Category Archives: Whispers Foundation

Charitable Impostors

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Invisible Children, the nonprofit behind the Kony 2012 viral campaign has clearly touched a nerve, with the amount of passionate public debate that has taken over the newsfeeds.
And the campaign has generated a variety of debates – from what activism means in 2012 (is it just clicking “like” on Facebook?) to how charities and causes use social media to promote their messages.

As a filmmaker and philanthropist myself, these topics have provided me with a lot to reflect on. I came across this beautiful thought, from Stephanie Rudat on The Huffington Post:

“Whether rightly or wrongly, Invisible Children has made it cool to care about Uganda. Perhaps the organization and its work speak to you, perhaps it doesn’t. What is certain is that there is currently unprecedented enthusiasm among the people whom Kony 2012 spoke to – the young. This is a critical opportunity to engage them and to help channel their enthusiasm to learn more and be better global citizens. And they don’t deserve to be criticized for caring.”

Isn’t that true? This is a great teaching moment for us. We need to connect with our youth, not attack them. It’s incredible that this generation, who we frequently accuse of apathy, are actively engaging in some of the world’s toughest issues.

So how can we help guide the next generation of volunteers, philanthropists, movers and shakers?

Volunteering On A Whispers Mission Trip

1. Help youth check their “Inner Narcissist” when it comes to charity.
As it becomes cool to be an activist for a cause, kids begin to feel good about giving back. However, this can be an open door for their Narcissist Impostor to step through! It’s important to help youth combat the temptation to develop a superiority complex around charitable acts.

Here’s one exercise that you can share with young volunteers who may have the “Narcissist” Impostor: Volunteer for a few hours or create an act of kindness. . . and then don’t take credit for it. Journal about your experience and how you felt. Were you tempted to share the story of your good deed with someone else? Why? Was it different doing something that you knew would not be recognized by others?

2. Help Them Connect With Their Authentic Souls.
I have met a lot of people through my non-profit organization, Whispers From Children’s Hearts. One recurring theme that I’ve noticed is that people who are not necessarily interested in charity get involved because they want to please or be loved by a love interest, partner, parent, friend, etc. They claim to be interested then drop the cause after their relationship ends. These kinds of “fair weather” volunteers suffer from the “Wounded Inner Child.”

Here’s one exercise that you can share with volunteers who have the “Wounded Inner Child” Impostor:   Give them a journaling assignment where they write a script between themselves and someone they serve. For example, I had a volunteer write a script where their character spoke to a child living at an orphanage, explaining why he didn’t like volunteering. By writing down his own excuses, he was forced to hear how unconvincing they were and began to realize the harm he had unintentionally caused!

Even our charitable actions can be harmful to others . . . and ourselves!  By going through the motions of giving back without allowing your Authentic Soul to truly connect with the work, you cheat yourself of one of the most rewarding experiences of being human.

I sincerely hope to see some of you volunteers, organizers, and philanthropists at my Soul Blazing workshop March 31st-April 1st, and we’ll touch on this too!

Remember . . . Shift Happens!

Lisa

A Literate Passion

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What secret do Simone de Beauvoir, Anais Nin, Henry Miller, Sartre, Queen Elizabeth, Andy Warhol and Dorothy Parker share in common, along with many other artists and literary greats?

They all scribbled, sketched and explored through keeping journals!

Journaling helped connect them with their creativity, and by pouring their souls out onto the page, emptying themselves, they were completely open to whatever the next day brought.  I was inspired this morning while reading Simone de Beauvoir’s Letters to Sartre. Letters are just another form of journaling, in a sense, as they allow us to express our intimate thoughts and reflections with a trusted friend or lover.

I journal because it keeps me in touch with my Authentic Soul and my Impostors at bay.  I can look back at a situation and identify who is present and who is not.  Journaling helps me reach “aha!” moments and get back to being productive, creative, and helping to serve the world.  Here I am journaling about my experience meditating in a teepee while on a ranch in Malibu -

Lisa journaling in Malibu

So why should you journal?

