To shrink, or not to shrink......

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink too." Any living breathing soul cannot possibly sit back and be told how things will work and what to do everyday of their life without being a participant. In our world today, we have the right to speak out. As inhabitants of our own bodies, it is our responsibility to protect ourselves and those we love. As members of a community, we are entitled to our own ways of helping and improving the things and people within it. When you choose not to particiapte, you give up your rights. Many of us are sometimes afraid to speak up because we are only one person. However, if you feel strongly enough about something then your voice will be loud enough for someone to hear.

There have been several times where I kept my mouth shut about issues that I feel passionately about. I was afraid that I wouldn't have support and that my words would be shut down as quickly as they came out of my mouth. I would later regret not speaking up because now more than ever, my opinion was not voiced. If I had just said something, then I may have found that there were others who feel just as strongly as I did. Speaking your mind can sometimes depend on the time and the place. If I were to bring an issue to the table I would want to make sure that I was surrounded by an appropriate audience. However, I would encourage people to take a chance, voice your issue, don't be silent. We are all leaders who have an obligation to speak out, to be strong and to help effect change when we see fit.

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination." Tommy Lasorda

Learned helplessness

"America's prevailing culture of cynicism insists that nothing we do can matter. It teaches us not to get involved in shaping the world we'll pass on to our children. It encourages us to leave such important decisions to others- whether they be corporate and government leaders, or social activists whose lifestyles seem impossibly selfless or foreign." -Loeb. In a world where issues such as HIV, poverty, malaria, homelessness, etc. we have a higher demand now than maybe ever before. In the downturn of our economy, generally people are more likely to contribute to social causes whether that be financially or through service projects. The first two chapters of this book have made me more appreciative for the opportunities to get involved that slice has offered and its inspiring to read others stories from the chapters of how they, one individual, with the help of others were able to make a difference in the world. Times are changing in America, remember what our new president said on the day of his inauguration, its going to take everyone to bring change to America and the world.

-Damon

As One We Accomplish More Than As Many

Networking is a part of our lifes we all need to do even if some of us don't really want to. Certain tasks that would be nearly impossible to perform alone are made easy by working with others this weekend our group went to help make lunch at a safe house for victims of domestic violence. We made cheesecrisps for these kids and were amazed to find out that a woman did this all by herself. It took six of us an hour to do and we could only imagine how long it took her.
The example that Loeb gives in his book of this woman that came from a culture where women don't go out and change things is inspiring. As much strength as it took from her to change her view of the world and make things happen. It was the people from the group COPS that gave her the courage to stand up for her community.

Silence hurts you on the Inside

I agree with this quote with all my being. I have seen people who do not interact with society and keep to themselves, you can actually see that they have lost their soul. I work in a pharmacy and I see this on a daily basis. The people who keep to themselves find it very hard to interact with me or the pharmacist when they really need help, but are to afraid to ask for it. They are staying in silence and it not only hurts them psychologically but physically.

It is much better to always speak out then stay silent. I have experienced silence and it does hurt you on the inside and the people that you could have helped. There have been little issues in my life where I have kept silent because I am a small person so I feel that my voice is small and won't be heard. I have never been with the in crowd either, I was always the one in high school who did all her work, and read my book when I was done. I didn't want to speak out because it was the cool kids who controlled everything, so when I thought something needed to be changed for the better of the students, the popular students would usually disagree because they didn't care about academics.

However, starting college has help my overcome the obstacle of silence. There are so many teachers and students who care about the causes that I do. Just like Virginia got help from the COPS to speak out, I got help from the college community to help me speak out. Today I speak out because staying silent only hurts yourself and those around you.

STAND UP FOR BELIEFS

I definitely agree with the following quote by Loeb "when we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too." There are so many times in our lives where we will feel strongly about an issue and yet choose not to say something or voice our opinions. Sometimes it is because we feel as though even if we were to say something it would not make a difference and sometimes we do not speak up because we have a sense of embarrassment and are afraid of what others might say. For example, I support gay marriage and whenever somebody asks my position on the issue, I proudly tell them that I am for it without worrying about how they are going to react.
Nevertheless, just this last semester there was a large debate going on in one of my classes about the topic of gay marriages and whether or not we should vote for or against the issue. While, surprisingly, most of the class was against gay marriage, there were a small handful of us that were proud to say we were in support of it. However, once I started to be attacked my the students that were against the topic, I began to back down, even though I wanted SO badly to argue right back and explain my opinions to them because I was afraid of what they might think of me after that. I was almost embarrassed and did not want to be looked at in a bad way just because of my view. But, if I could go back in time, I would never have backed down. I do not care what people think of me and if someone is so ignorant that they would think less of me just because of my opinion on gay marriage, then I do not care about their opinions in the first place. In addition, like Loeb stated, if we do not stand up for our beliefs, "our souls shrink too."

WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR OURSELVES AND OUR BELIEFS NO MATTER WHAT!!

