A "really disappointed" Maverick Vinales says Yamaha's performance in MotoGP's Aragon race shows that the team has gone backwards in recent weeks.

Yamaha has conducted private tests at both Misano and Aragon in recent weeks, and while it showed promise during the race weekend at Misano earlier this month, with Vinales qualifying third, the race was a disappointment.

The manufacturer struggled in Sunday's race at Aragon as well, with Valentino Rossi and Vinales taking only eighth and 10th respectively, making Yamaha's current winless streak its longest ever in MotoGP.

A despondent Vinales said Yamaha is now in an even worse state than it was before, and that his testing performances only served to create "false expectations".

"We have lost all our objectives, we don't know what to aim for," he said. "The feeling on the bike is very bad.

"Now we have the Asian tour and I just hope to get it over with fast. Zero motivation, zero expectations.

"I worked hard this weekend [and at] Misano. I did 100 laps here in the test, 100 laps in Misano, [but it] seems [we have] gone backwards rather than forwards.

"For me it is the worst race I've done at Yamaha, and the worst time on the bike - the feeling was worst on the bike.

"I can't tell really the precise problem because every area was working bad, there was not even one area that was OK.

"I was comparing myself with non-factory bikes and they were even better than me, honestly.

"The best thing would have been not to do the test, because it just generated false expectations."

Vinales qualified 11th at Aragon after a sensor issue in qualifying, but was docked three places on the grid for holding up KTM rider Bradley Smith.

Having dropped to 19th after the start, Vinales eventually recovered to 10th and crossed the line 22.4 seconds behind winner Marc Marquez.

"I was quite positive after FP4 because I felt really good, but the bike seems to work bad as always in the race," continued Vinales.

"I had Valentino in front and I tried to catch him. I caught a little bit but then I destroyed the tyres, so not much to say."

Vinales says his immediate focus for the upcoming races will be to automatically qualify for Q2, something he has failed to do twice in the past five weekends.

"I try to focus first of all to go directly to Q2 because it seems to be difficult in the last couple of races," he said. "Then think about the race.

"I cannot think about arriving at one weekend thinking I can win because it is not true. I create on myself false expectations.

"I need to realise that right now the bike is where I am and to try to make the bike work a little bit better. It's the only way."

Read more from the original source:
Vinales has 'zero' motivation or expectations amid Yamaha ...

Get Motivated, Stay Motivated

Five or six days every week, Sue Wolcott, 41, hits the treadmill in her basement. It's a habit that started after she named her exercise machine Ripley. "It's as in 'Believe it or not, I'm working out,'" says Sue, a teacher in Grand Island, New York. "I would never skip out on meeting a friend, so I decided to treat my treadmill like a person." It's become, ahem, a running joke in her set; one pal now refers to her own treadmill as Dusty. "It's just us being silly, but when I'm asked if I've seen Ripley, I really love answering yes," Sue says.

Despite what you may think, the trick to exercising regularly isn't finding your inner enforcer. Rather, "it's getting creative and tapping your natural motivations," says Kelly McGonigal, PhD, a health psychologist and fitness instructor at Stanford. We asked women who work up a sweat almost every day for their stick-with-it solutions. Check out our seven fail-proof favorites.

From the moment she rises, Kristina Mont Cox, 26, has exercise on the brain. That's because the first things she sees are her sneakers and workout clothes. "I've got them next to the bed in plain sight," says Kristina, the CEO of a communications firm in Houston. "I've also got dumbbells right where I can see them in the bathroom, and a balance ball, a yoga mat, and a jump rope strategically placed throughout the house." Forgetting to exercise is never her problem.

Why it works: Visual cues are a wake-up call to your brain. "We all have competing priorities like work, family, chores. Sometimes we need a reminder to keep exercise at the forefront," McGonigal says.

Do it yourself: If you don't have the space to display your gear (or if it'll mess with your decor), choose just one or two prime locations that you'll never miss. Better yet, "pick places where you spend a lot of time and can use the equipment, like by the TV or the phone," says Amanda Visek, PhD, assistant professor of sport and exercise psychology at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

On days that Monica Vazquez, 27, a master trainer for New York Sports Clubs in New York City, can't do her usual run, she stuffs her essentials keys, cash, credit card, phone and ID into a fanny pack and jogs home from work instead. "Running is a great workout, but it's also great transportation," she says. "Sometimes I get home even earlier than I normally do taking the subway."

