tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7831385507645776942024-03-13T07:22:45.213+00:00When we transform our thinking, our future presents us with something altogether more compelling!Our perceptions form our view of the world through the quality of our relationship with our thoughts.
All personal change, optimal performance, mastery and learning begin and end there! Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.comBlogger341125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-29955747745793248172022-10-04T09:19:00.003+01:002022-10-04T13:15:03.001+01:0075 Before 75<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoECcSGdRH0BxgV_0f8_qs38cwaFdBG5FloTpG1gCtqBVz9eo5y2VWpyeJRWa4in44Fw2TLs4d1992GLuldWPamhfn4jr4j6xuOuh90HDTXBHTOv62dD_d6zScJmLYCRoqGGBAcsCDWyzbwtHKMq6rLKFpT37mKuDGmBAIj9DAwS0XNqRP4A3chBxK/s3968/TOWARDS%20HARTLAND%20POINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2976" data-original-width="3968" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoECcSGdRH0BxgV_0f8_qs38cwaFdBG5FloTpG1gCtqBVz9eo5y2VWpyeJRWa4in44Fw2TLs4d1992GLuldWPamhfn4jr4j6xuOuh90HDTXBHTOv62dD_d6zScJmLYCRoqGGBAcsCDWyzbwtHKMq6rLKFpT37mKuDGmBAIj9DAwS0XNqRP4A3chBxK/w400-h300/TOWARDS%20HARTLAND%20POINT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">View towards Hartland Point</td></tr></tbody></table><u></u><p><br /></p><p>This autumn 2022 I am tackling our “unconquered”
sections of the South West Coast Path between Hartland and Lands End. These
total around 75 miles – and my partner, Helen, and I will be endeavouring to
walk these sections before my 75<sup>th</sup> birthday at the end of November.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are 8 “walking chunks” – which are as follows:-<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>1. Hartland to Morwenstow<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> 1</span>0<br /><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">2. Widemouth Bay, Bude to Crackington Haven</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">6<br /></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">3. Nr Pentire Point to Polzeath then Rock</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">7.5
(circular)<br /></span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #00b050; font-weight: bold;">Mawgan Porth
to Newquay 1st Oct 7 <br /></span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #00b050;"><b>5. Perranporth to
Trevaunance Cove 2nd Oct 10
(circular)<br /></b></span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Porthtowan to Portreath</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">6.5
(circular)<br /></span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #00b050; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #00b050;"><b>Portreath to
St Ives 17/18 Sept 17<br /></b></span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">St Ives to Cape Cornwall</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">2 days</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> 1</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">7</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Walks in green have now been completed)</p><p class="MsoNormal">The approximate mileage is shown against each section, and is
around 81m with the circular elements included. These are where there are no
reliable buses and we have to make the walk back to the starting points. The
actual Coast Path mileage is just over 75.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>PLANNING<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have 10 weekends in which to complete the challenge –
starting 17<sup>th</sup> September and finishing on 27<sup>th</sup> November.
This means that with the two shorter sections probably being done over one
weekend, we should manage the remaining sections with time to spare. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Travel and the Walks<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We plan to use bus journeys for either the ‘out run’ part of
each walk, or the return to car base. The two shorter walks cannot use this facility so they will be circulars - making
them longer! <u>Car parking</u> bases will be either at National Trust car parks (free) or Council
P&D’s. <u>Buses</u>, particularly on Sundays, are less frequent and all too often some
services are cancelled. This is why we take the choice most often of doing the bus journey TO our walking
start point, and then we are walking back to the car.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Challenges</u></p><p class="MsoNormal">The biggest walking challenge is undoubtedly St Ives to Cape Cornwall. It is a section of nearly 18 miles and the ascent/descent profile of St Ives to Porthmeor (half way point) looks particularly tricky.<br />That said, we will be walking in autumnal weather rather than summer heat – although the underfoot conditions may not be that dry. All walks are on the Atlantic side of the Cornish Coast, and a small part of the North Devon Atlantic Coast.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I am dedicating this challenge to raise funds for Cancer Research. My Giving page is:-<br /><a href="https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/peters-giving-page-635?proxy=page%2Fpeters-giving-page-635" target="_blank">https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/peters-giving-page-635?proxy=page%2Fpeters-giving-page-635</a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIYTATCP5lB2JAexduWmuy2oD1E2L5Wjx5V8f4SDyNGfiqtI8hv0GpUnnnLaW-ufkjyat37lOVlZR0Cf4FIYlgqSgnnGubRm77cHpzo3I3izQBnppXmo7nTwIfJs55ix-yyOntHKh50xtv5jxg6yLpRjS2cnUxo3WD3PLJM_jRhV7wKV0PBD2Hzhu/s4000/20210731_100645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIYTATCP5lB2JAexduWmuy2oD1E2L5Wjx5V8f4SDyNGfiqtI8hv0GpUnnnLaW-ufkjyat37lOVlZR0Cf4FIYlgqSgnnGubRm77cHpzo3I3izQBnppXmo7nTwIfJs55ix-yyOntHKh50xtv5jxg6yLpRjS2cnUxo3WD3PLJM_jRhV7wKV0PBD2Hzhu/w400-h300/20210731_100645.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Cornwall</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-49001603425514572982022-09-13T16:33:00.000+01:002022-09-13T16:33:24.141+01:00Tackling Whernside - the highest of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYnukWZPtanxdgT8y_dHjqMgZEk-b8lIrTWFP02OhUlqqWUdSkv-OMVt5IGWQ9poyYnCv9LvH0UfkeA3i9Kkmx9hwpa98LbsKPU8De5egoy1M6ayzvgeFcNqJG7H0nqco1tpcvlxuSjlCa0zfsBRrZRIkW4JR64UTod5-OhBzoNFrkfH4K_vjgwkn/s4000/20220905_105113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYnukWZPtanxdgT8y_dHjqMgZEk-b8lIrTWFP02OhUlqqWUdSkv-OMVt5IGWQ9poyYnCv9LvH0UfkeA3i9Kkmx9hwpa98LbsKPU8De5egoy1M6ayzvgeFcNqJG7H0nqco1tpcvlxuSjlCa0zfsBRrZRIkW4JR64UTod5-OhBzoNFrkfH4K_vjgwkn/w400-h300/20220905_105113.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Whernside is a mountain in the Yorkshire Dales. It is the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, the other two being Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">My first climb of the Three Peaks was Pen-y-Ghent in autumn 2017 a couple of months before my 70th birthday, followed a year later by Ingleborough. After meeting Helen not long after the Ingleborough climb, and discovering she enjoyed walking, we started our lengthy odyssey of weekend walking on the South West Coast Path in Devon and Cornwall. <br />Finally in autumn 2019 I persuaded her to join me in climbing Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du in the Brecon Beacons. </span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #4d5156; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaq7oa7YDTgjLF2VNGh9rMZ22BvivniJqeNkZJ0j3cBWnoCtBQ-lHJ3gJRhC7aqO5PSB3_C2Z2mM5Z-hZIVB1Dlf_RAhr-s7JCGDqubA0HHoEFq-M8WOLzL7Yq6Jt6Sbvl8IVoEpAhuAjRGi5D-7Q4VvVyEwpfbC_FJIzGC1ZvSD_nCWyzRuOv44y/s700/Whernside_From_Ribbleheadjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="700" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaq7oa7YDTgjLF2VNGh9rMZ22BvivniJqeNkZJ0j3cBWnoCtBQ-lHJ3gJRhC7aqO5PSB3_C2Z2mM5Z-hZIVB1Dlf_RAhr-s7JCGDqubA0HHoEFq-M8WOLzL7Yq6Jt6Sbvl8IVoEpAhuAjRGi5D-7Q4VvVyEwpfbC_FJIzGC1ZvSD_nCWyzRuOv44y/w200-h143/Whernside_From_Ribbleheadjpg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Although Coast Path walks continued apace, we then had "the pandemic years" which put a severe brake upon completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks. However - now that we have returned to more normal times in terms of lockdowns and restrictions - we've finally been able to get away together up to Yorkshire and complete the Three Peaks Challenge ... in 5 years!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsphsUDdKVp6I2nOKs5ZQhdy5_5g7DWtM3XS4VTajlH2CHmSaOGNGofokpM1etcHAu7njvTCyrZgTvsmNV5mrL9S9dH4v_30_f1DHXzgjkBQfvsQ7euOFMLOppijKHV6TXpZsaFknDRoeHvQv6giNSrRzUwIBXZWWsMvdefRqjdsJrmAfF3m2MTyR3/s4000/20220905_105118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsphsUDdKVp6I2nOKs5ZQhdy5_5g7DWtM3XS4VTajlH2CHmSaOGNGofokpM1etcHAu7njvTCyrZgTvsmNV5mrL9S9dH4v_30_f1DHXzgjkBQfvsQ7euOFMLOppijKHV6TXpZsaFknDRoeHvQv6giNSrRzUwIBXZWWsMvdefRqjdsJrmAfF3m2MTyR3/w400-h300/20220905_105118.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span>So - what is there to know about Whernside at</span> height 736m or 2385ft? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our climb started at 961ft near Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle railway. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In terms of height gain it was 1423ft. The steepest gradients on the descent was 41.1% and on the ascent 17.8%. The path up to the summit is a very long (4 mile) gradual climb - with the steepest gradients in the final 3/4 mile to the summit. </div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #4d5156; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #4d5156; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQZM0SXqN-qBk5ti-NerunfazhhhOpQC68fa5O2_7j1xb_RNpGm5C1rXOtrC6_Ur8my4ORFjVk9s10Xp3XSfZsb3HyKSxh3YZSA_Jxmo8ekSUcx5_wbXRXiai-_1h5PzLl5sUTx3L4CHs2F_YrMaNHPzSxQ_Y2JfhLixzD82Vcrg2pDpSwTinADK3/s4000/20220905_140612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #444444; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQZM0SXqN-qBk5ti-NerunfazhhhOpQC68fa5O2_7j1xb_RNpGm5C1rXOtrC6_Ur8my4ORFjVk9s10Xp3XSfZsb3HyKSxh3YZSA_Jxmo8ekSUcx5_wbXRXiai-_1h5PzLl5sUTx3L4CHs2F_YrMaNHPzSxQ_Y2JfhLixzD82Vcrg2pDpSwTinADK3/w400-h300/20220905_140612.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">And, with it being the highest Yorkshire Peak, the summit presented us with breathtaking views far and wide. </span></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Most noticeable at first were Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent - the other two of "The 3". Interestingly, seen from a higher place they didn't have anything like the dramatic visual effect they have from their own footings. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Further afield we could see north towards the Lake District, across to the west with Morecambe Bay emerging from the haze, and many other dales and fells. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-GlRTkQi2w6HFKSA81mKUIdL3OSQoP_N7138vwCPDwDryWqw7Xmwh7MfjFKkXmcPp8Lw_bphi-3QOZVRUcBAo-QIagcdMNR56OUscSVwQ1o2dx0Ra_YvEdJ3Fw5fY4e3obLB8buoXSG4zfBObb0ZkgMLhA5Usv7PsNCM_g-N6RnaM5Mga9SbU578/s3264/20220905_140335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-GlRTkQi2w6HFKSA81mKUIdL3OSQoP_N7138vwCPDwDryWqw7Xmwh7MfjFKkXmcPp8Lw_bphi-3QOZVRUcBAo-QIagcdMNR56OUscSVwQ1o2dx0Ra_YvEdJ3Fw5fY4e3obLB8buoXSG4zfBObb0ZkgMLhA5Usv7PsNCM_g-N6RnaM5Mga9SbU578/w150-h200/20220905_140335.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #fff2cc;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wr3H3wE8OpSE4ZGlnSZ0FiPbmGYTIMeCo2_W6or4P-kNd9hd995ONGNjaUzUOUo3z9mi0Pr5k8wz6K27d1u0SFZhcUcoZ3y1LbsWjZZ9sjCWZL6lJRCQJuZ9dsmwuUl_3_-SOqjcaDbw85JaT2pCKcqcLrnPdQJ9u5s_QY6yrxMh4lc0--uNIFv0/s320/20220905_141344.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">We were blessed with amazing weather on this day. Earlier, whilst driving up from Settle, we noticed Ingleborough top was hidden by cloud - and I feared the worst for our Whernside climb!<br />However, the clouds evaporated and the sunshine took over bit by bit as we ascended.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: #444444; clear: both; color: #4d5156; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3r-A-hzmX8-vrjLIV0cyJIxXZczVSoRMfpTplPc7nqeDio66OB0Lf5q7Wv0TYdCF-BtKWjwyvNbLBKS-ie01NT05ePYlgjfWM1L6pH9zG6Fl-IzZPLkaUGmx58rUeSgYY6NgTaK3xTuDbEWa7ySypuA-N_sQBs8oUY0V9iQj1KpKY-JP6psrFSGbp/s4000/20220905_141739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3r-A-hzmX8-vrjLIV0cyJIxXZczVSoRMfpTplPc7nqeDio66OB0Lf5q7Wv0TYdCF-BtKWjwyvNbLBKS-ie01NT05ePYlgjfWM1L6pH9zG6Fl-IzZPLkaUGmx58rUeSgYY6NgTaK3xTuDbEWa7ySypuA-N_sQBs8oUY0V9iQj1KpKY-JP6psrFSGbp/s320/20220905_141739.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="color: #4d5156; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #fff2cc;">Finally we knew it was time to start the journey down the mountain. I'd read a very good account online from someone who was well versed with all the climbs in the area, and I had something of a warning that the descent was much more of a challenge than the route up the mountain. </span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">We'd also heard from someone local that major repairs had been done to the pathway down, due to erosion. But at the start there was not much evidence of what we were about to encounter once the pathway you can see disappeared from view over the "descent horizon."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;">I started thinking back to my climb on Pen-y-Ghent, where I was blissfully unaware of descending via the "red route" that was something of an exhilarating scramble! "Please let it be manageable," my thoughts pleaded!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtOQjNWu94QQFAqsz52Z36C-HfFj2Y7a5bhSsBnCX4nxvmlzjb2OCwXxI1zYMzL34GVzYZArqu66iRsb5nWFRlnmdhbE00LtGSB9ajw3qPv7A2pMGc2blreQfhNIP2yYPWLD5O2nqHAYpplluKtwh7uH699lmaGadXjy8JI18txAovho6bmqLb_2v/s4000/20220905_113333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtOQjNWu94QQFAqsz52Z36C-HfFj2Y7a5bhSsBnCX4nxvmlzjb2OCwXxI1zYMzL34GVzYZArqu66iRsb5nWFRlnmdhbE00LtGSB9ajw3qPv7A2pMGc2blreQfhNIP2yYPWLD5O2nqHAYpplluKtwh7uH699lmaGadXjy8JI18txAovho6bmqLb_2v/w150-h200/20220905_113333.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><div style="background-color: #444444; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #444444;">Thankfully, the universe provided us with a stern, yet stepped challenge which - as per my stats mentioned earlier - at 41% gradient in parts is still approaching a 1 in 2 incline. <br />This takes a heavy toll on the knees in particular and we were to both feel the effects still several days later. My various forms of neoprene support from pelvis downward provided me with just enough strength and confidence to keep going for over 1.5 miles, whilst Helen by comparison seemed to almost skip down the large bouldered steps and then pause to look back and up at my measured descent</span></span><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;">!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: #444444; clear: both; color: #4d5156; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFtkQtcc6CXKFmIW7eCTqVu5m-cbrQnaelgw5uNsNYZRNGPT9ZiejcYJZWCh4Z5lkbfA8HCE98Y0T0N2ffo7OBoKXoxzN7O7NON_rHUtFUoPJ9leaziEL0w_-1qy5BQ_rZXJfWOvXYts7OYhzk50oFeNf5Sms_cNgdAgElQ4QyYIN_puevPpG73y5/s3264/20220905_151500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFtkQtcc6CXKFmIW7eCTqVu5m-cbrQnaelgw5uNsNYZRNGPT9ZiejcYJZWCh4Z5lkbfA8HCE98Y0T0N2ffo7OBoKXoxzN7O7NON_rHUtFUoPJ9leaziEL0w_-1qy5BQ_rZXJfWOvXYts7OYhzk50oFeNf5Sms_cNgdAgElQ4QyYIN_puevPpG73y5/w300-h400/20220905_151500.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="background-color: #444444; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: #444444; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">Upon a closer look at the picture left, you may be able to trace the line of the steep, rocky pathway zig-zagging back up the hill - as far as the eye can see. Neither Helen nor I took any pictures on this part of the walk - it was a matter of keeping good balance, looking where the next steps would be, and not wobbling in the wind. Oh look - I haven't mentioned the wind have I? As usual on mountains, particularly above 1500ft, the air moves in a different and more solid way! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>Relief came eventually as the climb down levelled out into crossing fields and walking down lanes towards, and then under, Ribblehead viaduct. <br />Finally we reached our parked car and to much grunting and aaagh-ing removed our walking boots.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">We'd actually done 10 miles according to my phone's "pedometer" app and it felt like it too! We'd visited Ribblehead Station before heading out however, so that was probably why we'd done more mileage. I look quite fit and ready in the above picture on the station platform. I don't have any evidence to show how weary I looked later!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #fff2cc;"><b><u>For Parkinson's -<br /></u></b>The day before we'd joined the York Parkinson's Group at Ripley for a sponsored "Walk for Parkinson's".<br />Many of Helen's extended family were there in support of her sister, Lyn, who joined the Group in York following her diagnosis with Parkinson's. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8-fW18Or8MAmlMCn3yBfH3XQs3uJHRygLstXc3M26mfDJ_JAdvjPFDx9jD93t61YhPgnVFV5eN2WHbqLwNE9aFNTo4OF51x-JoAlPEio4r4oQJcl3-zj8Ap2HWVhSuuyopb4vBOWztWmAADX3zJmYc_V5KKnSHpUgMyL47Dw95V6l0GJ27jDvg5A/s3264/20220905_140432%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8-fW18Or8MAmlMCn3yBfH3XQs3uJHRygLstXc3M26mfDJ_JAdvjPFDx9jD93t61YhPgnVFV5eN2WHbqLwNE9aFNTo4OF51x-JoAlPEio4r4oQJcl3-zj8Ap2HWVhSuuyopb4vBOWztWmAADX3zJmYc_V5KKnSHpUgMyL47Dw95V6l0GJ27jDvg5A/s320/20220905_140432%20(2).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14px;">Amazingly, we witnessed Lyn tackle and complete a 6 mile walk - and so it was later that day we decided that our walk up (and down) Whernside would be dedicated to her extraordinary achievement. <br />If you would like to donate then please follow the link below to my page on the Group as part of Lyn & Tim's "Team L&T". <br />Thank you in anticipation!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://events.parkinsons.org.uk/fundraisers/peterwright14287/walk-parkinsons-ripley">https://events.parkinsons.org.uk/fundraisers/peterwright14287/walk-parkinsons-ripley</a><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /></div></div>Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-81913050891403358032022-08-24T12:55:00.000+01:002022-08-24T12:55:38.420+01:00Walking for Parkinson's - Ripley 2022 <p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #fff2cc; font-size: medium;">After countless walked miles on coast paths and hills and bagging proper peaks, I'm finally doing a sponsored walk - which is in aid of Parkinson's. This is for my partner Helen's sister who was diagnosed quite recently, and we're really pleased to be joining her in early September at Ripley in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire as she is part of the York Parkinson's Group's sponsored walk there.</span><br /><br /><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://dhumx955h2qnk.cloudfront.net/4855f63a49f70ddd2f9a044498dbb1a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://dhumx955h2qnk.cloudfront.net/4855f63a49f70ddd2f9a044498dbb1a6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito; font-size: 36px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 45px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #fce5cd;">Event details</span></h2><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Nunito; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 20px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #fce5cd;">Start and finish: Star Club, Ripley HG3 3AX.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #fce5cd;">Routes: 1 mile or 6 miles.</span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: Nunito;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br />I started walking seriously in autumn 2016, and caught the bug immediately. <br />At the time I lived in Ilfracombe, North Devon, and so I had access to the South West Coast Path quite literally on my doorstep. After conquering sections that were with walking or easy driving distance my appetite for peaks as well as coast paths was kindled by walking Dunkery Beacon on Exmoor, High Willhays on Dartmoor and Brown Willy on Bodmin Moor. <br />In autumn 2017 I planned to "lay to rest" a long-time ambition to climb Pen-Y-Ghent in Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire, which was followed a year later by climbing nearby Ingleborough - thus "bagging" two of the three Yorkshire Peaks. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf90KQDmLV82x-zXmoP55UX5MOlJlQdnMITALXzTi1qWgzAN9umLPNh-g82TENWc0wuh_n9XEegOshuANWeXWN3JIwDxqX3UvB6edneGlQ8FBd1gZKRho8-nzpwt-ZjOFYy-uKLJlu1SLfeC4GGh84lWM7LsgJ1sBu3AL_ESCsHg7YHZSrQu18PvjV/s3968/INGLEBORONORTHFACE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2976" data-original-width="3968" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf90KQDmLV82x-zXmoP55UX5MOlJlQdnMITALXzTi1qWgzAN9umLPNh-g82TENWc0wuh_n9XEegOshuANWeXWN3JIwDxqX3UvB6edneGlQ8FBd1gZKRho8-nzpwt-ZjOFYy-uKLJlu1SLfeC4GGh84lWM7LsgJ1sBu3AL_ESCsHg7YHZSrQu18PvjV/w200-h150/INGLEBORONORTHFACE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Nunito; font-size: 18px;">Not long after the Ingleborough climb I met my partner Helen, and she now joins me on all our walks - most of which are part of the South West Coast Path in Cornwall and Devon.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Nunito;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />We're really delighted to be involved with the Walk for Parkinson's Event at Ripley - especially as it takes me back to a part of England that is still very close to my heart - the Yorkshire Dales.<br /><br />With my starting up "blogging" once again - this is my first short article since January 2019 - I hope to keep up to date and share our further experiences on walks with you, dear readers! Starting with the build-up to and the taking part in the Sponsored Walk at Ripley on the Sunday of 4th September 2022.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1sZCtVQL5N8hJb6jpoYRQ0AbgVUz6Wa6T5supIQCJq403wOP8m_ewnsYi6Bruti4zZKebnQyarlwwNwmyolHW1XPU3rtbDd08A2_u1e_sXKXqWnvAPsFHD-CgRtc_LsJKKEjJdI9pmYJjIto65kCkiXAw1lgulM6dw8dtqBwq4vua_EJCePbD4j1/s4000/20220824_123732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1sZCtVQL5N8hJb6jpoYRQ0AbgVUz6Wa6T5supIQCJq403wOP8m_ewnsYi6Bruti4zZKebnQyarlwwNwmyolHW1XPU3rtbDd08A2_u1e_sXKXqWnvAPsFHD-CgRtc_LsJKKEjJdI9pmYJjIto65kCkiXAw1lgulM6dw8dtqBwq4vua_EJCePbD4j1/w150-h200/20220824_123732.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fce5cd;">Helen's new boots ready for the walk!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #01011c; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #01011c;"> </span></span></span></div>Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-23107723439778659842019-01-15T12:48:00.000+00:002019-01-15T12:48:09.180+00:00The Baggage Handler<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk3gL6np8FBngxsPZUddesJF-Lcd672yn2XXQNYXSaW6oRt2wUTMYjAGWuBI9sp9DoTCIva9QVOb8Bp2EmNGKQdNBv510i7-LODGiFTWT4w9EEvuNbSTM4m4Vbc_W-t2xeATOSQ7sLlk/s1600/BAGGAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk3gL6np8FBngxsPZUddesJF-Lcd672yn2XXQNYXSaW6oRt2wUTMYjAGWuBI9sp9DoTCIva9QVOb8Bp2EmNGKQdNBv510i7-LODGiFTWT4w9EEvuNbSTM4m4Vbc_W-t2xeATOSQ7sLlk/s400/BAGGAGE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />There are two short