Doing whats right by you

One of my favorite qoute is "the greatest crime against humanity is seeing a social issue and not taking a stand against it". When you shrink from the world, when you do not take a stand against issues you feel wrong going on in your community, then you shrink in your soul too. this is so because as long as those issues exist, it will always haunt you that you did not take a stand against it.
In Loebs story about Derrick bell, if he had not taken a stand against the discrimination in hiring minority female professor, he might have kept his job but then,he will have it on his conscious as not taking a stand for his belief.
And i think Loeb nailed it in his statement that "silence is more costly than speaking out, because it requires the ultimate sacrifice-the erosion of our soil."
this i have experienced by living a system of government were you are not allowed to fully express yourself and that is a terrible burden to bear because you can not speak about issues you identify with. and this slowly eats up your soul.

My name is Landen

Depending on how you look at that quote I can both agree and disagree. If you say the quote means helping the world which is what the book is talking about then yes staying in the shadows of the world will keep your soul from growing. If connecting with with this world means connecting with those around you then it will too often mean doing things that one shouldn't be doing to fit in. It seems to me like the ones who are most hidden and unaccepted are the ones who have the biggest souls cause they don't fit the social picture well enough to be accepted. Sometimes shrinking away is the only way to keep individuality and stay directed towards success rather than being pulled into negative behaviors.

As for the public issues I feel that it's important to fully understand the issue you are arguing before putting yourself out to contradict other beliefs. If not then its arguing for the sake of arguing. Personally I feel that I speak up about, potentially too often, about issues I feel strongly about. It can sometimes get me into trouble and bring about a bigger argument but I think if you feel strong enough about it then why hold back.

My favorite saying so far in the book was a quote taken from rabbi Susya saying, "God will not ask me why I was not Moses, He will ask me why I was not Susya." To me this means that we are all capable of doing great things not only in our lives but in the lives of others. We need to use the strenghts God has given us to make the most out of our lives and those who are given more need to show more for what they have. To me the biggest downfall of our society is greed. Greed for time we don't want to share if it's helping a community or waiting too long for a car to turn on green. Worse yet is the greed of money. Many times the rich who could give the most want to keep the most because everything in life becomes a compatition. At that point they want to have the best of the best and if they don't have it then they are not where they want to be. As long as we dedicate our life it doesn't matter who we are, we are all able to accomplish great things.

We are only limited by ourselves

"When we shrink from the world, our world shrinks too."
-Dr. Leob

I believe that Dr. Leob accurately nailed this idea on the head; as we pull away from social activity and responsibility, we are not only hindering growth in ourselves, but promoting decay in the very fabric of who we are as individuals. Personally, I've found this to be a very astute observation through my own experiences in life. In times when I withdraw myself from being an active voice on issues or when I remain inactive, particularly in the presence of injustices, when I ought to be doing something about the goings-on around me I find myself contemplating such decisions for weeks to come. I consider deeply the possible alternative outcomes to such situations and whether or not I made the right decision in making no proactive decision at all. When I finally come to an honest, conclusive dicision, I am left disappointed and less of the man that I thought that I was prior to the situation; my soul had shrank.

However, I find this statement to be even moreso a truth through means of reciprical logic. That is to say that when I do act as I believe I ought to, make the right decisions and act in accordance to who I am, I frequently find that I then know myself all the more better. I am proud of myself in times such as these, and I am often on the look out for such opportunities to be able to clearly define who I am and act as I should. For me, such opportunities most always come in the form of being active with others and not sitting on the sidelines when I've something to say. In the end, I find this statement of Dr Leob's to be exceptionally true, though something else that he said, I felt, very well complimented this sentiment, and that was that "we bocome humans only in the company of other human beings." (Leob 22)

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!

I think that letting your voice be heard is very important. Speaking to what you believe allows you to be who you are and share it with people that may have the same opinion as you. Americans today allow people to be so judgmental which affects how comfortable people are about stating their opinion. This is truly unfortunate though, because that person might have a statement that could change the world forever, such as Kennedy stating "Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country." Having the confidence to speak your mind allows you to grow as a person and not "shrink" with the world. I very much agreed with Loeb's quote. Like I had said before Americans allow other people to think for them way too often and by allowing them to do so they end up losing who they are. They follow the crowd to make themselves feel more comfortable but as they continue to be a follower they lose who they really are.

We have been given brains so that we can take in the information and then process it and respond. I can admit that before I came to college I was very shy on stating my opinion. I was always scared of how people would judge what I'd have to say. Now that I have been in the college setting I see how many people aren't afraid to state what they believe. I also discovered that once I opened up and began to speak out more and more people had similar opinions to me that led to great conversations of change. We are put in this world to live in it, not to hide in it.
Imagine if African Americans never stood up for what they believed in and allowed slavery to continue, or women never spoke up and said they could do a man's job, what kind of society would we live in today? Would there be any change or just acceptance to the decisions made around us.

Be the change you want to see in the world, stand up for yourself and speak out for others to hear. If we hold on to our belief the world will be one big gray blob, thinking, talking, and acting the same way. Now wouldn't that be boring!!

let your voice be heard, act, and serve!

