What do you think of DL’s “ethic of restraint”? In what ways, if any, do you consciously practice such restraint in your daily life? In what other ways could you expand your practice of this important ethic? Do you agree with what DL says later about restraint, that it paves the way for us to “give more attention to actively doing good?”
In his section on “Awareness” DL calls us to “honestly observe our own behavior,” and to “bring it under control.” Do you observe yourself in this way? How can we be more attentive to ourselves in this way?
I try very hard to watch what I say to others, especially those that are closest to me. Words can be just as hurtful as actions if they are unkind. I also try to be aware of the resources I use-whatever I use is not there for someone else and we use so excessively in this country. I try to ask myself when buying food etc.. do I really what this, have I given this thought or am I just buying something on a whim- lots of work for me to do in this area. I think when restraint becomes second nature to us it does open us up to actively doing good without having to give it so much thought. Self awareness is a tough thing- I feel that I am quite aware of my behavior and its impact on those around me but I do have a lot of room for improvement in how I actually play this out. I really do not like it when I react to the way someone treats me with a behavior I am not proud of. I sometimes reflect back on something I have said and try to figure out why I said what I did- was I just angry and lashing out to get the last word or did I truly feel it was something that needed to be said and would have a positive effect on the person I was communicating with? Nancy
ReplyDeleteSo, DL first criticizes capitalism as a sort of amoral system with no ethical underpinning, and then in this chapter advocates restraint as a key piece in monitoring our own behavior. How do we develop our own sense of restraint as we monitor our own behaviors? How do we inspire/lead others to do so?
ReplyDeleteI still feel the way we act speaks much louder than the way we speak- setting an example of responsible behavior is so important. Also pointing out when others do not act in a responsible way-trying not to judge the person only the behavior that is bad
ReplyDeleteI feel I am strongest and most effective when I am involved with a community that I respond to and vise-versa..accountability fo my actions without judgement but with love and the same goals
ReplyDeleteI agree, nance, but I think when an entire culture and society seems built on acquiring more and more and more and an economic system whose only rule is the profit motive makes it feel like an unwin-able war at times, at least to me.
ReplyDeleteYes, Julie! Community is HUGE. I think it is the most important piece in what we are talking about in many ways.
ReplyDeletePart of the problem is that responsible behavior does not always have immediate, visible rewards. In this day of wanting immediate results it is hard for some people to be patient
ReplyDeleteDL states never stop striving for it and I think that is key..back to holding each other up as we try and accomplish the impossible/possible
ReplyDeleteOk community is definately important here-so lets think about all the different communities we belong to and what a huge impact they could have
ReplyDeleteNancy this is so true and I am not always patient or doubt what I did was right thanks for that idea
ReplyDeleteI feel like women/nurses could really have a great impact on our healthcare crisis- why are we not more involved as a community?
ReplyDeletegood pt and question, Nance. I think about recycling as a positive ex of how we change and how small communities can make big changes together. There aren't many facilities or organizations left that I can think that don't recycle, right? How did that happen?
ReplyDeleteI also think we need to look t the problems in little pieces- too overwhelming if you try to fix something all in one sweep
ReplyDeletechurch community..school ..PTO nieghborhood..family ..little leauge...I think I have not been using my connections or at least oppurtunities
ReplyDeletemany small steps seem to work better that one gaint step- hard to be patient with slow progress
ReplyDeleteFirst it was newspapers, the cardboard, then plastic containers- now look where we are
ReplyDeleteDo we need to always know a starting point or do we just jump in when we have a chance to do something good?
ReplyDeleteThinking of those communities we are a part of, can we think of a situation when someone in one of those communities tried to influence/push/pull the community toward some sort of important positive change? What works? What doesn't? While it's nice to say that we just quietly set an example, part of me thinks its too late for such individual, subtle approaches...
ReplyDeleteI am all for jumping-calculated risk but jump just the same
ReplyDeleteToby, I am not sure I agree with that..you are one man..Christ was one man..the DL is one man..Mother T....but they influenced and led..you influence and lead..I influence and lead..it starts with us..
ReplyDeletesome times big changes happen when there is a crisis-where the old way just doesn't work anymore-these are tough, some times bring a lot of grief
ReplyDeleteI think it has more to do with the commitment of the person who is striving for the change
ReplyDeleteTrue. Good points all around guys. Let's jump to ch. 9 in our last 15 minutes or so. And please- don't feel that we have to follow MY threads! I'm just trying to get things started and focused at each stop. Feel free to push us in other directions. See you in ch. 9...
ReplyDeleteOk Tobes-personal example- when you left first pres-you helped to put in motion a huge change- we are just now beginning to see the impact-patience, patience
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