quotes from song lyrics that often stick in my head. The Eagles' <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hotel California</i></b> one is
the first and the other is from Harry Chapin’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">W.O.L.D</i></b>.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><i style="font-size: 12pt;">“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” </i><i style="font-size: 12pt;">~ Hotel California, The Eagles</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #365f91; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: orange;"><i>“Sometimes
I get this crazy dream that I just take off in my car. But you can travel on ten thousand miles and still stay where you are.” ~ W.O.L.D, Harry Chapin</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">They seem to
resonate more than just a little bit in terms of the life and times of a
Baggage Handler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, am I really
talking about airport staff here, or is it all <b>metaphor</b> once again? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Baggage</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We are all carrying
metaphorical <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Baggage</i></b> through our lives. We start carrying it sometimes
before we even go to school, whilst for some it’s there in our knapsacks by the
age of seven. Then we keep adding to it over the years, and it gets heavier,
and we get familiar with it by degrees. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And, of course, it is the familiarity
of it all that helps to keep it there – like old frozen food stuck at the
bottom of our chest freezers. </span><b>Out of date – unpalatable, tasteless and
un-eatable – out of sight, out of mind. <br />Yet still we consume electricity in
keeping it stored and frozen – in there, like that.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the greater scheme
of personal metaphors, needless to say, that’s the kind of electricity we could
put to a much better use in other parts of our lives, isn’t it? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
Yet we don’t –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">We harbour
the idea that our Baggage is important to us.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">It is
familiar, and we like to surround ourselves with familiar things.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">We
couldn’t possibly abandon Baggage because we might find it useful for us
sometime in the future – so we keep it for a “rainy day.”</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">“It is
part of the <b><i>ME</i></b> that <b><i>I</i></b> know and recognise as MY<b><i>SELF</i></b>,
<b><i>YOU</i></b>
know. Why would I abandon part of my IDENTITY?”</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Checking Out<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So, when we set out
with NEW resolve, perhaps to change some part of our lives that we aren’t
particularly happy with, we know there’s going to be some NEW ground broken –
we’re going to BECOME a different VERSION of Ourselves.<br />
It’s a logical thing that we understand and accept …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Until the moment
that we discover that RESOLUTIONS and the RESOLVE, the Courage to carry them
through, is well outside of our COMFORT ZONE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So, when it comes
to our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Checking Out</i></b> - “pre-flight” if you like – we’ve got to decide
what to do with the Baggage. Because this particular <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Check Out</i></b> desk IS
DEFINITELY NOT a Baggage Check-In desk!<br />
As the words in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hotel California</i>
remind us about the chilling Outside-In nature of Reality – we can check out
any time we like; but we can never leave!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Outside-In<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If we want to stay
in the familiarity of the Comfort Zone that is The Outside-In nature of Reality
– then we can NEVER LEAVE. <br />So, unless we go All-Out when we choose to Check Out, we’re
in here for LIFE. <br />
We’re a Baggage Handler, stuck in this Reality for the duration. And on our Job
Description, as baggage handlers, are the following things we’ve signed up to …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Happiness
is CONDITIONAL – we’ll be happy WHEN we’ve got the right (Car, Job, Partner,
House, Amount of money in the Bank, and so on.)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Our <i>persona</i> is important to us and we MUST
stand up for our Selves and take things PERSONALLY – when we feel under attack from
others, or circumstances.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">We NEED
to feel In Control – so we can DIRECT our lives from the console of our <b><i>Command
Centre</i></b>. Losers are not in control of their lives, and it is important
to us that we keep a firm grip on this White Knuckle ride called Life.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">In
order to succeed I need to work hard, try hard, keep trying and striving. We
can never get anything worthwhile in life without putting in EFFORT. I need to
show the World that I am worthy of Success or the World won’t reward me.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">I need
to constantly monitor and judge both myself and others in terms of Perfections.
The World won’t accept imperfections – this I <u>know</u> to be true.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There are some
other Agreements we’ve personally signed up to – or have been signed up to BY
PROXY when we were growing up. And these Agreements, along with our status as Baggage
Handlers, keep us firmly rooted in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Life More Ordinary</i></b> that society has fashioned
for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Crazy Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yet – what of the
Crazy Dreams? These are the notions that there is out there, beyond the restricting
walls and the glass ceilings, another life. A life that we sometimes see others
living, with Eyes Wide Open that look like our eyes USED TO LOOK somehow,
before we began gathering Baggage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">These are the Crazy
Dreams that hit us in moments of Clarity and Wonder – and yet, as Harry Chapin
said, when we decide to JUST TAKE OFF in our cars we still need to be TRAVELLING
LIGHT. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">We
really don’t need the old clothes from the musty wardrobes.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">We
really don’t need the bonds and ties that are holding us back.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">We
really don’t need <b><i>Control</i></b>, like that, to have an amazing life – because relaxing
our Knuckles on the ride really does put the life blood back into our hands,
and steering becomes a lot easier when our knuckles aren’t hanging on tight.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Giving Ourselves Permission</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We need to start
giving ourselves permissions to replace some of those agreements we’d signed,
especially the ones when we didn’t know any better!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Permission
1 – Be Happy! Happiness is INNATE – it is in our nature. We are not required to
jump through unpleasant hoops of fire to satisfy a god, a judge, or others.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Permission
2 – Be Kind, especially to ourselves. This involves not beating ourselves up
over things. We ARE ONLY HUMAN, after all – and none of us are PERFECT. Just look
at nature – it isn’t perfect either … it JUST IS! Yet, strangely, when nature
goes wrong it is always at the interference of controlling and perfectionist humans.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Permission
3 – Notice our Wisdom! The quickest way to noticing our wisdom is to lay
Judgement aside. Being judgemental is a toxic addiction – which was revealed to
me a very long time ago. When we point our finger in judgement at someone, or
something, then we would do well to notice that we have three other fingers pointing
back at us. It is a simple reminder!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Permission
4 – Have Belief in our own Courage! We are very good at dumbing down our
abilities, our capabilities, our strengths and our fortitude. We really are
capable of far more than might ever allow ourselves. I see this in my sports
coaching on an almost daily basis. “I can’t do this – I’m no good – No-one
wants me – And I really couldn’t do THAT!” Plus, we then go and follow up these
damning statements by watering down our commitment and our resolve – thus guaranteeing
our failure, so we can then say, “SEE – I told you so!” We are very good at
proving ourselves RIGHT instead of proving others WRONG! </span>Remember - Actually giving ourselves Permissions is a real act of courage.</li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Permission
5 – Giving ourselves Permission to LIVE OUR OWN LIVES. This is the greatest and
most forgotten Permission.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And this final Permission is the one that
will give us the freedom to live our Dreams, just take off in our cars, and
quit being a Baggage Handler.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-76605599163566629042018-11-23T14:22:00.000+00:002018-11-23T14:22:33.314+00:00Walking for Health, Walking for Change<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: #9fc5e8;">“Walking
is Man’s best medicine” ~ Hippocrates</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amidst the hurly-burly of life, we can often
become detached – whether from our inner selves, from a clear perspective, or
from our sense of wellbeing. In these times we can feel overwhelmed by
circumstances or our environment, and what we need is to slow down our
thinking, bring more clear light into our lives, get out of our heads and
back in touch with nature in a complete change of surroundings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoQuote">
<span style="color: #365f91; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background-color: black; color: #9fc5e8;">“You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going - because you might not get there!” ~ Yogi Berra</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Since I started walking seriously, in the
autumn of 2016, I’ve fashioned some considerable changes in my life. These have
been both at the physical as well as the mental level. But there has to be a
Plan, a purposeful process to the journey. And it starts with the signpost or, as
Yogi Berra puts it, have some idea of where to go and what you want to achieve.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Physical</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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The Signpost<span style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Through regular walking I brought my
understanding of those pillars of physical wellbeing, fitness and conditioning,
to life. Normally this would be a pathway of understanding for the athletes I
coach, but this time it was for Yours Truly. <br />
Over that first autumn in 2016 the first gain was that I lost weight – and it
was weight I had been <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trying</i></b> to lose for a long time yet
to no avail. The irony was that the weight loss just happened for me in an
effortless, no-trying kind of way. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It was my wish, as I celebrated #Milestone70 last autumn, that I could reach
the weight I was at the age of 20 - 10.5 stone. As 2018 unfolded I noticed movement
in that direction. Then the moment came, earlier this year, when I reached 10.5
stone – whereupon I went out, celebrated with a slap-up meal and at once put a
few pounds back on! I got it down again, I’m pleased to say, and have kept it “sensible”
since then.<br />
<br />
The second gain was my fitness, and conditioning. The fitness to walk and climb
the distances and heights, and the conditioning to maintain the consistency and
not break down. I learnt a lot from my climbing the two Yorkshire peaks <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pen y Ghent</i> in October 2017 and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ingleborough</i> in September 2018. On each
occasion I found myself in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Zone</i>
whilst tackling the climbs, and these two achievements have continued to
sustain me through tough walks ever since. I am now fitter and in better “nick”
than 5 years ago, and definitely 10 years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Mental <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Having alluded to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Zone</i> I now find myself able to move
more comfortably into that state of effortless action described in Taoism as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wu Wei</i></b>.
<br />
In terms of any action – athletic or otherwise – there is always this idea in
Western culture that we should try, try hard, try harder. If there’s an
essential outcome in mind, then SHOULD quickly evolves into MUST. We <u>must</u>
try as hard as we can, or else the consequences will be … ?<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wu
Wei</i></b> espouses taking action from a perspective at the other end of the
scale to this.<br />
The other thing I often notice about the effortless action of performing in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Zone</i> is that well known quote from
Bruce Lee – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Be like water, my friend.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There’s an effortlessness about water in
that it goes as it is, where it is. It is both hard and soft, spectacular and
serene, benign and fierce, still and rushing; it shapes the land and our
perspectives. When we follow the pathway of “being like water” then we are more
aligned with the cosmos. The universe facilitates our actions in an almost
magical way – we, like water, are not trying.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Trying</span></i></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> puts us in a physical and mental state of
tension rather than ease. And part of trying is our ego’s way of proving to our
Self and Others that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this matters</i></b>, that we <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">care</i></b>
of its importance, and that in the event of failure we have a ready-made excuse
for that failure. “We did our best.”<br />
On the other hand, when the action comes from a perspective of being
effortless, we find our body and mind working much more <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In-Sync</i></b>, and things seem
to go much smoother. It’s as if the plug in our “Bath of Thoughts” has been
pulled at the same time as the taps have been turned off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Understanding of
the varying states of our Mental Focus also sustains me through both the regular
and the challenging walks. When conditioned with Open Focus as a default state
of mind, this enables us, on walks, to take control of our Attention which is
enhanced by the whole idea of “Communion with Nature.” This is a communion that
is a working model of alignment with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WHAT IS.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">While out walking
in nature, and encountering some stunning backdrops, like me many people have
experienced amazing shifts in perspectives, and for some these can be
life-changing. As our minds settle down, insights and wisdom emerge from being
hidden in the midst of all that noisy foreground of clamour, baggage and
clutter. This sets the stage for us to get clear on those answers to important
questions, problems and issues in our lives that have eluded us – in the daily
pressure-cooker of our “real” world. And these answers, insights and moments of
wisdom, all seem to arise effortlessly as if from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Out Of The Blue</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Mind and Body are one
system</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mind and Body are one system, and when they are working <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In
Sync</i></b> we are in a state of effortless wellbeing. When either part of
that unified system is suffering ill health then we fall out of alignment with
ourselves. Yet physical ill health and mental ill health are not mutually
exclusive. Each one brings some action to bear upon the other; our
neuro-physiological resource centres make adjustments to facilitate the unified
system getting through the circumstances as best as possible. Sometimes, this
brings about – for us – some symptoms that may alarm or concern!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a punishing weekend of sporting action earlier this
year in the summer heat wave, my body shut me down at the end of the following
Monday. I was forced to move slowly, gingerly, sparingly – so I would not
expend more energy than it was capable of delivering. By the Friday of that
week I began to be able to climb up and down stairs more normally – so you can
see how depleted my brain considered my physical resources to be. This began to
have a significance upon my mental resilience – an area upon which I had and
have a huge reliance. <br />
Whilst my body recovered reasonably quickly, my mental health took a hit I
hadn’t anticipated. Recovery from the mental health dip took well over ten
weeks!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We may have experienced for ourselves, or know of others,
who have psychosomatic symptoms of pain or discomfort, even though there is
nothing physically wrong. This is where our mental wellbeing comes under threat
from a lack of resources especially at those times when we pay more attention
to the personal contents of our thinking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We will have had experience of, and know of others who also
experience, the emotional content of our memories of physical pain. The
emotional content is a flag on the experience that we file away as a marker. “I
don’t like going to the dentist,” is a comment built from memory, and the
memory is built from what ACTUALLY happened + the emotion we added in. <br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have worked with enough people on their emotional memory markers, to know that
these play into BOTH their minds and their bodies. I’ve also enabled them to lose
their access to these markers, so that the behavioural triggers they used to
fire as a response no longer occur. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I developed the idea of MIND RELAX sessions, I very soon
reached the conclusion that in terms of the Mind-Body link, when one is
functioning less well, why can I not use one to help the other? So that the
Physical can help the Mental, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vice
versa</i>. <br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was when I realised that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Walking for Health</i></b> is right up there
with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Walking
for Change</i></b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Merging my Passions –
Old and New<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Walking has become a new passion for me – and joins my other
passions for coaching, for music, for sport, for performance. It started out as
a desire, to get out and just do it and see if I liked it. When I put some
action, some purpose into that desire, I realised that I was “catching the
bug.” Once it became easier to say yes rather than no, I got the sense that I
was spending a lot of time doing it, and a lot of time planning it as well.
That’s how it grew into a passion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Psychologist, Angela Lee Duckworth contends this, in terms
of the contest between finding or developing our Passions - <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Passions tend to be developed. It’s not
just about being intense about what you’re doing but waking up week after week,
month after month, year after year, wanting to think about the same thing.”</i>
It’s something fulfilling and enjoyable, but it’s not that easy; Duckworth
calls it “hard fun.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The next phase was
to merge my passions for walking and coaching, to take my “office” out into those
amazing places, and thus I developed the WALKING & COACHING programme now
outlined on my website – here - </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://thewrightwayltd.co.uk/mentoring/">https://thewrightwayltd.co.uk/mentoring/</a></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If you are
interested in joining with me on one of these journeys, setting up a healthy
and purposeful dialogue for change with nature and with yourself, then get in
touch and we can set the ball rolling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-69221874257396474242018-11-01T15:12:00.000+00:002018-11-01T15:12:27.218+00:00Same Sea - Different Colour<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">On my early morning
walk today I noticed the sea looking quite grey and then, as I rounded a small
headland, I noticed a distinct line – going away from me out to the horizon –
where on one side the sea was coloured grey, and on the other side it was blue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Of course, this is
related to the reflection back of the sky above and as I looked up I noticed
the clear line of differentiation depicted by the clouds. They were more
tightly packed together on one side and well-spaced apart on the other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Natural phenomena are
all around and noticed by us on a regular basis – provided we are noticing!
