Earl Nightingale (March 12, 1921 – March 25, 1989) was, in my opinion, one of the great American motivational speakers and authors, known as the “Dean of Personal Development.”

“Lead the Field” is a series of six discs comprised of mp3 audio tracks for 12 separate sessions.

The following has been taken from the Nightingale-Conant web-site:

“Hundreds of thousands of people have profited from the wisdom and savvy of Lead the Field!

In fact, it has often been referred to as the “Program of Presidents” because so many top executives have incorporated Earl’s guidance and wisdom into their management philosophies.

When you listen to this landmark program you’ll be awestruck by the simplicity and timelessness of Earl’s words and ideas.

• Double your mental capability
• Recognize and easily overcome the biggest stumbling block to high achievement
• Dramatically improve your luck by changing one simple thing
• Make success unavoidable with an easy 3-minute-a-day exercise
• Assess your potential worth, and start increasing it now

Lead the Field has arguably changed more lives and created more millionaires than any other program Nightingale-Conant has produced.”

The “Lead the Field” audio series constitutes a wealth of Earl Nightingale’s wisdom and can be played over and over again. In addition, several of his videos are available on YouTube, including “The Strangest Secret” and “The Boss” , and are well worth watching as well.

Nightingale-Conant’s “Lead The Field” audio series consists of six CD’s, comprising twelve of session by Earl Nightingale. The audio files are in mp3 format and can be imported into iTunes to upload onto your mp3 player. The package also includes a 67 page manual having a transcript and a series of exercises for each session.

 The content for each of the twelve sessions is as follows:

DISC 1

The Magic Word

1. Earl’s story
2. Attitude – the magic word
3. When we change, our surroundings change
4. Attitude is a reflection of the person inside
5. How one develops a good attitude
6. What happens to you as a result of your attitude

Acres of Diamonds

7. The story of Russell Herman Conwell
8. Collaborators in creation
9. Staying ahead of the crowd

DISC 2

A Worthy Destination

1. Some stories of inspiration
2. We become what we think about
3. The power of Goal setting
4. True joy and satisfaction
5. The successful 5%
6. The secret of success

Miracle Of Your Mind

7. What your mind brings you
8. Researching man’s potential
9. The power of your thoughts
10. Exercising your mind

DISC 3

Destiny in the Balance

1. Determining the direction of our destinies
2. “As you sow shall you reap”
3. Thinking of ways to serve
4. The rewards for service

Seed For Achievement

5. The principle of integrity
6. Guidelines for happiness
7. What true success is
8. Using our leisure time correctly

DISC 4

It’s Easier to Win

1. What motivates people to live as they do
2. Conditioning factors of youth
3. Rewards come from service
4. Willie Loman’s story

How Much Are You Worth?

5. How your worth can be determined
6. The four basic functions of a corporation
7. You can’t stand still
8. Knowledge is power
9. Happiness is an inside job

DISC 5

Let’s Talk About Money

1. Dispelling myths about money
2. When preparedness meets opportunity
3. Two steps to increase your value
4. Two kinds of people
5. Finding ways to increase your service to others

One Thing You Can’t Hide

6. Climbing to the peak of the pyramid
7. The study of language
8. Focusing on your iinterests
9. Obtaining a personal library of knowledge
10. The power of persistence and determination

DISC 6

Today’s Greatest Adventure

1. Living a day at a time
2. What each day should consist of
3. Separating the important from the unimportant
4. Removing doubt, fear and worry from your life

The Person On The White Horse

5. The power of being a leader
6. Being good at one thing
7. Panaphobia
8. Becoming a leader

Earl Nightingale

As a Depression-era child, Earl Nightingale was hungry for knowledge. From the time he was a young boy, he would frequent the Long Beach Public “Library in California, searching for the answer to the question, “How can a person, starting from scratch, who has no particular advantage in the world, reach the goals that he feels are important to him, and by so doing, make a major contribution to others?” His desire to find an answer, coupled with his natural curiosity about the world and its workings spurred him to become one of the world’s foremost experts on success and what makes people successful. Earl Nightingale’s early career began when, as a member of the Marine Corps, he volunteered to work at a local radio station as an announcer. The Marines also gave him a chance to travel, although he only got as far as Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Earl managed to be one of the few survivors aboard the battleship Arizona. After five more years in the service, Earl and his wife moved first to Phoenix then Chicago to build what was to be a very fruitful career in network radio.

