They Are Among Us (Part I)

They are among us. They look like us, speak our language, eat our foods, and work alongside us. Unless you know what to look for you will miss them. They are rare but they are there. These people have made the transition to adulthood and not lost the innocence, joy and power of childhood. These exceptional people are content as they are, where they are. They are more responsive to beauty. They are less driven by egocentric needs and more helpful and responsive to the needs of others. They are less fearful. They are creative, innovative and playful. They are loveable and have an impish sense of humor. You may find yourself being drawn to them and perhaps thinking, “This is a wonderful human being. If we could all be like him our world would be a safe and beautiful place.”

Abraham Maslow, author of Theory Z calls these people “Transcenders.” They make up a small percentage, possibly as little as one half of one percent of the total human race. But they are there, and they are real. The question is, “Can we get what they have?”

The answer is “YES.” We can fill our lives with joy and share it with others. We can eliminate fear, guilt, frustration and that underlying sense of unease that, like the sound of a noisy air conditioner, continually clatters away in the back of our minds.

We are human beings and we are not finished. We are just emerging from our cocoon. Transcenders are the butterflies of our species. They show us what we are capable of becoming. And that is inspiring. But that is not enough…

(Continued: They Are among Us Part II)