Why it works: Running, walking, or biking somewhere you have to go anyway makes exercise feel time-efficient. "And you don't have to carve out another part of your day for it," says Michelle Fortier, PhD, professor of health sciences at the University of Ottawa. "It's an effective strategy for people who are busy from morning to night."

Do it yourself: Your logistics may be a bit more complex if you drive to work or don't have good public transportation at your disposal. Maybe you can carpool in the morning or park your car a mile from the office and speed walk the distance to and from your job. If you don't have a safe place at work to stash your stuff, invest in a lightweight backpack with waist and chest straps (we like Patagonia's Pocket Pack; $69, patagonia.com) or swap your purse for a fanny pack on days that you plan to run home.

For years, Gina Cancellaro, 36, a paralegal in Bronxville, New York, owned only one sports bra. "I didn't want to spend the money," she admits. Then one day she realized that this was a barrier to her working out: "My usual excuse was that it wasn't clean." So she went to the mall and loaded up on bras and cute tops and shorts. Now she exercises five days a week.

Why it works: "Having the right clothing doesn't just remove a hurdle; it reinforces your identity as an exerciser," McGonigal says. "And when exercising is an integral part of your identity, it isn't optional anymore. It's just part of your life." Plus, you've got to wear those adorable new workout clothes somewhere.

Do it yourself: Stock up on at least a week's worth of gym outfits to eliminate any last-minute hand washing in the sink. Think of it as spending now to save yourself grief later. To truly simplify your life, you may want to get several of the same tops and bottoms. "There's no time-consuming decision making that way," says Patricia Moreno, a FITNESS advisory board member and body and mind coach for the Web site SatiLife. "Look for basics that are comfy and show off your assets whether that's your shoulders or your abs so you feel good just suiting up."

A surprising thing happened when Michelle Busack, 38, started to post her exercise routines on Facebook: Old friends from high school whom she hadn't seen in years began writing comments. "At first they just congratulated me," says Michelle, a nurse in Columbus, Indiana. "But now we've bonded over this and they're my biggest cheerleaders." In fact, if she doesn't post a workout update for a few days, they'll demand to know what's going on.

Why it works: Social networking sites like Facebook and DailyMile offer an extra layer of social support. "You've got potentially all of your online contacts holding you accountable," says Michele Olson, PhD, a FITNESS advisory board member and professor of exercise science at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama.

Do it yourself: Choose a social platform or online fitness tool. Then get in the habit of chronicling your progress after your workout every day so that your friends know when you usually exercise and when you've slacked off. Post your minutes, your miles, or whatever motivates you most.

A political junkie, Rachel Simpson, 31, decided to use her partisan loyalties to help herself lose weight. She vowed to exercise four times a week; for each week she failed to do so, she agreed on Stickk (a Web site that helps people stay committed to their goals) to donate $25 to the library of a former president she didn't like. "Suddenly, working out was mandatory!" says the recent law school graduate in Minneapolis. Three months later she was down 16 pounds and hadn't betrayed her party.

Why it works: Strong feelings, especially antipathies, have a multiplier effect. "Losing $10 to an enemy feels like $20 or even $30, so you push yourself harder," says Dean Karlan, PhD, professor of economics at Yale and a founder of Stickk.

Do it yourself: On Stickk, you can pledge to give a minimum of $5 to a charity or an individual (you provide the name and address) you like if you meet your goal or to one you dislike if you fall short. (Your credit card is charged.) Or sign up to raise money for a charity on the Web site Plus 3 Network: You pick from a list of goals that have prearranged corporate sponsors; if you meet yours, they'll pay the charity.

The thought of spending time with her Spinning buddies pushes Marie Bruce, 24, a coach and events director in Austin, Texas, to her morning class three times a week. "We're a tight-knit group," she says. "If I'm grumpy when I walk in, they don't let me stay that way for long." During the past six years, she's grown close to her extended gym family; in fact, they're invited to her upcoming wedding.

