EVEN TODAY I HEARD STEVEN FRY, COMEDY GENIUS SAY “YOU KNOW THE FUNNIEST THING IS THAT EVERYONE CAN TELL YOU WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM AND HOW THEY COULD MAKE THINGS BETTER. YET NOBODY IS WILLINNG TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT”. READ ON AND YOU CAN DISCOVER THE STRANGEST SECRET

What is it about us that we go on day to day feeling unappreciated, underpaid, underutilized and undervalued? Life seems a stuggle. Yet we all want more. We don’t want to just “get by”. We even have grand plans of what we will do when the opportunity comes up. Its the strangest secret that we put up with what life gives us day after day. So has anyone found out the solution? I can say “YES”.

I discovered the Strangest Secret relatively recently (2004) and I have worked with it since then. Some days have been more successful than others but I have never forgotten it. In fact, it has transformed my life. I didn’t notice at the time but as I look back my life is SO differenet now, I wouldn’t recognise myself.

I discovered Earl Nightingale’s “Strangest Secret”. Now the changes in it didn’t happen over night. In fact, it is only now where I can really see its impact. It has become my favorite CD in the car. Yet it’s only about 20 minutes long. I searched for about a year to find it. As luck would have it I would be GIVEN TWO COPIES IN THE SAME WEEK. I took that as a sign I was ready. Now I want to share it with you. Check out the link and you will see what I mean. I don’t know who owns the website but it’s the only place I have seen it online. Discover the Strangest Secret for yourself

http://www.thestrangestsecretmovie.com

(I found this amazing article at http://www.lifepositive.com/Mind/personal-growth/personal-growth/heart-thinking.asp.)

Because it is ego-driven, head thinking can often be delusory. Heart thinking is focused on reality and therefore unlikely to go too wrong

When Carl Jung, the great psychoanalyst, went to Taos Peublo in New Mexico in 1925, he met the chief of the native people, Ochwiay Biano. Biano told Jung that according to his people, the Whites were ‘mad’-uneasy, restless, always wanting something.

Jung asked him why he thought they were mad, and the chief replied that it was because they thought with their heads, a sure sign of mental illness among his tribe. Jung asked him how he thought and he pointed to his heart. The response plunged Jung into a deep introspection that enabled him to see his race from outside himself and realise how much of the race’s character was within him.

Ever since I read this fascinating excerpt I have been pondering over the difference between heart thinking and head thinking. Most gurus and spiritual teachings exhort us to make this very transition-from head to heart. But what does it actually mean? For most head thinkers this appears to be an inferior state of mind.

They fear that they are being asked to surrender their reason and descend to some level of gibbering infantilism, where they are expected to accept anything told to them without a whimper. Naturally, they clutch at their minds with renewed determination.

However, heart thinking is at a level higher than reason, not lower. And it is not opposed to reason. The difference is that it does not allow reason the star role it plays in head thinking. Heart thinking arrives at conclusions through faculties other than the mind, but it will use the mind to articulate these conclusions, and even validate them. So what are these faculties?

Most of us would call it intuition-a knowing that seems to come from the very depth of our being, from every cell in our body. Unlike the logic-driven processes of the mind, this knowledge seeps into our being and the certainty of knowing is utterly indisputable. The conclusions that the head arrives at can never give us that level of deep-rooted certainty, particularly in matters of ethics, values, decision-making and behavioral choices.

For instance, many of us who penetrate the spiritual dimension of life make dramatic job changes which make no sense from the point of view of the head. I just met a young man who left his lucrative software job in the US to work for a spiritual organization. I know of IIT graduates who have renounced plush mainstream jobs in order to devote themselves to the betterment of villages.

What about people who make decisions to become monks and renunciate against their familial and social pressure? What gives them the courage to throw everything to the wind? It is the courage that comes from following the dictates of heart. So what are the main differences between head and heart thinking?

One of the most fundamental differences, I believe, is that head thinking is fractured and separatist, while heart thinking is holistic. I have been doing some research for the forthcoming LP Plus issue on Gandhi and what is obvious is that Gandhian thinking can only be accessed by those who have moved from the head to the heart.

For head thinkers he comes across as an anti-progressive crank. Heart thinkers, on the other hand, worship him as a fount of wisdom, whose solutions to the country’s problems at the social, environmental, economic and political levels were pragmatic, down-to-earth and in the best interests of society and the environment.

The radical difference in the two perceptions arise from the fact that Gandhian thinking is holistic, which means that it emerges from one root and radiates in all directions, somewhat like the spokes of a wheel.

Gandhi’s advocacy of khadi, his focus on economic and political self-reliance for the village, his repudiation of western civilization, the political weapons of Satyagraha, his focus on ahimsa, his preference for frugality and simplicity, all have an internal consistency not accessible to those who try and understand it from the head.

