Innovation and Self Knowledge : Ohh... Please, not Another Mindfulness Article!

The Anishinabe tribe called Strawberries odeiminidjibik

Let’s get this right. People who ask themselves how they treat themselves, what their purpose in life is, and what happens after life are people who, are beginning their journey toward expanding their consciousness. At some point, there’s a realization that there is something more.

There’s no secret recipe—each person has their own path to living a fulfilled life. We don’t need to demonize jobs, societal standards, awakening ways or persistent conditioning. Deep within our dreams and breaths, everyone knows where we stand in our journey.

Consciousness expansion can be achieved through many approaches, but first, let’s understand its connection to perception.

PERCEPTION

Let’s go back to the innovative mindset indigenous tribes had to develop to survive in wild North America before settlers arrived. How did they discover that strawberries were not only edible but also delicious and nutritious?

Indigenous leaders and shamans had to explore nature to discern what was safe. They observed which plants animals ate and which they avoided. They noticed bears feasting on strawberries in the summer until they fell asleep.

The leader had to remain open-minded, becoming a vessel for the tribe’s well-being and a magnet for shared wisdom. He followed the bears through days and nights, observing their behavior and health as they feasted on the mysterious fruit. Back in the village, he listened intently to hunters, farmers, and elders, gathering stories and experiences tied to the plant. Through this collective insight, his perception deepened. Only when he felt truly ready—grounded in knowledge and intuition—did he taste the fruit himself. Once he confirmed its safety, he shared it with the tribe, not just as food, but as a gift of understanding born from patience, observation, and trust.

As in the movie Into the Wild (Source: Trailer), a young man disillusioned with modern society—its materialism, corruption, and superficiality—ventures into the wild. He must rely on pure perception to decide what to eat. I won’t spoil the ending, but now you have a task: watch the movie!

From indigenous leaders to those who feel excluded from post modern society, everyone must rely on perception. When we lose it, we’re asleep—even at midday. We only see what frightens us. Our fears guide our decisions, often without us realizing it. That’s why turning on the light—expanding perception / consciousness —is so important.

75% of entrepreneurs face mental health challenges, compared to 48% of non-entrepreneurs (Source: Forbes).

THE PROBLEM

Are we too afraid to make discoveries—like finding new strawberries? Are our creativity and innovation dead? Do we have the time it takes? The effort?

Innovation doesn’t come from the outside, it comes from within! We can’t teach what we are not. We Gen Xers need to become a new light for future generations!

In indigenous North American culture, strawberries symbolized love, purity, and good fortune. The Anishinabe tribe called them odeiminidjibik, meaning “root of the heart,” reflecting their deep connection to this sacred fruit (Source: Goodforworld.com University of Washington Seattle). Now you will remember this article every time you eat a strawberry ahh? LOL! . When you work from your heart you have time, patience, attention, motivation ... you are present ! Others perceive it. This is a topic for another article... or post...

So, are we going to let future generations ignite their lives solely from their mind? Or will we empower them to do what we’ve "struggled" with?—ignite their lives from a healthy balance between the heart-mind-body? Many of us have surrendered to ego and archaic society’s definitions of success.

THE WAY TO CONSCIOUSNESS

Find what you love—even if it’s a Saturday job, like I do here!. If you love money and social recognition, you’ve found a beautiful plant in the wilderness—but it may be venomous. A venom that never satisfies enough. I’m not saying you shouldn’t live well—don’t get me wrong. But eventually, you’ll realize that money alone doesn’t help the bear finally go to sleep well. Even the bear can’t eat more than it can handle. No one can eat two or three lunches in a day. But that’s a topic for another article or post again...

Let’s connect from the heart. Let’s tune into the body. What is that force that makes you breathe, that fills your lungs with the air of the world—a world where we are all connected through mother nature like the omega point mentioned by Theilhard De Chardin?!.

If this is how you want to live, then before you sell your company, donate it, or leave your seven-figure executive job, let’s first expand our consciousness and get closer to the God within ourselves. (Read my other post about the Quimbaya culture).

Remember, the ego is clever. It will find many ways to distract you from the path of enlightenment. We all get lost sometimes. What matters is returning to the path. And the path likely won’t be just booking a flight to drink a sacred plant or ritual in the Colombian mountains—as a transaction with nature. Nature is not that dumb! But again this is a topic for another article… ufff

Don’t make drastic decisions until you deeply understand why you may be seeking self-knowledge, purpose, and closeness to God. This isn’t analysis paralysis—it’s waiting for life’s impulse to call you, just as Jesus called his disciples. But that’s also for another article… ohh men...

Don’t leap too soon, driven by ego. Let’s first work on expanding consciousness. Let’s meditate in silence, let’s debate an “imperfect” plan, let's read and discuss marvelous books and movies, and let’s pray and contemplate the nature through our body. Ask God to help us understand how to expand our perception so we can become the leaders our families, employees, churches, startups, and communities need to finally understand and fulfill the prayer: “Thy kingdom come.” — Our Father!

Find your strawberry in your current role, in a side business, in community involvement. You don't need to dismantle your life like the Movie In to the Wild ! :) . One of my  mentors once said “There are people who only need a strong coffee". Your strawberry is unique to you, it is not a prescription. Even further you can become the strawberry!.

Your way is sacred, unique, precious....

• Want to talk about perception and innovation?

• Have you failed miserably in your entrepreneurial journeys?

• Or you just want to walk along a walker ? or remain in silence?

I’ve been there, in the desert .

Let’s talk!

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