Why it works: It's smart time management. "You get your social fix while doing physical activity," Fortier says. Both boost health, and the better you feel, the likelier you are to want to exercise.

Do it yourself: Some classes foster friendships more than others, so you'll have to do some sleuthing. "Arrive early and observe," suggests Moreno, who teaches IntenSati, a mix of aerobics, dance, yoga, and kickboxing. "Are people staking out their places in silence, or are they chatting and laughing and flitting around the room?" Another good sign: The instructor seems to know everyone's name.

Taking a page from The Biggest Loser, Elizabeth Kirat, 35, and her friends are embroiled in a sweaty battle to see who can diet and exercise off the most weight. Every six weeks, they call the winner. "There's money at stake, but it's really the bragging rights that keep you returning to the treadmill," says Elizabeth, a photographer in Denville, New Jersey. So far she's dropped 10 pounds.

Why it works: Competition turns a solitary pursuit into a fun group one. "By trying to beat each other, you're actually pulling each other along," Visek says. "Even playful heckling validates that you're working toward a similar goal."

Do it yourself: The contest can be for anything: most steps walked, most hours logged at the gym, highest percentage of body weight lost. Aim for anywhere from four to 10 participants. "Fewer than that, and one person who's not really trying can hobble the group. More than that, and it's hard for everyone to interact," Visek explains. To keep group members engaged, limit the competition to six-week rounds and have weekly check-ins, when people put money in the jar. "Your incentive is regularly refreshed in your mind that way," Visek says. Once everyone has agreed to the rules, let the games begin!

30-Day Motivation Makeover

Get Over Any Exercise Hurdle

Hit a Weight-Loss Plateau? What to Do Now

See the rest here:
Secrets to Regular Exercise Motivation -- Get Motivated to ...

Finding and maintaining the motivation and drive to reach a goal has its high moments and low moments. I know that I struggle with staying the course, and often find the desire to give up just as I am seeing success. Finding motivation and accountability is key, for me, with sticking to my health and fitness goals.

When you are trying to motivate yourself, appreciate the fact that you are even thinking about making a change, and as you move forward, allow yourself to be good enough. You are good enough. You are worth it.

Getting started towards a goal is never easy, and maintaining the motivation to keep working towards your goal is even harder. Thats why Ive teamed up with my friend Janice of Fitness Cheerleader to create a weekly motivation fitness support link up on Mondays where we share our progress towards our goals. We also will share our goal plans for the following week, so that we can motivate each other. It could be a training plan, a meal plan or a savings plan. Whatever it is, JOIN US and share your progress and your plan for the next week in the #MotivateMe linkup!

Planning out my fitness for the week, and then sharing my progress with you kept me accountable. Its that same accountability that Janice and I want to pass along to you. Studies have shown that when you share with others your goal it becomes more real. Each week with the #MotivateMe link up we are sharing our real goals and plans to reach said goal. I hope you join us.

Monday: Fab5 Boot camp with friendsTuesday: Boot camp class + 2 mile recovery walkWednesday: 4.5 mile build-up run while pushing T in joggerThursday: restFriday: yoga class (I think I MUST do this each week! I loved it)Saturday: 7 super slow miles on the treadmillSunday: family day & afternoon 2 mile hike at Gibson Ranch

Monday: Fab5 Boot camp with friendsTuesday: Boot camp class + 2 mile recovery runWednesday: 5-6 mile build-up run (with a friend?) while pushing T in joggerThursday: 3 miles easy run + strength training classFriday: YogaSaturday: 7-9 solo (please, stars align) milesSunday: family day

My nutrition this week is something that I am always working on. I am going to do my best to join my girlfriend, Karen, in a 30 Day Challenge. She is a rock start and has already meal planned and prepped her food for the week. I am a slacker and just went grocery shopping last night. I do have a plan and the groceries so there is that! Below is my game plan for my meals and snacks for this week. I am hopefully optimistic that I will stick to this meal plan.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

I am unsure what my weekend plans are as my husband will be home. Yay! But that excitement means that any meal plans usually get thrown to the wind. I have a back up plan but the days meal is not set. So for now my weekly meals are planned and prepared for.