Head thinking is fractured. It will look at one aspect of a situation at a time and draw conclusions based on that, while ignoring others. Modern civilization is a perfect example of head thinking, for all its systems are based on separatism.

Modern-day economics is a striking example of the limitations of separatist thinking. Capitalism, for instance, is motivated primarily by the profit factor, which means that many of its decisions can be and are unethical, unprincipled and even inhuman. In this scheme of things, the best way to improve the bottomline is to sack the employee.

But this decision does not take into consideration the psychological and emotional cost to the individual, nor of its larger repercussions on society. It follows that heart thinking is balanced while head thinking is not. Because the former keeps the whole in mind, its approach is measured and pragmatic, unlikely to damage any aspect of life.

Head thinking is given to drama, to extreme measures. Violent revolutions such as those that took place in France and later in Russia were dictated by head thinking and not heart thinking. Because heart thinking is holistic, it is also down-to-earth, here and now. It is not focused on abstract theories and formulas, it looks at each situation as it is and arrives at solutions. It is simple.

Head thinking, on the other hand, gives rise to endless complexities, for it is unable to see things as they are. Hence there will be contingency plans for everything, uniform rules and regulations for all situations no matter how dissimilar (such as, for instance, insisting that your 16-year-old returns home after a party at the same time as she did when she was 12) and extremely complicated procedures.

Try and make sense of any of our modern systems-political, economic or scientific-without being an expert. The mind simply boggles. Why? Because of head thinking. Can you imagine that at one time, life was actually comprehensible to the average man? Today, most us, if not all, find it impossible to understand modern life. This is the unnecessary complexity of head thinking.

At the head level, one arrives at truths through logic and reason, such as understanding that two and two makes four. But the truths of the heart, which are really the truths about life, are resonated to. When you encounter such a truth, your whole being reverberates in response. I remember participating in a psychoanalytical group for a while.

The facilitator was a brilliant man; we particularly admired the facile way he rounded up the discussions by pointing how one subject had led to another, and how it all added up to a particular picture. And yet, I never could figure how he arrived at the conclusions he did. Later, we were taught by a writer.

Everything she said seemed to me wise and true. I could resonate with everything that she said in contrast to the bafflement I felt in the case of our analyst. I then came to realize that the analyst was drawing pretty pictures in his head, without too much concern with whether they correlated to reality. Because it is ego-driven, head thinking can often be delusory.

Heart thinking is focused on reality and therefore unlikely to go too wrong. There are probably far more profound differences between heart and head thinking, for I feel I am still scratching at the surface. If you can think of any, write in. Let’s have a dialogue on the matter.

I know everyone says small things make a big difference, but how big? Brian Tracy says if we improve 1% a day, we will be 1000% better in a year! Everyone is looking for a magic bullet to change their life. It doesn’t work that way. It’s the little things that add up. I got this email from a friend and thought I should share it.

I used to be a banker/notary for (a bank), and we had the TV permanently set on CNN (or one of those news chanels…dunno which one.)  The TVs were located next to the line for the teller windows…kinda used as a distraction so people wouldn’t be dwelling on how long they sometimes had to wait.  There were no TVs in the lobby where people waited for bankers.  I noticed that the customer survey scores for the tellers didn’t match the scores of the bankers.  They were considerably lower.  From my desk, I could see the TV, and sometimes found myself watching it while waiting for my computer to load things.  I was watching the news and reading the subtitles.  It was showing pics of some disastor, showing dead bodies, and generally not making America seem like a very good place to live.  It showed one bad thing after another.  And then, just in case we had missed what it said earlier, it repeated it.  Again, and again, and again.  I had enough.  I went upstairs and changed the chanel to the Food Network!  (Figured there wouldn’t be any cussing or anything, and would be acceptable for all ages.)  Guess what!!  The customer survey scores drastically changed.  In a very positive way!!  And instead of customers talking in line about how “crappy” our world is, they were bringing an extra deposit slip with them to write down recipes on the back.

Isn’t it amazing what our minds absorb?  And our reaction to different things?

I gave up TV over 10 years ago. Its not that I don’t watch it. Its just not a habit every day. I just choose WHAT I WATCH and WHEN I WATCH IT. I record everything and maybe once every other week watch for 30 minutes. I skip the advertisements and in general, only watch comedies. After a year my friends all noticed how much happier I seemed. I also got more done because I wasn’t in front of the TV.

What small thing could you do to change your life?

bob proctor

Hi Everyone,

I got word this morning that Bob had a valve in his heart fail. He fully expects to recover stronger than he ever was. Here is an except from a statement by his CEO, Sandy Gallagher

The really, really, good news is that we fully expect him to be fine and, in fact, stronger and more powerful than ever — and we are so grateful for the good care he has received.

