I promise that this post will not be a trip down some philosophical rabbit hole where we get lost in the mind of Friedrich Nietzsche. On the contrary, I am going to share some personal development insights I've extracted from a simple, yet life-altering idea that he conceptualized. It's called Perspectivism.
Simply put, Nietzsche's basic idea is that there can be no objective reality because thoughts and beliefs are always limited by an individual's perception. The "truth" is always personal rather than objective. The big idea that comes out of this is that (get ready to have your mind blown), there is no absolute truth. Instead, truths are something that can only be known from your incomplete and fragmented perspective.
If you want to understand how easily we assume our point of view is the whole picture, read "One Shocking Story and Two Personal Development Lessons From 'The Usual Suspects' Movie." While the debate over absolute versus relative truth dates back much farther than Nietzsche's era, I love Perspectivism's take on it because it is graspable by anyone.
Before I go into what I consider Perspectivism's two main principles, I want to distinguish the difference between perception and perspective. The online Merriam Webster dictionary states that:
Perception is "a result of perceiving" or "a quick, acute, and intuitive cognition." In other words, it's how our senses interpret the world or how it is fed to us. It's essentially a non-conscious processing of the world.
Perspective means "to look through, to see clearly." It originates from the same word used for an optical glass. In other words, it is a conscious choice about the way you see the world. For example, you can choose to wear rosy-colored glasses or muddied ones that paint the world in a negative light.
Two Principles of Nietzsche's Perspectivism
One of the basic principles of Perspectivism is that you can't be in two places at once. The laws of space and time place a very big limitation on your perception of events. Otherwise, why would we need more than one referee at Super Bowl 44 next Sunday. Even remote viewers and psychics can't be everywhere at once.
The second principle is that we are mentally limited by our preprogrammed beliefs and preconceived notions. We are a product of our unique upbringing and culture. Gandhi expressed the power of this phenomenon when he said, "Three quarters of the miseries and misunderstandings in the world would finish if people were to put on the shoes of their adversaries and understood their points of view." This quote from Indian philosopher and nonviolent activist Mahatma Gandhi is just as relevant today as it was during his life, and I am writing this on the 62nd anniversary of his death.
Philosophy, Like Everything, Must Come Back to Language (As I See It)
Since words are the only concrete instrument we have to point at the world, language is at the heart of both "truth" and Perspectivism. The truths may be communicated through poetry, religion or quantum physics, but the essential truth of something can't be universally proven through non-verbal communication (yet). Literary theorist, Hazard Adams, articulates this notion with pinpoint accuracy: "If everything is always already in the web of language, then there is nowhere to stand outside of language to employ the so-called object of discussion." Can you say "trapped in the 'The Matrix.'" For a visual representation of this idea, think of a puppy (us) endlessly chasing its tail (truth) that it can never catch up to. If truth is locked in the web or matrix of language, then it stands to reason that absolute truth cannot transcend the limits of your unique and personal viewpoint.
Making Perspectivism Useful
So how can you and I use Perspectivism on a daily basis. One of Zen Choices' core beliefs is that in order to become more aware of our own limiting perspectives, we should add new ones. That's exactly what Nietzsche has taught me.
Interconnectedness Flourishes with Perspectivism
Perspectivism fits with my view of the world as interconnected. Instead of instantaneously labeling things through my personal and cultural filters, I can choose to think ‘what’s their truth?’ By taking this vantage point, all beliefs and views can be respected equally. We have all experienced or seen what happens when one group believes its perspective is superior to another. It often tries to dominate the other. Just watch Lord of the Flies to see this behavior in action.
One of the possibilities with Perspectivism is that you can do your best to walk a mile (or even a few yards) in another person's shoes, rather than letting your non-conscious perception of a situation run the show. Two or more people can still agree on a truth, as long as they don't impose their values on others. This outlook opens the door for awareness of being interconnected to a larger whole. Perspectivism helps dethrone the evolutionary tendency toward domination (ie. Nazism) with a more adaptive sense of cooperation (ie. Buddhism).
Perspectivism Puts the Brakes on Rush Judgments
I don't use Nietsche's theory to wrestle with colossal size truths like who created the Cosmos. However, when it comes to people and events, I'm on the same page as Nietzsche. When I catch myself or others judging, speaking, thinking or otherwise leaning into a rigid opinion, I put on my Perspectivism glasses. I start using my imagination to explore what beliefs (conscious or non-conscious) they or I might be filtering the world through. I now find myself quickly shifting to another's perspective with the intention of understanding him or her better.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Simple, Creative "Rock Your Goals" Tactic Makes Unappealing Tasks and Stale Goal Setting Strategies Sing
I started using a new goal setting ritual a few months ago and it rocks, pun intended. Like myself, many of you have probably tried different ways to ensure that you consistently tackle high priority tasks, in order to reach your loftiest goals. This simple and fun method has turbocharged my ability to get "big goals" done faster, and ended the habit of letting them stagnate on a list or in a day planner. It has also given a huge boost to my overall personal development efforts. Another great thing is that it will complement any task or goal management system you have in place.
A simple litmus test for uncovering your high priority tasks is that you avoid them at all costs. Instead of taking them on, you throw yourself at just about anything else of lesser importance - especially email. A puzzling irony since the most important tasks give you the greatest sense of accomplishment and propel you toward your "serious" goals and dreams - what Stephen Covey calls the "Big Rocks." If you are using a system and it works, that's great. However, stay tuned because you can also benefit from what I'm about to show you.
So, without further ado, here's the "Rock Your Goals" tactic. First, you need to gather three (or more) palm-sized rocks. Some people have chosen to use a crystal or other object. The only guidelines are that the objects have more than one dimension and you enjoy looking at them. Second, pick three of your most intimidating tasks and write them down (I just grab a scrap of paper from my trash bin). Lastly, as you may have guessed, you fasten each big task to a rock using a rubber band. If possible, choose rocks that have at least one flat side so that they can stand upright, allowing the tasks to be suspended higher in the air. The biggest rock should have the most important task and be positioned closest to you on your desk. Now your high priority tasks will be staring at you all day (in a good way).
"Rock Your Goals" works because it engages the creative and spatial areas of your "right brain," as opposed to the usual "left brain" methods like writing an "A" or "B" next to a task. As with any plan to achieve your goals, don't let anything distract you from taking action. After I complete a task, I take the piece of paper off the rock and enjoy its beauty, as well as the satisfaction of knowing my "Big Rocks" for the day are done. I'm usually so pumped after completing my big tasks that I actually look forward to taking on the more difficult ones that remain. However, I choose to let the rest of my to-do list unfold without any formal structure. It is of course still important to write your goals down and revisit them regularly. You do have to have a target to aim for after all. Don't underestimate the power of this simple tactic. It is visual, fun and greatly diminishes goal setting fatigue.