There’s the bright sunlight, and a line of shadow from any structure such as a building,
trees, or even the land – as in this photo where the line of shadow is cast by
the hill behind as it rises to almost 1,000ft. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2dg7Vku2uHBAdJujCaRJBaohOtZMBhWNiCondrsTNTEAcVPKiHIvNK2gkgPKZYxS80uQ1XxEKhEx3a4XDkWkKGZ8qt0VSXMAgIadCWamlROsO8jqATEMNZ25G9-dyWip00q0tIgzNu0/s1600/IMG_20181031_144321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2dg7Vku2uHBAdJujCaRJBaohOtZMBhWNiCondrsTNTEAcVPKiHIvNK2gkgPKZYxS80uQ1XxEKhEx3a4XDkWkKGZ8qt0VSXMAgIadCWamlROsO8jqATEMNZ25G9-dyWip00q0tIgzNu0/s640/IMG_20181031_144321.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Metaphor<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And, as always with
my trains of thought, I considered how our perspectives of life on a day-to-day,
even a moment-to-moment basis are often played out on an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Outside-In</i></b> basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Of course, they
play out on this basis for as long as we are taking the perspective of the
world as it is happening TO US. Our perspectives are very much framed by our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Relationship
with our Thinking</i></b>, or – to put it another way – how we are harnessing
the Power of Thought for our own purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And thus it is with
the sea that I saw this morning. <br />
On the one hand – grey, forbidding, with a sense of foreboding, colder, more
steely, the whites of the wave tops in a whiter shade of pale, the waves with
more menace, more threatening …<br />
On the other hand – blue, rich and vibrant, more inviting, warmer, the wave
tops glistening with a sense of freshness, the waves themselves seeming more
benign yet equally magnificent …<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There was such a stark contrast, created from the sky above, that – as in life –
it was hard to realise that the state of the sea, the waves, everything, was
exactly the same on either side of that line in the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Power of
Thought (the sea) moves energy (the waves) past the lens of our perceptions. What
we interpret through that lens personalises our thoughts. In terms of what I
saw coloured up, courtesy of the sea reflecting the sky above it (the lens),
any of my inner, personal thoughts would have been subject to those same
filters, the same lens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Provided,
in-the-moment, I was of a frame of mind that was noticing and interpreting from
an Outside-In (personal) perspective, I would expose my self to believing the
illusion filtered through that lens. My “virtual reality goggles” would serve
up for me a very real illusion of how things are. And I’d feel and act
according to that … ONLY for as long as I allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And when I’m deep
in that frame of mind, everything gets reversed. And here’s the thing - the
deeper we go, the faster the vortex, the spiral, seems to be. Until, with something
approaching the state of mind we label as depression, we reach a point of no
resilience where we have - <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">SAME
COLOUR – However different the SEA.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Light in our lives<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When I talk of the
light in our lives I can actually be referring (in metaphor) to brightness,
reflective quality, clearness, illumination and so on – as well as a lightness
in weight. Take phrases like light-hearted, heavy-hearted; the lightness that
comes with less baggage, the heavy burdensome millstones that drag us down; a
dense fog, a crystal clear day; temperature – warmth, cold, brighter, darker;
all things filtered by our thinking (including our memories) processes, things
that shape and colour our countenance, and how we are showing up in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">With the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inside-Out</i></b>
nature of reality, we are much more aligned with the default settings we had
when we were born – when the complicated nature of the world we have been thrust
into has not yet been revealed to us. Yet, have you noticed that Nature is not
complicated – it just IS. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is a scheme
to things that our blessed human minds pay no heed to at our peril. The burning
desire to bring all of THAT under our CONTROL, so we can harness it for our own
ends, is what we all are led to believe is the Meaning of Life. THAT’S what it
is all about, we are told. And we sign up – in varying degrees. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yet when we do pay heed to the scheme of things, and apply the scheme to the
filters, the lens, of our perceptions from moment to moment, then THERE rises
our sense of being at one with the scheme of things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3GN6gxIpD3psZw3q3IUVBj7UK4oTZWvPPhAj0rVwAQXhuF0VMXPgwDnvXdp4coz5TE4nuEn9PjnP8cqvqZWx1QF5ma6EJyGQ1izerezo5SG9nw96eFOeJKG_86G0S3qfR-rdlNSrxRA/s1600/IMG_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3GN6gxIpD3psZw3q3IUVBj7UK4oTZWvPPhAj0rVwAQXhuF0VMXPgwDnvXdp4coz5TE4nuEn9PjnP8cqvqZWx1QF5ma6EJyGQ1izerezo5SG9nw96eFOeJKG_86G0S3qfR-rdlNSrxRA/s400/IMG_0931.JPG" width="300" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Rather like I
whispered under my breath this morning - <br />
The SEA is just the same SEA whether it is on the grey side of that (light-created)
line or on the blue side. The WAVES are breaking on the rocks with the same
level of impact, regardless. The spray thrown up from that impact is still
carried on the wind – and if I were to sit on the rocks on either the grey side
or the blue side of that line, I would get equally splashed and wet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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We have no control over any of this, other than our filtering, our lens, our virtual reality goggles.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
And when we do THAT, life becomes a lot more kind, a lot less menacing, a lot more negotiable, a lot less frustrating.<br /><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It may just be our Choice, and yet it is just a Thought also.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-46590637447002221382018-10-07T14:15:00.001+01:002018-10-07T14:15:25.852+01:00Cobblers!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Narrow Focus and our metaphorical Footwear<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
Now, don’t get me wrong - <br />
Narrow Focus IS a very useful perspective for doing certain tasks in life,
work, play and performance. The trouble arises for us when we feel compelled to
use Narrow Focus as a perspective for ALL things. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It’s like when we have
just one pair of shoes and make them DO for all day and every day. We KNOW this
doesn’t work, yet we’ll make excuses and put up with the inappropriate times. <br />
We despair when our shoes wear thin or go out of shape; when they fail to
support our feet properly; when they let in water; when they stick their
tongues out at us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We also find that
we need to replace them very regularly because we use them ALL the time – and
yet, <u>even</u> if we had two pairs of the same shoes, they would actually
last more than twice as long. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Living with just one pair of
shoes – physically and metaphorically – is a very false economy!</span></i></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwpv3vEOvY262RTdY-5NJ8KvwkbtziANjWEg9ity9luWrEwdRC5jmOSsrtbJj0DXsliXl598k1n7S8KVLVAWtEgEd_wh7VgDUbnoZVDISGLBTETWktAHs0nOBw7WR4elCyg9g_EFklrE/s1600/OLDSHOE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwpv3vEOvY262RTdY-5NJ8KvwkbtziANjWEg9ity9luWrEwdRC5jmOSsrtbJj0DXsliXl598k1n7S8KVLVAWtEgEd_wh7VgDUbnoZVDISGLBTETWktAHs0nOBw7WR4elCyg9g_EFklrE/s400/OLDSHOE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Default <s>is</s> was all our own<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The same goes for
when we ignore the DEFAULT setting of our mental <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Attentive Focus</i></b>, which is
Open Focus. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We are born with that “factory” default setting and in our early years of growing
up we build our perspective of the world around us through that same default
setting. We learn well, we learn fast, we assimilate vast amounts of NEW
everything on a daily basis. We are extraordinary learning machines! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Until we
reach that tipping point – the moment of IS/WAS!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">At some time,
usually between the ages of 4-7, we become hugely pressured to comply with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the requirements</b> of the society we are
growing up in. These requirements start to make increasingly high demands upon
how we manage our Attention – and we seem to lose touch with the DEFAULT
setting of our Attentive Focus and get drawn into the vagaries of excessive functioning
in a Narrow Focus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Now, the various types
or settings of our mental Attentive Focus are rather akin to having a
reasonable variety of shoes in our locker. As <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Les Fehmi</i></b> describes in
his book <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The Open Focus Brain”</b>,
there are four types of focus – narrow, objective, diffuse and immersed – each with
a variety of associated characteristics. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Imagine in metaphor then, if you will, the type of shoes appropriate for
Narrow-Objective focus as compared to the type of shoes appropriate for
Diffuse-Immersed focus. These items of footwear might be as far apart as
slippers are to sturdy walking boots, or stiletto heels might be to wellingtons.
<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yet our society, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, demands we conduct our
lives in Narrow-Objective focus reminding us that this is the way it is; this is
life, get used to it; it’s a struggle, it is harsh, it’s dog eat dog; you MUST
get to the top or you’ll fail, you’ll BE a failure – and the only way you’ll
get to the top is to constantly compete, try hard, then harder; trampling over people
on the way is legit, it’s all fair in love and war; and so on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ad infinitum</i>.<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">With all of this relentless drive to justified BESTNESS, is the perspective
that life is ONLY about the climactic moments; be noticed, make more noise, OWN
the moment, BE the alpha. And this relentless drive only has one Sat-Nav … Narrow-Objective.<br />
Oh yes – and it is mighty compelling! Yet there’s just one drawback, one
problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We weren’t born
with Narrow-Objective. Nor were our start-out-right shoes </span>built for that
either. They were designed to allow our feet to grow in a well-balanced way, so
that they could carry us well through life – not leave us limping and hobbling
by the time we become adults.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Erlkings and Lurkings<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, it is down to our guardians, our Mums and Dads, to
enable us with a range of appropriate footwear – both physical and metaphorical
– so we can make our way forward to adulthood with strong, sturdy feet. Feet
that will keep us balanced on the journey, feet that will support us in the
storms, or on the glassy and icy surfaces, feet that can run and play as well
as help us escape the jaws of the Erlkings. *<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(* The Erlking is a supernatural being, or demon, in
folklore.) <span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Now our Mums and
Dads are also having to look after their own appropriate footwear, plus - they
are also subjected to Erlkings of their own. Of course WE (as young children) don’t
know this at the get go. We aren’t aware that our Mums and Dads, by virtue of
their OWN Attention Management, may sometimes make demands upon us at home and
within the family environment, over and above what we might objectively consider
to be our learning about our place within the life of the family unit. Witness
this cautionary tale …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Recently, I was
walking behind a family of four that included 2 children below the age of 5,
and they were in my town on a seaside holiday. Dad was carrying the youngest on
his shoulders, whilst Mum was pushing the empty pushchair with one hand and
holding her little girl’s hand with the other. A typical leisure scene and, at
the seaside, a joyous time for all, you might think. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yet all I could hear was the mother shouting fiercely at her eldest, <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“YOU are ruining my holiday. Yes, you
are! You are ruining MY holiday!” <br />
</b><br />
It was painfully obvious that here was some inappropriate footwear being worn
by the mother, whose state of Focus was decidedly Narrow! Clearly, the desired benefit
of the holiday to restore her default status of an Open Focus was unlikely to take
hold, let alone accrue! I looked closer … and did I not see, lurking on her
shoulder, the eager and slavering jaws of her Erlking? <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sadly, that Mum, with a tone of cruelty borne of frustration, eventually threatened
to cancel her little girl’s Birthday with a vehemence and tone that even I (very
familiar with an out-dated and old-school toughness) winced at. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Of course, you
might say, these are everyday frustrations on the unwinding road of almost
every adult that has accepted the mantle of parenthood – so what’s the BIG
deal? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We drive ourselves
to run all the elements and tasks in our lives with a Narrow Focus, because
life is very demanding of our attention. We are constantly being pulled this
way and that – and we have a label for all this pulling and how it makes us
feel. <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">STRESSED.<br />
</b>And with sore feet from poor, ill-fitting, and worn-out mental footwear, a
daily round of Narrow Focus and no resilience to break free from the stress of
it all, we might easily end up finding ourselves bellowing at our pre-school
children when they don’t instantly conform to OUR demands … yet are they really
OUR demands? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In whose name is
that Mum really threatening her little girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Afterthoughts<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The shoes we are wearing are
the springboard to our being successful or otherwise in dealing with every Erlking
we’ve ever created that might by lurking on our own journey through life. <br />
Young children ARE resilient – because of their default Open Focus setting they
bounce back. <br />
Yet, the more … the more. This we know. Through OUR actions we can erode that resilient
springback to default. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9j0BGfofFu8jsPFBOOSc8HzwWc12502YD93qp5mwGtcMF3Kl2FF5X1TEEmUXLsRjcABaPApJR2aGLTXDMnbRgPHGSJGPhFeuBePx5h1SQrZcisUR53S443GVPYKGcSaCc9_Uy8Y_RXM/s1600/MUMandDAUGHTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9j0BGfofFu8jsPFBOOSc8HzwWc12502YD93qp5mwGtcMF3Kl2FF5X1TEEmUXLsRjcABaPApJR2aGLTXDMnbRgPHGSJGPhFeuBePx5h1SQrZcisUR53S443GVPYKGcSaCc9_Uy8Y_RXM/s320/MUMandDAUGHTER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 199.3pt; margin-left: 0; margin-top: .4pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 298.95pt; z-index: -251658240;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>It would be nice to
think that that little girl will get her Birthday celebrations. It would be
nice to think that her Mum has since relented, perhaps amidst tears, and got to
receive some of the benefits that every holiday should afford to one’s
resilience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It would be nice to
think that LOVE conquers all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-89595065925373313212018-10-07T11:46:00.002+01:002018-10-07T11:46:41.864+01:00Cobwebs<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAkDRuB4eJ6ka8Fq4QqJaouMKjzgXZWvgo-OnhCsqPF74aCj9qHCJ9a1J6h3XCrgDxqG8FgqEegSZQ7GroNMLWQGc4K8LYeZRFX2OvWTcNyoCh2Z4-lOl8SJNU7KXbEP7rAMnhytGkoo/s1600/INGLEBORONORTHFACE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAkDRuB4eJ6ka8Fq4QqJaouMKjzgXZWvgo-OnhCsqPF74aCj9qHCJ9a1J6h3XCrgDxqG8FgqEegSZQ7GroNMLWQGc4K8LYeZRFX2OvWTcNyoCh2Z4-lOl8SJNU7KXbEP7rAMnhytGkoo/s400/INGLEBORONORTHFACE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ingleborough, North face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />Our lives,
especially those millions of us who live our lives with many metaphorical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cupboards</i>, will gather cobwebs on a
regular basis. And in whatever way we might utilise these cupboards in our
day-to-day manner of being, it is essential we clear the decks regularly – for we
are only human after all and we’re not weatherproof to the power of thought.<br /></span><br />Thought energy
comes and goes – and yet the moment we enfold any thought energy unto our <b><i>aegis</i></b>,
we personalise it and it then becomes part of our thinking. And from that
moment on, our thinking populates the cupboards and the whole cobweb cycle
commences.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When we come to
clean house and home from time to time, one of the good exercises to engage
with is to clean the cupboards, wipe the dust off the shelves and blow away the
cobwebs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It is very much the same with our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inner
House</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Cleanse<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi165lYpVO8K_tNhPPBtiDBQm8a3kv-r9kqD-jGXgat9JFzEBUj8X0Y86iyU_nFWKYo2NXm99xLsZojHMeOROQJqDLxI84LtWp_U8I3vTo9YCotsVRFsR8qehMpJPijBJG4_0xIxkxasG8/s1600/IMG_20180927_133359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi165lYpVO8K_tNhPPBtiDBQm8a3kv-r9kqD-jGXgat9JFzEBUj8X0Y86iyU_nFWKYo2NXm99xLsZojHMeOROQJqDLxI84LtWp_U8I3vTo9YCotsVRFsR8qehMpJPijBJG4_0xIxkxasG8/s320/IMG_20180927_133359.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "col" between Ingleborough and Little Ingleborough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I’ve just returned
from climbing the mountain <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ingleborough</b>
in the Yorkshire Dales, where I grasped the opportunity to blow away some
cobwebs of my own! These had built up over the summer months since June and
eventually I knew that only taking some deeper breaths then blowing hard, which
included some shouting out at the top of my voice, would send the stale and
dusty filaments packing once and for all. It was a very cleansing exercise! <br />
<br />(NB – I made sure I was sufficiently isolated so that no-one could hear me, but
myself!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Wardrobes and Cupboards<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In my article <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Wardrobe</i> from November 2013 - <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://pjwhypno.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-wardrobe.html">http://pjwhypno.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-wardrobe.html</a></span>
- I wrote about the metaphorical clearing out of old clothes hanging in our
wardrobes. Clothes we might have been keeping for a rainy day, but discovering
sometime later, after many rainy days had come and gone, that they were just a
waste of space. A waste of space, stopping us from populating our wardrobes
with new clothes – the clothes that will fit us NOW, the clothes that are in
style NOW, and not the clothes that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wear</i>
that musty smell of age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Whilst our clothes should
only ever be a transient label, our cobwebs are a current label of unkempt and
unattended cupboards. Cupboards of experience, of ideas, of thoughts and
perceptions and occasional<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> shibboleths</i></b> of a bygone version of
ourselves. Even the recent bygone-ness of just a few months – as it was for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trig Point!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My resulting
experience was akin to being able to really take in and enjoy that very first
breath of new fresh air! Now, all my senses could properly translate the data I perceived around me – instead of being sullied from within. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that’s the first thing we
notice after clearing away the cobwebs. Next comes a sense of feeling
everything lighter. You could almost say it is <b><i>enlightening</i></b>! The baggage
is no longer on the journey with us – and we realise we never needed it at all
anyway!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><br />And, as I started
back down from the (by now) cloud-shrouded Ingleborough summit, my first task
was to find not only the right pathway, but also to notice the precipices that
loomed out of the clinging mist. For all was not yet as clear as you can see in
the photo of the North Face I took the following morning!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>No longer the scrambled mind</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjQZUrH8yC7uY9BWb-ZnSJBvoVEUQtL4TNaoAxk-pChs0iNdb-cJXe1RWnL9pEVj-vzaUeFzxwI3h8j1Q5Utoc4tYKNv3mJZ1SNpCfM0zc0OO0Bwxg1PGESQMEBOsfIQoiOSNHKWSBlU/s1600/IMG_20180927_122524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjQZUrH8yC7uY9BWb-ZnSJBvoVEUQtL4TNaoAxk-pChs0iNdb-cJXe1RWnL9pEVj-vzaUeFzxwI3h8j1Q5Utoc4tYKNv3mJZ1SNpCfM0zc0OO0Bwxg1PGESQMEBOsfIQoiOSNHKWSBlU/s320/IMG_20180927_122524.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scramble at Trow Gill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My “newest” cobweb, spun on
the way <i>up</i> the mountain, was how might I negotiate the scramble at Trow Gill on
my return journey? For some crazy reason I’d forgotten to wear the knee support
this day, and I know that going down any climb is much harder for me, as I approach the age of 71 only held together by various neoprene supports!</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">With the lurking
doubts blown away and with plenty of breaths of fresh air flowing through the
cupboards, it was quite a simple and straightforward exercise – whatever had I
been thinking and worried about!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Afterthought</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is no doubt that the way we breathe is the
springboard to blowing away every cobweb that might by lurking in our cupboards
… and a whole lot more besides! </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Breathe well, dear reader!</span></i></b></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-48097379536054044662018-10-04T15:19:00.000+01:002018-10-04T15:19:13.268+01:00Coming Forward - Part 1<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Cobwebs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Our lives,
especially those of us who have lives with many metaphorical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cupboards</i>, will gather cobwebs on a
regular basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWU01Ro-B_0g1vFCarRFv9Z46r9udbY59O-ZuSJWL5r05t8PHr1QopEHvCcWMYDN6WpBH8qbN2j3dlV0LNHvnQLoRqJA7cKGyocu7YKwWPKuIJ3DXVe-GBOfYqrdfB_7xZubhXdV1nTc/s1600/INGLEBORONORTHFACE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWU01Ro-B_0g1vFCarRFv9Z46r9udbY59O-ZuSJWL5r05t8PHr1QopEHvCcWMYDN6WpBH8qbN2j3dlV0LNHvnQLoRqJA7cKGyocu7YKwWPKuIJ3DXVe-GBOfYqrdfB_7xZubhXdV1nTc/s400/INGLEBORONORTHFACE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I’ve just returned
from climbing the mountain <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ingleborough</b>
in the Yorkshire Dales, where I grasped the opportunity to blow away some
cobwebs of my own! These had built up over the summer months since June and
eventually I knew that only taking some deeper breaths, then blowing hard (plus
shouting out loud) would send the stale and dusty filaments packing once and
for all. It was a very cleansing exercise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we come to
clean our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">house</i> from time to time,
one of the good exercises to engage with is to clean the cupboards, wipe the
dust-off shelves and blow away (or vacuum up) the cobwebs. <br />And it is very much the
same with our own, and very personal, <i>"</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Inner House."</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In my article <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Wardrobe</i> from November 2013 - <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://pjwhypno.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-wardrobe.html">http://pjwhypno.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-wardrobe.html</a></span>
- I wrote about the metaphorical clearing out of old clothes hanging in our
wardrobes. Clothes we might have been keeping for a rainy day, but discovering
sometime later, after many rainy days had come and gone, that they were just a
waste of space. A waste of space, stopping us from populating our wardrobes
with new clothes – the clothes that will fit us NOW, the clothes that are in
style NOW, and not the clothes that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wear</i>
that musty smell of age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Clothes are a
transient label, and cobwebs are a current label of unkempt and unattended
cupboards. Cupboards of experience, of ideas, of thoughts and perceptions and
occasional<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> shibboleths</i></b> of a bygone version of ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<w:wrap type="tight">
</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A Breath of Fresh Air <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One of the ways of
dealing with those cobwebs is that we can set up for ourselves a regular
process of getting out into nature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPVb410xnirgqYUNjl3LdCI0asBjOx_M1kWeWzdoLKKNek5NoUg0UYDY2sWN0VhkLpY-5kjkCtkr-Yjfhs6KQqZoXY_1S_wS3u5kGUXX5D4dQb_qrv08Y8SVs39AbWmlDAeAbsEdOJCc/s1600/IMG_20180927_133406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPVb410xnirgqYUNjl3LdCI0asBjOx_M1kWeWzdoLKKNek5NoUg0UYDY2sWN0VhkLpY-5kjkCtkr-Yjfhs6KQqZoXY_1S_wS3u5kGUXX5D4dQb_qrv08Y8SVs39AbWmlDAeAbsEdOJCc/s320/IMG_20180927_133406.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Walking, running,
or cycling through nature <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with a purpose</i></b> can drag our
Attention from all those periods of Narrow Focus that we engage with on a daily
basis – whether at home or at work – and that leech all the resilience out of
us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The breath of fresh air not only gets deep into our lungs, it also (if we
enable it) gets into the “cupboards” of our Mind and blows away the cobwebs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Narrow Focus and our metaphorical Footwear<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 186.2pt; margin-left: 0; margin-top: 52.9pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 264.9pt; z-index: -251661312;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
Now, don’t get me wrong -
Narrow Focus IS a very useful perspective for doing certain tasks in life,
work, play and performance. The trouble arises for us when we feel compelled to
use Narrow Focus as a perspective for ALL things. <br /><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxV5t8Gp8U1CGWxRhRdJKTrIJZJl8qbR3vmNEn-ag52nTeM3OBiSrdjLeIyfosxBn0R5gAyxRzdxO4PiyBMkiFMEQqGbSwzOne8iRYtac8BXGsd_yBfMxIqjcFKtDrsWtCyrVKq45L2g/s1600/OLDSHOE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxV5t8Gp8U1CGWxRhRdJKTrIJZJl8qbR3vmNEn-ag52nTeM3OBiSrdjLeIyfosxBn0R5gAyxRzdxO4PiyBMkiFMEQqGbSwzOne8iRYtac8BXGsd_yBfMxIqjcFKtDrsWtCyrVKq45L2g/s1600/OLDSHOE.jpg" /></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It’s like when we have just one pair of shoes and make them DO for all day and
every day. We KNOW this doesn’t work, yet we’ll make excuses and put up with
the inappropriate times. We despair when our shoes wear thin or go out of
shape, when they fail to support our feet properly. We also find that we need
to replace them very regularly because we use them ALL the time – and yet, even
if we had two pairs of the same shoes, they would actually last more than twice
as long. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>One pair of shoes – physically
and metaphorically – is a very false economy!</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The same goes for
when we ignore the DEFAULT setting of our Attentive Focus, which is Open Focus.
