seen. When it does see the TRADITIONAL subpersonality in other people, free and roaming around, it shouts out from the basement, "I'm here. I hear you. I want to get out. I agree with you." But, the IN THE NOW/MODERN, who is on the surface and seemingly in charge, clamps down on the TRADITIONAL subpersonality, pads the basement so that the IN THE NOW/MODERN can not hear what's going on in there, and locks the basement door. In this scenario, "one woman" is living eyes wide shut, and is oblivious as to her inner world, and as to how the outer world affects it. Until "one woman" realizes that this is going on inside her, "one woman" is oblivious to the situation, and no real choice can be made directly by "one woman". Time passes. The "TRADITIONAL" magnet subpersonality inside of "one woman", buried in the subconsious, has enormous power in its unknown state. The "TRADITIONAL" chooses a husband for "one woman". Who, you might ask? Someone who the "TRADITIONAL" can relate to...another "TRADITIONAL". (what you resist persists, remember?). Some years pass. There is great love, but also marital conflict. The "MODERN" wife can't relate to the "TRADITIONAL" husband's values, and vica-versa. Don't even bring up the subject of politics...way too hot a topic. They irritate and grate at one another. They both yearn to know someone more similar to who they are. They both do not see that they are each other's disowned subpersonalities, missing in the other. "One woman", over time and with work, slowly wakes up and realizes there is an inner world inside her. "One woman" realizes there is choice through the path of balance and embrace. "One woman", now in a healthier scenario at this point in her life, is still more modern. Her primary belief system is still what it is, and her primary subpersonality is MODERN, not TRADITIONAL. However, "one woman" now understands the inner workings of the mind and psyche and the personality structure within. Like developing a muscle, she works to develop her inner CHOOSER. This CHOOSER, like any other inner member of society, has always existed, but simply needed to be exercised and fine tuned and worked. The CHOOSER/DIRECTOR becomes a main, everyday component in managing the responsibilities and roles in the inner family of "one woman". The CHOOSER/DIRECTOR turns to the INNER MOTHER, who has been dormant. The INNER MOTHER is finally is strong enough to help the inner family and to see the need to help. She finds an enormous microscope and takes hold of it. It's two times the size of her. She walks over to the basement and unlocks the door. The MODERN subpersonality is right there in the living room, extremely nervous and unhappy and fearful of being disenfrancised. She would like to stop the INNER MOTHER, but the INNER MOTHER is not stopping. Their eyes meet and they both share piercing expressions, though the INNER MOTHER's face is filled with love for the MODERN and knows that she will not harm the MODERN in any way. The INNER MOTHER continues with her goal: she goes into the basement with the enormous microscope. It may be the first time she's been there. It's dark, and in the corner is a vision of someone who is hiding like a child. It is the hidden TRADITIONAL/CONSERVATIVE. It is actually very small, just a few inches tall, but it exists and needs recognition. The INNER MOTHER puts the TRADITIONAL/CONSERVATIVE underneath the microscope, and is now bigger than life. It is truly a conservative; truly a traditional; truly raging and angry at being ignored for so long. Right there, inside of "one woman"...to the surprise and shock of "one woman"...is an INNER TRADITIONALIST/CONSERVATIVE! Holy cow! The INNER MOTHER, lovingly, lets the TRADITIONAL/CONSERVATIVE speak, share it's point of view, it's beliefs, it's sadness, it's oppression. The MODERN, out of sight, fears this inner CONSERVATIVE and has a long term inner hatred for it. But, ear pressed to the door of the basement, the MODERN hears every word of the TRADITIONAL/CONSERVATIVE'S story and, for the first time in all of their lives, the MODERN feels empathy for the TRADITIONAL and not threat. They never meet face to face; they never talk and never will, but the MODERN hears the whole story and is not threated by the small person in the basement. As the inner TRADITIONAL/inner CONSERVATIVE continues to get it's thoughts and feelings out, it calms down greatly. The pain of being stiffled has relaxed now. The INNER MOTHER assures the CONSERVATIVE that she heard the whole thing and will definitely take the CONSERVATIVE'S feelings into account, and will. The INNER MOTHER further nurtures the situation by putting on a nightlight so that the basement is not quite as dark as it once was...now there's some illumination. She raises the thermostat and makes it cozy, piles up some pillows from the basement to create a comfortable spot, and takes a blanket and covers the TRADITIONALIST and looks into her eyes and smiles. She slightly opens the curtains to the basement window and lets a bit of light stream in. It's homier down there now. The INNER MOTHER promises to revisit, and will. The INNER MOTHER then takes the microscope away, and poof, even to the INNER MOTHER'S amazement, the TRADITIONAL is again the size of a spec of dust. In reality, that's all it is in size, but it is alive and vibrant, and powerful and magnetic and it was heard and is now content and peaceful. The door to the basement is closed, not locked, though the INNER CONSERVATIVE gladly stays in "one woman's" basement for now, and later, may only occasionally come out. Still, even when or if it ever roams "one woman's" house freely, it's size is tiny. It's impact, when buried in the basement (subconscious) is enormous. Once it's heard, the impact changes. It can have more input into "one woman's life" with the permission of the "DIRECTOR" and the 'INNER MOTHER" and at the acceptance of the "MODERN", or it may stay as little as it is, but now calm and relaxed. "One woman's" marriage changes dramatically. The bond between the MODERN in her and the CONSERVATIVE in her spouse changes dynamic, and great respect for one another's differences takes place. It is remarkable. "One woman's" outlook on the world and others changes dramatically. She sees and understands with more respect other viewpoints, even if she disagrees with them. She still takes a stand, but sees value, at some level, regarding