Ho‘ohana Aloha

On the 12th Day of Christmas: Faith

Faith. I have some trouble with the concept of fate, choosing instead, to believe nothing is truly ‘fated’ or meant to be. But I do believe in having faith as a virtue which, hand in hand with our personal values and innate talents, empowers us to create our own destiny. I have that faith in the divine and the spiritual, a faith in others and in self, faith that good will always defeat evil — I choose to believe in every variety and aspect of it.

Faith is like family: Always there. A constancy you can always fall back on and become more resilient with. Our faith is something we honor. Thus faith is a good virtue to end our 12 Days of Christmas celebration of the 12 Aloha Virtues, don’t you think?

I loved the shades of grey in this Wordle too: Grey has always appealed to me as a color in its own right, and with faith unwilling to impose too much upon the other eleven virtues, it is our invitation to add more color to life throughout the year to come. Have faith!

Postscript:
The series starts here: In Keeping with our December Tradition: Twelve Aloha Virtues

1. On the 1st Day of Christmas: Prayer
2. On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Vitality
3. On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Grace
4. On the 4th Day of Christmas: Peace
5. On the 5th Day of Christmas: Wonder
6. On the 6th Day of Christmas: Gratitude
7. On the 7th Day of Christmas: Humor
8. On the 8th Day of Christmas: Joy
9. On the 9th Day of Christmas: Hope
10. On the 10th Day of Christmas: Freedom
11. On the 11th Day of Christmas: Trust

On the 11th Day of Christmas: Trust

Trust. We can wonder because we can trust. People tend to be kind of needy, and that’s okay. When we need others we learn to trust and be trustworthy in our relationship building. We learn to love more. We learn to have faith in each other. We cultivate magnetic attractions to good intention.

How is trust an Aloha virtue for you?

One of the more frequent questions I have received about Managing with Aloha over the years, is why trust was not included among my 19 values within the philosophy. Trust is certainly there, for it is essential in a healthy work culture. Trust is critical for teams to be productive yet innovative too, secure enough to experiment, take risks, and embrace change when few variables are yet known.

However I have always thought of trust as a result of other values being in play: I define values as predictable patterns of behavior, as close to innate as becomes possible. We “value it,” aspire to it, and may work on it constantly, but those things don’t make it an inherent value woven into our being, and here is another key: We don’t give it unconditionally. Normally, others have to earn it from us. Thus in my language of intention, trust is very much a virtue.

Postscript:
The series starts here: In Keeping with our December Tradition: Twelve Aloha Virtues

1. On the 1st Day of Christmas: Prayer
2. On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Vitality
3. On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Grace
4. On the 4th Day of Christmas: Peace
5. On the 5th Day of Christmas: Wonder
6. On the 6th Day of Christmas: Gratitude
7. On the 7th Day of Christmas: Humor
8. On the 8th Day of Christmas: Joy
9. On the 9th Day of Christmas: Hope
10. On the 10th Day of Christmas: Freedom

On the 10th Day of Christmas: Freedom

Freedom. Something we take for granted much too much. Think of all the ways you are unshackled and free to make your choices, and it becomes clear that most of us know no other way to live. Within virtue, we set our hearts free.

Will be revisiting my Managing with Aloha Coaching archives for this one today: In Search of the Ultimate Freedom. It was written in May of 2008, and I am wondering what has changed our world (and in my perspectives) since then.

How is freedom an Aloha Virtue for you?

Postscript:
The series starts here: In Keeping with our December Tradition: Twelve Aloha Virtues

1. On the 1st Day of Christmas: Prayer
2. On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Vitality
3. On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Grace
4. On the 4th Day of Christmas: Peace
5. On the 5th Day of Christmas: Wonder
6. On the 6th Day of Christmas: Gratitude
7. On the 7th Day of Christmas: Humor
8. On the 8th Day of Christmas: Joy
9. On the 9th Day of Christmas: Hope

On the 9th Day of Christmas: Hope

Hope. Hope is such a beautiful thing. It is an attitude about the best of possibility becoming real. Hope looks at all the good that is true about the present and assumes it will ho‘omau, be perpetuated into our future — and then some.