<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We are born with that default setting and grow up with that same default
setting. Then, at some time between the ages of 5-7 (or, sadly as I will relate
in a moment, even earlier), we become subjected to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the requirements</b> of the society we are growing up in. These
requirements start to make increasingly high demands upon how we manage our Attention.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Our Mums and Dads,
by virtue of their OWN Attention Management, may make demands upon us at home
and within the family environment, over and above what we might consider to be our
learning about our place within the life of the family unit. <br />
Recently, I was walking behind a family of four (including 2 children below the
age of 5) that were on holiday. All I could hear was the mother shouting at her
eldest, <br /><i>
“You are ruining my holiday. Yes, you are! You are ruining my holiday!” </i>
It was painfully obvious that the state of Focus of the mother was decidedly
Narrow – and the benefit of the holiday to restore her default status of Open
was unlikely to accrue! Sadly, with a tone of cruelty borne of frustration, she
eventually threatened to cancel her little girl’s Birthday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We drive ourselves
to run all the elements and tasks in our lives with a Narrow Focus, because
life is very demanding of our attention. We are constantly being pulled this way
and that – and we have a label for all this pulling and how it makes us feel. <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">STRESSED.<br />
</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And with sore feet from poor, ill-fitting and worn-out footwear, a daily
round of Narrow Focus and no resilience to break free from the stress of it
all, we might easily end up finding ourselves bellowing at our pre-school
children when they don’t instantly conform to our demands … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Opening the cupboards of our Breathing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
When I work with clients –
and myself – on locating that default Open setting of our Focus, I always start
with that most primary and basic physical element that is the Breathing Cycle.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-fY9v8i76gV-qzfr_dKqEyO3g6SGl_6cCZFs-9ScKF7P57SQoSRClr-DJCalVEysXNU0ZAJX-Aih-bPze4If5h6l2nwqlfX8MA3sDWnOVictWb4YEuaBejSHSQLx6Sn1EkGuwzcp5YI/s1600/MINDRELAXCARD-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-fY9v8i76gV-qzfr_dKqEyO3g6SGl_6cCZFs-9ScKF7P57SQoSRClr-DJCalVEysXNU0ZAJX-Aih-bPze4If5h6l2nwqlfX8MA3sDWnOVictWb4YEuaBejSHSQLx6Sn1EkGuwzcp5YI/s320/MINDRELAXCARD-page-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The knowing of WHEN
our next breath is arriving, and HOW it is arriving, are probably two key
factors that underpin our ultimate sense of security. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
I know that these two were vital elements for me during my period of 22+ years
of stress-related anxiety of choking when drinking – even everyday liquids such
as water, tea, coffee etc. For when I had a mouthful of drink “go down the
wrong way” I found that, for me, there was no KNOWING of when and how – in those
moments when the gagging and choking was happening.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Discovering and
expanding our knowledge on the four parts of the Breathing Cycle is a great
education and enables a wonderful resource to help us towards a more calm and
grounded state of mind. “Take a deep breath,” is a widely use phrase of
enablement for when we are agitated, stressed-out and overwhelmed. However, we
need to go beyond mere words and discover where our breathing habits are RIGHT
NOW before we can plot the pathway to improving them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">With even just a
little more knowledge and practice we can dramatically change how we breathe
and bring back a huge level of control of our grounded state of mind and tap
into the innate sense of wellbeing that previously had seemed to have abandoned
us – in the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When good breathing
is allied to any activity we undertake, then we’ll perform it better and for
longer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And when we do
this, straightaway we’ll feel better about ourselves – which will feedback into
our motivation and desire to continue to do it, and to do it more often as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">These are simple
processes, I know, yet for those who are beset in the Slough of Despond, or worse,
that simplicity never seems to equate to EASY … even though we are always only
just ONE THOUGHT AWAY from changing our mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The way we breathe is the
springboard to blowing away every cobweb that might by lurking in our cupboards
… and a whole lot more besides!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If you want to know
more about enhancing your knowledge AND practice of good breathing, then
contact me at <a href="mailto:pjw@thewrightwayltd.com">pjw@thewrightwayltd.com</a></span>
to set the ball rolling! <span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-51313438026819297042018-09-20T15:35:00.000+01:002018-09-20T15:35:09.113+01:00Quo Vadis<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yin and Yang<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You know that
phrase from Dickens’ <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Tale of Two Cities</i></b> – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It was the best of times; it was the worst
of times”</i>? And it goes on … <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It was
the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief,
it was the epoch of incredulity,”</i> and further examples of the Yin and Yang
of Life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This, all and more,
has been the feature of the most recent 3 months of my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
To be fair, this Yin and
Yang is going on ALL the time for ALL of us, and most of the time we don’t notice
the peaks and troughs, the ebbs and flows – EXCEPT when we do!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGBS55p-2S7urGMMgpXY-12h9RhLaxMnl88IIjQQR0XX16gyUtzCX8BG7zg91oxoWCqHJSwh56x6EbicFJDhzc-w8yml95YfhTo-HlXFkXwI0Kio9UphJw-HVNcQYFb4xGJNaT9gKNIs/s1600/YinYang.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGBS55p-2S7urGMMgpXY-12h9RhLaxMnl88IIjQQR0XX16gyUtzCX8BG7zg91oxoWCqHJSwh56x6EbicFJDhzc-w8yml95YfhTo-HlXFkXwI0Kio9UphJw-HVNcQYFb4xGJNaT9gKNIs/s200/YinYang.jpeg" width="197" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And we only notice, our attention is drawn to the major/minor balance in our
experiences, when there seems to be a less than random or cyclic flow to things.<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And because we ARE ONLY human after all, we find ourselves noticing the runs in
sequences of DOWNS far more than the UPS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This was how it
happened for me – round about the time I overdid it in terms of some sporting
action. The weather was hot, I’d done some strenuous activity for two days and
then spent a lot of time on my feet on the third day as well. <br />
It was on the third day evening that my physical body began to shut down,
crying out loud enough for me to hear – “Enough IS enough, Matey. You’ve
overdone it, and this now is the wakeup call.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Although my
awakening to physical frailty was only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in
extremis</i> for five days, I subsequently took things easy for much longer.
And that was where the other <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">rot</i></b> began to set in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In the midst of
lots of simple and regular everyday stuff, I began to notice – and pay more
attention to – things I would normally look upon with a grounded understanding
and an objective eye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bit by bit, I began
to arrive at conclusions I wouldn’t have previously arrived at. More and more I
would trip over bits of mental baggage, as I plied the daily pathways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Apocalyptic Horses<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">My relationship
with my thinking took a turn to the dark side – I began to believe my thoughts 100%.
<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I began to take many more things personally. Lapses in memory, everyday things
forgotten, became more than random happenings of a busy-minded person – they became
categorised and catalogued. I increasingly noticed every time I was criticised,
judged, questioned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">EGO was under
attack – and when ego feels under attack, then ego fights back for one’s self. <br />
Ego became defensive, aggressive and, on occasions, very angry. <br />On the battlefield
of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Outside-In</i></b> nature of reality, the responsibility for the slings
and arrows of outrageous fortune is ALWAYS with the world and, in my particular
case, the people in it. It’s their fault for doing that to Me. It might start
out as unfair or insensitive, yet the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horse</i>
gallops off and takes common sense with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When ego takes the
reins of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horse of Our Life</i> and
hangs on to them for too long, then things not only look apocalyptic – they very
soon, in perceptive reality, become apocalyptic. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We might ask ourselves at some point, with
blinding rhetoric, “Am I losing it?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And in the midst of
apocalypse, every answer we notice whispers <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maybe</i></b>, at first, then
finally <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yes</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In the end, this
entire manic gallop came to rest in a “swamp of despair” that bore a remarkable
resemblance to what John Bunyan described in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pilgrim’s Progress</i></b> as
being <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Slough of Despond.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>* </i></span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">(pronounced Sluff)</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Slough of Despond<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Without quoting
Bunyan’s scary and indeed apocalyptic words, I can aver to this place as being where
the Soul can feel - and be - abandoned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Some may scoff at
this declaration, saying that, “Surely the Soul cannot feel and be abandoned.
What a ridiculous notion. The Soul is infinite, is eternal.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I can also aver to
this place being a “clearing house” for our state of mind and associated
emotions.<br />
It is like a quicksand – either you sink in deeper or you get pulled out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sinking in deeper
will lead to depression and worse.<br />
Getting pulled out will require some resource or other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One of the awful
and tragic things that is brought about by riding headlong into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Slough of Despond</i></b>, is what becomes of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horse of Our Life</i> in that dreadful mire. <br />
There are many metaphors and images that can spring to mind, as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horse</i> struggles to carry us back to
safety. Yet, how true it is when we find that the life we lead cannot and will
not bring us out of the Slough. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Some Resource or Other<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There are resources,
needless to say, that will enable us to be dragged from The Slough of Despond. These
are the lifelines afforded to us, that are NOT always governed by knowledge,
understanding, wisdom or common sense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One of the
lifelines is to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">abandon</b> the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horse</i>. By this I mean, that we extricate
ourselves from our previous life, some or all its trappings and everything
about it. However, some people might not want to abandon their way of life –
and there’s a similar and graphic metaphor about how we might get ourselves out
of a car that has been driven into the sea, a lake or a river. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We might break
ourselves free of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horse</i>, stand on
its back and jump to safety. We might then be able to rescue our own <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Horse</i> as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Another lifeline is
if someone <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sees Us</i></b>. We might hope that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">someone</i> has enough concern or resource of their own and have the will
to throw us a lifeline. However, few people will either see or hear us. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Slough</i> is a personal and silent place of
our very own. We rarely, if ever, cry out for help … something I discovered at
a very young age when exposed to drowning in a swimming pool. I might have waved
and floundered around but calling out was not my intuitive action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Another resource is
Time. This is not THE most reliable of resources, since it is the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">gravity</b> of thoughts, fears and
judgements that weighs us down, pulling us deeper into the mire. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">However, by lightening the load of our thoughts, fears and judgements we can
shed some of the burdensome weight, allowing us to crawl nearer to safety. Of
course, our lifestyle and trappings will be part of the equation too, which
will play into this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You may have some
of your own considerations and conclusions about resources here too. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">However, there is a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">caveat</i> I will
offer up to you. <br />
When it comes to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Slough of Despond</i>,
then “Knowing Thyself” is the most distant of resources. We find our cupboards
full of self-knowledge and self-understanding, of wisdom and grounded
wellbeing, have been stripped bare. What was there yesterday has gone. When we
are gasping for breath and flailing in the quicksand, our inner resources are removed
from view in their usual place. We still have them, but our Soul will have laid
them up, by way of preparation, into a place of safety. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Quo Vadis?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">With my own recent
journey, there were many questions related to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Am I losing it?”</b> <br />
<br />
Some were related to mental degeneration, a not unserious question in terms of my
age, loss of synaptic connectivity, referential evidence of my own mental
lapses and those evidenced by others. The instances highlighted in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Confession</i> – “Left undone those
things I ought to have done,” “erred and strayed like a lost sheep,” and “there
is no health in me.” (NB - I’m not a religious person!)<br />
Taking my “eye off the ball”; letting people down – both in my own judgement
and being told so by others; being unable to let go of a persistent feeling of
anger; having a sense of being mentally rendered down by complaint and criticism;
and a catalogue of other instances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As the Yin and Yang
came and went like waves on the shore, it was a journey that was the best of
times and yet also the worst of times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Every journey we
are on in Life WILL throw stuff at us out of the left field, and a reasonable
smattering of curveballs. We ARE human, however – and we are not hermetically sealed
from the things we come into contact with. Because we have nerves, there are
always SOME nerve agents that are going to affect us. These affects are cumulative
and can often come from the kindest, most benign and respected of sources. We need
to be both vigilant AND honest with ourselves and others – and we also need to
see the tell-tale signs in ourselves and others.<br /><br />Finally, to those who really do care, I'd say just this ...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“In terms of Respect – our Soul
Commands though never Demands.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-38492606924093389922018-07-25T11:25:00.002+01:002018-07-25T11:25:38.335+01:00Perceptual Hybrids<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There’s a subtle
power encapsulated within NLP that seems to defy science – which is reflected
in the way that science cannot seem to prove what NLP is. We all have an idea
of what NLP does, and what it can do in conjunction with other elements within
the hypnotic domain, yet science regularly demands that NLP be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">defined</i></b>,
rather than <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">defy</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I believe that the
subtle power embedded in NLP plays out – for each of us – at a
neurophysiological level. To put it simply, it is how the communicative power
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">language</i></b>
acts upon our minds and bodies, both in a conscious and cognitive way as well
as in a more unconscious (outside of our attention) and intuitive/connective
way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Experiments – Just to see what might happen!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I have often
experimented with creating Hybrid Processes by mixing certain routines, and
then running them for clients just to see what might happen – mainly because
there’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always something</i></b> going to be going on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Probably my most
notable experiment was called <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Watch
your own performance.”</b> This was where I took a cricketing batsman, in a
practice scenario against a bowling machine, and asked him to imagine – while
he continued to practice and hit balls – that he was observing himself batting from
a position some 10-15m away. To do this he had to dissociate from the action he
WAS doing, which elicited a range of interesting comments, responses and subtle
inner adjustments to the way he was playing. In summing up, I described it as -
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br />
“He was able to improve the quality of his batting from the inside-out by first
dissociating, and then opening out his focus through spatial re-association.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You can read my
article on this experiment here:-<br />
<a href="http://pjwhypno.blogspot.com/2012/02/watch-your-own-performance.html">http://pjwhypno.blogspot.com/2012/02/watch-your-own-performance.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Latest <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So, what might
happen if I mixed the linear nature of the elements in the Cognitive Cycle with
the concept of Perceptual Positions by using the spaces within a room?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This came as a 4am
message from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">out of the blue</i></b>, as I woke up to a call of nature – <i>there</i> was
this idea, in my conscious <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in-tray</i>,
waiting to be considered. So, I expanded some branches of the ideas and
concepts, and came up with an experiment that I ran later for one of my clients.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In a large room I
placed four chairs in a semi-circle facing a large empty box on the floor. <br />
I labelled the box – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE WORLD</i></b>.<br />
I labelled one chair <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THOUGHT</i></b>, the next <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">FEELINGS</i></b>,
the next, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">JUDGING and DECIDING</i></b> and the last one, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ACTION and BEHAVIOUR</i></b>.<br />
In front of the first two chairs, on the floor, I put the label – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WHAT
IS IT THAT’S HAPPENING?</i></b><br />
In front of the third and fourth chair, on the floor, I put the label – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HOW
SHALL I RESPOND?</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Now, my client knows about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Cognitive Cycle</i></b> and how the Power of Language links all the
elements together. Also, he understands that how we experience the world and
respond to it is simply represented by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our Relationship with Our Thinking. </i></b>He
is very well versed in the theory and practice of all of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />So, when he arrived for our latest session and he saw the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Experiment</i></b> laid out as
I’ve described, he was intrigued as to what might or might not happen!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes our
Relationship with our Thinking tends to hoodwink us, because of the impression
that we seem to feel certain things first and <b><i>then</i></b> go and think about
them. In actual fact, what is really happening by this point, at a cognitive
level, is that we then go and think about the feelings <b><i>some more</i></b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We would do well to remember that our feelings are generated <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">from</b> thought processes, for often there
is such a high-speed link between our thinking and our feeling that it seems
like the other way around. It is always the Egg!<br />
By opening up this cycle to being represented by two separate chairs (thinking
and feeling) in a space in a room, the Relationship immediately becomes a lot
clearer! <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hcMDU-4dStWRk76UC9doDFpgrTyCqo_dQV7DUlLa4NjbPRliKQMDERkcfmKleGLThQNSpRAsKAMA1WEkjcYakLb4RXQeCLPY1LGevnXm1FuWaTX9sBoBdDpYE0ijmBSIthHyl7bpy4U/s1600/CUSHIONS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="612" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hcMDU-4dStWRk76UC9doDFpgrTyCqo_dQV7DUlLa4NjbPRliKQMDERkcfmKleGLThQNSpRAsKAMA1WEkjcYakLb4RXQeCLPY1LGevnXm1FuWaTX9sBoBdDpYE0ijmBSIthHyl7bpy4U/s200/CUSHIONS.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 111.1pt; z-index: 251655168;" type="#_x0000_t75"><br /></v:shape>Another bit of by-play in this physical representation, is to put a
couple of little cushions – labelled MEMORIES and BELIEFS & VALUES – into
the “Thinking” chair.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For when the client then sits in the “Thinking” chair,
they also get a felt sense of how our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Memories</b>
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Beliefs & Values</b> play a
vital role in how we filter the contents of our Thinking!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next, I took my client through some specific examples of how
he receives instances or stimuli from (the box labelled) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The World</b> … out there. <br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It started with his being sat in the THINKING chair – being pushed and nudged
into a certain posture by the cushions of Memory and Beliefs & Values. <br />
By asking him “What’s Happening Here?” I got him to evaluate, as best he could,
just his thinking around this particular stimulus. <br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I quickly moved him to the FEELING chair and asked, “And what’s Happening
HERE?” getting him to evaluate what and how he was Feeling as a result of his
evaluations from the THINKING chair. <br />
With those feeling evaluations fresh in his mind, I moved him back to the
THINKING chair. <br />
“OK – look at the FEELING chair and, tell me, what are you NOW getting from
what you experienced sat in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i></b> chair?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After his responses, I then asked him to stand next to the
box labelled THE WORLD, and I got him to tell me what he’d evaluated – from
this perspective – from observing himself at, first, the THINKING chair and
then, secondly, the FEELING chair.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I then asked him to go and sit in the JUDGING chair – look
back at the WORLD – and give his objective and impersonal evaluations of this
particular stimulus, from a Judging perspective. His responses were calculated
and dispassionate. <br />
“Now that you’re assessing how to respond to this stimulus,” I said, “when you
are ready go and sit in the ACTION chair. When you’re there, then tell me what responsive
action you’re going to take.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This he did, and finally I got him to go and stand next to
THE WORLD and see himself taking the Action that he had Judged would be the
response to make.<br />
“What does THAT look like, from the perspective of you as observer, standing
there at THE WORLD?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Feedback<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Interesting,” </i>he
said.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “I need to spend less, or as little
as possible, time being sat in the THINKING chair. In terms of the things I’d
like to change – if I could, quickly, go straight from THINKING to JUDGING then
it would be a lot better.”<br />
</i>“If you could move one of the chairs out of the circle which one would it
be?” I asked.<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“That one,” </i>he said – pointing at the
FEELING chair.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “All the reasons for me taking the choices I have done in the
past, are from what I experienced in the FEELING chair. If I had felt nothing,
then I’d have made a different Judgement as to what to do next.”<br />
</i>“That’s great,” I said as I picked up the FEELING chair and put it at the
back of the room. “Let’s see what happens NOW.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I asked him to stand by THE WORLD and imagine the same
particular stimulus as being presented to him. I then directed him to go and
sit in the THINKING chair. “What’s gone on NOW, in that chair?” I asked him.
