Dr. Gary Epler – The new way of life is to be your true authentic self at all times.
Joan – How does this new way of life apply to the community?
When you contribute to your community, it’s more important than ever to be your true authentic self. Most images of town meetings show people shouting, bickering, and not accomplishing anything. This is because people are thinking about themselves from the stress center. There’s a better option.
Before talking about the better option, how do people get involved in the community?
These include volunteering, coaching town teams, joining a community group, participating in local events and festivals, community clean-ups, attending town meetings, and becoming a town officer.
How can you be a creative force in the community?
By thinking from the mind with creativity to solve problems and help others. This requires limiting thinking about yourself from the stress center to less than ten seconds. If you’re thinking about your problems and how others can help you, then you can’t think from the heart with giving, and you can’t think from the mind with creativity to improve the community.
How can you be an influential force in the community?
By being your true self. People will trust you and want to hear what you have to say because you’re not trying to be someone else, manipulate anyone, or focus on how you get what you want. You’re not thinking about yourself from the stress center. You’re thinking from the heart with kindness and giving. People recognize this and want to support your ideas. You also think from the mind with courage and attention to solve problems for others and help the community.
Do you have an example of contributing to the community?
Become a coach for the town soccer program or basketball, hockey, or baseball programs. You can take free coaching courses to improve your skills. There are four things I always tell the team. You’re going to learn new skills, learn to be part of a team, make lifelong friends, and experience the pure joy of being part something outside your life. There is no mention of winning or losing because if these four elements are met, winning or losing becomes secondary. If coaches are their true selves with no thinking about themselves or winning games, the team will win most games or even all of them.
Sounds like it’s helpful to be your true self. Do you have another example?
Become a town officer. This will be a challenge at many different levels, but the reward will be huge for you and the community. The biggest challenge is adapting to the constantly changing cultural environment and rapidly changing social norms. This is why it’s so important to be your true self because if you’re trying to be the best council member or do what people expect you to do, then you’re thinking from the stress center causing rigid opinions and recommendations without consideration of others.
Contribute to your community. It’s enjoyable and feels good. Be your true self for optimal creativity and influence. Do you have any closing comments?
There are many ways to get involved in your community including volunteering, coaching, participating in local events, and becoming a town officer. Limit your stress to less than ten seconds by not thinking about your problems or trying to be someone else. Be your true self. People will trust you and want to hear what you have to say. This will allow you to be influential in a good way for making your community the best place to live.