Now, if you don't work from home, are mostly mobile, or work in an office, you can modify the process so it becomes a little more stealth. Simply use the "Rock Your Goals" tactic at home and grab the three sheets of paper off the rocks before you leave. You can also write the three tasks down on one piece of paper. The key for people on the go is to attach the tasks to an object or picture that isn't one dimensional and evokes a strong, positive emotional feeling. This will help you remember to check your pockets or wherever you keep your tasks. If you haven't accomplished the "Big Rocks" by the end of the day, you will have to put them back on the rocks when you get home. Ouch.
"Rock Your Goals" is a fun, free and easy tactic that will make you more accountable to yourself and help you achieve your goals and dreams sooner. Anything is possible with some creativity and discipline. Just look at what David was able to do to Goliath with his rock.
By David Thimme (Reprinted from EzineArticles)
Update: This technique has made prioritizing my goals a no-brainer and I continue to use it. If "Rock Your Goals" seems a little uncomfortable at first, try placing only one rock in your inbox, or using it as a paperweight. Other people will barely notice it, but you will. We are all subject to the effects of left-brain dominance and a culture that reflects that outlook. This is a great method to wake up your creative right-brain and achieve your big goals in life. If you have any unorthodox tools that work for you, please share them. And let me know what you think about "Rock Your Goals."
One Shocking Story and Two Personal Development Lessons From "The Usual Suspects" Movie
The 1995 film, "The Usual Suspects," was voted the 35th greatest screenplay by the Writer's Guild in 2006 and ranks as the 21st most popular film of all time (according to Imdb.com). Although a mesmerizing plot is weaved throughout the film, it is the jaw-dropping twist at the end of the movie that audiences remember most. Before I begin, I just want to let you know that this post will contain spoiler information.
In the final scene, we learn that narrator Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) has been anything but reliable. We are left wondering how much of what we saw and heard was true. For his role as the fiendish con man Kint, Spacey won the Oscar for "Best Supporting Actor." While some viewers loved the ride, others felt cheated, as if they had been 'played.' That's certainly understandable considering how hard your brain has to work to uncover the ultimate mystery, just "who is Keyser Soze?"
Inevitably, the architects of "The Usual Suspects" were asked just 'how much of Kint's story was true?' The answer is fascinating. The primary creators of the masterful crime drama are writer Christopher McQuarrie and director Bryan Singer. McQuarrie's efforts earned him an Oscar for "Best Original Screenplay." In a 2008 Associated Press article titled, "Writer Recalls Truth, Fiction of 'Usual Suspects'," McQuarrie reveals a mind-boggling realization.
After the film was finished, McQuarrie and Singer were preparing to do press interviews when they discovered a countrywide gap in their conceptions about the plot. McQuarrie said, "I pulled Bryan aside the night before press began and I said, `We need to get our stories straight because people are starting to ask what happened and what didn't.'" McQuarrie then recalls that "... we got into the biggest argument we've ever had in our lives." So much for being on the same page.
The reason for clash was that one of them felt the story was all lies "peppered with little bits of truth." The other believed that it was all [or mostly] true, but "peppered with tiny, little lies." McQuarrie continues, "We each thought we were making a movie that was completely different from what the other one thought." Wow! I found this 'truth' to be more shocking than the film's surprise ending! The writer and director had essentially opposite opinions about the film's most important plot detail - the "truthiness" of Kint's narration. So who believed what? McQuarrie wouldn't tell.
Reading the article evoked two personal development concepts that I'll share now.
Lesson 1: "Truth" and "Reality" are Highly Subjective and Often Have Lots of Wiggle Room
You won't find many people arguing that Michael Jackson is dead. But the exact time of death, that's a different matter entirely - even though a doctor was present. When machines that monitor our heart rate and brainwaves came along, we trusted doctors to "pronounce" someone dead. The only problem is that people have come back to life long after machines indicated they had passed on. While some truths seem fairly safe from interpretation, whenever people and events are involved, the wiggle room grows by leaps and bounds. The above story about "The Usual Suspects" makes that crystal clear. The reason is that interpretation comes from one limited perspective, yours. This is important to remember when we listen to a point of view that we disagree with.
There is a strong tendency to think about how “open-minded” we are when considering another person’s actions. You've probably noticed that when people cheer for their favorite sports teams they tend to overlook "their" team's weaknesses, but pounce on the opponents' faults. When it comes to foods, we all have a few favorites. Two people might call watermelon the "best" fruit in the world. However, one might believe this for health reasons and the other person for taste. Events are never neutral. Start questioning and challenging your own beliefs and opinions if you truly want to be more "open-minded." No one can stand where you are and see things through your subjective perspective... and vice versa.
Lesson 2: Adding More Perspectives Will Help You Be More Open-Minded
In the movie, whether the surprise ending delights you or makes you want to scream, is up to you. The "truth" is often something we unconsciously choose. How the world appears to you is largely related to your beliefs and what you choose to think about.
I've made it a habit to find something that I can transform into a positive simply by becoming aware of my glass half-empty mindset (or another person's). I then imagine some other possible perspectives. I'll use the weather as an example since it snowed earlier today in Kentucky, where I live. To an adult, a winter storm may generate worry about getting into an accident on the way to work. A child on the other hand may have visions about sledding and shout, 'this is the best day of my life.' Just think about how different snow seems to an Eskimo, as opposed to a Floridian.
One of the best ways to become aware of limiting perspectives is to add new ones. The more often we are able to discern a different perspective, the more easily we can see our own biases. And that means we have a better chance to listen and truly understand another's frame of reference. So keep in mind that how you see the world is often a matter of choices, and of course the attitude you filter them through.
In the final scene, we learn that narrator Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) has been anything but reliable. We are left wondering how much of what we saw and heard was true. For his role as the fiendish con man Kint, Spacey won the Oscar for "Best Supporting Actor." While some viewers loved the ride, others felt cheated, as if they had been 'played.' That's certainly understandable considering how hard your brain has to work to uncover the ultimate mystery, just "who is Keyser Soze?"
Inevitably, the architects of "The Usual Suspects" were asked just 'how much of Kint's story was true?' The answer is fascinating. The primary creators of the masterful crime drama are writer Christopher McQuarrie and director Bryan Singer. McQuarrie's efforts earned him an Oscar for "Best Original Screenplay." In a 2008 Associated Press article titled, "Writer Recalls Truth, Fiction of 'Usual Suspects'," McQuarrie reveals a mind-boggling realization.
After the film was finished, McQuarrie and Singer were preparing to do press interviews when they discovered a countrywide gap in their conceptions about the plot. McQuarrie said, "I pulled Bryan aside the night before press began and I said, `We need to get our stories straight because people are starting to ask what happened and what didn't.'" McQuarrie then recalls that "... we got into the biggest argument we've ever had in our lives." So much for being on the same page.
The reason for clash was that one of them felt the story was all lies "peppered with little bits of truth." The other believed that it was all [or mostly] true, but "peppered with tiny, little lies." McQuarrie continues, "We each thought we were making a movie that was completely different from what the other one thought." Wow! I found this 'truth' to be more shocking than the film's surprise ending! The writer and director had essentially opposite opinions about the film's most important plot detail - the "truthiness" of Kint's narration. So who believed what? McQuarrie wouldn't tell.