Amusingly, he asked if he could do without the cushions! “OK,” I said. “Put
them on the floor and tell me how different the chair is without them. Then
tell me about how this stimulus presents itself to you NOW.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without the cushions he was able to occupy the THINKING
chair in a different posture. He discovered that his evaluation of the stimulus
was quite different, much more neutral. <br />
Then, without any more ado, he moved on quickly to the JUDGING chair and
started smiling. It was the kind of smile we often make when experiencing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lightbulb</i></b>
moments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere, in the gap between the THINKING chair and the
JUDGING chair, was the arrival of a whole raft of recognition and
understanding. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Clouds<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And now old friends they're acting
strange<br />
They shake their heads, they say I've changed<br />
Well something's lost, but something's gained<br />
In living every day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I've looked at life from both sides now<br />
From win and lose and still somehow<br />
It's life's illusions I recall<br />
I really don't know life at all<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #70757a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Songwriters: Joni Mitchell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #70757a; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Both Sides Now lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Crazy Crow Music
/ Siquomb Music Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, rather like some of the lyrics of the Joni Mitchell
song <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clouds</i></b>,
once we start looking at THE WORLD from a number of perspectives, using space
and chairs and cushions and labels, then something that altogether seems to
defy science emerges from the particular illusions that we had once created for
ourselves. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Conclusion <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There’s a subtle
power encapsulated within NLP that seems to defy science and what it can do in
conjunction with other elements within the hypnotic domain! Is it how the
communicative power of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">language</i></b> acts upon our minds and
bodies, both in a conscious and cognitive way as well as in a more unconscious
(outside of our attention) and intuitive/connective way?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I wonder!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-70983579636512140612018-06-20T16:37:00.000+01:002018-06-30T15:19:59.515+01:00L for Leather, M for Sis, N for Mation<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Making up our Experience<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Where does
our experience come from?<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It may seem like a simple enough <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">question</i></b> - yet the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">answer</i></b>
we are conditioned to believe, as we grow up in the increasingly complex world
that has been created for us to live in, is one that colours our lives
certainly from the moment we start school, and often before that time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We assemble
our experience of anything through the perceptions that are presented to our
consciousness. We assemble these perceptions from predicting and analysing the
sensual data we receive from certain stimuli. <br />
Those stimuli can be what we see, hear, feel (touch), smell, taste – which are
the 5 main OUTER senses (as we understand them) – PLUS – there are some other
data sources as well, that come from <b><i>interoception</i></b>, what I would loosely describe as our INNER
senses, such as the internal status of the body, time, balance, emotion, memory, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
perceptive apparatus predicts and analyses all the stimuli from moment to
moment, and then presents to our Consciousness A VERSION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.<br />
Not what is ACTUALLY happening, you understand – just a version of events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Harnessing the Power of Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This entire
ongoing routine of prediction and analysis is merely a set of Thought
Processes. Or, to or to put it another way, it is HOW we are using <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Power
of Thought</i></b>, moment by moment, to make sense of what is happening in the
world both around us on the OUTSIDE and also for us on the INSIDE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What SEEMS
REAL to us, in terms of the version of what is happening, is not what SEEMS
REAL to other people either – for they, too, are making up THEIR OWN version of
what is happening for THEM! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">HOW we
harness the Power of Thought creates for each and every one of us a VERSION, albeit an
ILLUSION, of what is REALLY going on. In terms of our experience, we are making
it all up – every one of us – ALL the time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is what is
known as the INSIDE-OUT NATURE of REALITY.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The WORLD
ISN’T HAPPENING TO US – IT IS AN ILLUSION WE ARE MAKING UP, from moment to
moment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Inside Out<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Knowing WHERE
our experience comes from, through HOW we are harnessing the Power of Thought
and then presenting the results to our Consciousness, is the simplest and most
wonderful psychological concept for everyone, in the world today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In terms of our personal well-being this
is a very USEFUL thing to know and understand. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For each and
every one of us, the Clearer our Minds become with THIS, the smoother our lives
will be and the less we will be prone to becoming beset by problems and
circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Only Human<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yet there
will always continue to be moments where we will DEFINITELY BELIEVE our
thinking – because, as the song goes - we are ONLY HUMAN AFTER ALL! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, DON’T put
the blame on me – when I make assumptions, interpretations, predictions and
judgements. For these are only ever based on my inadequate perceptions – and
when I am vulnerable and less grounded in every moment to moment, my Human
Frailty is BELIEVING this all to be REAL.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I find myself not just
in the cinema WATCHING the scary movie, I’m actually believing I’m really
LIVING inside the scary movie … and, you know what? <br />I’M SCARED!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SCARED, that
is - until the moment I CHANGE MY MIND, until the moment I realise once more
that it is all an ILLUSION, until I hit the ‘RESET’ button that brings me back
to my Understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Keeping the ‘RESET BUTTON’ near at
hand!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, how can
we mitigate our frailties and those moments when we are believing our thinking?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, part of
this starts with our being more grounded – as a DEFAULT state of mind, so to
speak. When we are more grounded, the instances of Frailty showing up in our
lives will be less frequent. However – they will STILL SHOW UP! <br />
They tend to show up at times when our back is turned, or when we are
complacent about our grounded-ness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, should we
be always on our guard – in a state of constant watchfulness?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, to be
honest, that’s VERY HARD WORK! It is like being in a state of constant alert –
watchful, mindful of the dangers etc. In fact, when we start to make demands
upon ourselves, like that, it tends to lead us towards an excess of THINKING.<br />
And EXCESS THINKING, as we know, is pointing us back to Frailty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Constant
monitoring of our mental state, therefore, is counter-productive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, our
Minds and Bodies are an integrated and synchronous system where HOW WE ARE
BEING occurs, every moment of our lives. And there is a very simple part of our
unified self that is encapsulated within that system. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And that is – our ATTENTION.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuO0L22ffwv_kFEeAM-C0eXTbmpkpERxpjWrSbJYO0g7AxGMRHC0Zd7I0jOpI68lkt1wmONqgIVlpZAOlDRQtDrRpzY-6Fve7G5JO4KuyZSsOwKNs02QGqjq3ppugYIMu1LWBnayoqf0/s1600/ATTENTIONTHINK2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="338" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuO0L22ffwv_kFEeAM-C0eXTbmpkpERxpjWrSbJYO0g7AxGMRHC0Zd7I0jOpI68lkt1wmONqgIVlpZAOlDRQtDrRpzY-6Fve7G5JO4KuyZSsOwKNs02QGqjq3ppugYIMu1LWBnayoqf0/s320/ATTENTIONTHINK2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /><br />
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Thinking and Our Attention<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, when we are frail – living in the
OUTSIDE-IN momentary nature of our fluctuating states of mind, most of us strive
to get the feeling of SECURITY that comes from a sense of BEING IN CONTROL of
our lives. <br />
“If I can JUST change what is happening TO ME then my life will become better,
will start to improve, and I will feel I’m getting ‘a handle’ on directing my
life towards the things I want and the way I’d like things to be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, in terms of seeing the wood for the trees - by DIRECTING
our Attention AWAY from the Trees of our Thinking and towards the wood of something else,
we can allow some clarity to emerge from the excess thought, and thus return to
the transparency of allowing the Power of Thought to just flow through our lives,
without our needing to constantly ATTEND to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is
NEVER any need to constantly ATTEND to our Thoughts – even though we might be
persuaded to believe this is a good thing to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How might we change our Attention AWAY
from Thoughts?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well the
first thing to realise is that it is pointless for us to EXAMINE our Thinking
in terms Good or Bad, Positive or Negative. This is like getting ourselves to
filter our Thinking, which brings even more TREES into our Attentive Foreground!
Remember, we need to be disengaging from ALL TREES!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We need to engage
more Attention to our raw, sensual stimuli – the Sights, Sounds, Touches, Smells
and Tastes. If we notice that those TREES are still pretty dense in nature, and
are still masking the WOOD, get outside – into the garden, perhaps go for a
walk, a run, a drive to an engaging place. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Read a distracting yet absorbing book, play some distracting yet absorbing games, do a distracting yet absorbing activity
like cooking a meal from scratch. If you are creative, get writing or drawing;
make something simple but absorbing. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Get really good at POURING your ATTENTION into whichever activity you have
chosen to engage with. Remember you are filling one cup in order to drain the
other in terms of the illustration of how a fuller Attention can mask Thinking
in order to ‘RESET’ that Thinking to being more clear and transparent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Using our Bodies<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spread the
fingers of your left hand. Now, using the index finger of your right hand,
trace the spaces between the fingers of your left hand. Allow your right hand’s
index finger to move in and out and up and down, going from the thumb of the
left hand all the way along to the little finger. <br />
It is a simple physical exercise – yet utterly distractive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Place your
tongue as close as you can to the roof of your mouth behind your upper set of
teeth. Imagine there is a tiny droplet of edible oil between your tongue and
the roof of your mouth – and hold that droplet there for around half a minute. <br />
Again, it is a simple physical exercise, that also invokes a directed use of
imagination, or guided visualisation – and, as before, is completely
distractive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Close your
eyes and imagine the space between your eyes – not on the outside, as you might
see when looking in a mirror, but on the INSIDE. There is no significance to
whatever imagery may come up for you as you are doing this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Open Focus</i></b> exercise –
just let it come, and then let it go. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Next, imagine the space inside your nostrils, and notice how your breath passes
through this space – first on the way in, when you breathe in, and then on the
way out when you breathe out. Get a sense of how the breath flows through that
space.<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Engaging with these two <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Open Focus</i></b> exercises for only about
a minute, will disengage you with any excess or overwhelm of thought for that
time.<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, the ensuing and emerging imagery is not of any particular consequence,
but it is more about how we are directing our Attention to exploring even just
these two areas of our INNER SPACE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As you work
through these various short and simple exercises, notice, once you finish, what
has happened to your Thinking? Where has it gone?<br />
It is – as virtually everyone says – as if those thoughts have vanished into
thin air!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was working
with a lady for her Fear of Flying. When she returned from her overseas holiday
I asked her how the flights had been for her. She reported that there had been
some turbulence, and that she felt some of her panic symptoms returning. “I
just used the ‘fingers’ exercise for about a minute,” she said, “And then I
felt fine afterwards – even before the turbulence had stopped. Thank you so
much!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We know we
can direct our Minds to create change in our Bodies – we should never forget
the power in our Bodies to create change in our Minds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are one complete,
unique and synchronous system. It is there for us to engage with at all times! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-34340464312859991502018-05-07T16:39:00.000+01:002018-05-07T16:39:32.795+01:00Mind Nutrition<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My good friend
Sav Sandhu does some amazing work on fitness and wellbeing with high level
executives and traders in the city. His regular videos on LinkedIn take
fascinating and inspiring perspectives on maintaining the body as a key element
in our wellbeing – plus he takes these perspectives from a strong, maintained and
integrated mind-body approach. In his latest video he asks, “What is good
nutrition?” and he outlines </span><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">4 </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">key principles to help you
with your nutrition even if you’ve tried every diet under the sun</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #cccccc;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Which
got me thinking along the lines … so, what is good “mental nutrition.” </span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Food for Thought<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Essentially,
nutrition is defined as ‘</span><span style="background: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for
health and growth</span></span>.’ <br />Nutrition for the Mind, therefore, might be the
process of providing or obtaining the mental “food” necessary for mental health
and mental growth. <br />Now, as an emergent descriptor or label, mental “food” is an
interesting subject!<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> So,
I’d invite you to walk a way down this path merely to see what we might pick up
along the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our
Relationship with our Thinking is a key aspect with regards to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">food
for thought,</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>rather in the same
way that our relationship with our eating is a key aspect with regards to our
bodily nutrition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />The acronym
GIGO was well known in computer science as being <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Garbage In Garbage Out,”</i></b>
meaning that if the input data is incorrect or invalid then the output will be
incorrect. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And so, in bodily terms, eating bad, or incorrect food will lead to poor
outcomes – and may even lead to our being <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">invalid!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In thought
terms however, it relates to how we process – how we ‘digest’ – the thoughts we
select from the stream of thought energy flowing through our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thought</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> energy just flows past via our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">consciousness</i></b>,
and the moment we notice, latch on to, select particles of that energy as it
flows through, then the particles morph into OUR <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thoughts</i></b>. <br />
So, then commences the Relationship we have with our Thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Predictions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">criteria</b> at play, with each and every
one of us, that help us what to select from the stream of thought energy. And
the WHAT that we select are filtered for us by our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beliefs and Values, Our Memories,
Our past Experience</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our brain
functions, in terms of our perceptive apparatus, are driven to provide the rest
of the mind-body some predictions as to WHAT IS HAPPENING. **<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the
simplest of terms, at a certain time of day when we see the sun approaching the
horizon coupled with a drop of temperature, we run this sensual data past our
experience and memory and get a close match which the brain predicts as SUNSET.
At this point, a number of other responses take place to add into the next
required prediction.</span> <span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And the process continues in a similar
way across our every thought process from sensual to cognitive. <br />
Likewise, in a more complex way, if we are about to attend a meeting and we see
that a rather surly, argumentative and uncooperative colleague is there, we’ll
run this data input past our experience and memory and get some predictive filtering
that leads our mind-body to responses of a different kind! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both of these
examples above are part of our relationship with our thinking. <br />Both are based
upon predictions of filtered data, with the filters put in place by our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beliefs
and Values, Our Memories, Our past Experience</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both of these
examples are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Food for Thought</i></b>. Yet – if we want to have a different
experience from both the sunset but particularly the meeting, then we just have
to change the Food. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And the change of Mind Food would be to bring something more
mentally nutritious to our filtering criteria – by altering our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beliefs
and Values, Our Memories, Our past Experience</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is
exactly the same if we want to give our body better outcomes from our next month’s
meals. Changing the food for things more nutritious will help our physical
wellbeing on all levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Changing our Minds<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is a
perspective on the nature of reality that is underpinned by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Three
Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought</i></b>.** It is known as the
Inside-Out perspective, and I would describe it as being good nutrition for the
Mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Part of our
ability to understand the Inside-Out nature of reality, is to have an open
mind. With an open mind we can acknowledge that our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beliefs and Values, Our Memories,
Our past Experience, </i></b>are not ever set in stone in quite the way that we
might imagine. And that, as a consequence, we can change our view of the world –
by changing the filters that we use on our raw data input.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In practical
terms for example, this would mean that our colleague who was previously labelled
as surly, argumentative and uncooperative, is now seen as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>just</u></b> a colleague. We have removed the emotional portion of
his labelling – but only for as long as we keep our judgements of him at bay.
For it is our judgements of him that led to our labelling of him before – and it
will be our present and future judgements of him that lead to labelling changes in the future. And that will be for good
OR bad in equal measure. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For, as with all judgements, it is our THINKING that makes it so! <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good Mind Nutrition<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>good</u></b> Mind Nutrition is about
allowing our minds to be open to accepting change. <br /><br /> It is about understanding that our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beliefs and Values, Our Memories, Our past
Experience</i></b>, are a vital filtering component of our predictive and perceptive
apparatus, AND yet are <u>never</u> set in stone.<br /><br /> It is about understanding that our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beliefs and Values, Our Memories, Our past Experience
</i></b>contain emotional elements that are there to enrich, flag up, be
noticed. ** <br />These emotional elements can be adjusted, enhanced, discarded at any
time and we are not ever <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“at the mercy of them”</i></b> unless we
choose to be so. <br /><br /> It is about understanding that whilst it is common for our predictive brain to be
directed towards noticing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sameness</i></b>, that we do have the facility
to direct our perceptions towards <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">difference</i></b> as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We make up
our experience on a moment-to-moment, day-by-day basis through the way we
harness the power of thought – through the relationship we have with our thinking.
If we believe our thinking and our thought processes, then the product will be our
reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whether you blush
easily, feel the cold more than others, stammer, freak out at spiders, hate
being ignored, don’t go too near to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the edge</i></b>, like to be in control, get
scared going to the dentist, and so on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ad
infinitum</i>, it is all perceived through a thought process of one form or
another. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is why
if believe you can – you can<br />
And if you believe you can’t – you can’t<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And it is the
open-ness of your mind that maintains or changes everything. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is ALL food for thought. And you can decide what you put on your plate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">** Recommended:<br />
<a href="https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com/books/how-emotions-are-made/">https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com/books/how-emotions-are-made/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://threeprinciplesfoundation.org/about-sydney-banks/">http://threeprinciplesfoundation.org/about-sydney-banks/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-71863706741760358692018-05-04T09:05:00.000+01:002018-05-04T09:05:39.597+01:00The Sacred Relationship<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This week’s topic
emerges from my conversations with clients about the relationship that we, as
human beings, have with our thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Theory<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The whole
notion that our thoughts are our own, that they have an almost tangible form to
them, is pivotal to how we make sense of the world we live in; from the horizon
and the rising and setting of the sun, to the way people are talking to us, to
the potholes in the roads, to a delicate fragrance or the taste of a lemon, to
a hug or a kiss, to our fears or worries, to our work or play, and so on … it
is the endless list of experience. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We rely on our senses to provide us with the raw data – and that includes ALL
our senses, not just the usual five. The phrase “the sixth sense” reminds us
that, in our culture at least, we most times just have an awareness of THE five
senses. <br />Yet there <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i></b> others such as time, balance, humour, even awareness
itself, leading us all towards “the big one” … SELF. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our sense of self, our sentience, is the overarching umbrella sense of all the
others. It takes all the raw data provided by all the other senses and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">processes
the data</i></b>. <br />
And <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how</i></b>
it processes the data determines how we experience the reality of the world,
and our place in it. And this entire processing faculty is driven by the power
of Thought. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The difference between “your world” and “my world” – what differentiates your experience
from mine – is embedded in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how</i></b> of our thought processes. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All our individual <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HOWs</i></b> are part of the relationship that each of us has with our own
Thinking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now “your
world” and “my world” may bear some resemblance to the “true world” – yet we’d
both agree that “our worlds” are not the “only worlds.” <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Except when we Don’t!</b><br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When THAT happens then the scenario is that “My View of the World” is right and
yours (or theirs) is wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All of this
is just Thought driven of course – and is merely the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">difference</i></b> between what
is produced by the HOW of your Thought Processes and what is produced by the
HOW of my Thought Processes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is The Sacred Relationship we all
have with our Thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is that
relationship that helps us to answer the question, “What is it like TO BE?”<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is also that relationship that distorts THE world the more we believe our thinking.<br />
And the more we believe OUR thinking to be RIGHT, the more our mind is set in
that one place. Set there, in stone, until we CHANGE our mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The moment
that we change our mind, about anything, is the moment <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i></b> Sacred Relationship
is tweaked and morphs into something (even only slightly) different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We sometimes process
that change, by getting shown from externally sourced data. We might call this “learning.”
<br />
We sometimes process that change, by getting shown from internally sourced
data.<br />
We might call this “intuition” or “wisdom.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yet we can
only ever change our mind, about anything, if we allow our mind to first be
open – to permit ourselves to be “shown.” A closed mind can never change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To understand
the Inside-Out nature of reality, is to have an open mind. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We also need to relieve ourselves of the pressures we place on our human
frailty – by acknowledging that in our minds there will be those moments of
temporary closure. There is always the reset button that will open our minds
once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Practice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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</v:imagedata></v:shape></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBDj-ehzfinhNs9XHR520JtN01_cQJ6l06h3qWU85Lh8cjh0_omRykkpedWolBh7WSqYtwXxbFiBuDKnqNVdHiWRha-IxxCYaqJZdgDI0_RrMsr7aIo-atPzVUeOvTbE0OnTLSLJH2k4/s1600/PASSENGER+PLANE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBDj-ehzfinhNs9XHR520JtN01_cQJ6l06h3qWU85Lh8cjh0_omRykkpedWolBh7WSqYtwXxbFiBuDKnqNVdHiWRha-IxxCYaqJZdgDI0_RrMsr7aIo-atPzVUeOvTbE0OnTLSLJH2k4/s400/PASSENGER+PLANE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a practical
sense, this is what happened for a client who I had worked with earlier this
year for her </span><b style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>fear of flying</i></b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She had an open mind – and in our conversations she changed her perceptions by
having some light thrown upon that fear. She processed that change from both the
externally sourced data as illuminated by me, and from internally sourced data
from her own intuition. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt;">She “got” what I was saying about her fear of flying.
She got a felt sense of the change. We both questioned the evidence of that
felt sense, and she was reassured by that questioning and testing of the
evidence. She maintained her open-mindedness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I checked with her a few days later and she was still of the same (open) mind.
I wished her well in the anticipated experience of her upcoming flights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just this
week I checked in with her again, to find out how things had been.<br />
She reported that everything was good and that she was looking forward to
further flights next month. <br />
She ALSO reported that she had experienced some <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">frailty</i></b>, in the moment.