One too many times voices have been silenced or ignored. This world is filled with people whose voices and ideas have been lost to injustice and misunderstanding. Fortunately, many people still have a voice and will do almost anything to preserve it. Our world is an endless chain where each voice is a link. Each voice must be loud and clear. We should try to make our voices heard in order to keep our chain links strong. It’s also very important to be able to hear other people’s voices, we are all connected. Even if there’s a disagreement in ideas one must be able to listen in order to understand. We should be more open to any issue that surrounds us or any problem that surround our world.

                I agree with Loeb’s quote, "When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too."  We must not enclose ourselves in a bubble of conformity. We should not let our voices and souls fade.  Personally, I’ve experienced many occasions where I was not able to communicate my opinion over a public issue due to a language barrier when I arrived to the United States. I tried and tried to explain myself using a little yellow Spanish-English dictionary as my personal translator. Every attempt became an inevitable failure.  At that time I literary gave up on trying to express my opinion about social issues that presented to me. It wasn’t until I learned English that I finally was able to speak my mind. I had gained back a voice I left back in Mexico. However, I sometimes still feel a sense of conformity that I gained when I couldn’t communicate.

It’s easy to ignore problems that don’t affect us directly. This will never get rid of the problem. One must speak and act if we truly desire to find a solution. A single voice might ignite other people to help others.  I remember a couple of years ago while visiting family in Mexico, I heard a kid who had just beaten cancer share his opinion to anyone who would listen. He was raising money to help sick friends that he met at the hospital where he was treated. I heard him on TV trying to advocate a more efficient health program that would help his friends deal their problems. He would talk to reporters and politicians about his particular story of beating cancer.  For me, the thing that most impacted me was a quote he said when he was interviewed by a reporter from an organization that collects money for disabled children. He said, “Si no vives para servir, no sirves para vivir.” In English, it means, “If you don’t live to serve, you don’t deserve to live.” In English it seems a little hard; hopefully his message is not lost in translation, that’s all I can do with my little yellow dictionary. But trust me when I say that his words truly inspired me to serve others, a simple action or gesture can make someone’s day a little easier. So let your voice be heard, act, and serve! 

Speak Up

I agree with Loeb. When there is an issue we should speak up about it. There are many issues that are unknown, and if we don’t voice them then they will never be known. Just like Virginia Ramirez's story. If she never mentioned anything about the sweet old lady's house, then she probably would not have held that meeting at her houses, which lead to her community receiving funds for house repairs. So even though she was not able to save the old woman, she was still able to save her community.

You gotta do what's right by you.

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too," writes Loeb. Do you agree with this quote? Explain. Are there times when you have stayed silent over a public issue? Do you think it's always better to speak out?

The world is a network, now more than ever; and when one part of the world suffers the rest does too. If a good voice is silenced then the roots wither. You gotta do what's right by you. Whether you shrink or not doesn't matter too much to me. I have found that sometimes it is just as vitally important to keep quiet as it is to raise your voice. Teddy and Amanda hit the nail on the head with knowing the time, place, and situation to make a stand. I have stayed silent in many issues when the conversation changes from a conversation to a debate to an argument and then the bickering strangles the communication. I keep my voice silent when I dont feel that it will be accepted.

As far as the soul, reaching it's potential, and getting familiar with the voice we share; I believe that to get to know your potential, you need to push your limits. That's goes both ways whether you are in a crowd all fighting for a cause or by yourself stopping a fight. Sometimes it's important to isolate yourself, to learn to be self sufficient, and then it's just as important to lean on a group of friends to learn how to depend on people.

All in all, part of what makes humanity great is the communication we share and the way we work together to achieve a common goal. It is our global network that helps to conquer disease and suffering, solve disputes, and preserving peace. It's like the redwoods that grow with intertwined root systems to support such large powerful trees, a tree alone would simply collapse and die, but together they are strong and stretch hundreds of feet into the air.

Is the world shrinking your soul?

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too".

I agree with this statement from a literal aspect. Human beings thrive on other human beings. Every person has psychological needs that must be met. Needs that include interaction with others and acceptance. Loneliness can crush the very soul of any person.

But...
What if the world is really shrinking our souls?

Every day the newspaper, internet, radio, television reaches billions of people, telling us about more and more problems; problems that are left without answers. People have become "desensitized" to the fact that these "problems" are real. We may empathize for that sparce moment in time, but quickly forget when our daily agendas take over.

On the other hand, there are those that do not forget, but become overwhelmed. If there are so many problems, and so little people who care, how is anything going to be resolved?
I find myself in this category often.

I can recall feeling this way just over a month ago when I traveled to the small town of Terrazas, Mexico. Observing the so-called "streets" covered in so much debris, the shacks that so many called home, and the faces with looks of despair; it all broke my heart. I felt hopeless, thinking, "how could this town ever look any better; so much repair is needed and it would take decades."
I could not find any hope. I was letting the world "shrink" my soul.

I love the fact that Loeb points out that heroes are everyday people. They are the people who have not become "desensitized" or overwhelmed by the world's downfalls. I and others must believe that we can make a difference. We must not be discouraged by the immensity of an issue, but encouraged by the people we can touch.

Stop looking for hope, be the hope others are looking for.

Open minds

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink too."