As Bob has taught us — according to the Law of Polarity nothing that seems BAD can happen without an accompanied GOOD on the other side of the scales.

Bob asks that you replace any thought or feeling of worry with clear expectation, gratitude and praise for the gift of his complete recovery from this temporary health challenge. We can assure you that HE has no doubt whatsoever that he will be better than ever in record time … in fact, we all had better hold on tight and get ready – because we know Bob, and he will be ready to take off like a racehorse at the gate once he has fully recovered!

I personally think he WILL be fine but it does highlight the fragility of life and our need to act NOW. In my opinion Bob Proctor is a living legend and we need to remember to take advantage of opportunities before they disappear. When will you stop procrastinating and take hold of the dream you know you deserve? What will take for you to take action NOW?

I would also like to focus your thoughts and energies on his quick and complete recovery.

http://www.ted.com/talks/list

I want you to imagine that a couple has arrived here from another planet. It is your responsibility to explain the rules of life to these hypothetical aliens. Like you, they are facing a new year. Would you tell them to let the news broadcasters, newspaper columnists and the economists determine what kind of a year they would have? Is that what you would tell them? Or would you explain that they have freedom of thought; they can think and make whatever plans they choose. Their coming year can be very productive, if that is what they would like it to be and if they are prepared to do what is required to reach their chosen objective.

Admittedly, this is rather ridiculous, as we both know you are not going to be instructing any aliens. But, it is a thought that will get you focused on the positive polarity. We are facing a new year and we do have freedom of thought. You and I can plan to enjoy tremendous results this year. However, with all the negative energy swirling around the business community, it becomes more important than ever to make those plans. Without such plans you will, most certainly, be swept into the “I can’t because-” syndrome and you don’t want that to happen.

I am presently working with a few different companies that have exciting expansion programs. They are educating and motivating their employees. This requires courage, but more importantly, it requires understanding. You must understand that you and I, like every other human, are creative beings. We can create the life we want and we can do it this coming year! Deposit a beautiful dream into your mind and stay focused!

Have a safe and prosperous New Year from Bob Proctor and all of us here at the Bob Proctor Network.

I can clearly remember when APECO, American Photo Copy Equipment Company dominated the photocopy market.  APECO was a giant; they were successfully selling their photocopiers in 152 countries.  In fact, they were the first to bring a photocopier into the office environment.  A piece of equipment which, today, is almost a necessity in every office.

Meanwhile a gentleman from Rochester, New York was looking for a way to make a piece of equipment that would turn out a better copy.  Since that is what Chester Carelson was looking for, that is exactly what he found.  Today, everyone around the world recognizes Xerox and hardly anyone remembers APECO, because they have vanished.

The marketplace is very fickle.  When you present a better or more efficient product, the people go with it.  That’s progress.

The poet Braely penned this:

For the best verse hasn’t been rhymed yet.

The best house hasn’t been planned.

The highest peak hasn’t been climbed yet.

The mightiest rivers aren’t spanned.

Don’t worry and fret, faint hearted.

The chances have just begun.

For the best jobs haven’t been started.

The best work hasn’t been done.

Invest a few minutes today and every day thinking of ways to do whatever you are doing better.  You could be doing your job well, you might even be the best, but I can assure you there is always a Chester Carelson lurking in the wings.  Keep doing what you did to win.  Keep improving what you are doing.

I quote, “Every bondman in his own hand bears the power to cancel his captivity”.
How can you apply his advice in a practical manner to today?

Every bondman
- what does he mean?  Every person who feels they are in bondage in any way … who feels trapped by circumstances … who seems bound to failure, poverty, sickness … who seems held back from what would make their life complete and good.

Every bondman bears in his own hand
- that is he possesses, he has within himself the power to
cancel
or get rid of his captivity, his seeming bondage.

You can be free.  You have the power within you to remove the shackles, which bind you.

Paul Carus wrote in The Gospel of Buddha, People are in bondage, because they have not removed the idea of ‘I’.

Leland Val Van De Wall wrote, “Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around us in awareness”.

The only power our problems can have over us is the power we give to them.  As Emerson wrote, “The only thing that can grow is the thing we give energy to”.

If you are in bondage, held captive by problems, you have the power in your own hands to set yourself free.  You are the only one who can set you free.

Shakespeare said it, I believe it and that settles it … for me.

Google Wave

IT’S EARLY DAYS YET AND I KNOW ITS A BIG CALL BUT ANY TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN SHORTEN MEETINGS AND LET US GET ON WITH WORK IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE

I was fortunate enough to attend a presentation by Dr Wave last Thursday and all I can say is WOW! Definitely geek heaven.