- from “Lead The Field”

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In what areas of your life are you supremely confident (but not arrogant or prideful)?  In what areas of your life are you insecure or lacking confidence?  Knowing your strengths and weaknesses provides valuable insights with respect to where to most effectively focus your efforts in your Personal Development program.

In Napoleon Hill’s companion books, “Think and Grow Rich” and “Law of Success“, he has provided us with an idealized list of the most desirable character traits of the most successful people of his time as the foundation for his Personal Philosophy of Success.  The reason the books, particularly “Think and Grow Rich“, remain bestsellers is that the information they contain is just as pertinent today as it was when initially published.

Undesirable character traits can be identified and eliminated through conscious effort over time. It will be difficult, however, the first step to resolving an undesirable character trait is to identify it in the first place. Similarly, to manifest or strengthen desirable character traits in your life, you must first identify those traits desired. Easy enough to say, but how to you undertake such change?

Napoleon Hill’s Character Categories

In his books, Napoleon Hill discusses a diverse suite of character traits identified in his examination and study of many of America’s most successful business men and women, entrepreneurs, inventors, politicians and so on. Having identified these traits, he then incorporated them into his “Philosophy of Success” (or Achievement). The Character Traits he identified are as follows:

Personal Practice – specific to an individual

1. Specialized Knowledge – (Think and Grow Rich (TGR) – Ch. 5)
2. Organized Planning – (TGR – Ch. 7)
3. Habit of Doing More Than Paid For – (Law of Success (LoS – Ch. 9)
4. Habit of Saving – (LoS – Ch. 4)
5. Mental Programming – (TGR – Ch. 4)
6. Goal Setting – (LoS – Ch. 2)

Practice involving “Others”

Master Mind Principle – (TGR – Ch. 10, LoS – Ch. 1)

Character Traits

Those that pertain to “Self”

1. Faith – (TGR – Ch. 2, 3)
2. Persistence – (TGR – Ch. 9)
3. Imagination – (TGR – Ch. 6, LoS – Ch. 6)
4. Self-Confidence – (LoS – Ch. 3)
5. Enthusiasm – (LoS – Ch. 7)
6. Self-Control – (LoS – Ch.
7. Accurate Thought – (LoS – Ch. 11)
8. Concentration – (LoS – Ch. 12)
9. Decision / Decisiveness – (TGR – Ch.
10. Failure / Defeat – (LoS – Ch. 14)
11. Mystery of Sex Transmutation – (TGR – Ch. 11, LoS – Ch. 10)
12. The Golden Rule – (LoS – Ch. 16)

Those that pertain to your interaction with others

1. Pleasing Personality – (LoS – Ch. 11)
2. Co-operation – (LoS – Ch. 13)
3. Tolerance – (LoS – Ch. 15)
4. Initiative and Leadership – (LoS – Ch. 5)

Identifying our Strengths and Weaknesses

This is the most difficult aspect of a Personal Development Program as you are, by definition, biased.  If you are familiar with Napoleon Hill’s Master Mind Principle and have a group set up, you might try to engage your Master Mind Group in a program of identifying each others strengths and weaknesses.  Be forewarned, however, that such a proposed program would present considerable challenges as you would be entering a highly emotionally charged arena.

Another valuable resource would be to survey your immediate circle of family and friends.  Again, be forewarned, there will be a high degree of trust involved here in that your family and friends must be confident they can provide the comments and insights critical to your evaluation without any backlash.  Again, receiving commentary with regard to your weaknesses is never comfortable and you, in turn, must trust the people from whom you seek comments.

There are also a number of on-line and/or hard copy psychological surveys / evaluations you might try (for example, a DISC profile).  A local psychologist might be able to provide a quick assessment or direct you to other resources for these purposes.  Finally, you might resort to reading “Think and Grow Rich” and “The Law of Success” and undertaking a self-evaluation.

The Sum Total of your Thoughts

An important fact to remember and ponder is that you are the sum total of your thoughts.  Who you are and where you are today is the result of your thinking, which have developed into your core belief system, which governs how you react and respond to any given circumstance or situation.  If you wish to change the manner in which you react or respond, you will need to change your thought process, and possibly aspects of youor core belief system.