I would love to read see your training recap and your training plan too! Remember, two or more is stronger than one lets motivate and encourage each other! Please join Janice and I by joining the #MotivateMe linkup.

The rules are very simple:

Every Monday share your fitness, nutrition plan etc by linking them up. All you will need is your posts URL, and a photo you would like to attach.

Posts that arent related will be deleted.

Read what the other linkers, are sharing. Visit at least 2 other bloggers posts and share some support by commenting and engaging with each other. The more you support, the more support you will get back.

Related

Originally posted here:
Finding Motivation and Weekly Fitness & Meal Plan

This airing we discuss the social conditioning and social engineering we are subjected to all around us from some of the many sources and forms through which manipulation might infiltrate.Some positive perceptions of ideals in governing are also addressed which often conflict with this group motivation, will of the masses mentality. We discuss some recent relatively positive outcomes and judgements favoring our first, second and fourth amendment rights. Some behind-the-scenes engineering of many recent up-and-coming politicians is revealed. A number of recent articles and examples of social engineering are cited. We see a wide range of agendas and motives at play, ranging in focus from economic & political, demographic & genocidal, or even some perhaps purely totalitarian in motivation.Some recent technological and astronomical claims and data are likewise considered. We take a call from Tony and elaborate further on the unquestioned consensus which tends to exist among many in academia. This often pertains to both physics and astronomy, as well as a number of other scientific fields.

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Arcane Semantics: Group Motivation, Social Conditioning ...

New research finds that just the sense that were working together with others can dramatically increase our motivation to complete difficult taskseven when were actually working alone.

Across five experiments Stanford psychological scientists Priyanka B. Carr and Gregory M. Walton concluded that even subtle suggestions of being part of a team dramatically increased peoples motivation and enjoyment in relation to difficult tasks, leading to greater perseverance and engagement and even higher levels of performance.

Simply feeling like youre part of a team of people working on a task makes people more motivated as they take on challenges, says Walton.

Carr and Walton hypothesized that a sense of working together would fuel intrinsic motivation by turning a tedious task from work into play.

For each of the five studies, participants first met each other in small groups of 3-5 people before heading to separate roomsostensibly as part of a study on solving puzzles. Once alone, each participant was told they could take as much or as little time as they liked in solving a difficult (actually unsolvable) puzzle.

Half the puzzle-solvers were given subtle cues that suggested they were working on the puzzle as part of a group along with the other participants. They were told that the study investigated how people work on puzzles together and that after working on the puzzle for several minutes, they would receive a written tip from one of the participants theyd just met.

Meanwhile, other participants completed the same task, but without receiving any of the working together cues. They were simply told that theyd be solving a puzzle and that after a few minutes theyd receive a tip from the experimenter.

A few minutes into the task, each participant received the same handwritten note with a simple tip for working on the puzzle. After 25 minutes the participants were told they could stop working, and were asked to fill out a short survey.

Even though everyone worked on the puzzle alone the whole time, those who felt like they were working on it together with peers worked on the puzzle 48% longer than those who thought they were working alone.

Those in the working-together condition also rated the puzzle as more interesting than those in the working-separately condition, indicating that this boost in productivity reflects an increase in intrinsic motivationfinding the puzzle inherently rewarding and funrather than a sense of competition or social obligation.

It is also striking that it does not take enormous effort and change to create this feeling of togetherness, says Carr. Careful attention to the social context as people work and learn can help us unleash motivation.

Its important to note, however, that the research does not suggest that group work is always better or necessary as a means to motivate people. Group work can have negative effects on productivity if people feel obligated to work with others, if they feel their contributions go unnoticed, or if they dont have ownership over their work.

The findings could have positive implications for enhancing motivation in school and work settings in which people dont always experience working together as a team. For example, utilizing social cues that suggest teamwork in the office may help increase workers enjoyment of their solitary projects.

