Oneness=”Unity”?

I was originally not comfortable using the term “Oneness.” It feels “esoteric” to me:

“. . . intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest”—Lexico by Oxford University

So maybe only people who consistently meditate could experience it? Or only very “holy” people like the Dalai Lama? But then a couple weeks ago, I replaced “Oneness” in my thinking with “Unity.” And that enabled me to explore it . . .

What does “unity” mean? According to a pre-eminent online dictionary:

“The state of being united or joined as a whole.”—LEXICO BY Oxford University

OK, but what does Unity look like? (Capitalization intended)

I (serendipitously?) stumbled across an article¹ that talks about the “two broad Camps when it comes to how we perceive the governance of society.” In the current controversy concerning the pandemic and the government response, I think the camps can broadly be described as the stay-at-home camp vs. the reopen-the-economy camp. You can decide how you feel about the article, but in the camp descriptions, I realized I held pieces of some of the beliefs of each camp—so no extreme in either direction but rather a middle position.

And I got to thinking, Is that what Unity looks like: compromise in the middle somewhere? But how do you compromise about the planet’s health? How do you compromise about Human Beings (and other living critters) suffering and dying from hunger, war, abuse, disease, addiction, etc.?

Maybe the concept of different “domains” applies . . .

Maybe there are some domains where “We can agree to disagree” and do a few fixes—“enough to stop the leak”; maybe there are some domains that require more work to not only stop the leak but to make some bigger, more permanent fixes in some respect(s); and maybe there are some domains that are so critical and so dire that an all out, “pedal to the metal” effort is required and it needs to be done in an urgent, “unified” manner.

But how do we decide what’s in each domain?

There are a lot of traditional corporate strategies for prioritizing items². But maybe we need to develop a whole new approach vs. these traditional strategies. What would that approach look like? Maybe first, convening a group of various “experts”? But who? Politicians and leaders have the power to implement policies but are usually out of touch with the real world and, currently at least in the U.S., too partisan to do anything but try (most fervently!) to further their intransigent positions. Academicians and scientists have the data but also may be out of touch with most people’s reality. And “regular people” may have real-world knowledge and experience and “common” sense, but they may not have all the data, leadership skills, or power to implement.

So how does all of this fit into Your Path?

Well maybe this has to do with your connection to yourself and to others in the Oneness. This has to do with acting on (or first identifying or clarifying?) your values. This has to do with identifying and using your “God-given” gifts, skills, and experience. This has to do with learning not only the soul you are, but also how to work with other souls on the physical plane. Working in Unity as One.

For example, I admit it: I have an Irish temper, especially when I see injustice. However, I’m very skilled in facilitating groups with a totally even hand, taking no side, allowing all sides to speak, calming any hot tempers, taking ongoing notes, always being aware of the “pulse” in the room, knowing when an offshoot conversation is approaching an exhaustion of useful points—and gently bringing it back to the bigger discussion, summarizing important points, bringing the group to some consensus, identifying “Action Items” and, finally, ensuring that someone takes responsibility for each item. And, honestly, I LOVE doing this.

So I may not (I don’t!) know all of the climate change data, or the political or real world ramifications of specific actions, or have the power to implement anything—but I sure could facilitate a discussion of those who do.

Consider asking yourself these questions:

(Maybe start writing answers in a journal or notebook?)

What are my values? (Google “list of values” or “values exercise” and pick one to work with. For example, this one on the Carnegie Mellon University website, adapted from TapRoot.)

What are my skills? (Especially the things that I LOVE doing. And not just work/career-related skills.)

What “domains” feel especially passionate to me, such that I’m called to contribute to solutions? (These domains can be ANYTHING, and as broad or as narrow as you want.)

And, big picture, how can we as nations, as a people, do this domain identifying and prioritizing process??

BTW—I’m going back to referring to this as “Oneness.” To me it’s no longer esoteric. Nor is it something we have to create or achieve. It already exists. We just have to remember that we ARE part of it. And act accordingly.

¹ Article: “We’re Not in Kansas Anymore.”
² Article: “How to Prioritize When Everything Feels Important”