Reading the article evoked two personal development concepts that I'll share now.
Lesson 1: "Truth" and "Reality" are Highly Subjective and Often Have Lots of Wiggle Room
You won't find many people arguing that Michael Jackson is dead. But the exact time of death, that's a different matter entirely - even though a doctor was present. When machines that monitor our heart rate and brainwaves came along, we trusted doctors to "pronounce" someone dead. The only problem is that people have come back to life long after machines indicated they had passed on. While some truths seem fairly safe from interpretation, whenever people and events are involved, the wiggle room grows by leaps and bounds. The above story about "The Usual Suspects" makes that crystal clear. The reason is that interpretation comes from one limited perspective, yours. This is important to remember when we listen to a point of view that we disagree with.
There is a strong tendency to think about how “open-minded” we are when considering another person’s actions. You've probably noticed that when people cheer for their favorite sports teams they tend to overlook "their" team's weaknesses, but pounce on the opponents' faults. When it comes to foods, we all have a few favorites. Two people might call watermelon the "best" fruit in the world. However, one might believe this for health reasons and the other person for taste. Events are never neutral. Start questioning and challenging your own beliefs and opinions if you truly want to be more "open-minded." No one can stand where you are and see things through your subjective perspective... and vice versa.
Lesson 2: Adding More Perspectives Will Help You Be More Open-Minded
In the movie, whether the surprise ending delights you or makes you want to scream, is up to you. The "truth" is often something we unconsciously choose. How the world appears to you is largely related to your beliefs and what you choose to think about.
I've made it a habit to find something that I can transform into a positive simply by becoming aware of my glass half-empty mindset (or another person's). I then imagine some other possible perspectives. I'll use the weather as an example since it snowed earlier today in Kentucky, where I live. To an adult, a winter storm may generate worry about getting into an accident on the way to work. A child on the other hand may have visions about sledding and shout, 'this is the best day of my life.' Just think about how different snow seems to an Eskimo, as opposed to a Floridian.
One of the best ways to become aware of limiting perspectives is to add new ones. The more often we are able to discern a different perspective, the more easily we can see our own biases. And that means we have a better chance to listen and truly understand another's frame of reference. So keep in mind that how you see the world is often a matter of choices, and of course the attitude you filter them through.
When "Just Do It" Just Doesn't Do It, Revitalize Your "Clarity of Purpose"
Few ad slogans have enjoyed the lasting power of Nike's "Just Do It." But let's face it, those beautifully chiseled athletes in the commercials don't actually "Just Do It." In fact, for athletes like Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods, their achievements are like the tip of the iceberg, while preparation represents the ice beneath the surface. "Just Do It," and variations of the phrase, act like a spontaneous nudge when we are on the fence about accomplishing a daily task or goal. A gentle thought reminding you to take action is fine, but using the words for regular kicks in the butt is a sign that there is a deeper problem. Even if the Nike mantra (or some form of it) is an effective motivational tool, you should still ask yourself if reaching your goals could be more enjoyable. Although growth will of course involve some physical and/or mental discomfort, you can exercise a great deal of control over the experience by revitalizing your 'clarity of purpose.'
Common Uses of the "Just Do It" Mantra
"Just Do It" is frequently used when we are 100% sure that an activity is in our best interest, but we nevertheless start waffling a bit. The activity can be a disagreeable no-brainer like doing the dishes or a daily exercise routine. Most of us have experienced the feeling of wanting to skip a run, yoga workout or some form of regular exercise. The lure might be a party or perhaps a piece of chocolate cake. The logical mind starts working overtime and churning thoughts like, 'If I have the cake now, I can start a new diet tomorrow and run an extra mile.' When stress is introduced to the scene, we become even more vulnerable to breaking our conscious routine. Interrupting an exercise or other habit once in a while is human, but when it requires more and more willpower, it's time to reevaluate your motivational needs. Otherwise, it can be the beginning of a new ritual... of sitting on your butt instead of taking action.
What to Do When "Just Do It" Just Doesn't Do It
When "Just Do It" pops in your head, you have probably already been resisting the task or goal that stands before you. The phrase can work wonders for launching you into 'doing' mode and bypassing the 'thinking' mind. However, there will be times when "Just Do It" gets stopped in its tracks by a torrent of counterproductive thoughts. If a morning run is your thing, there will still be some days when you just don't feel like it. Yet, if you don't want to break your routine and experience the bad feelings that may surface, what should you do? I'll answer that question with another one. If you were the starting quarterback or a cheerleader in the Super Bowl, would you have any trouble getting out of bed on game day? I didn't think so. Now, do you think the reason is that they have superbly written goals or that they are internally motivated (slight understatement)? Let's take a look at what as strong clarity of purpose can do for you.
Without a powerful clarity of purpose, your willpower will only take you so far, and motivational phrases will gradually lose their oomph. The mental fatigue from battling your thoughts zaps your energy and takes its toll over time. What I do if my motivation starts to wane is to revisit my vision board. It allows me to clearly "see" what inspires me. If you don't have one, it will change your life for the better on day one.
Clarity of purpose is nothing more than the "why" that underlies your goal. Friedrich Nietzsche put it more elegantly when he stated: "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." Where my thinking differs from many other goal setting approaches is that I believe the visualization of your goals is the most important element to achieving them. I look at my vision board throughout the day and the images are never tiring and always uplifting. The pictures may or may not be worth a thousand words, but I feel they are more helpful than a task or goal that is written on a one dimensional piece of paper. Whether you are a professional athlete or dental hygienist, the "why" that underlies your goal must be strong.
Revivifying Your 'Clarity of Purpose'
I recommend using Nike's catchphrase sparingly and as a last resort for motivating you. View it as an indication that your goal strategy needs work. You can find a million reasons not do something, but you can find just as many for doing it. Like all areas of personal development, it's a choice. While some self-growth tactics are negotiable, making your passion come alive visually is one of the best ways to reach your goals. Once your vision board is set up, on-the-spot visualization of your big goals and dreams is automatic, emotionally powerful and inspirational.
You probably know that habits take about a month to form. With a vision board, all you have to do is place it where you can't miss it. Give it a try for a month. If you don't have more energy and feel more inspired, take it down. I'm very confident you won't want too though. It's easy for your clarity of purpose to become stale over time, but a vision board helps put your motivational and inspirational needs on autopilot.
Common Uses of the "Just Do It" Mantra
"Just Do It" is frequently used when we are 100% sure that an activity is in our best interest, but we nevertheless start waffling a bit. The activity can be a disagreeable no-brainer like doing the dishes or a daily exercise routine. Most of us have experienced the feeling of wanting to skip a run, yoga workout or some form of regular exercise. The lure might be a party or perhaps a piece of chocolate cake. The logical mind starts working overtime and churning thoughts like, 'If I have the cake now, I can start a new diet tomorrow and run an extra mile.' When stress is introduced to the scene, we become even more vulnerable to breaking our conscious routine. Interrupting an exercise or other habit once in a while is human, but when it requires more and more willpower, it's time to reevaluate your motivational needs. Otherwise, it can be the beginning of a new ritual... of sitting on your butt instead of taking action.
