LIFE Octagon: A Center for Infinite Thinking

Institute for Alternative Futures | Explore ∙ Aspire ∙ Create ∙ Evolve

Excited to add Dr. Clem Bezold from the Institute of Alternative Futures to our group on Integrity and Citizenship! Going to be a powerful, vital discussion!
The IAF does some wonderful work:

altfutures.org The Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF) is a leader in the creation of preferred futures. Since its founding in 1977 by Clement Bezold, Alvin Toffler and James Dator, IAF has helped organizations monitor trends, explore future possibilities and create the futures they prefer. IAF draws on a robu...

Four hundred thirteen years ago Shakespeare wrote in Julius Caesar that the soothsayer cautioned Caesar to “beware the Ides of March” warning of his death. As we approach The Ides of March 2014 on the 15th it is a good time to reflect on integrity and citizenship in the areas of politics and leadership. When you think of a political leader or a world leader of another kind that in your opinion demonstrates a high level of integrity who comes to mind and why are you impressed with them?
It is breath-taking to think what a lack of integrity has meant to humankind in terms of the actions of our political leaders over time. Where could we be, where would we be without those who used political power and privilege inappropriately? Is it possible for humans to have the opportunity for political power without being adversely impacted by it or corrupted by it?
When you think of a political leader who has demonstrated a lack of integrity can you think of a circumstance in your life when you demonstrated the same behavior for which you found fault in the leader?
If you are interested in following the work of The Octagon at Life University please visit www.life.edu/Octagon for more information.

The group of discussants is close to being finalized! Here are those who will form a fascinating group for our discussion on Integrity and Citizenship April 24-26. Stay tuned for more, or go to Life.edu...

Gerard W. Clum, D.C.
Director, The Octagon, Life University
President-Emeritus, Life Chiropractic College West

Lara Denis, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Agnes Scott College

Marietta Fahey, SHF
Governing Board Member, Sisters of the Holy Family
Senior Educator, Personality and Human Relationships (PRH)

Tom Flores, Ph.D.
Professor, Georgia Gwinnett College

Robert Franklin, Ph.D.
Chautauqua Institution Department of Religion
President-Emeritus, Morehouse College

Won Jae Hur
Graduate Student, Boston College

Michael Karlin
Graduate Student, Emory University

Corey Keyes, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology, Emory University

Fred Luskin, Ph.D.
Director, Forgiveness Projects, Stanford University

Brendan Ozawa-de Silva, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology, Life University

Chikako Ozawa-de Silva, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology, Emory University

Barbara Patterson, Ph.D.
Professor, Emory University

Alan Pope, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, University of West Georgia

Peggy Samples, Ph.D.
Chair, Psychology Department, Life University

Rob Scott, D.C., Ph.D.
Provost, Life University

Richard Shook, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology, Life University

Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, Ph.D.
Professor, Director, Emory University-Tibet Partnership

Michael Winskell
Children in Crossfire
Derry, Northern Ireland
Trustee Director and Chairperson, Global Dialogues

With about six weeks to go until the Sixth Annual Octagon Conference our participants are in place, the facilities are being prepared and we are beginning to organize our thoughts toward the tasks ahead of us with respect to Integrity and Citizenship.
While we will certainly enjoy our conversations on Integrity and Citizenship and the areas that inform it our goals include developing research on evaluating these characteristics in individual, group and various settings. Ultimately we hope to contribute to the development of strategies to model, teach, convey and evaluate an increased sense of personal integrity in our lives. There is so much to be done and so many needs to be served—thisis a very exciting effort.
If you are interested in following the work of The Octagon at Life University please visit www.life.edu/Octagon for more information

The Octagon at Life University is pleased to announce the conferees chosen to participate in the Sixth Annual Octagon Conference, April 24-25, 2014 at Life University. This distinguished body of scholars, teachers and researchers will explore “Integrity and Citizenship” in our world as they seek to design a Center at Life University for an ongoing focus of the University in this critical area of human interaction.

