Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

Independence Day reminds us of the shocking cost of violence. The opposite is also true, and Ireland models precisely how peace acts as the harbinger of prosperity. 

In the late 1990’s Ireland focused on two goals peace and prosperity, according to Irish Ambassador… H.E. Sean O’Huiginn. Simply put – Ireland recognized their role to strike out for prosperity through peace, and in so doing, they became a global model for both.

It was a deberate move. Ireland took powerful plans away from violence when they joined the European Union and the Euro – both plans for peace that also led to mighty prosperity. For the first time, people between northern Ireland and Ireland began to see one another as humans – with common needs in spite of their differences. Our minds are capable of creating peace that adds to prosperity – whenever we rewire past war to kick-start a prosperous vision.

It's lasting. Peace in Ireland is far from a flash in a pan, and their booming economy is deeply woven into peaceful initiatives. The leaders in Ireland – during their conversion from war plans to peace plans – seemed to be guided by the fact that peace and prosperity are deeply intermeshed and neither come without a focus for peace and an end to violence as a way to settle frustrations about terrorism.

It's different. Recently, I spoke to the head of Transportation in Killarney,  and this seasoned leader hit on differences between Ireland and America’s prosperity at the moment. This man spoke of riches that continue to pour into Ireland – now that peace is part of the package in that country.

Did you know that Ireland is the second most prosperous country in Europe at the moment and growing at historically record breaking pace.

He then made a comparison that I’d like to raise for your thoughts. He said…

“Shortly after 9-11 I toured ground zero in New York and talked to leaders and people there. Then I visited the site where IRA bombed and killed Irish in a shocking new attack after the ceasefire had been sealed. At the America site we saw a strong sense of revenge … and in Ireland we saw an equally strong sense of grief and sadness.”

It takes a plan. Dr. Robyn McMaster asked today ... How can we rekindle the Patriot Dream? Great question from a deep thinker! I wrote a series of blogs on the marks of a brain based peace plan that show how either war or peace rewires your brain daily. Where to start? Let's reflect seriously on implications from new research which shows shocking numbers of teens into violent video games.

What do you see as the marks of a peace plan that could ratchet up prosperity through more peaceful approaches to this nation’s frustrations about terrorism?

It means change. Could peace and compassion mean the opposite of today’s news as we report it? If so, where would be start to move toward genuine prosperity – as you see it? What would it take to model prosperity through a peaceful plan at your workplace and mine?