What to Do When "Just Do It" Just Doesn't Do It
When "Just Do It" pops in your head, you have probably already been resisting the task or goal that stands before you. The phrase can work wonders for launching you into 'doing' mode and bypassing the 'thinking' mind. However, there will be times when "Just Do It" gets stopped in its tracks by a torrent of counterproductive thoughts. If a morning run is your thing, there will still be some days when you just don't feel like it. Yet, if you don't want to break your routine and experience the bad feelings that may surface, what should you do? I'll answer that question with another one. If you were the starting quarterback or a cheerleader in the Super Bowl, would you have any trouble getting out of bed on game day? I didn't think so. Now, do you think the reason is that they have superbly written goals or that they are internally motivated (slight understatement)? Let's take a look at what as strong clarity of purpose can do for you.
Without a powerful clarity of purpose, your willpower will only take you so far, and motivational phrases will gradually lose their oomph. The mental fatigue from battling your thoughts zaps your energy and takes its toll over time. What I do if my motivation starts to wane is to revisit my vision board. It allows me to clearly "see" what inspires me. If you don't have one, it will change your life for the better on day one.
Clarity of purpose is nothing more than the "why" that underlies your goal. Friedrich Nietzsche put it more elegantly when he stated: "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." Where my thinking differs from many other goal setting approaches is that I believe the visualization of your goals is the most important element to achieving them. I look at my vision board throughout the day and the images are never tiring and always uplifting. The pictures may or may not be worth a thousand words, but I feel they are more helpful than a task or goal that is written on a one dimensional piece of paper. Whether you are a professional athlete or dental hygienist, the "why" that underlies your goal must be strong.
Revivifying Your 'Clarity of Purpose'
I recommend using Nike's catchphrase sparingly and as a last resort for motivating you. View it as an indication that your goal strategy needs work. You can find a million reasons not do something, but you can find just as many for doing it. Like all areas of personal development, it's a choice. While some self-growth tactics are negotiable, making your passion come alive visually is one of the best ways to reach your goals. Once your vision board is set up, on-the-spot visualization of your big goals and dreams is automatic, emotionally powerful and inspirational.
You probably know that habits take about a month to form. With a vision board, all you have to do is place it where you can't miss it. Give it a try for a month. If you don't have more energy and feel more inspired, take it down. I'm very confident you won't want too though. It's easy for your clarity of purpose to become stale over time, but a vision board helps put your motivational and inspirational needs on autopilot.
The Real Rain Man Died Last Month
On December 19, the New York Times ran an obituary for Kim Peek, also known as Rain Man. He was known as the "Mount Everest of Memory."
Zen Choices New Years Day Review-Free Movie Insights: James Cameron's Avatar
First off, let me just say Avatar was one of the most exhilarating films I've seen in recent years. Now, a note of caution before you begin. I'm writing this without thinking about the degree to which it has spoiler information. With that said, I found the spiritual transformation of the main character and the depiction of the interconnectedness theme to be deeply flawed. I'll soon explain one possible explanation for what I view as a big problem in the story. I was compelled to write this piece because I couldn't help but correct the problems in my mind.
The hero's transformation and his mystical relationship with the Na'vi and their planet's god-tree were arguably the heart of the movie. Jake Sully is a marine in a wheelchair who winds up controlling a big blue alien avatar. At one point, he takes part in the Na'vi's sacred ritual that essentially symbolizes his entrance into alien-hood (if you will) and harmony with their planet (Pandora). Kind of a big deal. Yet, shortly before that moment, Jake Sully wrestles a dragon-bird that he will 'become one with' and says something like, 'Now you're mine.' Do you see where I'm going with this?
While dominating a dragon-bird would be a testosterone-increasing experience, the ensuing choice of words could have been a little deeper. Earlier on we see the same marine "jarhead" mentality when Jake Sully kills a forest hell-hound. In that scene, what I saw was an unreflective hunter mechanically repeating a prayer for an animal he detested, and couldn't wait to sink his knife into.
The marine in him is supposed to be peeling away the layers of his egoistic killing field attitude and replacing it with a more symbiotic relationship with nature. A more enlightened way of living, where killing animals is done in the same spirit (and I mean the exact same) as Native Americans. Maybe the problem is I imagine myself being a more enlightened Na'vi after several months of literally walking, running and mating in their body. On a side note, kudos to James Cameron for making the Na'vi and world of Pandora come to life and never get old.
I said I would offer an explanation for this great flaw, so here it is. I think it stems from the false belief that saints and people we call "enlightened," lose the essence of their identity when "spiritually transformed." That identity is of course their ego-born personality. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Just look at the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Thoreau, etc. At this point, Cameron or yourself might argue that Jake Sully is still struggling with his dual roles. However, he never truly abandons his dominant egoistic marine self. And personally, I'd rather live with what I see as a big flaw than the idea that the best I could hope for was a quasi-enlightened Na'vi-marine.
I'm convinced that Jake Sully was supposed to become one with the Na'vi and Pandora, but that Cameron was only able to deliver on a symbolic level. In the scene I mentioned earlier where Jake Sully breaks down the dragon-bird, there is an unmistakable orgasmic union that symbolizes what should be a harmonious connection. We see several times the literal connection to life, as characters plug and unplug (for lack of better terms) into beasts of burden and other objects in the living forest.
I think the spiritual transformation was at least deserving of a contemplative moment or overwhelming sense of awe that I didn't see. Would it have been so hard to convey some genuine understanding of the sacred Native American / Na'vi bond between death and life - no special effects required. Jake Sully is after all the 'chosen one,' which is made clear by the symbolic gesture of sacred floating jellyfish swarming him. I expected more than symbolic change after he walks in the Na'vi's body; is essentially baptized by the blue aliens; has his life saved by and mates with his girlfriend Neytiri; and eventually has something like a near-death experience where the holy Eywa tree makes him a Na'vi forever.
Think back to when he says, "I see you," and apparently experiences a sacred connection and realizes what it means to be one with the Na'vi. I hoped they would not just prove to be hallow words, but that's exactly what they turned out to be (though I still liked their symbolic representation of enlightenment). Remember, we first get a deliberate explanation of how the words do not literally mean "I see you," but have a much deeper meaning. He didn't get it. He never truly sheds the marine mindset and doesn't seem to have the capacity for a true heartfelt connection with the Na'vi. Okay, so let me wrap up. Why does this matter to me?
I think I can best answer that by pointing to the scene where Jake Sully solemnly asks the Eywa tree to help them defeat the 'evil' interplanetary US military industrial complex on steroids. The big, (but subtle) question to consider is whether we want to have our next generation aim to be like Jake Sully or the Na'vi, who genuinely commune with nature. We are steered into believing that he is one of them... but they couldn't be more different.
