paulcampillo.com - Latest Comments

Re: How Bernie Sanders wins (even if he loses)

Paul Campillo — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:04:44 -0000

What's the movement? Where are the "dreamers"? Let's go.

Re: How Bernie Sanders wins (even if he loses)

CarlMN — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:33:29 -0000

When people are feeling good, when everything is going well, and even when things are going sort of well and people are perhaps only feeling pretty good, they are more or less content and it's easy to relax, enjoy the best of what is, ignore minor annoyances, and just go with the flow. It's only when we become irritated enough by intrusions into our world of illusory bliss that we might be prompted to try to do something about the disruptions.

Too often, things need to get pretty bad before enough people become sufficiently irritated to really get worked up about the inequities and injustices in life. And it's often a slow process that can take time to build momentum. This is what was coming to life and building through the previous couple of election cycles, and it's what was fueling the occupy movement. With this election cycle, there may be enough life to start really making a difference, so we can actually start working for a future to believe in. Time will tell if we actually get enough voter turn out to help make it work.

To many times we do just enough to relieve our suffering barely enough in order to feel like we can relax again, and try to pretend everything is okay. It's seldom that we actually rectify our problems so we can truly relax, which means that our problems generally return, sometimes with greater complexity and intensity, to bite us again. So, then we're prompted to awaken again to try to deal with whatever is bothering us, again.

The results we obtain in this manner amount to patchworks of bandages that cover things over rather than actually fixing what's wrong. The bandages are always superficial, while the real problems are deeper, much deeper. And the fault lies with us because we're more interested in "sleeping" than in "awakening" and living life more consciously and more fully engaged.

So the answer is to be found through awakening to who we really are, what our purpose in life is, what our real values are, and what it really means to be alive. In other words, it's an answer to be found through our spirituality rather in our materiality. And it is to be found through integrating our materiality with our spirituality rather than separating them and finding them in conflict, which leads to nothing but problems.

The deepest underlying knowledge and understanding we need to develop among many more of us is this, that all beings are intimately and inextricably interconnected and interdependent; that we're all in this life together; that we're all one. Until that realization becomes the essential starting point for all of our thinking, planning and actions in this world, we will continue to create problems for ourselves.

This isn't a denial of individualism for the sake of collectivism. We need to recognize and celebrate all the richness that our diversity can bring into our lives. But, it does mean that we need to recognize that what we all share in common runs much deeper and is of far greater significance than what distinguishes us as individuals.

It won't be a quick and easy process, even though, in theory, it could be. After all, it really just requires a change of perspective and attitude. We could flip an inner "switch" and just behave differently based on a clearer perspective of how things work in the Universe. But we've practiced being the way we are for so long - since humanity first appeared on Earth, really - that we've developed habitual patterns that will be hared for most to change. It will most likely take generations; many generations. But more of us should get started now, to help the process along. Some people are at it already, in various ways, but we need a lot more "dreamers" to join us.

Are you ready to make a move?

Re: How Bernie Sanders wins (even if he loses)

Paul Campillo — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:41:13 -0000

Agreed. The problem we face now is identifying the real problem. Have we identified the root cause of the problem or just the symptoms? Why are people indifferent to civic engagement? Do we have a holistic map of every contributing factors? What does getting involved look like? Why should people get involved? Where do we start?

It's good to think about these things, but it's better to move towards action. What is that next move?

Re: How Bernie Sanders wins (even if he loses)

CarlMN — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:20:10 -0000

Our country and We the People have a multitude of problems that are complicating our lives and compromising the strength and security of our nation. People blame the President, the Congress, the Republicans, the Democrats, Big Business, banks too big to fail, the top one percent, the oligarchs, the media, etc. The real blame, however, lies with us. We the People have, for decades, for generations, been negligent citizens. We the People have been disengaged from our political process and our representative self-government. No One has taken away our power, our voice, our political process, our government; We the People have given it away.

We the People have created the oppressing problems we suffer under. We haven't done this with forethought and intention, we've done it through just the opposite: a lack of interest, attention and intention. That's the bad news. The good news is that, because we have created our problems through a lack of attention and intention, we can also face them and work to rectify the situation with determined attention and intention by becoming engaged in our political process and our government. Our high ideal is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Realization of this ideal will only come through active participation. Living in a representative democracy is not a spectator sport, nor is it a sport for professionals to play for us. It is something we ourselves need to be actively engaged in.

Our current situation has been a long time in the making; decades, generations. Rectification of our situation will also be a long time in coming. But, it will only come if we begin the work of making it happen. We need to start this process now, not so much for our benefit, because significant results will take a while, but we need to do this for our children, grandchildren and the grandchildren of our great grandchildren.

Re: Conscious Taxes

Paul Campillo — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 00:35:41 -0000

Cool. Hope it's useful :)

Re: Conscious Taxes

Xerographica — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 20:38:15 -0000

Awesome post! Just added it to the Tax Choice Facebook Page.

Re: The Blatantly Obvious Purpose Of Life

Paul Campillo — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 13:57:37 -0000

Life's funner with drama :)

Re: The Blatantly Obvious Purpose Of Life

Necolious Hooker — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 13:54:17 -0000

Very entertaining read, a definite call to action to anyone who takes the time out to read it through to its entirety. Bring in the conflict!

Re: Economic Empowerment

RW Consulting — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 16:10:22 -0000

Great writing.