The present research found that cues that evoke this form of social interaction itself inspire intrinsic motivation, causing people to work harder on challenging tasks for their inherent satisfaction, Carr and Walton write in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. This tendency may help bring humans together to address common objectives and solve common problems.

Reference

Carr, P. B., & Walton, G. M. (2014). Cues of working together fuel intrinsic motivation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 53, 169-184. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2014.03.015

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Just Feeling Like Part of a Team Increases Motivation on ...

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has long avoided comparisons between his current team and the Chicago Bulls squads that dominated the 1990s.

With a three-peat in their sights, Kerr insists that Golden State isnt necessarily motivated by history.

Unlike the 1997-98 Bulls, the Dubs arent looking at this season as a last dance.

Per ESPN:

Last dance? Kerr said with a smile after his teams first practice Tuesday. I hope not. I hope we keep dancing.

I think the difference is with Phil [Jackson] in 98 we all were free agents and we all knew we were all going to be gone, including Phil, Kerr said. But were not in that same position. We do have plenty of free agents, but were not looking at this as the final dance. Like I said, we want to have some fun and enjoy what we have this year and move on from there.

Kerr has repeatedly stated over the last year that his team should not be compared to the Michael Jordan-led Bulls dynasty of the 1990s that won six NBA championships. But those comparisons are inevitable given the recent success the Warriors have attained and the fact that they are attempting to go to the NBA Finals for the fifth consecutive season something not even Jordans Bulls accomplished.

I dont think our motivation is history, Kerr said. We know how special it would be historically if we did it. Only a handful of teams have ever done it, but thats not our focus. Our focus is to really enjoy it while it lasts. And nothing lasts forever, so we know that. We want to go out this year and enjoy every step of the way.

RelatedSteve Kerr: Were Not Going to Change Our Style of Play

See original here:
Steve Kerr: 'I Don't Think Our Motivation is History'

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Unique Essays: Give me motivation to do my homework custom ...

Think back to when you first found out you were pregnant.

How excited were you?

How amazing did you feel?

Its a pretty powerful feeling, right?

Then think back to when you gave birth and brought home your little bundle of joy.

How scared were you?

Did you feel surrounded with help or alone?

Becoming a mother is an amazing and wonderful gift.

Its full of new and fun adventures.

You know the kind of adventures Im talking about, like trying to make it out of the grocery store alive.

Its full of things youve never ventured into before.

Diaper changes in record time and waking up in the middle of the night.

Its also equally overwhelming and sometimes frustrating.

It can be even more so when you feel you are doing it completely alone.

Some women have help, but a lot of women are doing this mothering thing alone.

It can be lonely and scary to do completely alone.

This week in my postfor Mom Motivation Mondays at The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide I talk about my experience of mothering with and without a mom tribe. Read this excerpt from my post here and then head over to The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guideto read the rest of the post here.

Becoming a mom is such an amazing feeling.

The excitement you feel when you find out youre pregnant to the first ultrasound when you get to hear the heartbeat.

The sense of wonder as you marvel at your newborn baby cradled in your arms.

The feeling of tremendous responsibility as you fit your little one into the car seat for the first time.

Both of my daughters births are etched forever in my memory. Its as if they happened yesterday.

Something else thats forever etched in my memory is how completely alone I felt after my first versus how supported I felt after my second due largely to my mom tribe.

Find out what a mom tribe is in this post. Find outhow I found my mom tribe, and how it made all the difference in how I felt not only about mothering, but about myself as a mother.

It changed the way I mothered and changed who I am as a woman today.

Read the rest of my post here.

View post:
Why I Need My Mom Tribe - Just Becoming Me

There are no epic battles or heroic deaths in Talya Lavies debut directorial film, Zero Motivation, which follows a unit of young Israeli women serving out their mandatory two-year Army service. Stuck on a remote base in the southern Israeli desert, the soldiers of Lavies film are selfish, horny and useless, traits used to darkly comic effect for this apolitical war movie. Lavie wisely knows that, regardless of Army experience, weve all been there. Everyone's been stuck in a job they hate, bored as hell.