The moment was a period of air turbulence on one of the flights – where the
stimulus had caused her to follow her previously held pattern of response. She
had the sensations of the onset of a panic attack. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Part of the work we had done – which I’ll describe again as her “learning” from
externally sourced data – was for her to have resources to point her (in the
moment) to that RESET button. <br />
She didn’t freeze, nor was she caught like a rabbit in headlights. She used the
resources and alleviated her experience. She “saw” where the RESET button was,
hit it, and returned to the grounded state she had been in prior to the ‘plane
encountering the air turbulence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We can all
understand theory, because we are thinking creatures, imbued with the facility
to gain knowledge through varieties of cognitive logical thought processes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yet,
amusingly, this quote often applies -<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“In theory there is no difference
between theory and practice – in practice there is!”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Except when
it doesn’t, when we understand the Inside-Out nature of reality enough to trust
the fusion of our intuition with our learning. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My client trusted her understanding enough to deal with her stimulated
sensations <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in the practical moment</b>
they were happening, and not just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in the
theory moment</b> when we were talking together in our one session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You could say
her outcomes were <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sensational</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-74645904798413945892018-04-25T11:19:00.000+01:002018-04-25T11:19:29.149+01:00Client of The Week<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s early
Wednesday morning – and yet have I already worked with my “client of the week?”<br />
Well, normally I’d say it’s best to wait until late on Sunday before making
that judgement – however there are those “golden clients” who you meet for the
first time and your mutual interactions unfold into a succession of closely
packed jaw-dropping moments!<br />
Something aligns their mind to yours, they understand your “lingo” right out of
the gate, they follow your advice and discover the hidden ability they always
had – but never knew they had. Suddenly the fledgling in your hand is taking
flight …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PO70BW97btZfQSCo0E2Tr4vyPB8ePSlBAs8pVq9UrHg3yHrh16K3FDKufSDlvHsPHhD8z_9VRIa7APeIvE0N0RIRSDbyyKaupAtrUZXgtcf6ej87y600LzIP3uHdhXb9kDpvVH1ZaPU/s1600/BUTTERFLY+IN+HAND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PO70BW97btZfQSCo0E2Tr4vyPB8ePSlBAs8pVq9UrHg3yHrh16K3FDKufSDlvHsPHhD8z_9VRIa7APeIvE0N0RIRSDbyyKaupAtrUZXgtcf6ej87y600LzIP3uHdhXb9kDpvVH1ZaPU/s320/BUTTERFLY+IN+HAND.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coach or Therapist</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m a shade lucky,
to be fair, in that - as both a coach and a therapist – I have clients in the
age range 5 – 75. Most of my coaching is with the younger end of the spectrum,
and most of the therapy is with the Over 35s! <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, the cross-over area between coach and therapist is surprisingly vague
and undefined – like how the colours in a rainbow merge one with the next. Some
of my therapy work is coaching – and some of my coaching is therapeutic. Plus,
coaching children is, for me anyway, a kind of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pre-therapy</i></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Helping them
get and feel a sense of achievement; improving their confidence and self-confidence;
building their self-esteem; getting them to appreciate – in an autotelic way - the
love and joy of sporting activity for something just in and of itself; improving
their health and fitness, body image and sense of wellbeing; etc. <br />
The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pre-therapy</i></b>
list goes on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why do I say <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pre-therapy</i></b>?<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, when children are armed with all the things I’ve listed above, they
become more rounded and grounded; plus, there’s less of a likelihood they’ll
need some therapeutic expertise when they reach 35+.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Working with my “Client of the Week”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He arrived at
one of my After-School Cricket Clubs saying, <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
can’t bowl. I’m not very good at it,”</i></b> as an opening statement. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hear words <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">like</i></b> this quite often – both from sporting AND therapy clients;
they are telling me about their view of themselves.<br />
“Ok,” I said. “Just bowl some balls and then we’ll have a look at how that’s
happening, and seeing what we might change, for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I saw a young
lad who bowled off the wrong foot, lost his balance in delivery, released the
ball out of the side of his hand with a weak wrist, was not focussed on his
target, and had a quirky and inconsistent run-up.<br />
He did, however, have the bowler’s number 1 pre-requisite technical ability – a
straight arm. Great!<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other, and perhaps most encouraging, pre-requisite from both our
perspectives was this:-<br />
He was eminently “coachable”. By this I mean he listened 100% and enabled his
body to execute what he heard through my instruction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Within 10 – 15
minutes he had ironed out all the quirks and inconsistencies he showed at the
start and was landing the ball where he <u>wanted</u> instead of it happening
by <u>chance</u>. <br />
This was rapid change, to be honest – and it continued when he started batting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once again,
after minimal repeats of showing him more effective ways of standing, holding
the bat, watching and striking the ball, he transformed his raw, random and ‘quirkful’
technique into something generative, improving and successful! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We ended our Club
session with throwing balls in a “crossbar challenge.” <br />
He excelled at this too and without any instruction, which left me both enthused
and rewarded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He was,
without doubt, my client of the week – maybe of the month, or the year? Who knows?<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That is what makes my job such a rewarding one. I never know who is going to rock
up … NEXT?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-18167509150496252642018-04-24T13:16:00.000+01:002018-04-24T13:16:25.937+01:00Blind Spots<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-laRoO7gyDiWjX6XMAANyxdwWuFvXQGUIWTS94NEOkrQWmUBFC1J_WPATUcSwpB7SP8z0M2vNcWfghN5c1L59MDWi-C36OJ0VGw9_1hxSXN7jY2W_NujgqBAF5VqCnU_vqinsZPgHpU/s1600/WING+MIRROR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-laRoO7gyDiWjX6XMAANyxdwWuFvXQGUIWTS94NEOkrQWmUBFC1J_WPATUcSwpB7SP8z0M2vNcWfghN5c1L59MDWi-C36OJ0VGw9_1hxSXN7jY2W_NujgqBAF5VqCnU_vqinsZPgHpU/s400/WING+MIRROR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Pheasant<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I was driving a road on Exmoor
recently when a pheasant hove into view on the road in front of me. Now these
rather scatty birds have a brain to weight ratio of at least 1:100, and they
have no sense of the Highway Code! Here in my neck of the woods, they are the majority
of roadkill victims – given their propensity to run towards rather than away
from motor vehicles.<br />
This particular one seemed bent on survival, however, and stayed into the hedge
on the nearside of my car. Until, that was, I’d almost passed it. Whereupon, in
almost vertical take-off mode, it flew into the wing mirror – smashing the mirror,
the plastic casing and everything. I pulled in and dismantled the remaining pieces,
so I could continue my journey without the loose and damaged bits banging against
the door.<br />
Grrrr!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Blind Spots<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Almost immediately I discovered,
that driving on certain roads <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sans</i> nearside
wing mirror, can be a real challenge. For, as drivers, we know we already have
a number of blind spots in our 360 deg visibility which can be coped with
somewhat, but never entirely satisfactorily. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
It is the multi-lane highways that are the real issue – for now the only way to
see what is nearby on the lane(s) inside the one I’m driving in, involves my
looking over my left shoulder. And motorways are the worst, since there are
those drivers that overtake <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">on the inside</i></b> as well as the outside!<br />
Grrrr!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Life’s Highways<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">As is often the way, our driving
experiences have a number of metaphorical parallels with how we journey along
Life’s Highways. The potholes we encounter, the rough and uneven surfaces, the
punctures, the running out of fuel, trying to get out of second gear, swerving
to avoid peasants and pheasants, getting stuck in traffic, losing our way – the
out of date maps – having no signal – losing our bearings – even losing our
marbles!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">And now, here, is another metaphor
for how we might find ourselves lacking, or under pressure, in dealing with the
things that the rocky road of Life throws at us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The blind spots in our mental resources.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">To my mind, our greatest resource
is in understanding how we make up our experience – moment to moment.
Understanding how our perceptual apparatus processes millions of bits of data
coming in through our sensual gateways by predicting and paring that huge
number - down to something more like 132. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understanding the thought processes that go
into all this, in microseconds, AND understanding also, the part played in all
this by our memories, our beliefs and our previous experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Yet, because we are only human,
this amazing resource is also riddled with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">blind
spots</b>. Blind spots sometimes so vast, that they can lead to our complete and utter
mis-Understanding of pretty much everything – moment to moment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Apparently,
there is a surge in “Flat Earth” believers at the moment. This is astonishing,
given all the evidence both scientific AND photographic, that disproves that
notion. These folks have a blind spot in their belief structure, that plays out
a different perceptual tune in their lives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">And although
this might seem an outrageous example to use, there will be parts of our
perceptual lives - our view of the world and how it works and how we make up
our experience – that are equally way off kilter. Moment to moment. <br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">We are all, in a fashion similar to the Flat Earthists, equally duped by the
illusions of our thinking, from time to time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">We are subject to mental Blind Spots –
caused by the illusions of our Thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">When I’m
driving with the Understanding that I have a huge blind spot caused by the lack
of a wing mirror, I know the steps I need to take, in order to predict with a
degree of sureness that there is no vehicle nearby on the lane inside of me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">If I think I DON’T
need to take those steps, then I’m driving in a state of illusion – guessing,
even hoping, there is nothing there to crash into. I’m as dumb, dare I say, as
the pheasant. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">
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</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>
<v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">
<o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">
</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 327.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 420.75pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:/Users/Peter/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Perceptual
blindnesses, as well as perceptual distortions, are everywhere – with how we
process our sensual data input, as well as with how we process our own
thinking.<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Plus – as we know, though perhaps don’t always understand, ALL our feelings come
from our Thinking, moment to moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZr6leOVPVbOaXJDPdYYyoVNC_2d-f5awqphfeSomX9DCfdYDdUz8rL1nMuFHBdGWwYQHNaeWsThiXqDWoxvVExL-p2Q3QWlZMT6g8ZN61sKIXDAzQa0F0Sjo9xBY4wXvjPuAmNHvMgg/s1600/checkershadow_illusion4med-1-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="379" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZr6leOVPVbOaXJDPdYYyoVNC_2d-f5awqphfeSomX9DCfdYDdUz8rL1nMuFHBdGWwYQHNaeWsThiXqDWoxvVExL-p2Q3QWlZMT6g8ZN61sKIXDAzQa0F0Sjo9xBY4wXvjPuAmNHvMgg/s400/checkershadow_illusion4med-1-thumb.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">And so, this
is how it is, and how we are – from time to time. We will believe our Thinking,
and be seduced by the illusions we notice, and then feel. And we may colour our
lives in such a way – and then believe that SQUARE A (as illustrated) is a
different colour to SQUARE B. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Which of
course it isn’t! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">And if we are
Flat Earthists, then we’ll believe all our Thinking associated with that entire
subject. And if we believe we can’t do something, then we’ll prove that belief
to ourselves -<br />
By experience – if we’re adamant.<br />
By denial – if we are adamant yet get proved wrong.<br />
By excuse – if we’re agreeably surprised that we’ve been proved wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Yet if we believe
we CAN do something, or we are curious and open to the possibility that we
might be able to do something … <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Well, the
world is now a different place!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Are you
aware, yet, of the blind spots in your Life? Would having a better all-round,
360 degs of, perceptual surety be useful for you … going forward?<br />
The best thing we can do for ourselves, to combat the pitfalls caused by our
Blind Spots, is to actually Understand that we HAVE Blind Spots. And, in my
case, it is to get myself a replacement wing mirror so that I can see what’s on
the inside lane without having to take my eyes off the road in order to look
over my left shoulder!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-43991559538522647162018-03-21T12:26:00.000+00:002018-03-21T12:26:42.846+00:00Blackberries<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Have you ever been blackberrying?<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">To be fair, most of us have at some stage in our lives. It’s one of those
activities that starts out with smudged fingers, and the occasional collision
with a thorn. And ends up in a delicious hot crumble back home, garnished with
custard, clotted cream or maybe ice cream – or maybe a combination of all
three.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvzbc3q8gNE978vc8nwu7GgUurBth6p_Kck3zlDFHZ9PDzLlNVxus2DJ07lOETa8gRTA8BA1XV1lv9lOkNBKpPkf1ysSbxy8-4emJ22wDvxkXQpw0OFxYO8m4P346Scyo2b6iI7GiYSk/s1600/BLACKBERRIES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvzbc3q8gNE978vc8nwu7GgUurBth6p_Kck3zlDFHZ9PDzLlNVxus2DJ07lOETa8gRTA8BA1XV1lv9lOkNBKpPkf1ysSbxy8-4emJ22wDvxkXQpw0OFxYO8m4P346Scyo2b6iI7GiYSk/s320/BLACKBERRIES.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Of course if, like me, you really
enjoy <b><i>nature’s seasonal bounty</i></b>, then you’ll have discovered that in
the more public places where brambles dare to grow, there’s always been someone
there before you. The lower-lying fruit have all been picked, and now only the smaller
ripe ones remain – along with the little unripe cerise, pink and still green bullets.
The rich pickings are now out of reach to us mere mortals and are only
available to those well over 6ft tall, or the enterprising folk who bring a step
ladder to their harvesting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">There’s going to be the need for a
more daring approach if we want to go home with a container full of these remaining
bigger, juicier fellows. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">More
fruit – less husk!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">People and Privilege<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I'm just really grateful that I'm
privileged enough to know some awesome and amazing people. These are the
self-same people I've stood on the shoulders of, in order to reach some of the
richer fruit higher up the tree I call knowledge.</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Of course
these wonderful people have facilitated my action; they have enabled me to
reach that fruit – because very few people go around permanently with a step
ladder to hand, to enable an elevated status for their fruit picking. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
There is an undeniable truth in life that <b><i>“No Man is an Island”</i></b> – and we need
each other to get the best out of life, for sure. Even the hermit, who has
written the definitive book on his status – <b><i>“The Essence of Hermitry – a Qualitative
Analysis”</i></b> – will need a printer, a publisher, a distributor, some retail
outlets, an amazon or two, and a large circle of book-buying buddies. Which is
why hermits don’t write books, of course … they just mind their own business.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">So, to get back
to me, people and privilege – like that – <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Why have I
used the word <b><i>Privilege</i></b>, in this context?<br />
Why do I view the knowing of these people – or indeed any people for that
matter – a privilege? Was it because I was born with a silver tongue in my
mouth? Am I the son of the richest-ripe-alpha-blackberry that attracts every
fruit fly within miles?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">No!<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I was brutally shy – probably still am, if you rub the veneer down to the
quick. <br />
So <b><i>“Please,
Mister … !”</i></b> was never going to cut any ice with my desire to get a
leg-up to the higher echelons of the tree. Doors were always closed, it seemed –
except to the privileged few.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">And then I
took a long hard look at the entire domain I’d labelled up as …<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;"><b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Privilege</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">What if’s
began to emerge from the mists – and doors began to appear in the walls where no
doors had been. I read books and watched videos – for knowledgeable content; I
studied closely those successful people who inspired me – first by watching and
listening, and then by copying and modelling. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">And then I took a leap of faith and resolved
to meet, greet, talk with, and ask questions of … those inspiring people.<br /><br />
</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">In taking that leap I became familiar with the other side of <b>Shyness</b>. I made an awesome discovery
whilst doing this … I discovered the inspiring people were just as ordinary as
I was, and that they too had become familiar with the other side of Shyness. <br /><br />
</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">And here’s the thing:<br />
On the other side of Shyness I found I was holding hands with Privilege.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #444444;">I hadn’t just
found Privilege, it was walking hand in hand with me – little me! Privilege was
now my friend, my companion, and I found myself being ele</span>vated to pick those
rich and juicy blackberries high up on the hill of brambles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Was I lucky?
Was I born with it? – NO!<br />
Had I earned it? Did I embrace it? – YES!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">For this, and
for the giants on whose shoulders I have stood, and continue to stand, I am
eternally grateful. I found my Privilege.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaOIwVZNcHH6MmGT0R0RrVeWVOXLzaufnYRenT49Caj-slVVoqT_z7WfnJaUQchZXaiInIANERzeh4CSWp07iEPKZYrutyRiYFNs2FR1hBgANmYRX3TbfnfiNeMsD_5iC0GbrHS7Qlw0/s1600/Hairy-Bikers-apple-and-blackberry-crumble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="625" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaOIwVZNcHH6MmGT0R0RrVeWVOXLzaufnYRenT49Caj-slVVoqT_z7WfnJaUQchZXaiInIANERzeh4CSWp07iEPKZYrutyRiYFNs2FR1hBgANmYRX3TbfnfiNeMsD_5iC0GbrHS7Qlw0/s320/Hairy-Bikers-apple-and-blackberry-crumble.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">And now, I can enjoy endless crumbles!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-69325553943143620162018-03-20T10:37:00.000+00:002018-03-21T21:37:14.437+00:00The Far Look<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“He
has given himself up to an influence outside his everyday consciousness, which
is none other than his own deeply buried unconscious, whose presence he was
never hitherto aware of.”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">~ Bruce Lee, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Tao of Jeet Kune Do </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Focus
your eyes at infinity</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On a summer’s day, have you ever paused to lie on your
back and stare up at the sky, looking way beyond? That’s rather like focussing at infinity. What do you notice happened when you
did that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Did you notice the clouds seemed to be
coming towards you instead of just floating across your field of vision?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Did you find your eyes blinking more, less
or the same?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Did you find the 4</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: -18pt;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> or 5th
blinks being much longer – and was it hard to keep your eyes open after blink
number 4-5?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Did you find that, as your eyes stayed
closed, your breathing got deeper, your thoughts seemed to ‘slow down’, your
attention seemed to float, and your neck and shoulders relaxed and became warmer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">And when you opened your eyes again, still
looking skywards, did you get an embodied feeling that things felt different,
somehow – and yet you couldn’t exactly pinpoint any particular change or difference?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you ever looked up at the sky on a starry night
when all the stars were twinkling? <br />
Did you notice what happened when you tried to focus on a particular star – how
it seemed to grow dimmer and stop twinkling - yet all the ones round about it
seemed to become much clearer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Curiously, if you pointed a telescope at that same
star, this effect wouldn’t happen. It is only in our perceptions, however,
where these differences seem to take place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Focus
in Sport and Performance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In terms of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">focus</b>,
I’d always approached coaching players from the perspective of watching the
target – whether that is a ball, shuttlecock, goal, stumps, pin, pocket, dart
board, fence, hoop, jaw, or whatever. It has always been either by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">taking dead-aim</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">closely watching with a narrow focus, or a mixture of both</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Until, that is, a good friend introduced me to the
book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Open-Focus® Brain” </i>by Dr
Les Fehmi and Jim Robbins. It was whilst reading this fascinating study on the
nature of narrow focussed attention and open<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-</i>focussed
attention, that one or two connective light bulbs went on for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At that moment, amusingly, I realised there is a lot
more to focus than just meets the eye!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that includes both our physical eyes and also our “Mind's eyes” –
which is another way of describing our Mental Focus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So,
what is the relevance of this Mental Focus in our lives?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, for me it came down to the contradiction I
always encountered when comparing the need for some “amazing powers of
concentration” and the fact that when “in flow,” when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Zone</i> is being experienced, then concentration just seems to
happen effortlessly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I concluded that when people are in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Zone</i> then they must concentrate in a
different way. Their level of absorption must be 100%, as we know and that
doesn’t change in its nature, so their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Focus</b>
must be what changes to make their concentration different. That was certainly
how it was in my experience of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Zone</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-65RW88769hwM433SFvcl41GrGjh9mbaKE6e2o1trZu1ZU1iZ3cwFGVhc3CipMyIKmjTpoGkreL5-4U8P9E6kSRjtEgEpMYrPpw_KNC53Njh5oYqbrY7rnRbLGgF-bz6WNAagqYlrgm8/s1600/EARTHFROMSPACE1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-65RW88769hwM433SFvcl41GrGjh9mbaKE6e2o1trZu1ZU1iZ3cwFGVhc3CipMyIKmjTpoGkreL5-4U8P9E6kSRjtEgEpMYrPpw_KNC53Njh5oYqbrY7rnRbLGgF-bz6WNAagqYlrgm8/s1600/EARTHFROMSPACE1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Far Look</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well over forty years ago I read quite a lot of
science fiction. There was a particular short story called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Far Look</i>, by Theodore L Thomas, written in 1956. A Google
search reveals it is currently described as...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">A classic tale about a long and lonely watch on a Lunar station
where ... a "wider perspective" (a "far look") on all things
is easily achieved.</span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Essentially, astronauts returning from a duty at the
Lunar Station, all had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Far Look, </i>which
gave them not just a wider perspective on all things, but also deep powers of
perception about life, the universe and everything, much more than everyone
back on Earth. All quite regular yet fanciful stuff, although with a good
degree of insight on certain matters, especially for 1956. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of those insights, as I saw it, was all about an
open (or broader) focus. Now, at the time I first read it, I merely concluded
it was all about the senses and, primarily, the Visual in particular. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However –
what Theodore L Thomas captured in his narrative was an idea that the
astronauts, spending time alone ¼ million miles from Earth, gained a
transformation in their perceptive powers via their exposure to the vast
dimensions of <b><u>outer</u></b> space relative to their home planet, the sun, and beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Interestingly, Dr Fehmi’s work on Open Focus<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">® </i>explores the dimensions of our own
<b><u>inner</u></b> space relative to our mental perspective, and – I’ve discovered – that
that perspective changes, broadens slightly, with every exploration!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Links
and Connections<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now in terms of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Focus</b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">concentration</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Zone</i></b>, when a person is performing in that particular state of Flow,
they do have considerably enhanced powers of perception. They have an
effortless awareness characterised by an innate ability to turn up at the right
place at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
right time and do the right things – which feels as though things are just
happening right for them, almost as if directed by some unseen hand, some
invisible force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>** (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wu
Wei</i></b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now as it happens I hold firm to the view that all
people are amazing, when freed up enough to demonstrate that to be so.