“Reality” is what we take to be true. What we take to be true is what we believe. What we believe is based upon our perceptions. What we perceive depends upon what we look for. What we look for depends upon what we think. What we think depends upon what we perceive. What we perceive determines what we believe. What we believe determines what we take to be true. What we take to be true is our reality.”

The Dancing Wu Li Masters

Resources
The following are possible resources for further reading and/or self-improvement.

Think and Grow Rich
Law of Success

Integrated Success Program – Self-Improvement Blogs

Integrated Success Program on Squidoo

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“… the one and only thing over which anyone has been given the complete, unchallengeable privilege of personal control” (Napoleon Hill).

Without an awareness of what we are allowing to enter (and, thereby, “program”) our mind, we allow others to determine our attitudes, generally to our detriment. As a result, people generallly have a negative or neutral attitude towards themselves and life in general, reacting to each circumstance and situation essentially on Auto-pilot.

Developing a Positive Mental Attitude

By proactively developing a Positive Mental Attitude, we effectively build safeguards against situations in which life seems to turn against us. We tend to see the glass half full, rather than hald empty. We tend to search for the silver lining or the lesson to be learned from each setback. We tend to be optimistic rather than pessimistic. As Earl Nightingale states in his “Lead The Field” program, “It begins with Attitude”.

What is a Positive Mental Attitude?

“A Positive Mental Attitude is the sum total of hopes, wishes, and beliefs, added up and transmuted into FAITH!”
- Napoleon Hill

You Can Work Your Own Miracles

The following material has been taken and/or modified from Napoleon Hill’s “You Can Work Your Own Miracles”.

We have each been provided with a brain, our single Greatest Asset. Analogous to today’s most powerful computers, we have the ability to “program” our minds and determine the nature of our response to life, either posiitve, neutral or negative. Disregarding chemical imbalances in the mind and/or mental illness, we have the ability to change the nature of our response to circumstance, the nature of our interavtion and response to the people we encounter on a daily basis … in short, the nature of our fundamental attitude.

What is a “Positive Mental Attitude”?

The Habits

A Positive Mental Attitude is the habit:

- of searching for “the seed of an equivalent benefit” which comes with every failure, defeat. or adversity we experience

- of keeping the mind busily engaged in connection with the circumstances and things one desires in life

- of looking upon all unpleasant circumstances with which one meets as merely opportunities for one to test one’s capacity to rise above them

- of evaluating all problems, and distinguishing the difference between those one can master and those one cannot control

- of acting with definiteness of purpose, with full belioef in both the soundness of that purpose and one’s ability to achieve it

- of going beyond the letter of one’s responsibility and rendering more and better service than one is obligated to render, and doing it in a friendly, pleasing manner- of choosing a definite goal and marching forward toward its attainment without hesitating- of looking for the good qualities in other people and expecting to find them- of mastering all emotions- of facing all the facts which affect one’s life, both the pleasant and the unpleasant

A Summary

A Positive Mental Attitude is “… the recognition of the universal power of Infinite Intelligence, and the knowledge that it can be appropritade and directed to the attainment of definite ends through the medium of FAITH.

It is the medium of all forms of “Mind-conditioning” …”

It is the medium by which “All habits, good or bad, voluntary or involuntary, are established …

A Positive Mental Attitude is the sole medium by which one may exercise the inherent right to maintain complete control over his own mind

Positive Mental Attitude

“… is everything, because it influences every experience with which we meet, and it is under our complete control at all times.

“What a profound thought it is to recognize that the one thing which can give us success or bring us failire, bless us with peace of mind, or curse us with misery all the days of our lives, is simply the privilege of taking possession of our own minds and guiding them to whatever ends we choose, through our mental attitude”.

- Napoleon Hill

Controlling Your Mental Attitude

Factors for Control

Mental Attitude can be influenced and controlled by a number of factors, such as:

(1) “A BURNING DESIRE for the attainment of a definite purpose based upon one or more of the nine basic motives which activate all human endeavour.