One of the primary benefits of journaling is that it helps you “Release.” Journals are a place to safely release pent up emotions, thoughts, worries and desires without the fear of being judged or criticized by others. Journals are the confessionals of our souls, allowing us to unburden ourselves. It’s proven to help reduce stress and improve relaxation, among many other health benefits.

Journaling also serves as a “Record” of our life’s journey. Now, some people are very resistant to this idea, claiming that “My life isn’t interesting enough to record – I just do the same thing every day!” If you try journaling, you’ll realize that this isn’t so! There are so many subtle variations in each day. There are infinite textures and intensities of your emotions and experiences, which you discover the longer you journal.  How many things do you take for granted or disregard, when they’re really miraculous?

One of the projects that we are developing for my non-profit foundation, Whispers from Children’s Hearts, is a journal that helps orphans document their lives.  Usually parents act as the guardians of children’s earliest experiences, taking photographs, keeping letters or telling stories about when their child was little.  Orphans may not even have a reliable record of the places that they have lived throughout their lives.

The Whispers journal is a place for safekeeping childrens’ thoughts, art, photographs, and important information such as names of people who cared for them and addresses of places they’ve lived. If you’re interested in donating towards this project and helping children in orphanages document their lives, please visit the Whispers from Children’s Hearts website and click the “Donate” button.

Anais Nin said “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” This is so true!  Journaling helps guide us through the process of “Reflection,” helping us look back at our lives and discover new insights. Through writing, we can explore difficulties that we’ve faced, recognize patterns in our behaviors, and enhance our communication and critical thinking skills.

Now that you’re familiar with the benefits of journaling, it’s time to start! If you’re still having some trouble getting motivated, here’s an added incentive!

SOUL BLAZING JOURNAL CONTEST!

I am going to give away some FREE 30-day Soul Blazing journals. These are filled with writing prompts, quotes and inspirations to get you through that first month if getting into the rhythm of keeping a journal. Just be one of the first four people to email events@lisahaisha.com with answers to the following questions. All of the answers can be found on my websites!

1. What is the second question that I asked children for the Whispers From Children’s Hearts book?
2. What is the name of the workshop I will be holding at the end of March at the Soul Blazing Sanctuary?
3. How did I come up with the idea of the Impostors?

Good luck with your journaling and remember . . . Shift Happens!

Lisa

Are our children the underprivileged of the World?

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In an interview with Jon Hansen, Lisa Haisha’s sharing of her encounters with children from around the world, and particularly those in trouble spots such as Iraq, through her book Whispers From Children’s Hearts is a gut wrenching wake-up call that should put North American society on notice as to how much we have let our own children down within the supposedly cozy confines of what is undoubtedly a gilded cage of opportunity promised, yet lost. Continue reading →

Improve the World (and Yourself) One Grateful Child at a Time

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Imagine leaving every creature comfort you have to embark on life in a developing country, dedicating yourself to helping the poorest of the poor — the forgotten children of that nation. Imagine saying good-bye to your big house, luxury car, designer clothes, and technological gadgets so you can live among the impoverished. That’s exactly what one person did, and he’s never regretted his decision.

Scott Neeson left his job as an executive of a movie studio to open an orphanage in Cambodia. Before doing so he took a trip to Cambodia and was blown away by the conditions the orphans there live in. With no food, shelter, or parental supervision, these children fend for themselves on the dirty streets, doing everything from digging through trash for recyclables to resorting to prostitution just to survive. Scott knew he had to do something to help as many children as possible.

So he started Cambodia Children’s Fund (CCF) and opened an orphanage where he takes in children who have nowhere else to go and gives them the one thing they need the most: hope.