Yes, I agree with the quote because in my family we are very family orientated. When people have problems outside of our family we feel bad but, we do not, as Alexa said "take action." When we shrink ourselves from the world our mind shrinks too. I was taught that we must accept people as they are and I have always tried to do that. This brings up the question why should we accept people? I thought about it and it goes without saying " treat people the way you want to be treated." The more open our minds are to new concepts and cultures the easier it will be for people to get along. People only fear what they do not understand.



I tend to not open my mouth about issues I am not educated about. However, when I do know the answer I will voice what I have to say. Sometimes, my statement can be wrong. However, if it was not for me speaking up I would never have known. Although, I tend to keep quiet sometimes because my information may not have come from a reliable source. I feel that if we are able to understand where the other side is coming from then we won't jump to conclusions on an issue. People need to be willing listen just as much as speak and be able to find a balance, like Steph said.

We should always keep our minds open to knew ideas otherwise. The world needs variety and different perspectives without it democracy won't work as efficient.

We Hold the Power

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too." This holds true because individuals who sit back and let the world pass by them, miss out on the important things that enrich the soul. Discovering and identifying one's passion, helps them to find their inner self. Bell states that, "silence is more costly than speaking out." I believe this is situational however, it is always important to be honest about beliefs. Beliefs are a part of who we are and can be the deciding factor between good and bad. Honesty is a key factor to live by and being honest with oneself could be the first encouragment to stand up for what we believe in. "Stand up, don't sit down." I have learned overtime that being involved in the areas I am most passionate about have been the most rewarding. They have had such a positive impact in my life and have changed me forever. We are all so blessed for everything we have and it is so amazing that the simpliest thing to us could be life changing for someone else.

The United States is known as an individualist culture because we are always focused on "I." We are selfish and put ourselves before all others. For this to change, people have to step out of their comfort zone and think about others and their needs. People have the choice everyday to make a difference or sit down and wait until someone else steps up. If everyone did that, it would be too late. Slice is the perfect opportunity to find those things we are passionate about. Those things that will encourage us to make a difference and focus on the changes that are crucial to improve this world. When we try to hide from the world and it's problems, we take the easy way out.

A time in the past when I should of stuck up for myself was when I got a scholarship to a Christian school in California to play soccer. I was so excited coming home from the visit but when I went to my first soccer practice after I got back, my friends put down the idea. They said how lame the school sounded and I let them change how I felt, instead of standing strong behind my faith and decisions. This was when I was still a child in faith and was easily swayed. I now know how to stand my ground and stick up for what I believe in. We have the power of voice for a reason and should use it whenever possible!

Power of Voice

I would completely agree with the author Leob. Every one on this planet is equal in dignity and rights. But unfortunately people are denied rights and harassed for the reason of gender race, sex, religion, politics, color, nationality, beliefs, nationality, legal status, and differences in one. We are all brother and sister of this world and when we choose to be selfish we shrink the world and ourselves. That is why we must all participate in the transformation of society. We have to opportunity to speak out, have a voice for those that don’t and to stand and challenge our status quo. Even if it’s starting out small we just need to get people involved, thinking, and educated about issues that are vital to our society.

Just a video to think about how voice is powerful to a person.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbtVepS53t0

Do what's right for you.

In our current time, it has become more prevelant that people move about and carry on their lives without choosing to acknowledge the world or the people that surround them. The struggles we as people and the world as a whole face seem distant becuase there are few who want to talk about them. It is almost as if, since most of society has taken the option not to address public issues vocally they do not exist or rather certain issues will resolve themselves given time.

It has become apparent that changes need to be made, and everyone needs to take action. There is truth in Mr. Loeb's statement and probably a far greater one than most people want to admit. Deeply embedded in every person is the desire to help achieve a common goal. Whether the goal is peace, a cleaner community, or to banish racism the passion behind every person's want and need for fulfillment is equal. When people choose to ignore their desires no-not just their desires- their base needs, they are giving up on themselves.

After accepting failure for so long people begin to see it as their only choice, and they give up hope. They give up ever truly wanting to better themselves becuase they believe nothing that they do could even marginally impact anybody.

What everyone needs to do is what is right for them. I am not saying to go out and rally or become the voice of a congregation. All that I am suggesting is that people put themselves out in the world to experience life by working for a cause. When people become active in a cause they see as just it gives them purpose, and everybody needs that.

The Darkside is Calling

Keeping silent on your own opinion does not make you or your soul shrink. Some people just have different priorities in life. Thinking and talking about a subject only when it is asked for the sake of answering is not very meaningful or informative. Taking a stance for any cause blindly because of the belief it’s worth while to be engaged in only makes you feel like you’re making a difference, but are you really making a difference? If there was nothing in the end for that person, would they believe in the cause as passionately? Do their intentions make them and their soul smaller in that sense?

Shrinking from our world

Hmmm as far as shrinking with the world, it really differs from person to person. Now personally i like to listen to discussions on "public issues" . Its interesting to listen to the way other people look at our world, how they perceive it could be a 180 degree view from your own. I wouldn't consider that "shrinking" as some people would. But mabey im taking this quote the wrong way mabey its meant to mena "shrinking" as just isolating urself from the world. As far as that goes some people thrive in isolation, however for myself i love the company of people. Just being in a crowded room with all the energy and possibilty is just something i couldnt live without. So saying your soul shrinks is some ones personal veiw, because to truly enjoy the company of others people need to experience what its like to be by ones self.