(2) Conditioning the mind to automatically choose and carry out definite positive objectives …

(3) A close association with people who inspire active engagement in positive purposes

(4) Auto-suggestion through which the mind is constantly given positive directives until it attracts only that for which these directives call

(5) A profound recognition, through its adoption and use, of the individual’s exclusive privilege of controlling and directing his own mind, and

(6) The aid of a machine by which the subconscious mind can be given definite directives while one sleeps”

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The headlines are unbelievable, the video is stunning!

A man comes across a woman being mugged, gets stabbed repeatedly in the chest coming to her aid, then lies dying on the sidewalk for over an hour and a half while people walk past in … in New York!

What is so unbelievable is that up to 20 people walked past him, some paused to stare at him and one even took a cell phone picture of him as he lay dying! Couldn’t one of them have dialed 9-1-1 so as to get some medical assistance for the man? Couldn’t the woman he rescued have called police to report the foiled mugging and secured assistance for her rescuer?

The only answer I can find is the “Bystander Problem” described in “The Tipping Point“. While the “Bystander Problem” may provide an explanation as to why no one took the initiative to call for assistance, it doesn’t absolve any of them for not doing so.

News Stories Document Tragedy

The news story in the The New York Post (see below) is an example of a number of stories, in newspapers, TV News, blogs, etc., describing an incident on or about April 24, 2010 in New York.

Briefly, a homeless man came upon a woman being mugged and stepped in to assist. The incident occurred just out of the field of view of a surveillance camera, which shows the man moving off screen, then staggering back in to view where he subsequently collapses.

What makes the tragedy so unbelievable is the fact that he lay on the sidewalk for over an hour and a half, bleeding to death, while people walked by.

“In the wake of the bloodshed, a man came out of a nearby building and chillingly took a mobile phone photo of the victim before leaving.

In several instances, pairs of people gawked at Tale-Yax without doing anything.

Later, another man stopped, leaned over and vigorously shook Tale-Yax’s body. After lifting the victim’s head and body to reveal a pool of blood, he also walked off.”

One wonders how up to 20, presumably civilized, people could wander by a man dying on the sidewalk and not render some assistance, even if only to call 9-1-1. What about the woman being mugged? Wouldn’t she call the police to report the attempted mugging, .. the injured man who assisted her?

I find this to be stunningly unbelievable, however, there was, apparently, a similar situation in Queens in 1964. Subsequent research by psychologists Bibb Latane and John Darley resulted in identifying the “Bystander Problem“.

US ‘good Samaritan” left to die

Passersby ignore dying New York homeless man stabbed after saving woman

Stabbed hero dies as more than 20 people stroll past him

“The Tipping Point”

by Malcolm Gladwell

I found the following reference in Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point” describing a similar situation in which thirty-eight witnesses watched and did nothing as Kitty Genovese was attacked and killed over half an hour.

While I find these situations unbelievable and hope I would act in a similar situation, one has to wonder. You never know what you will do in a given situation until it occurs. But I hope that if I were to come across someone injured and requiring assistance, I would take action.

The Bystander Problem

A Famous Example

The following is quoted from Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point“:

“One of the most famous incidents in New York City history, for example, was the 1964 stabbing death of a young Queens woman by the name of Kitty Genovese. Genovese was chased by her assailant and attacked three times on the street, over the course of half an hour, as thirty-eight of her neighbors watched form their windows. During that time, however, non of the thirty-eight witnesses called the police. The case provoked rounds of self-recrimination. It became symbolic of the cold and dehumanizing effects of urban life. Abe Rosenthal, who would later become editor of the New York Times, wrote in a book about the case:

Nobody can say why the thirty-eight did not life the phone while Miss Genovese was being attacked, since they cannot say themselves. It can be assumed, however, that their apathy was indeed one of the big-city variety. It is almost a matter of psychological survival, if one is surrounded and pressed by millions of people, to prevent them from constantly impinging on you, and the only way to do this is to ignore them as often as possible. Indifference to one’s neighbor and his troubles is a conditioned reflex in life inn New York as it is in other big cities.

This is the kind of environmental explanation that makes intuitive sense to us. The anonymity and alienation of big-city life makes people hard and unfeeling. The truth about Genovese, however, turns out to be a little more complicated – and more interesting.”