Since opening the orphanage, Scott has learned one key lesson — when you give you get. And many people, both his friends and strangers, have visited his orphanage to spend a week or two helping out, trying to make the children’s lives a little better. Some may ask, “Why would you spend your free time going to a developing country and staying in a dirty place with kids with diseases and emotional issues?”

Realize that when you go — or do anything else selfless for another — you receive so much in return. Taking a few weeks and giving of yourself is so much more rewarding than sitting on a beach with an umbrella drink. Yes, when you give you get — meaning you get a lifetime experience and event you’ll cherish forever, not just another moment in time you’ll forget. And while this concept applies to any kind of giving act, from rescuing abused animals to cleaning a beach to helping a local senior citizen, when you’re helping children you’re helping the future. When you rescue one child you’re really rescuing a part of yourself. You see in that child the incompleteness of your childhood and the hurts you endured, and you start to heal.

So ask yourself this key question: What do you see in your life that you really want to do that is important? Do you want to help children in a foreign land? Do you want to tutor youth in your own neighborhood? Do you want to give a young unwed mother a chance at a better future for herself and her child? Whatever it is that touches your soul, that’s where you need to start.

Unfortunately, many people never get past the dreaming phase. They feel deep down that they’d like to help, but they never take that first step. They get that uneasy feeling that they’re stepping out of their comfort zone and into something they possibly can’t handle — physically, emotionally, or mentally. But in fact, when you see how other people live, you gain a greater appreciation for your life. You also gain a closer relationship yourself. You tap into a part of yourself that you never met. Since you’re not put in these situations every day, these are learning lessons that are hard to come by, but completely life changing.

If you feel ready to take the plunge and follow your soul’s calling to help another, here are some principles that will help.

Prepare by reading and researching the work of others: Chances are you’re not the first person to have this idea or this desire to help. Therefore, do some research into what you’re about to embark upon and see what others have done already. Read articles written by and about them, scour their websites for information and encouragement, and glean whatever words of wisdom or preparation you can. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. If someone has found resources, discovered success tips, or gained years of experience to share, then there’s no reason why you can’t follow in that person’s footsteps. Learn from them to make your intended path easier… and more enjoyable.

Travel or work with a humanitarian group: Whether your calling takes you overseas, to another state, or simply into the inner city of your locale, you can find some humanitarian group that can help you. These groups have ties and often resources in the area already and can make embarking on your journey less scary. There’s safety in numbers, and you can lean on your fellow humanitarian group members for support when you feel overwhelmed. Of course, you can do whatever you want on your own as well. You don’t need to work with a group. But if you have reservations, a humanitarian group will help buffer you by acting as a support system to help quench your fears. You can find these groups online very easily. If doing something like Scott appeals to you, go to www.whispersfoundation.com to find humanitarian groups that travel to help children overseas.

Just do it and the fear will diminish: The old saying, “Just do it,” is so appropriate here. In 99 percent of people, any fear they have subsides the minute they take the first step and just do it. There’s comfort in doing, because doing something – any small step at all – distracts your mind from any fears you may have. And that first step builds momentum that will see you through the remaining steps. Just as physics tells us that a body in motion stays in motion, a person in action toward a worthwhile goal or cause stays in action. So do whatever first step is necessary — do research, make a phone call, buy a plane ticket, etc. Take that first step and the rest will come naturally.

Change the World, Change Yourself: Helping children is one way to make a huge difference in the world. It’s also a way to dramatically change yourself. Realize that you don’t have to uproot your entire life like Scott did to make a difference. Simply giving a few days or a few weeks of your time to help someone else will create tremendous change — both in the people you help as well as your own soul. As with many things in life, it’s the small things that add up to incredible transformation. So listen to that little voice telling you to do something and follow your calling. You’ll be glad you did.

Originally published by the Huffington Post

What’s Holding You Back From Changing the World?

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The earthquake in Haiti, the plight of women in Kenya, the orphans in Peru, the rise of cancer rates, the hungry child in your neighborhood, the homeless person on the street.