Re: I.O.I – A Global (But Curable) Epidemic

Bob — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:53:17 -0000

Lol, true, true. You have already succeeded even if it all is just a dream :)

Re: I.O.I – A Global (But Curable) Epidemic

Paul Campillo — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:48:05 -0000

One thing we both know, Bob, I will succeed even if I don't lol

*cue Inception music*

Re: I.O.I – A Global (But Curable) Epidemic

Paul Campillo — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:46:49 -0000

Good to hear. Raise that AQ! :)

Re: I.O.I – A Global (But Curable) Epidemic

Bob — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:40:03 -0000

Very cool blog Paul. I like how you think and your energy is so contagious I feel like running a few miles after I finish writing :). I have no doubt you are on your way to meeting all your goals you have set now and for those still to come. I agree with you wholeheartedly about AOI. I view knowledge as a never-ending stream of consciousness that allows us all to live life to the fullest. I know that I do not know, and yet I will still continue to know. It is a journey that allows us to simply appreciate it, rather than to focus on an end. I understand knowledge to be a means. It is all in what you do with the knowledge, making the most of it that counts. Knowing for the sake of knowing to me is like living for the sake of breathing. I look forward to more of your posts.

Re: I.O.I – A Global (But Curable) Epidemic

shereen — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:18:52 -0000

IOI was very helpful to me this morning!

Re: How I Succeeded In Stopping Myself From Reaching $50,000 (And how you can, too!)

Paul Campillo — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:40:28 -0000

I'm glad there's something you can get from my 'failures' (this is definitely not the right word, but it works for our purposes). It gets more interesting, hope you stick around

Re: How I Succeeded In Stopping Myself From Reaching $50,000 (And how you can, too!)

Queenie — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:19:30 -0000

Thanks for offering insight into what went wrong as well as insight into the mindset behind it all. Your 'failure' (not sure if that's the best word) to reach your goal of 50k (although you still have time) gave you the juice to right a very helpful blog. I was reading your tips on what went wrong like a hungry hippo:) Thanks for sharing. From what I can read...whether your getting what you want or not, you are always giving something for others to grow on. And in giving you shall receive, so keep it up!

Re: How I Succeeded In Stopping Myself From Reaching $50,000 (And how you can, too!)

Paul Campillo — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 12:34:22 -0000

Haha you would throw my toughest BAN challenge at me. Yeah, I plan on dealing with speaking and getting in front of the camera 2nd half of this year.

And public speaking is part of the plan. Soon, TEDx. #teamawesome

Re: How I Succeeded In Stopping Myself From Reaching $50,000 (And how you can, too!)

Se — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 07:42:41 -0000

Excellent foundational post! Even has me reassessing how I can seal up some productivity gaps in my own process. Will be sharing this at my Young Professionals meeting next week. When you're ready to stop bannin' and get back on the public speaking circuit with this stuff, you'll have to come out and drop some science :) #myteammean

Re: I Hate You

Paul Campillo — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:21:13 -0000

I secretly think it's "ok" :)

Re: I Hate You

Queenie — Thu, 30 May 2013 00:36:59 -0000

I love your blog. I'm inspired.

Re: Hello Beautiful

woman — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:35:30 -0000

Glad you made it safe and are already making moves. My heart is singing as it is raining here. Don't stop and never surrender!

Re: Hello Beautiful

Selah Ase — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 01:09:34 -0000

Glad you made it, and that the view from whiteboard heaven is as spectacular as you thought it would be. New chapter, new opportunities - congratulations on both accounts, Paul. I still call dibs on the first hard copy. See you soon...even from way over there. #Thrive

Re: Transition

Paul Campillo — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:40:47 -0000

Thanks Zach. Great ideas. The more I move into big changes the more I realize it's the simple things that I need in my life. Meditation, writing and journaling, exercise, etc. are more vital to my overall well being.

And the other part of this is, when my back is against the wall, when the pressure is on, I can easily say "f*** it", and take risks I normally wouldn't take.

Either way, growth is inevitable.

Re: Transition

Zach Hale — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:49:38 -0000

Big stuff!

I'm still trying to nail down a repeatable process to grounding myself mentally but for me it's often one of two things. 1) the key being forcing myself away from my computer or iphone binges (minimal use still) for the most of a day, I spend a good part of the day exploring the neighborhood, riding my bike, hiking, running, long walks, or similar with a book (kindle) and a journal reading and walking but keeping the journal for making lists and writing my thoughts. The other thing is spending a few hours focused on going through my brain dump of a todo list that rarely gets reviewed, knocking out little items, reorganizing, getting started on things that need a first step taken and really synthesizing my priorities and organizing the mess in my head about what I'm doing and want to do next. Come to think of it, it may be a combination of those two things (I'm thinking of really mind-clearing sundays of the recent past having pieces of these two things).

Maybe that'll inspire.

A mantra I frequently tell myself and friends overwhelmed with options is that there's no right thing to work on or right place to work or right place to live. There's only one that satisfies the requirements you know today, now and that can help you evaluate one hypothesis of a situation one way or another. If it doesn't work out, that's changeable and something new can be tried.

Beyond the stress, hopefully you can feel some excitement for the freedom you've found. I'm excited for you at least! :)

Re: Have Faith

ifalami — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:23:31 -0000

no risk no reward it's all about effort. engage,focus frequent,opportunity,responsibility tenacity that is the essence of EFFORT.ashe bernie