The “Bystander Problem”

Human Studies

“Two New York City psychologists – Bibb Latane of Columbia University and John Darley of New York University – subsequently conducted a series of studies to try to understand what they dubbed the “bystander problem”. They staged emergencies of one kind or another in different situation in order to see who would come and help. What they found, surprisingly, was that the one factor above all else that predicted helping behaviour was how many witnesses there were to the event. …

When people are in a group, in other words, responsibility for acting is diffused. They assume that someone else will make the call, or they assume that because no one else is acting, the apparent problem … isn’t really a problem. In the case of Kitty Genovese, then, social psychologists like Latane and Darley argue, the lesson is not that no one called despite the fact that thirty-eight people heard her scream; it’s that no called because thirty-eight people heard her scream.

Summary

Psychologists have, apparently, offered an explanation as to why such situations, as stunning and unbelievable as they are, might occur. While it might be possible to rationalize how it might occur, it doesn’t absolve the 20 people who walked by of their responsibility to act, if only to call 9-1-1.

While it may be a result of big city indifference, we still believe ourselves to be civilized and to act towards others in a humanitarian manner. In my mind, this incident casts doubt on the extent to which we are civilized and that our humanitarian sentiments are precious only when we don’t have to get personally involved.

Chances are that none of the people reading this were one of the infamous “20″, however, they were representatives for all of us at that time and place. Can we be absolutely confident that we would not have acted in exactly the same way?

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I would argue that the other end of the continuum could be referred to as “The Protestant Work Ethic”, or something similar (“Nose to the Grindstone”, perhaps). I believe the “Law of Attraction” should, more properly, be referred to as the initial component to a “Plan of Action”.

Law of Attraction

Defined

Arguably, the movie “The Secret” (and/or its companion book by the same name), is the best known source for the resurgence of interest in the “Law of Attraction”, one of 11 man-made “Natural Laws” (as opposed to “Natural Laws” everywhere present, definable and testable in Nature).

In its simplest form, the following summarizes the four steps underlying the “Law of Attraction” (from Wiipedia):

“1. Know exactly what you want.
2. Ask the universe for it.
3. Feel, behave and know as if the object of your desire is already yours (visualize).
4. Be open to receive it and let go of (the attachment to) the outcome”.

It has been further argued that “… thinking of what one does not have … manifests itself in not having, while if one abides by these principles, and avoids “negative” thoughts, the universe will manifest a person’s desires”.

Problems with this Definition

In Contrast to Natural Laws

Natural Laws are those that are testable, repeatable and can be consistently relied upon (i.e. they are universal and unchangeable). Man-made laws, on the other hand, cannot be testable, must be taken on faith and are inconsistent (i..e they are dependent upon the local environment (the individual’s mind) and are NOT universal). (Note: universal means applicable throughout the known Universe, as opposed to Universal meaning some Intelligence underlying the universe).

A review of the Wikipedia posting (under “Criticism”) documents some of the criticisms surrounding the “Law of Attraction”. In addition, a review of sites throughout the internet (particularly blogs) will reveal a widely diverse range of opinion, ranging from those strongly endorsing the “Law of Attraction” (and, typically, promoting some sort of “Law of Attraction” product) to those thoroughly disappointed and disillusioned with the law as a result of their failed attempts to utilize it.

For further commentary, please refer to the following articles on the subject:

Law of Attraction – A Contrary Opinion
Challenge to the Conventional Law of Attraction
Quantum Theory and the Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction as the first step in a Plan of Action

Visualizing a Goal

In my opinion, the “Law of Attraction” significantly benefits from people’s experience to a point, then uses misinformation and pseudo-science to progress beyond the rational to the irrational. With reference to the above four steps, with any goal, we need to know what it is we want. The more accurately and thoroughly we can define our goal(s), the better our chances of realizing it.

For example, you would be more likely to “realize” (or “manifest”) a vacation to a specific five star resort in Cancun, Mexico than simply a “vacation”. Having specified a goal to Cancun, you will be looking for deals and opportunities, planning the best dates to go, booking time off work and so on. Simply desiring to take a vacation, it will remain an ambiguous goal, not likely to be achieved. In this context, “Know Exactly What you Want” is consistent with recommendations for “Goal-Setting”

The second step, however, “Ask the Universe For it”, is the point at which the irrational departs from the rational. For believers in “Faith” (i.\e. religions), the Universe would be an alternate reference to “God” or other religious icon. For New Agers, however, it is an unspecified Intelligence underlying the Universe that allows believers to have the powers of a God, with none of the moral responsibility.