Would you like to have:

• shorter meetings?
• less redundant talking and more ACTION?
• clearer communication?
• influence a meeting productively without arguments?
• better meeting minutes?
• be a “fly on the wall” at other meetings?

Google Wave can definitely deliver that. I will go through these one by one

Imagine posting an agenda for a meeting on Wave for all attendees. Let’s say its

• update all members – is project X competed so we can move on with project Y?
• work out what is the best way to tackle problem A
• who else needs to be at this meeting
• Prepare what we will say to our boss (attending) project X

If this agenda went out to everyone in the team then some people might add

• Can we also discuss issue B?
• Project X is done – update everyone. Let’s talk about project Y

Well the meeting organiser would have to firstly read the email, collate all the agenda changes, then update everyone in the team (again) and hope everyone has read the latest email before the meeting starts.

SHORTER MEETINGS

If the agenda is on the Wave everyone can add or delete information necessary/relevant to the agenda. Only 1 email needs to be sent. Everyone can get the latest information on the Wave AND contribute. Brainstorming before the meeting even begins can mean relevant information can be collected. Adjustments/contributions can be sorted out before the meeting even starts.

Google Wave means

• The boss doesn’t even need to attend – saving him time (because he can watch the wave progress, contribute and monitor the whole meeting without being there)
• Relevant people can be called into the meeting so the answers can be gained at the meeting rather than afterwards
• A problem may be raised and solved before the meeting even starts

LESS TALKING MORE ACTION

Imagine if a problem could be raised and partially resolved before the meeting starts. People can add their issues and concerns before the meeting starts, so then the meeting can be used to discuss solutions rather than tell everyone what the concern/issue is during the meeting. It stops long explanations because they are documented before the meeting and allows solutions to be discussed.

Google Wave means:

• We can shorten explanations and talk more about solutions. Even with people not present

CLEARER COMMUNICATION

If all issues/concerns/solutions are documented in writing before, during and after the meeting then everyone can be on the same page for the whole project cycle. Additionally, non-attendees (if invited) can watch and PLAY BACK the whole Wave sequence with play/forward/rewind buttons. If everyone takes notes in the wave (rather than on their laptops/notepads) then the collective knowledge of the group can be captured and used. There is no excuse for missing a point in the meeting

Google Wave means:

• We can follow meetings as they progress
• We can capture all knowledge in one place

INFLUENCE THE MEETING WITH NO ARGUMENTS

If you could add to the agenda or get solutions resolved faster during the meeting (or even before) by collaborating beforehand, would that be valuable? You could add agenda items, discuss them and prepare for them. So during the meeting you could find solutions rather than say “this was not on the agenda”.

Google Wave means:

• We could know what exactly is going to be discussed in the meeting
• We could eliminate irrelevant agenda items before they even are discussed

BETTER MEETING MINUTES

If everyone uses Wave to write their notes (you can also add audio/video/maps/URLs etc) then the collective knowledge of the project is all in one place. Everyone can edit update each others notes (with permission) so the most current document is “live”. There is no re-typing the minutes up afterwards with action steps.

Google Wave means:

• We can have complete histories of discussion
• We can have multimedia notes
• We can attend meetings remotely and still contribute
• We can all see the latest project info and meeting notes
• Others can see who owns what action items

BE A “FLY ON THE WALL”

If you can’t be at the meeting ie the boss is busy or a staff member is at a clients, you can play back every item in the Wave both forward and backward AND contribute during or after the meeting. That way you can see the sequence of events as they evolve. You can also understand the process of thinking in the group. You could even update/add to the knowledge in the Wave after the meeting

Google Wave means:

• We can attend locally or remotely
• We can watch the dynamic of conversations as well as the results
• We can monitor and contribute to the project/meeting before, during and after the event

CONCLUSION

I hope this makes sense. Its hard to desribe without seeing it all happen in real time. Let me know in the comments if you want clarification. I know Google Wave has a huge future. It could replace Instand Messaging, Email, and Knowledgebases. At the same time it could ease collaboration and capture “side conversations”.

Here is my latest feel good post. It was from an email I received recently

AT 120 DEGREES IN AUSTRALIA , IT WAS SO HOT FOR A WEEK THAT KOALAS WERE ASKING PEOPLE FOR WATER.  IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

Koala wants water

Koala gets water

ONE WENT TO A HOUSE TO TRY TO HIDE FROM THE HEAT AND TO
GET A BIT OF SHADE AND HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
THE OWNER GAVE HIM SOMETHING TO DRINK.  IT’S REALLY CUTE.

Koala tests water

Koala drinks water

Koala in a tub

Koala bathing in a tub

“Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.”