“Everybody get together try and love one another right now” (The Youngbloods). I don’t know about you but I can usually get along with all kinds of personalities pretty well until it comes to something as banal as PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES.

Then it is as if the wrath of Khan has been unleashed upon my inner Klingon and if I don’t shed any blood then you can call the meeting well done.

I don’t know what it is about me in a “formal” meeting situation but you would think I had never had any therapy to work out my authority issues or that I hadn’t ever had a job, much less a career, that asked for me to be one of the primary people responsible for the welfare of many. I think what get’s triggered in me during these times is the terrible fear–and warning overload of my system–that people are not going to get along and agree. And so it feels like I transform into a human machine with the main goal being to get the meeting done and over with as quickly as possible with as little loss of life as can be managed. That, or I want to excuse myself and go running into the great oblivion.

This is not the hallmark of a good leader folks and I truly want to be a good leader but it can be scary as hell that is for sure. I got to thinking about this situation and wondered how other people handle themselves in business meetings where sometimes difficult subjects and motions have to be made, talked about and voted upon by a sometimes disparate group of people. This is especially tricky if the group is made up of volunteers whose sole purpose is to be a contributing members of the group to help other people find peace.

No wonder we humans are fighting with each other all over the place on this Earth if even in a simple small group business meeting where the very intention is love, we can get cross ways with each other. I know this is one of those times where I can stop and think to myself, “let it begin with me” but man, when I’m in the middle of a somewhat heightened emotional situation it’s hard to gain control over my brain shouting to either do battle or run. But doesn’t it make us better people, much less leaders, when we are able to rise above the din of our reptilian brain?

This is where we can start people, in our homes and in our offices and yes, even in our behavior with the clerk at the super market or the waitress at the cafe. We can start to connect the dots between our hearts and minds so that what comes out of our mouths is congruous with who we truly want to be. I won’t run away if you won’t run away and I’ll step up to the plate for positions and situations that take me out of my comfort zone as long as you bend a little during my growth spurts.

C’mon people now, smile on your sister everybody get together try to love one another right now.

Right now.

Right now!!