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too,"

Act now!

Believing that our individual involvement is worthwhile and that it can effect and impact our society and future is essential when understanding the purpose of our lives. Consequently, I can certainly agree with Paul Loeb when he describes that if we do not socially involve ourselves with the world because of its complexities, we shrink from it and we shrink our souls with it.

If one does not become aware and recognize the different illnesses that affects our society locally as well as globally, if we put a wall in front of us to the outside world and if we become insensitive and heartless by not getting involved, we without a doubt are alienating ourselves from our world.

We need to learn to trust our own ability to make a difference in the life of other human beings and the planet and in order to do that, we need to act and express ourselves.

Most of the time, I keep thoughts to myself remaining silent over different issues. I rather listen and analyze what other people say however, I really do have a lot to say about those issues. Over many years, I have preferred to hold back because of the fact that sometimes I still have a hard time when trying to explain my ideas in a way I would have done when speaking in my first language. English is my second language, and sometimes in order to expose my ideas I really need a long time. I will like to express fully what I have on my mind but, it takes me a while to get there because I have to find the appropriate words in order to express myself properly. Practice helps and therefore that its one of the main reasons why I join in classses and clubs as much as I can so then I can get involved in different activites that helps better my community.

“… We do not always have to speak out, we could just help out. I feel the more we get involved and open ourselves to new people and new experiences the more we learn and grow”, I could not agree more with Anna Man. We as human beings need to experience life to learn and grow in a way that not only we benefit ourselves, but also our surroundings. In order to do so, we really need to work hard and not just speak about it. We need to take actions.

Alexa

When the Time is Right...

If one chooses to not speak up about an issue or about his beliefs, it doesn't make him less of a person nor does it shrink his soul. I believe the message here is that we all can be involved in our own way and that if we have something to say, then we need to have the courage to stand up and voice our opinion. However, I don't think that we need to voice our opinion at every chance we get. Sometimes we need to sit back and take in all the information before we make a statement. You shouldn't be criticized because you chose to let another person speak. Nor am I saying that you should always sit in the back seat. Our soul is who we are and what animates us and for us to truly find out who we are and what that is, I do believe that we need to be involved and take a part in the world that we live in today or else we may find ourselves always sitting in the back seat.

"Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul."--Wayne Dyer

Bringing Balance to the Community

Souls’ shrinking does not feel like an adequate description. I feel like it's more of being blocked, but not dimmed. It's like a turtle in its shell. It remains hidden from view until the moment it feels the safest or the bravest. The turtle did not change size; his presence was just no longer blatantly obvious to whatever it was hiding from. It shrunk from view yes, but it did not literally shrink, which is what I feel that quote is implying.

To me a soul is similar to a turtle, with the exception of the soul having a lot more impact. It waits until the person is brave enough to bring it out to its full size, then it flares, revealing how powerful it really is. Yes a turtle is not exactly powerful, but does one person have the ability to affect millions without any help? I don't think so. There had to have been a reason for it to come out. That reason is unique to every person, and in many cases only the person themselves will ever know what that reason was.

Being in touch with the world is necessary in coaxing it out, yes, but there still needs to be a balance between internal musings and external actions. If a person only focuses on the external than everything that immediately affects them (family, friends, their health, work, etc.) could easily fall apart because of neglect. To reverse the situation, only focusing on internal affairs, and that person is basically letting everyone else control their world, much like what Loeb described.

It is because of this need for balance that I think it that it is impossible for a person to have not stayed silent on a public issue. There is so much going on in the world that for someone to choose to combat every public issue they would, at the very least, exhaust themselves, no matter how fulfilling it seemed to be. Also if someone were to try, wouldn't their views be considered hypocritical? I think that as many causes as there are in the world, in order to fight for every last one of them, some of their values would conflict, diminishing that person in the eyes of the rest of the world. Their fights would lose public interest and the views of the person would be rapidly skewed from something of greatness, to something of lunacy. People can have a wide variety of interests, but that does not necessarily mean that we are passionate about all of them. We have to choose where to focus our efforts based on what we like, and where our strengths are the most beneficial.

From experience, I have found that sometimes remaining quiet can be more helpful than constantly speaking out. Every person has a different perspective to bring to the table. If a person only speaks and never listens, than they are going to miss something important that someone else has to say. Depending on how volatile the situation is, that one thing could make or break an argument. Of course, a person always listening and never speaking, can be just as bad. Once again, I think that maintaining a balance between both is best.

The secret of success is constancy to purpose

I think would have to agree in a way with the quote, "when we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too," in some ways. Watching the world burn and not attempting to put out the flames can rip apart a person's view of themself. There have been several occasions where I have stayed silent over public issues, generally because of not feeling I could properly articulate what it was I wanted to express. If a person speaks out they may not always know exactly what to say, how to say it, or how others will react to it, but I feel as though there are times where a person should just throw themself out there and at try to push towards expressing their feelings and opinions.