Unfortunately, when Pandora's Mother Nature uses the creatures to side with the Na'vi in battle and saves them, Neytiri is won over by his view. This is not how Earth's Mother Nature works and thank goodness for that. She doesn't take sides and portraying Mother Nature (on any planet) in such a way is a real lashing of her spirit - not to mention the Tao. And if the Na'vi are happy when their Mother Nature chooses sides now, what about when the tribes on Pandora have differences. It would be like Mother Nature choosing between Heat Miser and Cold Miser ;-). I know it's an alien planet, but it I like to think there are some laws that would be the same anywhere in the universe. Okay, so it's a lot to ask of a movie. I just wanted to see if any of you thought this post-movie correction was worthwhile or interesting to think about. Let me know what you think?
The hero's transformation and his mystical relationship with the Na'vi and their planet's god-tree were arguably the heart of the movie. Jake Sully is a marine in a wheelchair who winds up controlling a big blue alien avatar. At one point, he takes part in the Na'vi's sacred ritual that essentially symbolizes his entrance into alien-hood (if you will) and harmony with their planet (Pandora). Kind of a big deal. Yet, shortly before that moment, Jake Sully wrestles a dragon-bird that he will 'become one with' and says something like, 'Now you're mine.' Do you see where I'm going with this?
While dominating a dragon-bird would be a testosterone-increasing experience, the ensuing choice of words could have been a little deeper. Earlier on we see the same marine "jarhead" mentality when Jake Sully kills a forest hell-hound. In that scene, what I saw was an unreflective hunter mechanically repeating a prayer for an animal he detested, and couldn't wait to sink his knife into.
The marine in him is supposed to be peeling away the layers of his egoistic killing field attitude and replacing it with a more symbiotic relationship with nature. A more enlightened way of living, where killing animals is done in the same spirit (and I mean the exact same) as Native Americans. Maybe the problem is I imagine myself being a more enlightened Na'vi after several months of literally walking, running and mating in their body. On a side note, kudos to James Cameron for making the Na'vi and world of Pandora come to life and never get old.
I said I would offer an explanation for this great flaw, so here it is. I think it stems from the false belief that saints and people we call "enlightened," lose the essence of their identity when "spiritually transformed." That identity is of course their ego-born personality. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Just look at the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Thoreau, etc. At this point, Cameron or yourself might argue that Jake Sully is still struggling with his dual roles. However, he never truly abandons his dominant egoistic marine self. And personally, I'd rather live with what I see as a big flaw than the idea that the best I could hope for was a quasi-enlightened Na'vi-marine.
I'm convinced that Jake Sully was supposed to become one with the Na'vi and Pandora, but that Cameron was only able to deliver on a symbolic level. In the scene I mentioned earlier where Jake Sully breaks down the dragon-bird, there is an unmistakable orgasmic union that symbolizes what should be a harmonious connection. We see several times the literal connection to life, as characters plug and unplug (for lack of better terms) into beasts of burden and other objects in the living forest.
I think the spiritual transformation was at least deserving of a contemplative moment or overwhelming sense of awe that I didn't see. Would it have been so hard to convey some genuine understanding of the sacred Native American / Na'vi bond between death and life - no special effects required. Jake Sully is after all the 'chosen one,' which is made clear by the symbolic gesture of sacred floating jellyfish swarming him. I expected more than symbolic change after he walks in the Na'vi's body; is essentially baptized by the blue aliens; has his life saved by and mates with his girlfriend Neytiri; and eventually has something like a near-death experience where the holy Eywa tree makes him a Na'vi forever.
Think back to when he says, "I see you," and apparently experiences a sacred connection and realizes what it means to be one with the Na'vi. I hoped they would not just prove to be hallow words, but that's exactly what they turned out to be (though I still liked their symbolic representation of enlightenment). Remember, we first get a deliberate explanation of how the words do not literally mean "I see you," but have a much deeper meaning. He didn't get it. He never truly sheds the marine mindset and doesn't seem to have the capacity for a true heartfelt connection with the Na'vi. Okay, so let me wrap up. Why does this matter to me?
I think I can best answer that by pointing to the scene where Jake Sully solemnly asks the Eywa tree to help them defeat the 'evil' interplanetary US military industrial complex on steroids. The big, (but subtle) question to consider is whether we want to have our next generation aim to be like Jake Sully or the Na'vi, who genuinely commune with nature. We are steered into believing that he is one of them... but they couldn't be more different.
Unfortunately, when Pandora's Mother Nature uses the creatures to side with the Na'vi in battle and saves them, Neytiri is won over by his view. This is not how Earth's Mother Nature works and thank goodness for that. She doesn't take sides and portraying Mother Nature (on any planet) in such a way is a real lashing of her spirit - not to mention the Tao. And if the Na'vi are happy when their Mother Nature chooses sides now, what about when the tribes on Pandora have differences. It would be like Mother Nature choosing between Heat Miser and Cold Miser ;-). I know it's an alien planet, but it I like to think there are some laws that would be the same anywhere in the universe. Okay, so it's a lot to ask of a movie. I just wanted to see if any of you thought this post-movie correction was worthwhile or interesting to think about. Let me know what you think?
How an Email Accidentally sent to Over 700 People Brightened My Whole Day
I sent out over 700 notifications to join weblog by accident. I tried to clean up the snafu by sending a mass email apologizing for inadvertently sending the email and telling everyone to just delete it. Gmail denied me that little bit of relief because they don't let you send more than 500 emails. I started to brainstorm about how I could send the mass email out but finally decided to live with the blunder.
Not only that, but I chose to look at it as an opportunity on handling self-loathing. It didn't take long before I a name on the long list would pop in my head and I would imagine how they would see this non-intentional spam incident. I purposely keep personal, business and other types of emails to a minimum. So I had to live with my minimalist "image" being upended.
As I was reeling about handling this situation it occurred to me that I could just let it go. There wasn't much I could do and the energy I would spend and worry I would create from contacting everyone would be overwhelming. So I moved on. For a while I couldn't stop thoughts from popping into my head about how a customer, vice president or acquaintance would view me. Gratefully, I didn't do a lot of beating myself up over it. The company made it very easy to send the bulk email out because it benefits them to have hundreds of potential clients. They gave me a pop up screen with no clear way to exit and when i hit "continue" it sent the email with no warning. but hey, it really did turn out to be an opportunity for personal development.
Here's the values that I automatically began to remind myself of. let it go because it won't matter in 20 years, let alone 20 hours. it's an instant perspective -shifter and a great short-term tactic for suppressing any negative self-talk. you may have heard of the self help book called "blank." I've read it and I found the best takeaway of the entire book is the wisdom in the title. it helps you pull out of the micro world of self loathing and focus on your thoughts about a situation that is really beyond your control - could mess up more by fixing as people will now see 2 emails from me in their inbox - off point. so use it.
I also used a Zen Choices belief that every seemingly negative situation can be viewed as a positive. Napolkeon Hill, author of the granddaddy of all self development books put it like this: blank.