It seems that no matter where you look these days, whether it’s in the news or right in your own backyard, people everywhere need help. Are you willing to see what’s around you and make a positive change in the world? Unfortunately, many people are not.

“Those things are too depressing to think about,” “I can’t deal with other people’s misery; I have my own,” and “It’s not my problem” are common sentiments from those who are unwilling to help. These people see only the sadness of the situation rather than the wonderful gifts that come from helping someone in need. The fact is that when you turn the situation around and see it from a different perspective, you can experience the joy in helping and easing someone else’s suffering.

It’s Better to Give…
Those who give of themselves to help others — to help even those who are suffering from extreme poverty and disease — all say the same thing: “I’m seeing how much help I’m giving, and that makes all the difference.”

In other words, when you actually see how your efforts give someone clothes or food, teach them skills like reading and writing, or simply enable them to smile for the first time, you know all your efforts are worth it. You’re making the world a better place, and that trumps the feeling of “This is so depressing.”

Also, it’s important to realize that life is a journey, and everyone is where they are supposed to be. People in underdeveloped countries do have many positives, despite their circumstances. For example, when orphans in Peru were asked, “Do you think God is fair putting you here?” they unanimously said, “Yes, God is fair.” When questioned further, they said such things as, “If I weren’t born here I wouldn’t have met my best friend,” or “I wouldn’t have had that wonderful teacher.”

As privileged Americans, we look at their situation and think, “Oh, those poor children.”
But those “poor children” don’t see it that way. After all, that’s the only life they know, so they find the blessings in their situation.

And it’s not just the children who have such an outlook. Many adults in these impoverished places believe God put them in their circumstances because they are the chosen ones. They believe they’re going to go to heaven when they die and live a better life in eternity. In their view, those who are blessed while on Earth are going to either suffer in eternity or they’re going to have to come back to the physical realm over and over again.

What makes the situation depressing is when we put our interpretations on their life. We think that because we live in fancy homes and can buy designer items, that those who can’t must be suffering. But those material things aren’t important to these people. They don’t know what a privileged life is like, so they can’t compare their situation to that.

Find What Moves You
Giving of yourself and helping others in need does not mean you have to be the person doing the hands-on work. While it would be wonderful if everyone had the experience of personally helping someone, especially someone in an underdeveloped country, that’s simply not possible. So yes, you could be the person on the frontline delivering aid, or you could be someone on the 5th or 50th line working behind the scenes. In other words, your support could be anything from donating money or goods, doing a fundraiser for a cause, writing or blogging to spread awareness of an issue, or simply reading about a situation, such as the recent earthquake in Haiti, and praying for the people there. The goal is that you don’t turn a blind eye to what’s going on around you and dismiss it, saying, “I can’t handle reading or seeing that.”

So find your own comfort level and start there. Not everyone has what it takes (financially, emotionally, or spiritually) to be on the frontline working with the sick and impoverished. However, you can be the person who organizes a food drive, the person who collects money, or the person who spreads a message. There is some level of involvement you can handle; you simply need to find it.

Finally, find a cause that’s important to you. So many organizations and relief efforts need help. Go to www.volunteer.com and other volunteer sites and browse the list of possibilities. What has personally impacted your life? What makes you angry when you think about it? What makes you sad? From helping cancer survivors to battered women, from offering relief to the Haitians to the orphans in Peru, from working with the homeless to the illiterate, do what feels right to you. Walk for a cure, shave your head in support, make phone calls… do something. Remember, helping others doesn’t mean you have to hop on an airplane and fly to Uganda; you can stay in your own neighborhood and make the world a better place.

Change the World, One Life at a Time
The bottom line is that we can’t hide anymore. Between the Internet and 24/7 news feeds on television, we’re all being bombarded with the days’ happenings from around the world. And the world is in a state where each one of us has to do something, even if it’s something small. Always remember that even the smallest act can help… and change the world for the better.

Originally published by the Huffington Post