Therefore, in “Far Look” terms, I think that these powers of perception are
readily accessible to us all <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">at any
time.</b> This way these powers can in no way be described as ‘enhanced’, but
rather they are normal – the default setting, if you like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The difference, in our normal everyday lives, is that
we actually DIMINISH our capabilities through diluting our attention, narrowing
our mental focus for far too long, filling our conscious mind with unnecessary <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">baggage</i></b>,
and creating – through our own thoughts and imagination – an egocentric world
that we regularly convince ourselves as being utterly real.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">**
Wu Wei<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wu Wei refers to the cultivation of a
state of being in which our actions are quite effortlessly in alignment with
the ebb and flow of the elemental cycles of the natural world. <br />
It is a kind of “going with the flow” that is characterized by great ease and awareness,
in which - without even trying - we’re able to respond perfectly to whatever
situations arise.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-68522775190992431462018-03-11T00:41:00.000+00:002018-03-11T00:41:05.804+00:00Decision Making and Thought<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
Inside-Out dilemma</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One of
the constant questions I hear raining down in a regular discussion group I am
part of is this:-<br />
“Can we talk some more, and share some more, in the area of decision-making?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Now
although I’ve written extensively on this subject, I’ve not contributed one
iota on decision making to our discussion group. I’ve even planned out a small
book on the subject of decision making – yet still I am silent at all of our
group discussions.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why the reticence, I’m wondering? So much so, that this has now come to the
foreground of my considerations as to what, if anything, I can continue to
impart to the group on this – or indeed any topic. This is almost bordering on
whether I, as a card-carrying </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>maverick</i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, am even a relevant
contributor to - or a worthy participant in – the group.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Does this sound like a personal crisis, or just some ego-driven wayward
thinking? Well, that’s for YOU to decide!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So, the
question is now, in effect, what IS my dilemma? Or, to put it in more everyday
speak:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“OK,
Buddy, what’s your Problem?”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Well, for
starters, there’s more than one dilemma here, to be honest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The first
dilemma is that for me, at a personal level, I gave up turning over endless
“WHAT IFs” in my mind some time ago. I took the angst out of my decision
making. At some point, while coaching myself elements of sports psychology,
NLP, proper breathing, the <i>Zen</i> of performance, and all THAT stuff – I
became familiar with the benefits of being <b><i>single-minded.</i></b> By the
time I took a set of passport photos in a booth in the Post Office in October
2004 and saw a dead man looking back at me, I was already well-versed in making
“instant” decisions – especially, and particularly, life-changing ones. So,
without a second thought, the very next day I handed in my notice at work … and
started on the pathway to where I am today.<br />
Imagine the difficulties, the dilemma, of describing the “how-to” of tying up
our shoelaces to the uninitiated, when our own Learning Journey with that every
day task was committed to Unconscious Competence many years before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkZWdiaeumzMRfqqOyMoMYA3XfpR-E7oZqKLENU67Q9OPu4cSipLp8oi5HqBletr8D5V-vfXY8tUPKJL_K_oxDWBst6AOKutcuSrpScY_IMXDIlcBYlDNOCB3oeJ2YmXq-EjCK_31NKw/s1600/DECISION+MAKING2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="444" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkZWdiaeumzMRfqqOyMoMYA3XfpR-E7oZqKLENU67Q9OPu4cSipLp8oi5HqBletr8D5V-vfXY8tUPKJL_K_oxDWBst6AOKutcuSrpScY_IMXDIlcBYlDNOCB3oeJ2YmXq-EjCK_31NKw/s320/DECISION+MAKING2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">My second
dilemma is that because I am a Coach, initially oriented to the sporting side
of things, I cannot un-acknowledge the fact that in sport AND most definitely
in any performance, Decision Making is a vast area of relevance anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
And when, like me, you are a coach of TEAM sports, there is this realisation that
the players in the team, the squad, cannot just ply a furrow of the making of
their own Decisions, and dealing with their own Thinking that’s going on behind
their own Decision Making. There is the Team Collective to consider, plus also
their individual Team Mates. Here, it is a multi-dimensional dilemma!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">My
Coaching methodology in sport is very clear where Decision Making is concerned.
I am driven to allowing each player the FREEDOM to make their own BEST choices
… by enabling them to <b><u>grow</u></b> an Understanding of what goes into
their having THAT Freedom. And I use GROW here because it is something that
grows with experience and with having an open mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There are technical aspects
to that Understanding that go to making their technique more consistent.
This is a conditioning of their deliverable abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There are psychological
aspects to that Understanding that go to making their temperament more
consistent.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This plays out in the
grounded-ness of their state of mind, delivered by their Relationship with
their Thinking, moment to moment.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Team Decision Making, is a
blueprint drawn up as part of the set of Game Plans. The more fluid the
game – the bigger the picture each player is required to make decisions
in.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">My role is not about telling
any player(s) what to think, since that is an impossibility. My role is
about guiding them to be able to think Clearly in the Moment, and how that
can come about.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
Mayonnaise Jar</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I used to
do a little presentation to every new intake of county Under 14 cricketers that
were coming under my managership for the year. I called it The Mayonnaise Jar,
and it involved a large (empty) jar, 4-5 golf balls, some small pebbles, some
even smaller stones, some sand, and a couple of bottles of water.<br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This was a study in metaphor for the young players – and each of these props,
the jar and the ingredients, represented LIFE.<br />
The Jar represents ourselves, and the space in the Jar represents the TIME of
our Life; the IMPORTANCE to us of the things we do and the things we consider.
There is a sliding scale here of Importance, and how we might spend our TIME.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“So, the
golf balls represent the really important things in our lives, the pebbles are
pretty important too, though not as valued as the golf balls. The small stones
are the countless everyday activities and necessities, and finally the sand is
the small inconsequential stuff – the trivia of our lives if you like.” </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I paused
here to just let them take in the scenario – the surface level things, and,
also whatever they might get a sense of that was running below the surface.
This is a study in the narrow-focussed conscious foreground of attention; the
wider-focussed, less than conscious background of awareness; how we might play
a huge part in the design and architecture of our lives; what parts the “world
out there” plays in our decisions; almost right down to the relevance and
credence of the myriads of thoughts we are bombarded with on a daily basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And the
whole pivotal point of this presentation, is about Decision Making.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So, I
invited them to consider firstly whether all the ingredients would go into the
jar.<br />
The interesting thing here is that the visual assessment tends to make us think
that we would never get everything in. Secondly, after gathering their first
opinions, I asked whether there was any order in which I should put the various
ingredients in. Once again there was an array of different suggestions, yet
with the main one being “sand first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“OK,”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> I said. <b><i>“Now, watch!”</i></b>
And I proceeded to confound their thoughts and considerations.<br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">First, in go all the golf balls; next the pebbles, shaking the jar after all
the pebbles were inside; next the small stones, and again shaking the jar to
allow all the bigger stuff to settle. Finally, I tipped in all the sand – which
always goes easily into the vast amount of space that remains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“Now, how
we fill up our lives with ALL these things, depends on us! YOU are all,
already, exceptional cricketers for your age. Amongst the best 250 in the
country. You are all here because you love the game of cricket, want to enjoy
playing, want to enjoy performing to your possible best in every moment. You
have all bought-in to playing Cricket not only at this level, but at all the
next ones as well.<br />
However, you can practice endlessly and perform really well – but <u>unless</u>
your Cricket is one of the GOLF BALLS in your life, then you won’t be serious
enough about it.<br />
In terms of how you spend your time – and how you <u>think</u> about how you
spend your time – prioritise the IMPORTANT things and consider them first,
above all. Because when you do, LIFE seems to become bigger somehow. And when
LIFE is bigger you can get to do so much more in the same amount of time, AND
you can still include the Trivial stuff too!<br />
And the other thing is … ,“</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> I said, as I poured ALL the water into the jar, <b><i>“You’ll
not only have a really full LIFE – you’ll still have time to have a drink with
your Mates!”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought
and Decision-Making</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
dilemma with Thought – that part of our Relationship with our Thinking – is
that there are three types of effective Thinking. Rather like there were five
types of ingredients in The Mayonnaise Jar experiment. These are what I would
call:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Conscious
Cognitive – Unconscious Intuitive – Heuristic Impulsive.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Conscious
Cognitive is slow, methodical, ponderous at times. Here, we are employing our
intellect and our learned and acquired knowledge. It is an almost deductive
process of <b>consideration</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Unconscious
Intuitive is fast, non-linear, analogue in nature, and at times on a level we
give completely different labels to – such as Gut Feelings or Wisdom. We are
often baffled as to where this thinking has come from, because it is SO very
different from Conscious Cognitive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Heuristic
Impulsive is also fast, and yet is both conscious and cognitive. Heuristics are
cognitive biases. We have a tendency to apply heuristics when we feel driven –
through constraints – to make up our minds QUICKLY. Here we act on Impulse and
not Intuition – there is no accompanying <i>Gut Feeling</i> that is present
with the impulsive decision. It is just a cognitive conclusion that we
MUST do SOMETHING – and RIGHT NOW.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The key
to ALL our Decision Making, to my mind, is to Understand the 3 types of
effective Thinking; to realise that we have a propensity to engage in high
levels of ineffective thinking; and to practice growing our Understanding by
placing it into a frame of LEARNING.<br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In the frame of Learning, we bring a conscious awareness of noticing to what we
are Thinking, what we are Deciding, and what Behaviour (action) ensues from
that Decision. As we become more familiar with our interpretations – we are
growing our Understanding of how we are harnessing the Power of Thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">It sounds
like almost like a Life’s Worth of Work …<br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yet, if we engage with this frame of Learning, the outcome enhances our Life SO
MUCH that it is Worth the Work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Our Decision Making becomes
clearer, lighter, uncluttered<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We seem to have far more
time on our hands to take on work and complete tasks<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Our Learning of New Things
becomes effortless<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is an ease to our
everyday living, regardless of what the world throws at us<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The interference of Ego and
Wayward Thinking is far less prevalent, and we return to being Grounded
much sooner<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We recognise ineffective
thinking for what it REALLY is<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We notice that we are acting
far less on Impulse<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We trust in the wisdom of
our Intuition<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We are Single-Minded and in
a state of Equilibrium<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">We are living in a state of
Effortless Wellbeing – or Wu Wei.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">All of
the above, are inextricably linked with seeing and living from the Inside-Out
nature of reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Conclusion</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The
Mayonnaise Jar experiment engages the participants in the 3 Types of effective
thinking. It engages the participants in calibrating the most important things
of value to them in their lives (the Golf Balls) – and then placing them in the
correct order of priority in terms of their focus and attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To be
fair, it is an experiment I should go back to, dust off and polish up, and then
present out to the world once again.<br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Perhaps I should present it to the fellow-members of my regular discussion
group?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Dare I be
<b><i>maverick</i></b> enough to risk that?<br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Decisions – Decisions!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-49250830227938770672018-02-27T16:56:00.001+00:002018-02-27T16:56:48.320+00:00Balancing Our Lives<br />
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Kuzushi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: white;">Today began with watching a
video from a good friend in which he talked about the principal of <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kuzushi</i></b>,
or breaking balance, in martial arts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: white;">So, what is it, you may well ask?</span><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #444444; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It is a Japanese term for unbalancing an opponent in martial
arts. As such, it is refers to not just an unbalancing, but the process of
putting an opponent to a position, where his stability, hence the ability to
regain uncompromised balance for attacking is destroyed. (Wikipaedia) </span><span style="color: #002060; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I then read a
fascinating article on Kuzushi, here:<br />
</span><a href="http://judoinfo.com/kuzushi/"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">http://judoinfo.com/kuzushi/</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> - however there was an interesting section of that article that I am
going to paraphrase now because it rather sums up part of our human frailty,
our relationship with our thinking, and other areas of my working life!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Getting in Our Own Way<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Most people do a
fine job of getting mentally off-balance by tripping over the metaphorical
paving stones of their lives with monotonous regularity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When we have an
awareness of the Inside-Out nature of Reality, life becomes a whole heap
simpler and easier. We understand how everything that we experience is constructed
– on the INSIDE - from our perceptual predictions, and conclusions, which are
nothing more than an entire THOUGHT PROCESS in action! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The illusion that
catches us out – every time – is that we have been, since a very young age,
guided to see the world on the OUTSIDE and believe that everything out there is
REALLY happening to us. This is the very real illusion of the Outside-In nature
of Reality!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is a third
factor at play here – otherwise the Inside-Outers would spend their lives in a
state of perpetual enlightenment! And that third factor is this:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Our HUMAN FRAILTY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Even if we DO have
an understanding of Inside-Out, we will still get caught out in moments of
Human Frailty! <br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And there is a quote by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin that points us towards what
is happening in these moments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“We are not Human Beings
having a Spiritual Experience. <br />
We are Spiritual Beings having a Human Experience.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">However, the good
thing about our having an Understanding of the Inside-Out nature of Reality is
that even with our human frailties, we can return to a place of mental
Groundedness in a much more quick and timely way – rather akin to “HITTING the
mind’s RESET BUTTON!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">During the period
of complete re-alignment of my Inner Life, at the end of 2016, I staged – and won
– a pitched battle with my Ego. Since that time, I have only once succumbed to
Ego peddling his Outside-In wares. And, after some soul-searching, I vowed then
that I would confront Ego every time from then on - rather than take a softer
and more benign approach. As I saw it, my life is far too short to wait for
things to settle down and return to a ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoSubtitle">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">** Dan Millman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Feeling the Imbalance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One way to view our
relationship with our Thinking is to be aware that our Personal Self, (our EGO)
is looking to catch us out at every opportunity that we give that part; when
our guard is down, when we are vulnerable, when we are FRAIL. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">This is when our relationship with our Thinking is in a place of IMBALANCE. <br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ego recognises and thrives on IMBALANCE, sometimes even on <u>any</u> degree of
imbalance – no matter how small. Yet, at these moments, our greater self can
also recognise – by feeling in the body – that there is IMBALANCE. This, for
me, is the trigger to confront. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Drawing on the
martial arts parallel, it is certainly not easy for Ego to attack our frailty
without using a force and movement that makes Ego also vulnerable - to a counter
attack. <br />
Learning to take advantage of your Ego's own imbalance requires a finely tuned
sense of timing. In order to be at the right place at the right time, you
generally have to anticipate Ego’s movements, which is a skill that requires a
great deal of self-knowledge and practical experience. <br />
It is a skill akin to applying a form of Kuzushi in our own, mental, Inner
Martial Arts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">En Garde!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Another way to
apply mental Kuzushi is to force Ego into a weak position. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There are many ways
of being that will result in your Ego responding in a predictable way so that
you can anticipate it and take advantage of it. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ego feeds off all the personal stuff. This
is a crucial point to remember.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In everyday life, Ego
will remind us when we notice that we have been taken advantage of – or have
been overlooked. This, you could say, is the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Don’t you know who I am?”</i></b>
factor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One of my life-long
issues, betes-noire if you like, is around queueing. This is the whole thing of
“waiting your turn” and then being upstaged by someone who has just arrived,
caught the eye of the server, and has pushed in when the server asks, “Who’s
next?” <br />
Ego eagerly reminds me, “Stand up for yourself! You’ve dutifully and
respectfully waited, and they’ve pushed in and shown NO respect. Tell them –
tell them! Don’t just lie down like a meek lamb. You’re better than this! You are
worthy of being treated better than a simple nobody!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ego and our Values<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">When we
investigate, elicit and catalogue our Values – a great fact-finding exercise of
our inner, yet human, self - we need to cultivate an additional awareness.<br />
And this is the thing:-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
It is RIGHT HERE, in the highly personal area of Values, where Ego really
thrives and can totally and regularly upset our apple-cart!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">For although our
main Values can be our greatest drivers and inspirational attributes, they are
also HIGHLY PERSONAL. We hold them much nearer to our sense of Identity than
say our ability to dance well, or our choice of holiday destination, or the
make of car we drive. <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Personal</i></b>
is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lingua franca</i> of the Ego.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I’ve already
pointed out that RESPECT is a highly placed Value for me, and how I invest far
too much of myself, my Identity, into that Value. <br />
<br />
Another, for me, in this area is Generosity.<br />
Add Generosity to Respect and I’m slipping towards vulnerable – especially when
I hold a door open for someone, usually a lady (since I was taught as a boy to
do such chivalrous, good-mannered things.) If I’m thanked or acknowledged, then
the NOW moment moves on. If the person sweeps by, nose-in-the-air and with a
disdainful curl of the lip, then I’m already bristling. Ego steps in, goading
me to react. <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Another is my sense of Fair Play (a spin-off of Respect). In fact, the whole
thing of Fair Play has led me towards some very bad behaviour at times …
whenever I am called, or thought of as, A CHEAT. Cheating is an anathema to me
– and Fair Play is again very close to my Identity. Being called a Cheat is
probably worse than someone insulting my Mother – daft though it may seem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">EGO feeds a lot in
and around these high-grade personal Values.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">For me, Tenacity
and Passion and Respect, are key components of a Warrior Spirit, and will
enable me to live with a peaceful heart. The battles and wars are all Inner and
all my own. <br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I have been fortunate, and I have defeated Ego. Occasionally Ego sends out a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">raiding
party</i></b>, to plunder what he can from my Peace. Most of the time I am
aware and comfortable in my vigilance. <br /><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And when Ego takes off with a little more spoils than expected … then there is
always a new dawn tomorrow. This is when Groundedness returns with further Insights
and Understandings, and life returns to a state of equilibrium where everything
is in balance once more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Life goes on,
unfolding day by day. </span>With balance in our lives, everything we do and
every action we take is remarkably uncluttered! There is an ease to life, and
we seem to be aware of so much more space and time to do things! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we start to get in our own way, then there's clutter at every turn. <span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="SubtitleChar"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="SubtitleChar"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">** Dan Millman
</span></span><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
Dan Millman’s book, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Body Mind Mastery</i></b> was one of the very first books to accompany
me on this journey of discovery. By the time I came to ready <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Way
of the Peaceful Warrior</i></b>, (see link below) I was already well down the
road to a new and permanent perspective. <br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003LBRISM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1">https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003LBRISM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1</a>
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<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-34289032961515452642018-02-02T11:46:00.000+00:002018-02-02T11:46:04.365+00:00Visualisation in Action - Part 2: Dead Aim for Bowlers<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
This is part of a collection of 3 short reports that examine how to achieve enhanced performance and greater accuracy by improving
VISUAL data processing utilizing these particular mental processes:<br />
<br />
<b><i>Visualization<br />
R.A.S (Reticular Activating System, used for filtering data)<br />
Laser-like focus and concentration using Dead Aim principles<br />
</i></b><br />
As you read the reports, you will notice how these particular mental processes
are inextricably linked through each skill examination in turn, as we study :<br />
<br />
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<!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Part 2 - DEAD AIM FOR BOWLERS</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The human brain is an amazing set of control
processors - and those who cultivate mind-body links whether through conscious
or unconscious processes or a balance of the two, can achieve extraordinary
states and outcomes.<br />
<br />
Bowling over-arm, in cricket, is such a complex physical process that I like to
deal with one element at a time, otherwise there is requirement overload. But
what about the players' expectations within the coaching paradigm? Be sure to
factor these into your strategic plan and the progress will be of geometric
proportions.<br />
<br />
Bowlers of all ages love to hit the stumps – it reinforces self-efficacy and
has a real feel-good factor. SO, the expectational judgement is usually to hit
the stumps...AND if you can add in a length target as an alternative to the
strike then they can measure progress in two dimensions. Then they can quickly
grasp those “line and length” encouragements and exhortations from coaches and
team mates alike.<br />
<br />
But whether it is hearing the requirements as spoken, or grasping the argument
and feeling comfortable with their actions, the widest and open of the senses
in this area is the <b>Visual</b>. So, use
it. And I don't mean just use it - but USE IT.<br />
We all know and use phrases like laser-like focus, pinpoint accuracy, but if
you translate them into a physical field for accuracy practice then you will be
surprised by the results.<br />
<br />
I placed a small blue hoop (about 15in diameter) on a length in the nets and a
visible <i>‘Stumpi’</i> square-shaped foam target on the top of off stump. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>I stood with the bowlers and we assessed the
visual field.</li>
<li>T<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;">he area of net flooring within the hoop
appeared as a thin green smear from some 20yds distant.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;">I got them to draw an imaginary line from the
middle of the stump target down to the visual green "smear".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;">They were to then focus on this point, and
only this point, as they ran in - taking no conscious regard of any part their
action.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The sensual dissociation took no more than
2-3 balls and then the positive outcomes really started to kick in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">
Their levels of consistency of length and line were extraordinary - and of
course the <b><i>Feel Good</i></b> factor
and sense of achievement for them all was immense. These weren't seasoned or
elite bowlers - just your average learning Joes!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We then changed the bowling line for left-handed
bats and then also changed length parameters - by moving the hoop nearer or
further away from the stumps or to the other side. The effect was immediate and in keeping with previous results. The bowlers were
able to adjust for LH bats/change of lengths merely by processing the new
sensory input data from the eyes.<br />
<br />
Using dead aim, especially practicing with visual markers as guides, is hugely
successful. The bonus is that, by focussing closely upon a very small single
point, when the outcome is not 100% successful on point hitting, it is
certainly 75-80% accurate. And that level of accuracy is still good enough to
qualify as a “good ball”!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
So how do you translate it into real match situations where they won’t have the
hoop to put down as a marker for the <b><i>horizontal</i></b>
field? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This is where careful pitch scrutiny is vital,
so that zones (akin to our green smear) can be recognized from a distance. As a
bowler yourself, or as a coach or manager telling your players - <br />
Do the visualisation and plotting of detailed points from both bowling ends -
and allow for the line to left handers as well as right. The big plus to
remember is that the bowlers will always have the stumps as markers for the <b><i>vertical</i></b> field, so they draw the
imaginary line back from off stump (or just outside) just as far as the length
they want to bowl.<br />
<br />
Most bowlers will have <b>Visual</b> as
their primary (lead) or certainly secondary re-presentational system. This is
why dead aim targeting is so important.<br />
Just using words like <b><i>“find a spot
and aim for it”</i></b> will not work anything like as well. You need to give
them ALL the visual handles or it will take much longer for them. And as we all
know too well, distractions destroy concentration!<br />
<br />
This is such a portable skill that it can be applied to ANY set of
circumstances, venues, etc. It relies purely on the volume and undistracted
quality of the bowlers’ own visual data input.<br />
<br />
Do you know any bowlers who do this? <br />
Try it yourself and see.<br />
<br />
<b>Dissociating</b> from the other senses
(audible, kinaesthetic and particularly <b>internal
dialogue</b>) is very important and has a direct bearing on the consistency of
your outcomes.<br />
<br />
Why, you may ask?<br />
<br />
Switching off other sensual data input from the RAS* actually means your brain
will process <b>more</b> detail from the
visual data. With more data input the mind-body link performs better, and with
better exclusion of distractions there is less interference and better
results.<br />
<br />
* - (RAS is Reticular Activating System - the brain's perceptive filter)<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The dissociating (switching off) process will
take practice, of course. There are countless distractions to bombard us – the
biggest of which is our own THINKING in the form our internal <i>chatter</i>
and self-talk. However, the biggest control we have over our THINKING is the
way we can control our ATTENTION (a crucial component of concentration.)