When a person speaks their opinion I believe they should exercist caution and openness, though caution may not be the word best-suited for what I mean. They should take care to not come across as disregarding the opinions of others, lest they push others away and make them feel unwilling to listen or be open to your opinion for coming across as hostile towards their own.

In "shrinking from the world" a person avoids derision and conflict that may come from speaking their mind, but closing oneself from the world can harm said person and denies everyone else of addition input or assistance. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do," (Mark Twain).

The Costs of Silence

I think the quote is very true, and something we will definitely be learning about in this class. As Loeb mentions, we can all choose our own actions. We can either choose to help enrich our community to make it a better place, or we can sit back and watch our community fall apart. Not taking a stance does not necessarily mean that you are a bad person, just that you have not discovered how to make a difference. So while shrinking away from the world may cause our souls to shrink, it is not an irreparable damage. Like Virginia, we too can make a difference in our community, even if we do not know where to start. We just need to look inside ourselves and see what it is we think we can do. This can be a difficult thing to achieve, because many service tasks seem daunting when being faced alone. However, like athletes, we must challenge our souls and go outside of our comfort zones in order to truly make a difference in our world, and in ourselves. However, also like an athlete, we are not alone. We have teams in many different places where we can look for support. Whether it be our family, our friends, or our newly acquired SLICE teams, support is never far away, as long as we are willing to accept it. Like Loeb mentions "You get alot back when you're with a good group of people taking a stand on something that matters." Fortunately for us, we all have teams that we will be embarking on a journey with together. Once we complete our services, we will all have a better understanding of not only what it takes to help our community, but a better sense of who it is we are. This helps to emphasize the statement that Loeb made, "none of our lives are entirely our own making." We are all going through this together, and are going to help each other shape the people we will ultimately become. So while our souls may have shrunken earlier in our lives because we "shrunk" away, we can still restore our souls by making a difference in the community. If we can leave this world feeling that we made a difference, no matter how big or small it may actually be, then our souls will be fine.

There are plenty of times when staying silent can be beneficial. The main reason that comes to my mind personally, is when you are not 100% clear on the facts. I know that I feel much better sitting back and listening about a hot topic that I am not well educated on, as opposed to speaking my mind on the subject. The reason for this is because I do not want to sound ignorant on topics I don't know about. I think that listening is an important skill that we must all have. We must be willing to listen to what others have to say, in order to educate ourselves, then we can speak our minds. I think speaking out is important. If Muhammad Ali had not spoken out about his feelings for the war, then he would have had to live with the fact that he took a part in something he did not believe in. Like Loeb says, silence has some repercussions.

Opening Up

I do not like the phrase “our souls are shrinking”. Whether we stand up for what we believe in or decide not to speak out, it does not mean our souls will shrink or we are less of a person. I feel many people have a basic foundation of what they believe in, but most do not speak up because they do not have all the answers. They are afraid someone might come at them with a question they cannot answer. However, I think the message is for people to not be afraid of getting involved and speaking out even if they do not have all the answers. Furthermore, we do not always have to speak out, we could just help out. I feel the more we get involved and open ourselves to new people and new experiences the more we learn and grow. As stated in the book, “We become human only in the company of other human beings. And this involves both opening our hearts and giving voice to our deepest convictions.” It does not have so much to do with our souls as much as it has to do with us as human beings. Learning about what is going on and getting involved with the community by helping others and standing united can give people a sense of belonging in a world that seems to be so divided. This in itself can be uplifting and enriching.

"You know you make me want to (SHOUT)"

I think that Loeb is saying that when we don't take a stand for what we believe, that it'll eat us up from the inside out. We should speak up and avoid regret later on. There are often times when I keep quiet when I feel like saying something or I feel like someone needs to hear something. People are intimidating and it's just easier to avoid conflict. Sometimes I do feel like I should have voiced my opinion, that maybe someone else could have benefited from my words though. I also believe, though that there is a time and place for things and sometimes it is better left for a more proper environment. Sometimes I find myself getting annoyed by people when they feel like their opinion is the only thing that matters, that they will try and “shove it down your throat” no matter where they are. I don’t mind that they have their own beliefs, I just can’t stand the disrespect some people have towards others while trying to share them. In conclusion, speak up when you need to but be aware of how you do it.

Simply Visiting This World

Simply visiting this world is not an option. In the quote, "When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too" I agree that by not speaking up when you are confronted about a cause you agree or disagree with, you are not only hurting yourself, but you are hurting your society.

Granted, I have had times where I have not spoken up against something I do not agree with; however, I look back and wish I had. Through past experiences, I've learned that although I may not know how to articulate my thoughts, my opinion does matter. I believe in our society, women have grown up thinking they are not allowed to have their own opinions and therefore inherit their family's opinion. Yet, all people should not be afraid of sharing their thoughts, no matter what people may come to think of them.

Unfortunately, our society seems to continually be absorbed in what our peers think of us. I hope with this class we are all partaking in, we can help change how the world thinks of speaking up for a cause close to our heart.

