Willing to Learn

Here's another thought from As A Man Thinketh:

"A strong man cannot help a weaker unless that weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition."  (As A Man Thinketh p. 51)

This reminds me of the old adage, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." But it is also insightful to recognize that the weaker person can only be helped or lifted up if that is what they desire. If they don't care, then there is nothing that can be done to help that person. I began to learn this on one level when I did my student teaching. I taught German in a high school and quickly learned that I could only help or teach those students who really wanted to get something out of my class. Those that were there to be entertained or just to put in their time got out of the class precisely what they were willing to put into it. And as much as I tried to remind myself that I couldn't force the students to learn and I can only do so much, I still wished that there was something more that I could do. I wanted them to get the concepts that I was trying to give them. I wanted them to succeed. Some believed that it was possible and they wanted to learn. They would make mistakes, but they wouldn't see that as proof that they couldn't learn or speak German, rather, they took their mistakes and learned from them, making them stronger and better. The students that hurt the most to watch were the students that had made up their minds that learning German was something that they could not do. Because they had the attitude that this was something beyond their capabilities, they had created a self-fulfilling prophecy and no matter what successes they made, their mistakes always hung heavier on them and convinced them further that this was something they could not do.

In my seminar, when I first came to the class, one of the first things I learned about was my personal filter. Every day I collect proof and evidence that supports or undermines beliefs I have about myself. Some of my beliefs are positive and build me up. Others are negative and hold me back. One of the most potent tools I have been given is something called a Choice Process. With this process, I examine things that I would like to change in my life. As I continue to look at this thing with this process, I am eventually able to trace the results back to the negative belief (or thought) where everything began. Armed with this knowledge, I am able to look at and change this belief to something positive and uplifting. I am able to remove the filter that allows negative confirmations through and instead filter out the negative and allow the positives through to reinforce the positive things about myself.

I have learned that, in some things, I act just like some of my students. Personally, I don't like to make mistakes. (I know. Hard to believe.) I have things that I am good at and (inadvertently) had begun to limit myself to those things. Yes, I try a few new things, but as soon as I meet some resistance, unless I am very determined, I take this as proof that I can't do it and immediately return to things that I am comfortable with. I noticed this again in an activity that we did last night. As I mentioned about some of my students, the same is true of myself: If I turn mistakes into an opportunity to learn and improve, I will become stronger and more capable and will, in fact, be able to grow both from success and from mistakes.

A quote that is often used at my seminar is this:

"Life is simple. Everything happens for you, not to you." -Byron Katie

If we all were to live with this attitude, I think we would look at life in a much more positive light. We could even turn our shortfalls and mistakes into opportunities to learn and become better. I know, easier said than done. ...But not impossible.

As A Man Thinketh

I've read the book As A Man Thinketh before. I think it should be one that I make a point to read every year. I'm just intrigued as I have read it this time how much it relates to the seminar that I am currently involved with. As I read the book, I could see how the principles that Mr. Allen is teaching are also being taught in my Power of Choice and Power 90 seminars. 

"Law, not confusion, is the dominating principle in the universe; justice, not injustice, is the soul and substance of life; and righteousness, not corruption, is the moulding and moving force in the spiritual government of the world. This being so, a man has but to right himself to find that the universe is right; and during the process of putting himself right, he will find that as he alters his thoughts towards things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him.

"The proof of this truth is in every person, and it therefore admits of easy investigation by systematic introspection and self-analysis. Let a man radically alter his thoughts, and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material conditions of his life." (As A Man Thinketh, p. 33-34)

As I have participated in my seminar, they have taught us skills and given us tools to apply the principle that Mr. Allen talks about here. I have been learning how to investigate and examine my thoughts and then to change the ones that are binding me, that are holding me back or down. I am seeing a difference in myself and I'm confident that I will begin to see differences in the world around me as I continue to apply these principles and practices. I am learning that as I learn to control and master my thoughts, because deeds and actions are the fruit or harvest of my thoughts (which in this instance stand in as the seeds), I in turn become the master of myself and my destiny.

A New Journey

I have been attending a seminar for the past two weeks called Power 90, done by a company called Outlook Development. It is meant to be a "Success Attainment System." One of the main aspects of this program focuses on the fact that your beliefs determine your actions. If you can get down to your root beliefs and remove the undesirable ones and then replace them with the beliefs that you want to base your life on you will be able to transform yourself into the person you desire to become. I know, this sounds so simple. But how does one go about doing these things?

The first problem is nailing down the actual belief that is causing the actions and results that you want to change in your life. Once you've done this, you need to decide that you truly don't want to hold on to this belief any more. What then? At this point, you have decided to remove this old and limiting (or even destructive) belief. Just ridding yourself of this belief is not enough. You must replace it with a new belief, so that the old belief cannot return. But, just as with the plants my wife and I have been growing this summer, when you bring in a new belief or plant to put into the place of something else, you have to tend to it quite a bit at first to make sure it settles in well. Even then, it may be a bit of an adjustment and might look like it won't quite take. Continue giving it the care and support it needs and you may be surprised to see how well that new plant or belief does. In the case of the new belief, you may be surprised how good it feels to have a new positive belief, or, better yet, how great it feels to live that new belief.

One of the ways to support and nurture a new belief is to create what Outlook refers to as momentums. As Newton so clearly explained:  "Every object in ... motion tends to remain in ... motion unless an external force is applied to it." Momentums are basically things that can be done to help solidify and entrench this new belief into the very fiber of your being. This belief just becomes part of you and now positively affects the way you live your life.

I could talk so much more about what I am learning, but it would begin to drag on. To finish this entry, this program teaches how to examine many things in life and to change those you desire to change. It helps in building a support network and creating the motivation to be accountable to yourself and those you have invited to help you in changing your life for the better. I am actually enjoying what I have experienced so far and am very much looking forward to what I will yet get to do.