Can we be hopeful throughout the coming year?

How is hope an Aloha Virtue for you?

Postscript:
The series starts here: In Keeping with our December Tradition: Twelve Aloha Virtues

1. On the 1st Day of Christmas: Prayer
2. On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Vitality
3. On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Grace
4. On the 4th Day of Christmas: Peace
5. On the 5th Day of Christmas: Wonder
6. On the 6th Day of Christmas: Gratitude
7. On the 7th Day of Christmas: Humor
8. On the 8th Day of Christmas: Joy

On the 8th Day of Christmas: Joy

Joy. Happiness with more than contentment. Happiness with bliss and euphoria. Silliness without self-consciousness. The holidays are so perfect for splashes of joy in color, in song, in tinsel and texture, even in the scents that fill the air. But most of all, in people’s faces.

Can we make joy last throughout the coming year?

• We can if that is what we intend:
  For 2010, with Aloha
• Think too, about joining a supportive team:
  The Joyful Jubilant Learning Hui

How is joy an Aloha Virtue for you?

Postscript:

The series starts here: In Keeping with our December Tradition: Twelve Aloha Virtues

1. On the 1st Day of Christmas: Prayer
2. On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Vitality
3. On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Grace
4. On the 4th Day of Christmas: Peace
5. On the 5th Day of Christmas: Wonder
6. On the 6th Day of Christmas: Gratitude
7. On the 7th Day of Christmas: Humor

On the 7th Day of Christmas: Humor

Humor. What better virtue to end a year with? This comes from Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Laughter fills the holidays, and no one can tell me our ability to laugh at ourselves is not character-building and virtuous.

This one is proving to be a toughie in adding to my new Flickr Gallery for these Virtues but I am not giving up! Meanwhile, the newest shot there is for Joy.

How is humor an Aloha Virtue for you?

Postscript:

The series starts here: In Keeping with our December Tradition: Twelve Aloha Virtues

1. On the 1st Day of Christmas: Prayer
2. On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Vitality
3. On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Grace
4. On the 4th Day of Christmas: Peace
5. On the 5th Day of Christmas: Wonder
6. On the 6th Day of Christmas: Gratitude

On the 6th Day of Christmas: Gratitude

Gratitude. There may be no mightier force in our lives than learning to live in thankfulness for all we are and all we have been given. An attitude of gratitude is an attitude of aloha; The breath of life within you is meant to be shared in appreciation, thankfulness, and gratitude.

How is gratitude an Aloha Virtue for you?

This will be the last day of work in 2009 for many: Perhaps it is a good day to say thank you to those whose work has served you well throughout the year… I know my own list of people to thank, and say mahalo to will probably give me a day of warm and wonderful conversations, and I best start now!

Postscript:

The series starts here: In Keeping with our December Tradition: Twelve Aloha Virtues

1. On the 1st Day of Christmas: Prayer
2. On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Vitality
3. On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Grace
4. On the 4th Day of Christmas: Peace
5. On the 5th Day of Christmas: Wonder

On the 5th Day of Christmas: Wonder

Wonder. To have an inner capacity that can always make room for awe and wonder is such a blessing. To return to child-like innocence and acceptance, to be rendered speechless, and have it feel good and right, never helpless. To not have all the answers but feel it is perfectly fine not to, to just have wonder.

How is wonder an Aloha Virtue for you?

Have just added an image of wonder to my new Flickr Gallery too.

Postscript:

The series starts here: In Keeping with our December Tradition: Twelve Aloha Virtues

1. On the 1st Day of Christmas: Prayer
2. On the 2nd Day of Christmas: Vitality
3. On the 3rd Day of Christmas: Grace
4. On the 4th Day of Christmas: Peace