James’s aim is to bring community based grassroots organisations into fruition at the same time optimising conscious choices as to how we work and
meld together as self actualised team members.He sees an immediacy in doing this.
He brings people together to mesh them into a team, by using practical components including self reflection and meditation so as to have real grounded
intentions. Be it through engineering to horticulture, he works to share skills and create products.
However, his message is that to make things happen we have to do them at grassroots level - here and now. His local project up in central North Auckland
on the East coast is that in 18 months time he will show people that they can come and start working immediately as a localised opportunity in
action.
He maintains that if the community is not on board with their heart it simply does not happen, as he found out when working up in Shanghai, China for
a year and that another important quality is that we have to be an active part of our community with no separation. To be inclusive is so important.
James takes his passion and connection directly to people and he talks openly from his heart as the way forward, so that engagement means getting focussed
and being present so that people are not thinking of mortgages, the kids or what’s for dinner, because the mind will not be present in that conversation.
He believes many people in New Zealand are disconnected, that we are disconnected from each other, disconnected from nature and most importantly, disconnected
from our deeper selves.
James vision is to reconnect people from the heart using powerful tools, techniques and experiences that move people towards a more sustainable life.
His project runs on 6 major pillars, Innovation being one of the foremost tools.
Stating that NZers to stop milking the udders of cows but instead milk our own genius. - lets become more creative as in a bio-diesel project that
small scale farmers and land holders can produce to make and use their own diesel.
Where are we at with our food? Where are we sourcing it, what’s in it? And why are we paying so much for it. Many just buy supermarket food, because
they do not know how to grow food, and also have no time to do gardening. Growing food and more so sharing it all at once is a key component to
connection and community. A celebration of transmuting soil into vibrant healthy food.
How do you bring your culture and community together on a practical project? It can be noted that the large NZ wide Lions clubs are losing members
to old age and numbers are falling away. Yet, much wisdom is held among individual members, but as more separation is happening there is a growing
gap between the elders and the young. This needs to be seriously addressed if we are to become a more coherent connected community. Then we have
the younger generation with all their amped up energy, but don’t know where to put it, it’s because of the lack of bridges and the language connecting
the age groups into a more synergistic whole that we need to focus on.
James’s story is: Instant implementation of whatever they initiate. Kick it in straight away, within a community once the plan is agreed upon start
at once and get some points on the board, by having an exceptional first day at work where everyone gets off on the energy of a substantial amount
of work being completed and bathing in the after-glow of a successful and fulfilling days work.
Another point is having a spiritual base, and it does not have to be a religious base - but an understanding that at our deepest level there is an
essence that expresses as values and morality that is timeless and seeks truth in life. So James invites us to a journey of reconnection to what
sustains us, and nourishes us and … as to, how does it look? From conscious choices and practising yoga to a community garden where we go
to the Council and dialogue with them and organise to take over an empty lot and take action. There is much talking, heaps of talking that needs
to be followed up with action. And when you take action you feel inspired and start to feel energised especially when one sees the project get
off the ground.
Key to connecting with people we have to be authentic - real - aligned being honest with ourselves and do the inner work.
He talks about a recent festival here in NZ called WANA ‘We Are Not Alone’ a festival of depression and anxiety that eight weeks ago did not exist,
but by facing the challenge of ‘what is depression and anxiety’ the celebration came together. Someone had a vision, they built a team - unified
and brought this gathering into being and quickly.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11524213
By being authentic and drawing good people towards you, then sharing your vision and the challenges that you have had to go through from start to finish,
conveys a genuine intent. Getting clear on ones values is imperative. Good habit patterns around waking up in the morning, setting the tone of
the day, sitting still, doing stretches - validating what you wish to do for the day to come - clean food and drink, choosing friends who are ‘cleaning
up their act’ and taking greater care of their being - making conscious choices around all decisions - is key and in particular - are your friends
really there for you?
Conscious decisions about taking care of your body, your thoughts and feelings and interacting with people are paramount. As languaging how we speak
is a key part of connection - by having a positive, pro-action mind-set is critical to a successful outcome. Start removing things that are toxic
in our environment as well as doing some things of service towards the community is encouraged.
Connection with neighbours: James give a very good example in this interview.
For example: NGO’s such as The Art of Living … one of the largest in the world - that have built 10,000 schools in the last 10 years.Being involved
in over 150 countries around our planet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_Living_foundation
NZ events that are coming up - called ‘Stressless Sunday’ feed stressed people - entertain them - play music and introduce them to stress realise methods.
Starts with intention! - do not be motivated by money. If we are clear, things will fall into place.
Service, what is service? What are benefits to the greater community and to the self?
James says that making a commitment to do something to support a person or a group and not just a one day event but, every week, say for a whole year.
Get support from friends to commit to contact you every week to validate you. For instance if you are actively giving up eating poor or large amounts
of food, or getting off alcohol, smoking etc - have support teams that genuinely want to help you clean up your act, and that you know that they
are there to support you for the long term.
Like phoning a person every day to bolster them in not smoking that day - encouraging them. This way you gain huge successes when you enrol help to
contact and validate them every day.
Connecting via email is not good enough, get out and phone and talk, but better still - get together. We can not live vicariously, we need to be in
someones presence to consolidate both friendship and engagement.
Sharing your dreams and visions as well as when you have fallen down, or been held back, this brings out your authenticity both as a speaker and as
a listener - a caring listener and owning where we come from, this brings about transformation.
Values:
James talks about values a lot. Being there with someone and showing that you care.
Human values and education and the elders - we need the elders to share their wisdom of the old values and virtues that can bring an urgency and passion
to the challenges that surround us especially when we see what’s happening in the biosphere, the geosphere and our world in general.
What legacy are you wanting to leave to benefit the greater community … intention … to connect with people - covering happiness - going
to sleep at night very content and at peace … feeling very at ease when we go to sleep, usually means that many people who sleep blissfully
are most probably helping other people.
Taking responsibility … in learning how to grow community in a positive way.
Education is dear to James’s heart.
He is the Founder of Heart of NZ project. A platform for inner change and transforming ones reality towards a spiritual understanding, by making a
difference to not only to ones self, but to the wider community being lasting projects and not a flash in the pan or for the short-term.
Facebook website: The Heart of NZ
The website coming: www.theheartofnz.org
This interview is of a passionate young man who has the energy and the confidence to really be the change that we wish to see in the world.
James goes one further, he offers his cell phone number so that you can text and call him.