I loved the poem quoted in the book written by Mary Oliver and I think she says what our life may look like if we do not speak up:
When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

Stretching The Soul

To go along with the quote,"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too." I do agree with the rest in saying that this quote touches on something very real. The fact that if we confine ourselves to isolation, we inhibit our growth as humans. Also, in doing so, we restrict our ability to truly find who we really are and what we can do to help the world. We virtually close our eyes to our true potential. I also believe that if we allow the world to condition us into thinking that we cannot make a difference, it eats at a person. There is something very profound in saying what one truly believes and making a stand for it. It ties into living a "full" life, a life of meaning and purpose. This author makes a great point!!

Speaking Out

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too." I couldn't agree more with this quote because I beleive that when a person becomes inactive, like they stop hanging out with friends, stop caring about specific subjects, he or she goes back into their comfort zone and they begin to lose contact with the world. There have been many times when I have stayed silent over public issues. Simply because I don't know too much about many public issues, and when I get involved in things that I don't know about, it just brings a whole world of problems along. But don't get me wrong, I have been to protests and rallies before, but over issues that I feel very passionate about and issues that I know a lot about. I do think it is better to speak out over an issue because speaking out and attending rallies and stuff really helps the soul grow and it helps you learn about things you never knew about. I attend pro-life rallies whenever I can, and I think I know everything there is to know about abortion, but at every rally I end up learning something I never knew before.
When I attend rallies, protests, or listen to a public speaker, it makes me a stronger, more compassionate person because it really helps me open up to issues I never knew about before.

Societies Associating to Socialize

Persononally, I think this quote should hit home with everyone one way or another. What we do in the privacy of our own homes is one thing, however we as a society, or rather as a species, we need the interaction and common goal. Derick and I had a discussion last night after our group had a meeting about the intricacies of human greed and material possessions. We covet items. We covet people. We as a people have immersed ourselves in that need to always be striving for money, fame, or possession yet we don’t stop and think who we trample in the process. Our goal as a race, supposedly the superior one on this planet, is to grow together. To do this we would have to destroy all the manners of greed. What destroys our world is the want of power. Someone always wants control of another person or item. These people become a hollowed out semblance of their former selves. Striving to make a difference is one thing, but pushing to become powerful is counterproductive to that attitude.

In my own life there are times I don’t voice my opinion. The concept of accepting what your born into, facing this reality of an insurmountable obstacle is something all of us must overcome at one time or another. I am touching on what Amanda and Tony had for a public issue. My Mom is gay; it was a MAJOR change to adapt to that. To be quite honest I don’t know if I can or ever will. It’s one thing when it is someone you met, a friend of a friend, a colleague at work, but when it’s your mom!? How do you deal with that? How can you focus on positive when people form their opinions of you before they meet you based on assumptions about your mom being gay? I decided to touch on this because it is a major political and sociological question. Gays have been making a more united stand on getting recognized in the eyes of the law. Are they wrong for not “shrinking from the world” by voicing their opinions and fighting for something they believe in? There isn’t one right way to do anything, ever! What is crucial is finding the right way to do it for yourself. People shouldn’t hide what they feel strongly about, nothing is ever going to change from old habits if there isn’t an army striving for change. You cant deny who you are or what you want to accomplish in life, it has to become a part of ever fiber of your being to become effective in the end.

-Jeremy

Tell It Like It Is

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink too." I do agree with Loeb's quote and after reading the section 'The Costs of Silence', I now realize that if people don't all speak out in the world about what they are truly feeling, it in the end will only hurts themselves. I see it as not being involved in the world and not going out and trying to make a difference, if it is what you feel you need to do, is just like it is said, your soul will then shrink.
There are certain issues that I have stayed silent over when in groups of discussion with people because I don't always think that what I am going to say will make sense to the others or be "right". And yes, that shouldn't matter, however, I think that there are just some issues where I should have spoken up and didn't. But I realize that was a mistake. When it comes to some issues tho, I believe that there is a right place and time to speak your opinion on things. I agree with Sharon. If speaking your opinion on something could put you in some kind of danger, then you should reconsider what would be a better time.

Be Active

I do agree with this quote, because your soul is an active part of the body so when you shy away from the world and have no passion towards anything your soul gets weaker. One topic that I stayed quiet about was gay marriage because of my family and my friends family had a stern opinion about it and I was afraid to go against what was accepted by them. I think that if your are spirited enough towards something you should speak out and let your opinion be heard.

Inner Strength

I do agree with Loeb's quote"When we shrink from the world, our soul shrinks too." I grew up in an extremely conservative family in an equally conservative small town and learned from a young age not to "rock the boat." It's a terribly lonely feeling to voice your feelings or concerns to loved ones or people in your community and be met with unresponsiveness, embarrassment, or fear that you will cause shame. As I read the section on Learned Helplessness I realized I am a classic case. I learned to shrink away from the world a long time ago, and have definitely held a sense of being small. Even though I still carry a lot of fear with me, I still have hope and the desire to reconnect with the world and try again.

Repost of "Honor" -it was messed up??