The idea espoused here is that the believer sends out his / her desire in the form of “mental vibrations”, carrying their desire to the Universe in order to become manifest. The problem here is that the mental signal (electrical neural impulses) are so weak, it is difficult to rationalize how they might pass beyond the cranium, let alone out into the Universe. Every electrical current generates a corresponding magnetic field, however, it is difficult to rationalize how a magnetic field associated with a single thought impulse might even be detected. Finally, any electromagnetic signal decreases as a square of the distance from the source. Under the Inverse-square (a universal Natural Law), a weak electrical or magnetic signal originating in the brain would, in all likelihood, not even have enough energy to travel to the cranium, let alone through the cranium and out into the universe in order to become manifest.

“Feel, behave and know as if the object of your desire is already yours (visualize)”. I agree with the proposal to “Feel” and “Know” your goal has been achieved, however, I suggest healthy caution with regard to behaving as if it is already yours. I wouldn’t want to behave as though I had a million dollars before I was physically in possession of that sum of money. I have heard of stories (which we will generously regard as rumours) of people who had built businesses based on their visions of a client base, only to fail when the client base failed to materialize.

“Be open to receive it and let go of (the attachment to) the outcome”. I heartily endorse the propose to receive an outcome for the heart’s desire, however, I believe there to be a fundamental step missing in this four step plan – specifically, action.

Action

The Missing Component

Action is, I believe, the fundamental step missing in every discussion of the “Law of Attraction”. Action is barely mentioned in “The Secret” and is entirely missing in most discussions by its proponents. In essence, its strongest advocates are promoting the concept of “Something for Nothing”. This concept is the mental equivalent of the “Perpetual Motion Machine”, which violates the First Law of Thermodynamics (again, unfortunately for Law of Attraction advocates, a universal, Natural Law).

I suggest that if one thinks rationally about every success in life, it has been achieved through the implementation of a plan, whether consciously or unconsciously. Most failures in life have been the direct result of the lack or failure of a plan.

If I were to walk down the street tomorrow and stumble across $1 million in cash, it is almost certain that it did not manifest for me (despite my strongest visualization of this desire). Somewhere, some financial institution or criminal element (who else would potentially lose $1 million) would be desperately trying to recover that money. It is unlikely and improbable that I would be able to keep it.

Are the Differences merely Semantic?

Some may argue that the differences between these interpretations of the “Law of Attraction” are merely semantic. I would strongly disagree with this viewpoint, however, as one perspective leaves us helpless while the other empowers us.

Statements have been made to the effect that we manifest every aspect of our lives as a result of our thoughts, that our minds create our reality. As a result of this perspective, the victim of crime has brought the crime upon themselves, our health issues reflect our negative thoughts and so on. If we don’t want negative events in our lives, don’t think negative thoughts. While there is some evidence that a negative attitude can, and probably does, have a negative impact on our lives, I believe it stretches credibility too far to state that every health issue is the result of a negative thought pattern.

Some illnesses are genetic, some are environmental and others have a definite cause and effect relationship, irregardless of mental attitude. Taken to the extreme, I find it utterly implausible that a premature baby has brought it’s circumstance upon itself through a negative thought pattern.

This perspective incapacitates us and, as stated in the Wikipedia entry, can have harmful to dangerous outcomes through its emphasis on the statement that every circumstance in our lives is the manifestation of our thoughts.

On the other hand, having the ability to take action, to implement a plan, empowers us. Through careful planning, we can overcome life’s obstacles, we can prepare for possibilities and eventualities. Plans provide us with hope where circumstances seem bleak. Plans, with accompanying action, allow us to face life’s circumstances and address the results.

Most importantly, action may contribute significantly to healing. Advocates of the “Law of Attraction” deny healing, compounding hopelessness and depression over life’s circumstances by attributing our reality to our thoughts.

Inspirational YouTube Video

Below is an example of an individual who has overcome a major obstacles in life beyond most of the rest of us. Despite his handicaps, he is pursuing, even embracing, life according to a plan implemented to develop the skills he needs.

