|
|
by Rick Baker
On Nov 9, 2015
When we make errors we generally experience at least a twinge of anxiety. Sometimes, the anxiety is minor and short-lived. Other times, the anxiety is extreme and it leads to the bad habits of rumination and worry, both of which can be quite debilitating.
Sometimes, when we make errors we repeat them over and over as bad habits. These errors can be considered intentional errors…we know we are doing the wrong thing yet we do it anyhow. Bad habits, including repeated intentional errors, take us away from our long-term goals. We have bad habits and we make these errors because we are human and laziness, short-term gratification
Sometimes, when we make errors we learn lessons that bring about good habits. It seems to me there are two common types of errors that bring about good habits:
- Accidental errors, where the consequences of the errors surprise us in a small, negative way…for example, when we say something that offends a person
- Intentional errors, where the consequences of the errors surprise us in a big, negative way…sometimes the consequences go beyond big/negative to catastrophic, like the straw that breaks the camel’s back
The key points:
- Errors trigger anxiety…we do better than we know this fact of life and have ways of dealing with the anxiety when it arrives [nipping anxiety in the bud, so it does not have a chance to grow]
- Errors, when repeated, can become bad habits
- Errors, when corrected, can lead to good habits
- Sometimes errors are surprises - accidents [i.e., new things]
- Sometimes errors are the result of a short-term gratification out-muscling a long-term goal…i.e., a, failure of willpower – intentional [i.e., bad habits]
Finally –
Strategies for managing error-induced anxiety can lead to happier, more-productive lives.
by Rick Baker
On Oct 26, 2015
Do you think thinking just happens automatically?
Do you think you think well?
Do you find your brain is prone to operate in knee-jerk mode?
***
Sure, thinking does happen automatically. However, outside of the occasional gem of insight, automatic thinking is the lowest level of thinking.
One way of looking at automatic thought: automatic thought happens when the brain is switched ‘On’ and the mind is switched ‘Off’.
Automatic thought has two forms:
- True/helpful Insights
- Knee-jerk Thoughts
True/helpful Insights – we all receive them from time to time. However, they represent a very small portion of our thoughts…for most people true/helpful insights happen so rarely it is reasonable to forecast they make up perhaps 1% of automatic thoughts. The other 99% of automatic thoughts are knee-jerk thoughts.
Knee-jerk Thoughts come in two forms:
- Automatic Negative Thoughts [Dr. Daniel Amen coined the term ‘ANTs’…link to Thought Posts about ANTs]…ANTs cover a full range of emotion-laced negative thoughts, which often lead to negative actions and inactions: fears, worries, anxieties, bad attitude, etc...and all the bad habits that stem from these negative states of mind
- Half-baked Ideas…these take our thoughts and actions on wild goose chases, down rabbit holes and up pipe dreams
Knee-jerk thoughts consume and waste much energy. While it is impossible [and therefore unwise] to try to remove all knee-jerk thoughts, attitudes and outlooks improve when ANTs are controlled and half-baked ideas are tested before they waste too much energy...half-baked ideas need to be 'oven tested'. ANTs respond well to cognitive behavioural therapies. Half-baked ideas respond well when tested under oven-approved recipes that blend in common sense [particularly, wisdom of the ages], open-mindedness, a sense of adventure, and a pinch of creativity.
***
Is your brain prone to operate in knee-jerk mode?
...might want to work on that.
After all, knee jerks are much different than more sophisticated leg movements such as those involved in walking...let alone running in the right direction.
by Rick Baker
On Aug 31, 2015
For achievement, three qualities of mind rise above the others: intelligence, drive, and self-control.
There are two types of intelligence: cognitive and emotional.
Drive is all about energy...required to sustain thought, action, and 'the body'.
Self-control draws on the decisions of intelligence and the energy stoked by drive...self-control is about self-direction of thought and the actions that follow thought.
Willpower is a synonym for self-control*.
Willpower is elite mind-work…challenging mind-work.
Willpower converts mind-energy into Achievement.
Achievement is subjective. Achievement provides the measuring stick for Success. Each person uses his or her intelligence to define the Achievement required to obtain the Success he or she desires. This applies to individual/single tasks. This also applies to long-term goals. Willpower may or may not be called upon to perform individual/single tasks: for enjoyable tasks [such as hobbies] little or no willpower is required; for challenging tasks willpower will be used to expand and maintain concentration; for boring tasks willpower will be used to improve focus and concentration.
Willpower will definitely be called upon to achieve long-term goals. In summary:
- We use our intelligence to create our long-term goals
- We draw on the our drive energy to fuel the thought and action required to meet our long-term goals
- We call upon willpower/self-control to direct our thoughts and actions toward our long-term goals
When we call upon our willpower it consumes energy, converting mind-energy into Achievement and, over time, into Success.
To achieve long-term goals we must attend to our energy levels: taking steps to build it, taking steps to avoid things that waste it, and taking steps to ensure a good portion of it goes to fuel willpower.