I also used the belief that what you think about expands. do i want my mind on building a successful ecommerce website and thriving personal dvelopment blog duirng the day or on thoughts about my image that are otu of my control and may not happen. let's face it out of those 700 emails, the people either will or will not open them. either way it's pretty insignificant, even if i choose to make it a big deal. for some, it might be more critical to patch up the impression, but i'm going to get on with life.
So friends, you can choose to get mired down in the mouse view where problems that won't matter in 20 years sometimes 20 minutes use up most of your time and energy or you can make a positive shift in your attitude. Not at the time, but shortly after I had realigned with my core beliefs and values, and you can always find at least two of each in any situation, I was honestly grateful for the test. Now I'll react even quicker and even more automatically next time. You might think this is putting on rose-colored glasses or tricking yourself into a new outlook, but it's actually choosing the fullness of the present moment. As much of a cliche as that is, it is the point. You don't need to get visited by your troublesome thoughts (the way they hound Scrooge in A Christmas Carol) to transform your attitude and behavior in the present.
In closing, I just want to reiterate the cumulative effect of a personal development plan. A system gets to rigid for me. My plan works by laying out at least 5 values and 5 beliefs that I turn to in any situation, good or bad, that I become aware of on a daily basis. What I mean by cumulative is that I was faced with a situation that was very troubling but re-framed it with just 2 values and 2 beliefs and when I had traversed the thoughts that I could let bother and block me from my better self, that can only be found in the present, I was actually grateful for the experience. I'll also add as a final note that I believe (yes, this is one of my core beliefs) that much of the energy I was able to garner was the result of regular meditation. When you can take a deep breath and control your thoughts even a tiny bit, it triggers a larger awareness and even if I can't literally slow the thoughts, I can slow how I process them. In other words, not let each thought trigger a knee-jerk reaction or string of more negative thoughts. As they say in the secret, it all starts with one. Experience has taught me that mediation allows me greater time between thoughts. If you've ever heard people say that mediation creates space, but felt that word was very fluffy, then next time think less literally - about the space between thoughts. if it slows there are less. less is more. more energy and happiness. less negative thoughts mean less physical release of chemicals that kick off stress in your body, which in turn can make us jumpier and angry. Since thought-forms take up energy and also accumulate more negative thought-forms if allowed, and positive thoughts can replace the negative, meditation literally can create more space for the positive. Try thinking of it like that rather than have an inner debate about whether there can literally be more space in your mind or brain.
So out of the email jam came a feeling of being grateful for realigning myself into a more positive outlook and deeper awareness of my self and the world. what a great thursday it's turned out to be.
---
Over and over I realize that mistakes mean you are succeeding. I mean I supposes someone gets all their leaps of faith right, but I haven't read a story like that yet. Just today I committed the energy and money to starting a new website business. I had that feeling in my stomach like this is a big commitment and not 5 minutes later did I realize that I was incorrectly submitting my a file to Google for my first website. That realization alone was worth the discomfort and satisfaction that I fixed something that was holding me back. Like I said, over and over the mistakes keep coming... and that's good.
Not only that, but I chose to look at it as an opportunity on handling self-loathing. It didn't take long before I a name on the long list would pop in my head and I would imagine how they would see this non-intentional spam incident. I purposely keep personal, business and other types of emails to a minimum. So I had to live with my minimalist "image" being upended.
As I was reeling about handling this situation it occurred to me that I could just let it go. There wasn't much I could do and the energy I would spend and worry I would create from contacting everyone would be overwhelming. So I moved on. For a while I couldn't stop thoughts from popping into my head about how a customer, vice president or acquaintance would view me. Gratefully, I didn't do a lot of beating myself up over it. The company made it very easy to send the bulk email out because it benefits them to have hundreds of potential clients. They gave me a pop up screen with no clear way to exit and when i hit "continue" it sent the email with no warning. but hey, it really did turn out to be an opportunity for personal development.
Here's the values that I automatically began to remind myself of. let it go because it won't matter in 20 years, let alone 20 hours. it's an instant perspective -shifter and a great short-term tactic for suppressing any negative self-talk. you may have heard of the self help book called "blank." I've read it and I found the best takeaway of the entire book is the wisdom in the title. it helps you pull out of the micro world of self loathing and focus on your thoughts about a situation that is really beyond your control - could mess up more by fixing as people will now see 2 emails from me in their inbox - off point. so use it.
I also used a Zen Choices belief that every seemingly negative situation can be viewed as a positive. Napolkeon Hill, author of the granddaddy of all self development books put it like this: blank.
I also used the belief that what you think about expands. do i want my mind on building a successful ecommerce website and thriving personal dvelopment blog duirng the day or on thoughts about my image that are otu of my control and may not happen. let's face it out of those 700 emails, the people either will or will not open them. either way it's pretty insignificant, even if i choose to make it a big deal. for some, it might be more critical to patch up the impression, but i'm going to get on with life.
So friends, you can choose to get mired down in the mouse view where problems that won't matter in 20 years sometimes 20 minutes use up most of your time and energy or you can make a positive shift in your attitude. Not at the time, but shortly after I had realigned with my core beliefs and values, and you can always find at least two of each in any situation, I was honestly grateful for the test. Now I'll react even quicker and even more automatically next time. You might think this is putting on rose-colored glasses or tricking yourself into a new outlook, but it's actually choosing the fullness of the present moment. As much of a cliche as that is, it is the point. You don't need to get visited by your troublesome thoughts (the way they hound Scrooge in A Christmas Carol) to transform your attitude and behavior in the present.
In closing, I just want to reiterate the cumulative effect of a personal development plan. A system gets to rigid for me. My plan works by laying out at least 5 values and 5 beliefs that I turn to in any situation, good or bad, that I become aware of on a daily basis. What I mean by cumulative is that I was faced with a situation that was very troubling but re-framed it with just 2 values and 2 beliefs and when I had traversed the thoughts that I could let bother and block me from my better self, that can only be found in the present, I was actually grateful for the experience. I'll also add as a final note that I believe (yes, this is one of my core beliefs) that much of the energy I was able to garner was the result of regular meditation. When you can take a deep breath and control your thoughts even a tiny bit, it triggers a larger awareness and even if I can't literally slow the thoughts, I can slow how I process them. In other words, not let each thought trigger a knee-jerk reaction or string of more negative thoughts. As they say in the secret, it all starts with one. Experience has taught me that mediation allows me greater time between thoughts. If you've ever heard people say that mediation creates space, but felt that word was very fluffy, then next time think less literally - about the space between thoughts. if it slows there are less. less is more. more energy and happiness. less negative thoughts mean less physical release of chemicals that kick off stress in your body, which in turn can make us jumpier and angry. Since thought-forms take up energy and also accumulate more negative thought-forms if allowed, and positive thoughts can replace the negative, meditation literally can create more space for the positive. Try thinking of it like that rather than have an inner debate about whether there can literally be more space in your mind or brain.
So out of the email jam came a feeling of being grateful for realigning myself into a more positive outlook and deeper awareness of my self and the world. what a great thursday it's turned out to be.