Its not that the film isnt violentthere is a grisly suicide, an attempted rape, and no shortage of revenge plots. But for these clerks and secretaries, war is a faraway, almost abstract concept. Theyve undergone basic training but spend their working hours squabbling, breaking Minesweeper records, or figuring out how to weasel away to Tel Aviv. This is not lost on their commander, Rama (Shani Klein), an aspiring military careerist who looks down on frivolity in wartime.

Thats very much the Israeli experience, Lavie, 35, says of Ramas attitude toward non-combatants. We live in a war zone all the time and there are always more important things going onLike, I [could be] upset because someone broke my heart, but other people are dying in the fields.

War films have long been a mainstay in Israeli cinema; as Lavie points out, the rules and obstacles of obligatory military service provide great dramatic ground for screenwriters. Of course, the output of this cinematic tradition has been mostly male-dominated. Zero Motivation, with its compassionate portrait of majorly flawed, non-combat soldiers (who all happen to be women) is the first of its kind. After its premiere at this years Tribeca Film Festival, the film won the festivals top prize, Best Narrative Feature, and nabbed Lavie the second-ever Nora Ephron Award to boot.

In her unique and ambitious first feature, this filmmaker deftly handed such difficult themes as the military, sexism, love, ambition, and friendship, the jury noted. This filmmaker also pulled off the awesome feat of managing multiple characters and storylines. In what was definitely the most hilarious film we saw at the festivalthe winning film is a fresh, original, and heartfelt comedy about life behind the scenes in the Israeli army.

(We were half-drunk when they announced the second award, Lavies lead actress, Dana Ivgy, laughs.)

The filmwhich also won a slew of Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Ivgywas inspired by Lavies own time serving in the military in the early 2000s, though shes careful to note that it is not autobiographical. She spent weeks talking to young women currently serving in non-combat jobs to absorb stories, details, and slang to write into the screenplay, which got Lavie into the Sundance Institutes Screenwriters Lab. The lab opened the door to a patchwork of grants from around the world which allowed Lavie to begin auditioning actresses. Except for the lead role: Ivgy was always going to be Zohar, the worlds most unpleasant mail secretary.

Zohar, the heart of Zero Motivation, is cold, exasperatingly petty, and a smart-ass, though she obviously loves her best friend Daffi (Nelly Tagar) and is desperate to keep her from transferring to another base. (Daffis only ambition is to move to Tel Aviv, where she imagines herself power-walking across boulevards in an IDF uniform and heels.) Zohar acts tough but is teased for being a virgin; shes hapless around boys, but clumsily asks one out anyway while pointing a loaded rifle at him (following protocol for suspected intruders, naturally). By the time she wages a vicious, all-out office supply war with Daffiit involves staple guns and perfectly executed physical comedyZohar has actually become endearing.

When you read the script, you say, Oh shes a terrible person, Lavie says of Zohar. But when Dana plays her, she gives her so much pain and humanity. Thats why so many people relate to her.

Ivgy herself formed a special attachment to Zohar and says she had a really hard time once shooting wrapped. Its so nice, doing all those things you would never do and saying everything you think, just like that. Its like therapy, she says. I tried to force Talya to add scenes, make a series out of it so I could do it forever.

Letting go of Zohars devastating Minesweeper addiction was more than Ivgy expected, too. It took me like three months after the film was over, Ivgy says. [Whatever] spare time I had, I was like, Its part of my job, I have to play this! Then hours go by and your brain wipes out and you close your eyes at night and see numbers. Her eyes widen. Theres no way to stop playing.

Ivgyan accomplished actress at 32 and the daughter of Moshe Ivgy, a veteran of Israeli cinemahad previously worked with Lavie on another film, a short called The Substitute, while the two were still in school. (That film grew into Zero Motivation seven years later.) Not that Ivgy and Lavie went to the same schoolor even knew each other back then.

I stalked her, Lavie says matter-of-factly when asked how she and Ivgy first met. She recounts sending Ivgy a script, then tracking the actress down at school. Ivgy was at a theater at the time, but Lavie went to see her anyway and waited out the performance in the lobby until Ivgy came downstairs. The two ended up back at Ivgys apartment, where she agreed to shoot the film guerilla-style on a real army base on weekends.