I concur with this quote. I believe that if you do not fully challenge yourself, or challenge others or their ways and ideas, you will never experience your, or your world's fullest potential. "He who conceals his disease cannot be cured." I always ask people, "How far would you go to make a difference?" There's so many times that a simple public problem is nagged to the point where common sense should click in. Obviously there's more than just one person with this problem, so why not get together than fight alone? There's power in numbers, in many different situations.
I can say there has been a few times where I have not stood up for problems facing my generation or community. Over the years though, I have participated more, giving me more confidence knowing I am not the only one who feels like this sometimes. Agreeing with Amanda Reed, there is a right time, place and situation for everything. Don't be so quick to jump the gun because you may not know the whole story.

Giving Back

I completely agree with Paul Loeb’s statement that "when we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too." Like Loeb states in his book Soul Of A Citizen, true heroes are ordinary people that stand up for what they believe in no matter the circumstance. If we don’t stand up for our true beliefs then we eventually end up being an ‘outcast.’ Our motivation to contribute to our world dies down. I can attest to this because I remember a time in my life where I believed that if I just don’t get involved in my community then they won’t bother me and I won’t bother them. Thinking I was benefiting myself when really I was hurting myself. I was blocking the way in which I can voice my opinion and contribute to my community. I was closing the door to the opportunity I had to give back.

Paul Loeb writes "We can ignore the problems that lie just beyond our front door; we can allow decisions to be made in our name that lead to a meaner and more desperate world....or we can work...to shape a more generous common future."

Now is the time....

"When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too." I would have to say I agree with this quote. I believe each person has a special gift to share and when we keep that gift hidden we are not only hurting ourselves, we are hurting everyone around us.

I am sure there are times in each of our pasts that we may have stayed quiet or back down from something we believed in, however, I believe this class we all have enrolled in is going to help us make a change in our world. Together we will be able to utilize our gifts and discover our hidden talents.

It is important to speak up for what we believe in, with pride and self respect.

Know Thyself, Nothing to Excess

I feel in consideration of this quote there are two aspects to discover.
The first deals with the fact that our world is interconnected and nothing stands on its own. With this, one hopefully comes to the realization that there is no "us" and "them." The world is like a pond, and if a stone is throne in anywhere it will ripple through the entirety. So in this way I agree with Loeb that an attempt to pull away or not be involved is akin to performing a harm directly upon oneself.
However, in addition, there is something to be said for the individual and introspection. Although I do not think it is the intent of the writer to discount this by any means, I feel it is important to note when considering selfishness vs. altruism. "One cannot remove the sliver in the eye of another when suffering from a plank in one's own." To me this means, quite simply, that if one is altruistic at the complete disregard of the self, one is quickly found in a position of not being able to help anyone at all. In addition, I feel there is a lesson about perspective and critical analysis. It is important to temper our actions with reason and purpose.
In truth I feel a synthesis of inwardly- and outwardly-directed concern and consideration is the most sustainable and effective overall.
In my personal experience, if I feel something is excessively extreme or that it harms or impedes the liberties of another, I can be quite outspoken and do not hesitate to act. However, in issues either new to my awareness or those which I feel are deserving further debate I feel it is important to listen.
After all, constantly talking is not necessarily communicating.

Strength

After analyzing this quote I would have to agree with Loeb. If you exclude yourself from this world you are deprieving yourself of the opportunities that provide human growth. In not participating in our world and having interaction between others you are providing no room for your soul to expand. This being portrayed when Leob states "when we open ourselves up to those around us... we discover strengths and passions we never knew we had."

I believe that it is always better to speak out as long as it is done in an appropriate manner. I think that it takes a strong person to stand against a crowd and speak from their heart. Without this type of strength in our community (ie. Martin Luther King) our world would have perished. I can recall certain instances as to where I did stay silent over a public issue because just as much as I believe in standing up for what you believe in I also think that listening and observing the views of others is equally important. This is how we learn and grow.

Believe

I agree with the statement "When we shrink from the world, our souls shrink, too". Your beliefs are part of who you are. If you shy away from standing up for what you believe in then you lose that part of yourself. I have stayed silent over the issue of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's check points that he set up in towns to try and catch illegal immigrants. It wasn't that I was afraid of what would happen if I stood up it was more about not knowing how to voice my discontent. I feel that it is important to speak out instead of holding something in that is important to you. The only time I would discourage speaking out is if you are in a situation that could put you in danger if you voiced concern over a subject. If no one ever spoke out about injustice then there could be no change.

Stand Up

I believe that our souls do shrink if we shrink from the world. As stated in the book, "our souls are like athletes...that need opponents worthy of them if they are to be tried and extended and pushed to the full use of their powers". If we do not actively serve our community, then we are dieing with the rest of the world by not making a difference. I have stayed silent when talking about the public issue of gay marriage. I was agreeing with everyone around me even though I did not agree. After revealing my true opinion on gay marriage, I feel stronger for having my own thoughts. I feel that it is always best to speak out about a public issue that you do not agree with, however I also feel that this must be done at an appropriate time and manner. It is very important to listen to opposing views. This can strengthen your argument or maybe even change your mind.