Fire in the Belly

"Good men and good women have fire in the belly.

We are fierce."

-Sam Keen

Don't mess with us if you are looking for somebody who will always be "nice" to you. ("Nice" gets you a C+ in life.)…

We don't always smile, talk in a soft voice, or engage in indiscriminate hugs…

Think of clean anger as the voice of the wise serpent who says, "Don't tread on me." Without anger we have no fire, no thunder and lightning to defend the sanctuary of the self.

No anger = no boundaries = no passion. -Sam Keen

This week at work, I spoke my mind. Often.  I wasn't as diplomatic as I should have been, but some decisions were thrown at the staff without our input. I've done all the right things: spoken to the director, spoken up at meetings, and tried to get to the root of why the voices of the majority aren't being heard.

Part of my actions has to do with the recent discussions we've been having in our class on the nature of obedience. Gregorio Billikopf Encina of the University of California writes,

"Why is it so many people obey when they feel coerced? Social psychologist Stanley Milgram researched the effect of authority on obedience. He concluded people obey either out of fear or out of a desire to appear cooperative--even when acting against their own better judgment and desires. Milgram’s classic yet controversial experiment illustrates people's reluctance to confront those who abuse power."

It would be so easy to sit quietly, accepting the decisions that come from above.

But I can't.

And I get in trouble.

A female fire horse, with fire in her belly.

I suffer if I remain silent.

I suffer if I speak up.

Comments

[Michiel]

"I suffer if I remain silent.

I suffer if I speak up."

And then the question becomes, which suffering is worse?

I'm an Ox, so I plod on regardless of directions from above ;)

[Lamamamajama]

Remember what Buddha said? "There is suffering."
It's not to be avoided.

[Elke]

The coyote within has an answer to which suffering is the worse: not being yourself and regretting it.

[shamash]

Thanks, Elke, for the link. It was a great encouragement.

I visited your blog.

Oh, how I wish I spoke your language!