* Some describe willpower in terms of 'soul' and 'spirit'. Not wanting to dwell too much in the metaphysical...there is no question willpower is a special thing, closely tied to the human condition.
by Rick Baker
On Aug 27, 2015
Thoughts range from the sublime to the hideous, from blissful to terrifying.
Thoughts range from tiny and fleeting to all-consuming and ground-breaking.
Thoughts range from inspiring to spirit-crushing.
Thoughts could be placed on a Plus-Minus Scale...the negative thoughts being at one end of the scale and the positive thoughts being at the other end, with neutral/blasé thoughts in the middle.
If we spend the time to place our thoughts on a Plus-Minus Scale then we would see visible proof that thoughts tend to be bi-polar. Many thoughts would be classed as positive or negative and few thoughts would be classed as 'neutral'. That is, we would see the bi-polarity of our thoughts.
Our thoughts tend to flip from positive to negative...with negative thoughts outnumbering the positive thoughts.
Of course, to do this thought-sorting exercise we would have to define positive thoughts, negative thoughts, and neutral/blasé thoughts.
A recommendation for sorting thoughts...
- positive thoughts align with long-term goals & purpose [accompanied by positive, energizing feelings...for example - 'building' thoughts]
- negative thoughts no not align with long-term goals & purpose [accompanied by negative, de-energizing feelings...for example - worries]
- neutral/blasé thoughts...not tested against goals or purpose [accompanied by no clear feelings...for example - daydreams]
The problem with our bi-polarity of thoughts: Left to perform without controls, our minds are free to ride on thought [and emotion] roller-coasters...essentially, without our help our minds multi-task or task-slice their way through an endless stream of thought ups and downs...with the downs outnumbering the ups…chewing up our energy and our attitude.
The solution to reduce our bi-polarity of thoughts: Believe you have the ability to choose your thoughts...then, make a life-long practice of honing that thought-mastery skill.
by Rick Baker
On Aug 10, 2015
Let's set Emotional Intelligence aside for the moment.
Let's assume logical-Intelligence holds the position of authority and control over human behaviour.
With Emotional Intelligence out of our way, we can live in a three dimensional world of (logical) Intelligence, Accuracy, and Time – where success is determined by a combination of (1) possessing Intelligence and (2) possessing the ability to convert Intelligent thoughts into Intelligent actions. When observed by other Intelligent people, the people who are skilled at converting Intelligent thoughts into Intelligent actions will be seen as producers of Accurate and Timely actions. Conversely, those who are not skilled at having Intelligent thoughts or converting those Intelligent thoughts into Intelligent actions will be seen as producers of actions that are inaccurate (errors, omissions, etc.) and untimely (procrastination, missed deadlines, etc.).
Attribution Bias suggests most people will not be able to self-diagnose their abilities/performance in these areas. On the other hand, they will be able to destructively criticize other people's abilities/performance.
All this considered, when Intelligence fails to present itself thoughts and actions business offices become battlefields where errors can quickly become the Bouncing Betty mines, the bazooka shells, and the nuclear-tipped missiles of mayhem and mass destruction.
So much for trying to set Emotional Intelligence aside…
by Rick Baker
On Jul 1, 2015
In his first inaugural address, in 1933, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Starting with this sort of thinking, FDR proceeded to take the series of planned actions that broke the back of the Great Depression, bringing vitality back to the U.S. economy and the economies of many nations around the world [including Canada’s economy].
FDR was one of the most-influential leaders of the 20th Century. FDR understood people. FDR understood the power of positive thinking backed by decisive action.
While his words "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." have puzzled many people, FDR knew what he meant and when he took decisive actions in the form of 'fireside chats' about what to do with money & banking the American people quickly understood how to bring about positive change. FDR understood fear and he understood how fear could be mastered.
Perhaps FDR thought along these lines...
Fear is a necessary part of life. It is not a ‘necessary evil’...it is not a burden we have to bear in order to have the opportunity to more fully appreciate the good parts of life. We should not look at fear in that sort of light.
Rather, we need to accept that fear contains value.
Yes - in excess fear can debilitate or craze, wreaking havoc. But, fears do not have to become excessive. We have the power and ability to make choices that limit and remove fear-damage.
The key is to face each fear and nip it in the bud, before it swells to excessive proportions/perceptions.
When faced and nipped in the bud, fear educates and serves as the catalyst that triggers courage. When faced over time, fear can be a vital part of the process for building self-confidence. Fear, properly faced and nipped in the bud, is the fundamental building block for strong character and influence.
Perhaps fear is a necessary precursor to, the essential ingredient for, true self-confidence. That seems to be an accurate description of one key role fear plays in our lives, the other key aspect being self-protection.
Fear protects.
Fear is at the roots of strength of character.
Really, considering the positive roles fear alone serves better than all other mindsets combined, we do not have to fear fear. We simple have to muster the conviction to work through our fears.
The key thing: we need to understand how fear affects our energy. Is it killing our energy? Is it kindling or sparking our energy? Shun the former. Embrace the latter.
|
|