the other viewpoint. The inner war between these polar opposites has greatly diminished, and the outer war diminishes proportionally. The road to a healthy person has nothing to do with being left or right...not really. The road has to do with our relationship to the spec of dust within that is shouting. Under the microscope, that spec of dust can be given some respect and time to get it's beliefs expressed and to be understood. Then, after the spec of dust is done shouting and knows that it was heard and loved and understood, the microscope is taken away. The spec of dust is still there, but now it is calm and silent. Nothing seemed to change, but everything did change, because the inner war was arrested finally. People are either traditional or modern, Republican or Democratic, right or left, religious or new thought, believing or athiest, etc. But, in every person, there is a seed of the opposite view that he/she seemingly finds so irritating. It is an irritant because it is a strong but silent voice in their own padded basement, and when the opposite view pops up in people "out there", it stimulates the spec of a subpersonality "in here" that is longing to simply be heard and understood. That spec doesn't require control...just a voice. This is a great challenge to humanity. On the surface, it seems far easier to just have a position and despise the other position. That approach demands nothing of us in terms of being better people; it puts the onus on others...out there. However, the "seek within yourself" approach challenges us all to embrace the opposite. The traditional is challenged to embrace something progressive. The progressive is challenged to embrace the more traditional. Inner struggles are to be embraced rather than left dormant. People may hear what is going on inside themselves and come to peace with their emotional polarities. They will have an opportunity to open their minds and hearts to who they really are, and will have the additional opportunity to more easily accept others for whom they are. For those who cannot love beyond themselves, this will enable themselves to, because the more subpersonalities within themselves that they become acquainted with and befriend, the more they will be at ease with those subpersonalities in others in the outer world. I believe in a Creator with Infinite Wisdom. For those who do not, and feel otherwise, nothing really changes in terms of my message. I believe that what is asked of all of us is the mighty and correct task to attempt to reach, within all of us, our opposing beliefs and subpersonalities and to embrace them. I believe that religion, with all of it's wonderful differences and wonderful rites of passage and beautiful rituals and cultures within each religion itself, are all collectively on a mission to do the same, but they express it differently. Balance IS the path. This type of formula...embrace and balance...can help all people of all faiths leap from point A to point B, which appears to be the underlying goal of humanity at it's best, no matter what one believes.
All things that humans are capable of are within us. We are capable of utmost beauty and utmost evil. We are capable of creation and destruction. All the supersonalities from holiness to evil lies within us. It's amazing when you really look at it. The goal of embracing and balancing is not yet fully realized, but I tend to believe that the goal, at it's core, is to step inward, and all walks of life are trying to attain this. Which, when done, will release us from our personal and collective illusion and can change reality greatly. Comments welcome.
"Balance is the path."
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This morning I walked through The Bay and had a look at the many pink products on display as a part of their annual Think Pink program. By purchasing these products consumers can support the work of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF).
At one level, cause related marketing programs like this are a positive way to create awareness of important issues and to motivate behaviour change. However, in addition to featuring products that re-enforce gender stereotypes of women (without a sense of irony which would temper this effect), the Think Pink program raises more concern for me because of a lack consistency and clarity. For example, by purchasing a set of Think Pink Port-Style Flexible Nylon Spatula “a 10% contribution will be made to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation”. I saw a Think Pink dish towel with a tag that states “With a purchase of this Think Pink product, a minimum of 10% (before taxes) will be contributed to the Foundation in support of ongoing research projects”. If you purchase a Pink Ribbon “Bling” Tote, “10% of the net proceeds will be contributed to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. In other cases a specific amount (e.g. $5.00) is directed to the foundation. All the tags that I saw say that “In 2008, Hudson’s Bay Co. contributed $430,000 to the Foundation through the Think Pick program. Finally, some product tags also have this health promotion message “Be Breast Aware. Know your breasts. Look and feel for lumps, changes in skin texture, appearance and shape.”
Here some of are the questions I have for The Bay:
- How much of the $430,000 that is contributed to the CBCF is in donations from consumers and how much is from the company? If this revenue comes from consumers, the tags should state this instead of leaving it ambiguous.
- Why do some product have the health message and some not? Isn’t this the whole idea?
- If I really wanted to support the CBCF, which products have the biggest net contribution to the organization?
- Couldn’t they also help to reduce gender stereotyping by including products other than dish towels and jewelery? (If they did this, perhaps they’d sell more and contribute more because men would buy things too).
When planning cause programs, don’t forget that we’re in “the age of transparency”. Make sure that your programs are clear in their intent, consistent in their messaging, and that your company is also committed at a corporate level in addition to driving donations from consumers.
I welcome your thoughts…
Paul Klein is president of Impakt Corporation, a Toronto-based outfit that helps corporations increase the returns on their community investments.
via 3blmedia.com