---
Over and over I realize that mistakes mean you are succeeding. I mean I supposes someone gets all their leaps of faith right, but I haven't read a story like that yet. Just today I committed the energy and money to starting a new website business. I had that feeling in my stomach like this is a big commitment and not 5 minutes later did I realize that I was incorrectly submitting my a file to Google for my first website. That realization alone was worth the discomfort and satisfaction that I fixed something that was holding me back. Like I said, over and over the mistakes keep coming... and that's good.
A New Baby Lives in a Kingdom We Adults Left A Long Time Ago
I held a baby yesterday that was one day old. his eyes were mostly closed except for a few brief moments where he shuddered when the lights met his eyes. A few times he was jolted awake by what my mind could only guess was the sensation of falling. When i looked into the baby's eyes I forgot about everyone else in the room.
I was taken away by the warmth of his little body and his movements. Sometimes a smile and other times a frown. occasionally, i couldn't help but think how much this baby will be changed buy culture and language, though the two are more like one animal. we coo and make sounds and faces at the baby because that's all he knows. adults talk about this and that and what a miracle. but one look at the baby and all the words just kind of taper off. They pale next to the helpless form whose meaning, especially to the parents, is to vast to capture.
In Buddhism the razor's edge is the line between rational language-driven intellect and the non-rational non-linguistic primordial experience sometimes called enlightenment. The razor's edge as I know it is the balance of those two. Striving to walk the razor's edge means for Westerners that self-exploration can lead to understanding the self better and allowing the right brain to have more air time than the left brain for a more balanced life.
This baby, my nephew, is amazing for all the reasons I listed above, but also because he is right now on the other side of the Razor's Edge. The feeling it gives me to be in company of pure experience of a baby is a gift.
I was taken away by the warmth of his little body and his movements. Sometimes a smile and other times a frown. occasionally, i couldn't help but think how much this baby will be changed buy culture and language, though the two are more like one animal. we coo and make sounds and faces at the baby because that's all he knows. adults talk about this and that and what a miracle. but one look at the baby and all the words just kind of taper off. They pale next to the helpless form whose meaning, especially to the parents, is to vast to capture.
In Buddhism the razor's edge is the line between rational language-driven intellect and the non-rational non-linguistic primordial experience sometimes called enlightenment. The razor's edge as I know it is the balance of those two. Striving to walk the razor's edge means for Westerners that self-exploration can lead to understanding the self better and allowing the right brain to have more air time than the left brain for a more balanced life.
This baby, my nephew, is amazing for all the reasons I listed above, but also because he is right now on the other side of the Razor's Edge. The feeling it gives me to be in company of pure experience of a baby is a gift.
The cure for Serena Williams' 12-second obscenity-laced tirade
On September 5, 2009, CNN ran an article about Serena Williams’ 12 –second obscenity-laced verbal attack on a line judge at the U.S. Open. The opening line reads, “Serena Williams just wants to move on.” Unfortunately for her, she may have many more days where she is forced to hear about her actions while “in the moment.”
Her choice is simple, accept the behavior or improve on it. Players known for their flare-ups range from John McEnroe to Andy Roddick. Whether their behavior arises from a big ego, or they believe they can't control their “temper,” players often wear their rage as badge of honor. What some see as despicable actions on the part of professional athletes, others recognize as dedication and passion toward the sport they love. Part of the problem is that today's culture rewards gifted athletes and even those that show an incredibly competitive side - regardless of the consequences. They may justify their actions or even offer an apology, but we rarely hear much about the target of their tirades. We rarely hear regret about how they used their power to ridicule someone with less power than them. Charles Barkley captured this truth when he said, "I am not a role model." Unfortunately, he was wrong. It isn't up to the athletes. Children and youths learn by modeling. And unsportsmanlike behavior presents children with an anti-evolutionary model of how to treat others.
Serena says she learned from her mistake. So, before we move on, lets instead call for a “learning moment,” as Barack Obama likes to say. We can start by asking what did she learn? Did she learn that it is wrong to publicly humiliate another human being that is doing their job to the best of their ability? I would hope she knew that already. Did she learn that she must do a better job of controlling her behavior? That’s not likely since she said she was "in the moment" and didn’t even really remember the tirade. Furthermore, she said that the call wasn’t correct and the match was really close. Close indeed. It was match point! If that scenario doesn't wake you up to the realization that you need to control your actions, what will. Did she learn that you must apologize appropriately and promptly? First of all, there is no appropriate response that could have undone the hurt at that time. Secondly, the No. 2 ranked female tennis player in the world said she “believes she apologized.” Probably not a heartfelt apology if you don't remember it.
Serena, if you want to truly learn, start meditating. There is no better way for you to control what you say and do, both of which take root in your thoughts. Mediation works on letting thoughts pass without acting on them and changing them into more positive ones. The point of mediation is to bring awareness to that you do, whether in a fight or flight situation. It will work if you practice it. Period. That is, if you really do want to learn.
I am reading between the lines here, but it sounds like she realized she was going to lose and rather than give her opponent the satisfaction of winning, she chose to lose the match on a technicality – and at the expense of the line judge’s interests. At least there is some level of awareness where she can begin improving. Serena unsurprisingly justified her actions, by saying, "I am not a robot. I have a heart and I bleed." She will find those that understand her actions, like McEnroe. It would interest me to know what McEnroe thinks of such outbursts as a spectator. Does he have any regrets or does he see his actions as part of who he was. Serena can take comfort that tennis greats like John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors frequently lost their heads on the court. However, unlike them, she has said she wants to learn from her mistake – something they didn't even really acknowledge.
The boos you heard were not just a recognition of your poor sportsmanship and a plea to get you to stop – which you couldn’t do on your own. They were also the sound of people who were able to look at the scene from the perspective of the line judge. Neither perspective is right. But one did disappoint the fans and caused humiliation to you and the line judge. Serena can take solace that a few people understand her actions, even if most recognized the maladjusted anger and hostility as untamed ego. I believe that most will remember how she lost and what she took away from the line judge, herself and her opponent – “in the moment.” Of course, every fan has experienced moments they wish they could take back, maybe even daily. Meditation is still the best cure for this condition and it benefits all that can and will put in the effort.
Serena, this storm will pass. But when you say you learned from it, you need to ask the right questions to yourself. You need to learn how to make yourself stay aware, even when you are "in the moment." You see, there is another meaning to being in the moment. It can also mean being extremely aware of your thoughts and actions so you don't harm others. With meditation, you can experience an immediate relaxed awareness and you can cultivate that energy for when you need it. It is possible because many athletes have the greatest poise in the most challenging circumstances. Recently, their was the bitter loss of Andy Roddick to Roger Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final. There were no out-of-control flare-ups that Andy commonly displays. Perhaps Andy recognized that Federer’s exquisite sportsmanship and his influence as a champion would make any antics by him look even more pathetic.