Directing our attention to as much detailed Visual Data as we can, will take it
towards 100% and reduce % attention to other data correspondingly.<br />
<br />
How liberating is this for a bowler – regardless of age? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In coaching terms, he is usually bombarded
with instructions, as the process of bowling is hugely complex. Remembering
them all is tough. Now – unless I am specifically correcting something errant
or quirky about their action, all I ask them to do is ONE thing – visually concentrate
(FOCUS and ATTENTION.)<br />
<br />
A further element of portability with this process is linking it to your
bowlers’ visualizations. This gives them a wonderful way to practice and
rehearse dissociating from other sensual input and keeps reinforcing those
mind-body links that are so vital to this process. It also gives them a further
fall-back position for times when the quality of visual data input is
compromised by extraneous noise and errant thoughts!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-14677900311989136312018-02-01T15:25:00.000+00:002018-02-01T15:25:06.700+00:00You CAN do it with your Eyes Shut! <div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Eyes have it<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the course of my
coaching cricket, I sometimes step off the well-worn path and go down the
rabbit-hole of uncertainty. And certainly, those of you who are familiar with
the more esoteric side of my methods, will be aware that I have been known to
ask players to undertake actions with either their eyes closed, or by
projecting their perceptual position from the customary 1<sup>st</sup> position
to the 2<sup>nd</sup> position. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://pjwhypno.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/watch-your-own-performance.html">http://pjwhypno.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/watch-your-own-performance.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://pjwhypno.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/visualisation-in-action-part-1-throwing.html">http://pjwhypno.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/visualisation-in-action-part-1-throwing.html</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So, WHAT happened this week to set me alight
once again?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was working with
three lads with their driving shots off the front foot. <br />
Technically, this involves their stepping towards the line of the ball, getting
their weight going forward and getting their hands to hit through the line of
the ball. <br />
Of course, they are holding a bat – and the bat is an extension of their hands
– so if their hands are hitting through the line of the ball, the bat (the
extension) will strike the ball at the optimal moment, as directed via their
watching of the ball in flight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Any <b><i>striking
the ball</i></b> process (and this one is no exception) is whittled down to 3
words:<br />
<b>Hand Eye Co-ordination<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These three lads
all had differing issues with their developing technique for this particular
shot. Issues that I would describe as their having difficulty with correcting
the errors and mistakes and being able to install the correct technical
elements into their shot execution. <br />
Put in <b><i>street terms</i></b>, they consistently “<b><i>got it wrong!</i></b>”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I set up a target
“gate” for them to hit through – first with over-arm feeds, then under-arm
feeds, and then finally I did drop-feeds for them. They failed to hit through
the gate with any consistency whatsoever. <br />
In fact, two of the lads found playing with a <b><i>straight bat</i></b> (in the
vertical plane) really awkward for their hands to manipulate the bat in the
correct way, and to get their front foot to step towards the line of the ball.
Even with the drop feed, they struggled to get their leading foot to do what
I’d asked for and what their brain wanted their foot to do.<br />
(Good job I wasn’t asking them to walk along a path at the edge of a cliff!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“Close Your Eyes!”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I set up a final
challenge with the drop feed – <br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I asked them to play with their eyes
closed!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They all looked at
me and said <b><i>“You’re joking, aren’t you? We’ll miss the ball for sure.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Trust me,” I
replied. “Here’s how we’ll set it up. Nothing will change with where you stand
and where I drop the ball. You’ll close your eyes - I will say when I’m
dropping the ball – and you will step and play the shot.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was curious with
my expectations, though not pre-judgemental. I knew from past experience that
batsmen can still hit a ball with their eyes closed, even when it is pitched
towards them from, say, 12m away – provided they are told when the ball is
pitched and how fast it will be going.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gave them all a
couple of practice goes each and reminded them where they needed to step to, in
order to be near enough to the ball to be able to hit it. We then ran the test,
with a points reward system so there was a competitive element between them
all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The results were amazing enough for them –
but they really got me buzzing!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without the aid of
being able to see what they were doing, they ALL made contact with the ball
with either bat or hand. Of the 12 balls dropped (4x3) 10 were hit off the bat
cleanly and well enough to send 7 through the gate</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>The
more accomplished player hit every ball through the gate</li>
<li>The <span style="text-indent: -18pt;">players who’d struggled with their leading foot NOW managed to step </span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><u>towards</u></b><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> the ball correctly</span></li>
<li>The
hands of these same two players had no trouble or awkwardness in playing
correctly</li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">When I
asked the accomplished player how he’d done it, he said he </span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><i><u>knew</u></i></b><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> where the
target gate was, and where the ball was. He had </span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><u>visualised</u></b><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"> their positions. His control of the shot was
immaculate.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>All the players could not believe their eyes
– which I found rather amusing. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, once again, this
does prove a number of things – we know, on the inside, far more than we think
we do. We can perform, unaided by sight, far better than we ever think we can.
How and why can this be? How does this happen?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Stuff<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I see it, there
is a conscious foreground of our attention that is not always 100% linked to
our actual bank of skills. <b>Stuff</b>,
for want of a better word, gets in the way. <br />In execution of any action we draw
upon our COMPETENCE to perform that action. In the 4 quadrants (quarters) of
the Learning Cycle, the final quadrant is UNCONSCIOUS COMPETENCE. This is the
ability to perform the action without any <b><i>conscious</i></b> thought process taking
place. <br />
From learning to drive > to writing our name > to tying up shoelaces – we
go through the learning cycle and eventually end up at Unconscious Competence. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the three lads
in the experiment: two were still at Conscious Incompetence (2<sup>nd</sup>
quadrant) and one was at Conscious Competence (3<sup>rd</sup> quadrant). They
were very much “stuck” in these quadrants too – because of the <b>Stuff</b> getting in the way of their
desire to marry up their banks of skills with the <b>foreground of their attention</b> when attempting to execute the
skills. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a dilemma
facing millions of humans worldwide on numerous occasions on a daily basis.
None of us are EVER perfect in performing ALL of the skills we have in our
banks of skills. It is our human frailty – in that we cannot seem to by-pass
the <b>Stuff</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, for the three
lads in the experiment, and myself, we all discovered a moment when their <b>Stuff</b> WAS by-passed! They suddenly
became more capable than they THOUGHT they were - they stepped out the
ordinary. <br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did this by taking away (DEPRIVING THEM) of their Visual faculty. This
brought about a change in the nature of their brain activity around the
required execution of their skills. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I KNOW that by
helping people understand the nature of their <b>Stuff</b>, they can THINK LESS and DO MORE, and for DO also read
ACHIEVE. <br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember also that the functioning of the Visual faculty is a Thought-Process …<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, for our 3 lads, suddenly with a lot less thought processing going on, they
were able to ACHIEVE more – and astound themselves! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My conclusion
therefore is this …<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
STUFF = THOUGHT<o:p></o:p></div>
Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-69795343695354733672018-02-01T12:12:00.000+00:002018-02-01T12:12:00.224+00:00Visualisation in Action - Part 1: Throwing at Targets<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>VISUALISATION IN ACTION - <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This collection of 3 short reports examines how to achieve
enhanced performance and greater accuracy by improving VISUAL data processing
utilizing these particular mental processes:<br />
<br />
<b><i>Visualization<br />
R.A.S (Reticular Activating System, used for filtering data)<br />
Laser-like focus and concentration using Dead Aim principles<br />
</i></b><br />
As you read the reports, you will notice how these particular mental processes
are inextricably linked through each skill examination in turn, as we study :<br />
<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Part 1 - Throwing and hitting targets</u></b><u><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></u><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I took a group of 8 of our Academy Cricketers aged 11-13 and
explained to them the power of visualization in relation to fielding.<br />
<br />
The key point I wanted to make to them was that by visualizing the stumps at
each end of the wicket they could build a mental map to assist with the
accuracy of their throwing in. I explained that in the course of the pick up
and throw, the eyes had little time to search for the "target" with a
good degree of accuracy – given the requirement to watch the ball into the
hands first. This would necessitate the need for the brain to “best guess” the
target area, and best here would be relative to the amount of hard visual data
gathered. By visualizing the target(s) first, making them bigger, brighter,
bolder, closer, then this would enhance their capabilities. PLUS – if they were
to bring principles of Dead Aiming into the process then these capabilities
would be enhanced by geometric proportions.<br />
<br />
The Dead Aiming principles I am referring to are: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Observing an area of the
target in fine detail</li>
<li>Concentrating on a single spot in that area</li>
<li>Maintaining total observation and concentration on that spot in the course of
performing the physical process or action</li>
<li>Significantly reducing the
levels of sensual data input from all bar the visual.</li>
</ul>
They visualized three target wickets, the middle of which was a single stump.
They each had three goes and, starting with their backs to the targets, were
required to pick up a bounce off the wall and turn and throw across the sports
hall at the targets - aiming at whichever one they wanted.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First time round
there was one hit from 24 throws.<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They were then told to continue with their visualizations and there was to be a
second round of throws at the targets. This time they would be required to
throw with their eyes closed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Result - There were 9 hits out of 24 throws - 5
of which were on the single stump target.<br />
<br />
The interesting points were: <br />With the eyes closed, the target would only be seen
in visual memory and the physical processes of the throw adjusted to that
directional information. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plus, the 'clean' (undistracted) nature of this
hot-wired data will also have contributed in some way to the resulting accuracy
of the throws.<br />
<br />
It goes without saying, however, that good throwing technique is THE most
important thing here - but it’s a good example of what the mental processes can
bring to a physical activity.<br />
<br />
If you have the chance I suggest you do this little experiment for yourself.
<br />It’s a good practice for your visualization skills anyway, plus I'm sure you'll
arrive at the same conclusions we did.<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had to conclude the experiment after just 2 rounds of throws due to time
constraints on the session - but the message was loud and clear to us all who
were there. <br />
After that 15 min exercise everyone was in no doubt as to the <b>Power of Visualization</b>!<o:p></o:p></div>
Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-66302214665519175962018-01-22T13:49:00.000+00:002018-01-22T13:49:41.430+00:00Footwear and the Bridlepath<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Booting-Up<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I had two walks
last Saturday: a ‘tough’ morning walk, along the South West Coast Path with
some steep climbs on wet terrain – and a simpler, though longer, afternoon walk
involving the beach at Woolacombe. The weather in the morning was misty with
increasingly hard rain; the afternoon was gloriously sunny by comparison – and that
can happen in January, on our coastline!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the autumn of
2016 I purchased some walking shoes, which have stood me in good stead on my
walks, hikes and climbs since. Until, that was when, in November 2017, I climbed
up West Mill Tor and then across to Yes Tor on Dartmoor. It was then that I
realised I needed walking boots for traversing the rocky and boggy terrain I
encountered that day. <br />
In December 2017 I road-tested my new boots going across
Saunton Down, back in North Devon, and found them ideal for the wet, muddy and
slippery footpaths along the way. Appropriate footwear can elicit a felt sense
of confidence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Brave or Foolhardy?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
On the Saturday morning
walk I was part way up a long, steep climb when I met a couple coming down.
This was a climb that I’d fallen and slipped down some distance in the autumn
of 2016, and it was a wake-up call for me. <br />
<b><i>“Respect
and attend to everything about the journey – for there are potential mishaps
around every corner. You may not always get lucky.”</i></b> I got lucky that
day.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
To return to the walking
couple - the lady also had two small dogs with her, on leads, whilst her husband
was about 5m behind, on the steps coming down. I could tell from her voice and
demeanour she was not fully at ease, so I asked, “Are you OK?”<br />
<b><i>“No,
I’ve just had a fall and I’m a bit shaken up, as I’ve only got a plastic
kneecap,”</i></b> she replied. I didn’t tell her I’ve had one knee with no
patella since 1976, since it has never stopped me from doing exercise or
playing sport. As I was telling her the variation routes to the next village
along the coast, my eyes came to rest on the wellington boots she was wearing –
and I remembered my previous fall on the same walk. <br />
“Go easy on the rest of the descent,” I said, wishing her well. I did think
that she should at least consider passing the dogs over to her husband – as the
toughest bits on the descent were yet to come. Hopefully, they all got safely
to where they were going, though I did think she was both brave and foolhardy
at the same time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Coast Path and Bridleway<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The signposts I encounter
on my coastal walks invariably show both the <b>Coast Path</b> AND any linked <b>Bridleway</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircMUYpNEmacOTJYJc9XQSXcz3Kp9Rs0jvKpD9sh5wZQFp3-XQtDYHg7l-_N4cFNhAqaoLLLi9nVEZI1pbGEVlE1ZTqoDwRXpOBvQ4R0HYs0luuXjfEW2TdKmTz9uR72lhmoFZ7Zvdn2I/s1600/IMG_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircMUYpNEmacOTJYJc9XQSXcz3Kp9Rs0jvKpD9sh5wZQFp3-XQtDYHg7l-_N4cFNhAqaoLLLi9nVEZI1pbGEVlE1ZTqoDwRXpOBvQ4R0HYs0luuXjfEW2TdKmTz9uR72lhmoFZ7Zvdn2I/s400/IMG_1034.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
On my afternoon walk I encountered a sign rather similar to the one pictured – and it was whilst negotiating the muddy and horse-worn pathway that I mused on the juxtaposition of the two descriptions – coming up with the actual and also metaphorical signposts of:<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.9333px;">Coast Way and Bridal Path</span></i></b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It only took a momentary bit of further musing – for me to arrive at linking Bridle Path – and Bridal Path with Appropriate Footwear.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Our Journeys in Life</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all undertake
many journeys in our lives – both physically and metaphorically. Some of the
journeys are regular and mundane; some are Life changing; some are on coast
paths and some are on bridleways, perhaps even on horseback; sometimes we are
coasting, free-wheeling, and sometimes we’re are striding out with a purpose;
sometimes we are on a “Bridal Path”, stepping into pastures completely new;
sometimes we are on the path more travelled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Whichever the journeys, and whatever the purpose, we need to ask ourselves whether
we have appropriate footwear. Will our footwear carry us, with confidence,
along the way – or will we find ourselves on a hill steeper than we might have
imagined, wearing wellington boots? Wellies are great for walking squelchy and
muddy meadows or testing out the depth of flooded roads before venturing to
drive through them – as I discovered on yesterday's travels – however, they do not have good
enough tread or support to see us safely down a steep and slippery descent. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our best footwear
for any metaphorical journey is, arguably, the <u>last</u> thing we consider
before setting out – unless it is part of our checklist!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Consider the Bridal
Path itself, or a new job, or emigration, moving house, going to University, transitioning
from primary to secondary school. These are all crucial journeys, laced with
and enriched by a considerable amount of emotion. Are we prepared enough for
these types of journey? Or does the emotional involvement distract us from the real
physical and mental metaphors of checking out that which is often the furthest
away from our brains, or our minds – OUR FEET! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that, in
terms of my emotion-filled journeys, I took on a number of them without any
preparation or consideration of appropriate “footwear”. The “shoes” I wore on
those journeys made them difficult to negotiate at best – and doomed to failure
at the other end of the scale.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Self - Realisation<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, you might say,
blundering footloose into those journeys and learning THE HARD WAY is all about
Life’s Lessons. The ME that I AM right now would have been different if I had
not learned the hard way. The mistakes and the learnings are all part of MY
STORY.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What if I don’t realise? What if I don’t learn?
What then?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well then our STORY,
our life, goes blundering off in another direction, doesn’t it? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And there’s a point
I’d like to make about the word Réalisation – in French. <br />
It actually means PRODUCTION. So, if we are to become the PRODUCERS, the
shapers, of our lives – then we are engaged in our own Réalisation. The Réalisation
of our selves.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Self Réalisation<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I started on
the journey of Self Réalisation, I knew was undertaking a much more sure-footed
journey. This is now a journey of focussed intent and purpose; well beyond the
mistakes and error-strewn journeys I took when much younger. True, I <b><u>thought</u></b> I had intent and purpose
back then. <br />
Now, I get a felt sense that the intent and purpose is aligned with who
I truly am. I’m almost tempted to use the word <b><i>authentic</i></b> here, even
though it is much-bandied-about buzz-word of our times. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here, yet again,
are the words of R D Laing’s timeless quote about the divided self:<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“If I don’t know I don’t know – I think I know<br />
If I don’t know I know – I think I don’t know”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And when we get to the pathway of Self-Realisation, there is this:<br />
<b><i>When
I know I know – then I don’t Think <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bon Voyage!</span>Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-783138550764577694.post-49640931529247152672018-01-15T18:50:00.000+00:002018-01-15T19:10:56.950+00:00Get your walking boots on!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The New Year has begun! The winter walking season is here and now!<br />
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It may be wet and windy today, but last Wednesday (10th January) I was out and about in Woolacombe and Mortehoe, from Marine Drive to Morte Point ... and back. The weather was beautiful and I was testing out the Zhiyun Smooth-Q gimbal. Practice is always necessary, and we all have to start somewhere! The video above, filmed on smartphone, gives a clue as to where I am on the learning curve. Next outing I hope to set it up for GoPro filming.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZreAf6ZepfmqlxOV8eXV0PVLo55X8-oGNe2xbHxnCIqBUF0OxutiN007hjdItbbanapZdFnozqJAwVnJAK7ZAxLzHnzKbztpEJ21mxSgwoNrs52w6UhJ5v5_62mYsOFlUFJvMmHGfjM/s1600/IMG_20180110_130922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZreAf6ZepfmqlxOV8eXV0PVLo55X8-oGNe2xbHxnCIqBUF0OxutiN007hjdItbbanapZdFnozqJAwVnJAK7ZAxLzHnzKbztpEJ21mxSgwoNrs52w6UhJ5v5_62mYsOFlUFJvMmHGfjM/s320/IMG_20180110_130922.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On next Saturday, 20th January, I'm doing the Mortehoe and Woolacombe walking set - weather permitting. Here is the link to the Eventbrite page <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/walking-on-the-south-west-coast-path-tickets-42202340336" target="_blank">WALKING THE SOUTH WEST COAST PATH</a><br />
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It would be great to see you there!<br />
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<br />Peter Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06133206170200773786noreply@blogger.com0