Ivgywho says she remembers none of thisnever served with the Army, but says drawing inspiration for Zohars impish, prickly character wasnt hard. I have a lot of memories as a teenager that helped, she smiles.

Lavie nods. One needs not have served with the IDF to know true boredom, after all. Boredom is something that a person can experience anywhere, she says. Its your choice.

Continued here:
Zero Motivation: the Funny Side of the IDF

A letter from Cynthia Bourgeault, January 3, 2015

Dear Wisdom Friends,

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: Renowned scientist, theologian, writer, mystic. 1881-1955

Heres an unusual New Years resolution! Id like to propose that all of us in the Wisdom network declare 2015 The Year Of Teilhard de Chardin and take on the collective task of getting to know his work better.

Theres no specific milestone to celebrate here. This year will mark the 60th anniversary of his death, but thats probably looking in the wrong direction. The important thing is that Teilhards star is now rising powerfully on the horizon, heralding the dawn of an entirely new kind of Christian theology. Misunderstood in his own times, silenced and exiled by his Jesuit superiors, he is finally coming into his own as the most extraordinary mystical genius of our century and the linchpin connecting scientific cosmology and Christian mystical experience on a dynamic new evolutionary ground.

Teilhard is not easy, but there are very good guides out there who will ease the entry shock. My recommendation is that you begin with Ursula Kings Spirit of Fire: The Life and Vision of Teilhard de Chardin. King is probably the foremost Teilhard scholar of our times, and her very well-written biography gives a good overview of Teilhards developing vision and a useful way of keeping track of the chronology of his works. Kathleen Duffys Teilhards Mysticism is also an insightful introductory guide, introducing the major phases and themes of Teilhards work in five expanding circles. And of course, for a succinct and clear overview, you can hardly do better than Ilia Delios chapter on Teilhard in her Christ in Evolution.

From there, Id dive directly into Teilhard by way of Ursula Kings stellar anthology, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (in the Modern Spiritual Masters series, Orbis Books, 1999). Kings well-chosen selections and helpful introductory commentary will help get you up to speed as painlessly as possible. From there, go to The Heart of Matter, Teilhards magnificent spiritual autobiography, written near the end of his life, which offers a moving recapitulation of his lifelong themes as well as a reflection on his earlier work.

From there, wander as you will. Those of more devotional temperament will find his The Divine Milieu, Hymn of the Universe, and The Mass on the World moving and accessible. Those of more scientific temperament may gravitate toward Christianity and Evolution and The Future of Man. His magnum opus, The Phenomenon of Man, is notoriously challenging, but if youve worked your way up to it gradually, youll be more able to take it in stride.

Most of these volumes are easily available at Amazon.com and other internet websites, and Hymn of the Universe, officially out of print, is available for download.

During my upcoming Wisdom Schools this year, I will be intending to ease in some Teilhard where appropriate: particularly in our Glastonbury Ascensiontide retreat and our Advanced Wisdom School in North Carolina this Aprilso if youre signed up for either of those schools, be sure to get an early jump of the reading trajectory Ive just laid out. Ill also be introducing these materials in the some of the Communities of Practice sessions in New England later this year, and probably in an official Teilhard Wisdom School in 2016. So be sure to stay tuned.

Our duty, as men and women, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist. We are collaborators in creation.

~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Im a relative newcomer to Teilhard myself, still working my way through this remarkable corpus like a neophyte spelunker in a vast crystal cave. Not surprisingly, its the kids in the Wisdom NetworkMatthew Wright, Brie Stoner, and Josh Tysingerwho seem to have the best handle on the material and are already grasping its implications for the future (their future!) and unlocking its potential in sermon, song, and drama. I mention this simply to encourage you not to be intimidated by the material, or the apparent lack of an authority figure to interpret it for you. Form a reading group, use your well-patterned lectio divina method to break open a short section of text, and dive in with your energy, your insights, and your questions. How you get there is where youll arrive.

Okay, who wants to take me up on this New Years Challenge?

Love and blessing,

Cynthia

Read more here:
Launching The Year Of Teilhard by Cynthia Bourgeault The ...