Corey Keyes – Professor of Sociology, Emory University
Areas of expertise: One of the leading experts in the field of positive psychology and happiness; particular interests include the relationship between positive psychology, contemplative practices, secular ethics and integrity.

Geshe Lobsang Tenzin – Director, Emory-Tibet Partnership and Professor, Emory University
Areas of expertise: Buddhist contemplative practices; interface of Buddhist and western psychology; research on compassion

Barbara Patterson – Professor, Emory University
Areas of expertise: Contemplative studies / contemplative pedagogy, Christian contemplative practices; research on compassion

Won-Jae Hur – Graduate Student, Boston College
Areas of expertise: Comparative contemplative practices, secular ethics

Michael Karlin – Graduate Student, Emory University
Areas of expertise: Positive psychology, Jewish contemplative practice, secular ethics

Tom Flores – Professor, Georgia Gwinnett College
Areas of expertise: Peace studies and conflict transformation, secular ethics, inter-religious dialogue

Marietta Fahey, Sisters of the Holy Family, Concord, California
Areas of expertise include training and application of the work of Andre Roche, Personality and Human Relations

Michael Winskell, Children in Crisis, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Fred Luskin, Director of the Forgiveness Project, Stanford University

Joe DiSpenza, D.C., author “Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself”

Peggy Samples, Ph.D. Chair, Department of Psychology, Life University

Richard Shook, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Psychology Department, Life University

BrendanOzawa-de Silva, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Psychology Department Life University

Rob Scott, D.C. Ph.D., Provost, Life University

If you are interested in following the work of The Octagon at Life University please visit www.life.edu/Octagon for more information.

The Octagon at Life University

The Octagon Conference 2014 will be focusing on Integrity and Citizenship and will have among its aims the development of a series of working definitions of key concepts associated with Integrity and Citizenship, including among others: Integrity, Citizenship, Ethics, Secular Ethics, Compassion, Forgiveness, Honor, Honesty and Humanism.
All too often we use terms such as “Integrity” and “Citizenship” with the assumption that we all know what they mean and with the secondary assumption that we all share that definition. Unfortunately for many these terms are vague and somewhat ambiguous—much like Justice Potter Stewart’s perspective on pornography—he is quoted as saying 'he doesn’t know how to define it but he knows it when he sees it.' It is easier to point to a demonstration of “integrity” than it is to define it.
The goal will be to agree on working definitions for The Octagon as a basis for the development of research and application initiatives in these areas.

See life.edu/octagon for more!

life.edu

The Octagon at Life University is pleased to announce a three-year focus on the area of “Integrity and Citizenship” beginning with the Octagon Conference 2014 scheduled for April 24-25, 2014 at Life University. Integrity and Citizenship is one of the pillars of The Octagon as it represents one of the core proficiencies of Life University.
The April 24-25, 2014 conference will be an invitational event that will bring together academics, researchers, clinicians with an emphasis in areas related to Integrity and Citizenship such as secular ethics, compassion, forgiveness and peace studies among others. The conferees will seek to develop the framework for a Center to be established at Life University to focus on this content area.
If you are interested in following the work of The Octagon at Life University please visit www.life.edu/Octagon for more information.

http://www.life.edu/octagon/

LIFE Octagon: A Center for Infinite Thinking's cover photo

Tag cloud representing some of the concepts we'll be exploring in April 2014.

The conference on Vitalism and Value was held in September, and was a significant discussion. Proceedings of the discussions are being prepared. Check back for more information, and be sure and visit LifeOctagon.org

| Institute for Alternative Futures

Revising our April conference for a Fall date, building on the Vitalism and Value scenario outlined by the recent Institute for Alternative Futures report on the future of Chiropractic. Read more and stay tuned:

altfutures.org What will chiropractic in the U.S. look like in 2025? Futurists offer four different answers to that question for chiropractors to future-test their assumptions, strategies, and goals.