For some, and maybe most, controlling your thoughts takes great effort. The best cure is some form of meditation. The results are undeniable. If you are out of control, then by your own admission, your behavior may happen again. Meditation helps narrow your mind's focus, which enables you to experience a relaxed state and not let thoughts control you. It improves your ability to think clearly and wait before reacting to those thoughts that cause regret. Even better, it is a powerful tool for changing the thoughts and seeing the situation differently. In this case, seeing the official as doing her job to the best of her ability is just as accurate as Serena’s view that she missed the call.
Meditation helps you see and understand that there is always more than one perspective. That is the first step toward acting consciously in all that you do. Therefore Serena, if you know that you had little or no control over your actions, as opposed to be more fully aware, you know that the "learning" you seek needs to come from a different state of mind. As Einstein famously said, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it."
Why the “Inner Commitment Question” is a Personal Development Necessity
“The essence of a question is to open up possibilities and keep them open.” – Hans-Georg GadamerYou probably have come across a “magic” question designed to enhance your efforts to grow and succeed. Perhaps it was along the lines of “What is most important to me?” Many such questions sound good at first, but just don’t act on our thoughts the way we hope they would. Not so with these powerful and practical eight words. They seem to have awareness of the present moment and taking action encoded into them. So without further ado, here is the "Inner Commitment Question:"
“Right now, what do I need to do?”
It may not look like much, but stay tuned. What follows is a breakdown of exactly why this question can not only launch you into action, but “right” action. Initially, I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of adopting another “must-have” question to my personal development system. Nevertheless, the question had enough potential to justify my rule of placing anything I want to remember in at least two places. A short time later, the Inner Commitment Question popped into my thoughts. When it did, the words instantly began to look, sound, and feel like they contained something potent. I proceeded to say the question to myself a few times. As I did, I immediately realized that it was a keeper.
“The Awareness Opening”
The first two words of the question really stand out, both visually and orally: “Right now, what do I need to do?” The meaning they give the question is remarkable when you think about it. Without them, you are left with ‘what do I need to do?’ In this form, the sentence changes from one of taking action to paralysis. In contrast, the phrase “right now” turns the sentence into an immediate command that jumpstarts creative thoughts and actions.
After years of use, the words “right now” still jump out at me, and each time I find myself zooming in toward the present moment. I wouldn’t call it a miracle, but it’s pretty neat when it happens. I call this mode of thinking the “Awareness Opening.” The Awareness Opening can best be described as “thinking about your thinking.” The Winnie the Pooh character, Tigger, marvels at the power of this experience when he says, “Why didn’t I think of thinkin’ of that?” If only he had known about the Inner Commitment Question.
The Awareness Opening is more powerful than merely choosing between reading more emails and calling a friend. That kind of conscious action is commonplace, but it is not the same as “thinking about your thinking.” With the Awareness Opening, our mind seems to hover in the present, free from limiting beliefs or negative thoughts. You’re still thinking of course, but a door has opened and you are hyper-aware of the opportunity. During this brief span of time, it’s normal to feel the power and confidence necessary to take courageous steps in the direction of your loftiest goals. The Inner Commitment Question loves to come knocking when you are engaged in busywork or an activity that distracts you from what you “need to do.” Asking the question can help you reach the Awareness Opening and take advantage of it.
How do I know what I need to do?
Now that we understand what “right now” does for the question, we can better understand the remainder of it. The word “need” is defined in The New Oxford American Dictionary as follows: “require (something) because it is essential or very important…” It probably won’t surprise you that when you ask yourself – “Right now, what do I need to do?” – you are very seldom doing what you “need to do” (what is most essential.) As much as we love to throw the word “important” around, it just doesn’t create the urgency that “need” does.
The real beauty of the Inner Commitment Question is that we already know what action we “need” to take. Whether we are dealing with an upset customer or mentally preparing for “the talk” with our partner, we are rarely at a loss for choices. Beware of the myth that our busy lives mean that our intuition is lacking or doesn’t feed us clear insights. The greater problem is that we non-consciously block our intuition or filter it through limiting beliefs. The result is that we react with a conditioned response instead of a conscious decision. Applying the Inner Commitment Question won’t always trigger the Awareness Opening, but it will at least create the opportunity to reroute your thinking toward more positive, intuitive choices.
Conclusion
A common misconception about questions is that more often than not they “occur” to us. In actuality, questions usually force themselves on us. As Hans-Georg Gadamer points out, “A question presses itself on us; we can no longer avoid it and persist in our accustomed opinion.” Cultivating the Inner Commitment Question allows you to consistently enter a proactive mode of awareness. Asking it can be a gateway to generating more questions, which in turn lead to greater clarity of purpose.
The effectiveness of the Inner Commitment Question depends a great deal on your state of mind. For example, if you are weary or agitated, your ability to concentrate and allow the question to manifest is greatly diminished. For challenging situations, repeat the question until the words seep into the foreground of your mind, crowding out negative or distracting thoughts.
Today’s Zen Choice is between consciously shifting your thoughts to a bird’s eye view of “what needs to be done’ and settling for the present moment when it randomly shows up.
Please share your comments.
Zen Choices Blog by Zen Choices is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Will You Take Action Today Or Read More and Maybe Act Tomorrow?
I'm about to describe the best personal development system in the world for me. You decide if you feel the same way.
For decades I soaked up everything I could get my hands on about personal development, everything from the works Harvard psychologist William James (1842-1910) to Anthony Robbins and the Law of Attraction.
Along the way, I even picked up a Master of Arts in literature, which was really an excuse to examine books, fiction and non-fiction, classic and modern, through my undetachable self-growth lens. I earned straight A's and a Dean's citation for my thesis on Zen Buddhism. I thought that along the way, I was picking up all the keys to success, consciously or non-consciously. I wasn't.
I was at the end of my rope when I found someone who was perfectly in sync with my thoughts on how to manifest wealth and happiness... only his approach works every time. Click here to find out more about The Secret of Deliberate Creation right now.
Rather than promise results on behalf of a friendly universe, he made clear beyond a reasonable doubt how the subconscious could help me manifest my biggest visions.
When he said there are two types of people, action-takers and those that gather more information to take action tomorrow, I knew I was in the second group. Ouch.
I have never read better material for helping you consciously live your dreams out.
See for yourself by clicking here The Secret of Deliberate Creation right now.
For decades I soaked up everything I could get my hands on about personal development, everything from the works Harvard psychologist William James (1842-1910) to Anthony Robbins and the Law of Attraction.
Along the way, I even picked up a Master of Arts in literature, which was really an excuse to examine books, fiction and non-fiction, classic and modern, through my undetachable self-growth lens. I earned straight A's and a Dean's citation for my thesis on Zen Buddhism. I thought that along the way, I was picking up all the keys to success, consciously or non-consciously. I wasn't.
I was at the end of my rope when I found someone who was perfectly in sync with my thoughts on how to manifest wealth and happiness... only his approach works every time. Click here to find out more about The Secret of Deliberate Creation right now.
Rather than promise results on behalf of a friendly universe, he made clear beyond a reasonable doubt how the subconscious could help me manifest my biggest visions.
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