Soon we'll be rolling out the yHealth survey. Stay tuned and check back!

Amazing first couple of days of the conference. The entire profession should be hearing what's being talked about: the changes taking place in health care; how much is already in motion that doesn't depend on federal legislation; and the incredible opportunities for chiropractors! The only thing missing is YOU. Visit LifeOctagon.org for updates, coming videos of the conference presentations, new forums for discussion, and more! BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

The Octagon

Gearing up for the opening of the Octagon Conference 2012 on Thursday April 12. Spekaers and attenees are starting to arrive today, the campus is getting ready for the Conference and everyone is in the mood to make some history! Not too late to join us www.lifeoctagon.org

lifeoctagon.org The Life Octagon exists to host the world's greatest conversations about growth, development, health, healing and optimal performance. Grounded in precepts of the philosophy of vitalism, it seeks to explore and establish a new paradigm.

The Octagon

Octagon 2012 is almost here! It is not too late to register. There are a couple of seats left--tell them I sent you!! Everything is shaping up for a great conference. You can register at www.lifeoctagon.org

lifeoctagon.org The Life Octagon exists to host the world's greatest conversations about growth, development, health, healing and optimal performance. Grounded in precepts of the philosophy of vitalism, it seeks to explore and establish a new paradigm.

Just finished the last pre-conference discussion in preparation for the Octagon 2012 Conference http://www.facebook.com/LIFEoctagon

This one was with Dee Edington, Ph.D. Professor of Movement Science, University of Michigan. His presentation alone will justify making it to the Octagon Conference. I've got goose bumps from listening to him relate the potential he sees on the horizon for us if we choose to take it. Great stuff! Happy Easter or Passover to all I just my Easter basket filled I'll tell you that!!

The Octagon will be featured on Monday, April 9 at 10:30p online at www.am650radio.com hosted by Dr. Don Nixdorf author of Squandering Billions. A podcast of the interview will be available following the show. http://www.am650radio.com

LIFE Octagon: A Center for Infinite Thinking

Great news! FilmakerJeff Hays will be attending the Octagon Conference 2012 to do some filing for an upcoming documentary. His project, Medical, Inc is due to be released later this year and will shine a very bright light on the opportunities disciplines like chiropractic have to help with our health care crisis and how we have been thwarted in our efforts to bring our care to greater public awareness. This is a big deal. Not too late to register and to be a part of all of this! http://www.facebook.com/LIFEoctagon

This is the FB page for LIFE University's think-tank project, the Octagon. More information at LifeOctagon.org

I'm personally inviting you to join me and an incredible team of speakers at Life Octagon 2012. Register now.

http://bit.ly/LifeOctagonReg2012

2012 Octagon Agenda » The Octagon

The 2012 Octagon conference is in great shape! Reimagining Health Care: Making Health the Goal will examine a vitalistic model for a new set of relationships between providers, payers, plans, and consumers! Visit LifeOctagon.org, register, and come on down!

lifeoctagon.org Thursday, April 12, 2012

What is the Life University Octagon?

Dr. Gerry Clum: What is the Life University Octagon?

youtube.com Life University has a long history of being recognized nationally for its innovative chiropractic education program and commitment to providing a high-qualit...

The new LifeOctagon.org website is up! Video clips from the 2011 conference are in place, new blog posts by Dr. Clum, the Octagon Director, and more! Let us know what can add value to the site!

2011 Conference: Contemporary Scientific Paradigms | Life University

Our conference is taking shape! We now have Bruce Lipton, Joe Dispenza, and Fred Carrick participating! It will cost only $50 to attend the conference (lunches and dinners are extra).Please go to life.edu/octagon/2011conference for more information! A registration link is now live; LifeForce doctors can find a separate registration link on the same page.

life.edu Life University specializes in chiropractic and health science education. Our chiropractic program is nationally recognized for training excellence.