Summary

My life’s successes and failures are directly attributable to plans or lack thereof. The “Law of Attraction” has no basis in fact and, more importantly, life’s circumstances in any meaningful manner. The “Law of Attraction” is untestable, unverifiable, non-reproducible and violates several known Natural Laws. (Note: being Natural Laws and not man-made laws, they cannot be repealed).

Many of the classic books in the “Personal Development” genre are available on the Integrated Success Program web-site, with additional material available on the Integrated Success Program Blog.

A PDF copy of this article is available for download from Article Trader.

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Creative Visualization

Effectively Utilized by so Few

Creative Visualization is only one use for Imagination, allowing us to picture in our minds an object (or objects), (an) outcome and/or a future we desire. As such, Creative Visualization has a virtually infinite number of uses, limited only by our imagination. Indeed, visualizing is a highly recommended aspect of goal setting and, as any desired outcome can be considered a goal, it is safe to state that virtually anything created by mankind was visualized to some degree before becoming a reality. Indeed, the potential of Creative Visualization is so great that some modern proponents of the “Law of Attraction” promote the perspective that Visualization can completely replace the required component of “Action” in “manifesting” one’s goals.

Tools to Assist Visualization

Visionboards and Mind Movies

Visualization has been strongly recommended in association with Goal Setting. Two aids commonly recommended with regard to assisting Creative Visualization as a tool for visualizing your desired goals are Visionboards and Mind Movies.

Visionboards are a collection of static images (i.e. photographs, advertisements, brochures, etc ) representing your goals. The images are pasted or posted on a variety of different mediums (i.e. posters, cork boards, bulletin boards, etc) and then placed in a prominent position where you can view it multiple times throughout the day. A more modern version would be to compile your collection of images representing your goals in digital format and use the resulting digital collage as a background on your computer, stored on your iPhone or Blackberry for easy, daily access or to print as a poster size print for your wall.

A more recent version of the static Visionboard idea is a dynamic Mind Movie. A Mind Movie is relatively easy to make, using easily accessible software which may already be present on your computer. A Mind Movie can be a dynamic set of images (i.e. photographs) arranged in slide show format, with a variety of animations available for presenting images and text, Alternatively, a Mind Movie might include or even consist entirely of short video clips. The resulting movie can then be enhanced through the use of inspiring music or other audio files. Again, once completed, the resutling digital file can be placed on your computer, iPhone and/or Blackberry for ease of access virtually anywhere.

The Aspect of Creation

Visualization is a powerful tool in, and of, itself, however, the emphasis of this lense is CreativeVisualization, or the utilization of Visualization in creating, and realizing, potential. Visionboards and Mind Movies are examples of realizing goals, and even dreams, through the use of Visualization. Through the use of Visionboards and/or Mind movies, you are actively realizing your goals, your desired outcomes, by creating the circumstances necessary.

For example, if you are currently employed as a receptionist and it is your desire to become President of the company for which you work, there are probably some proactive actions necessary to create the circumstances in which you might be considered for the position. You may need to further your education, acquire education and/or skills necessary to a corporate President. You might need to become more aggressive in having your skills noticed by upper level management in order to advance up the corporate ladder. Perhaps there are lateral transfers to other branches or locations that might provide better opportunities for advancement, requiring re-location of you and your family. By establishing your goal and setting your mind firmly upon its realization, Napoleon Hill’s Burning Desire, you will find yourself recognizing, and becoming more open to, opportunities as they pertain to realization of your goal.

There is an important disctinction to be made here between the technique I am advocating and that generally proposed under “The Law of Attraction”. I am advocating a greater awareness to opportunities as they present themselves, NOT creating opportunities through the power of your mind. You willl be able to create opportunities as you work with, and influence, people around you. You will create opportunities through recognition of your work ethic, abilities, integrity, honesty, skill set, etc. as they are recognized by your peers and management. In short, it will take effort and action on your part in order for you to recognize and/or create opportunities conducive to your advancement.

If, however, you simply sit at your desk all day, visualizing your goal and waiting for the “Law of Attraction” to manifest your desired goal, you will likely find yourself fired for being lazy and day-dreaming at work.

Visualize your desired outcome as fully and completely as possible, then undertake Directed Action towards its fruition.

Imagination

The Basis for Visualization

Successful visualizing is dependent upon the power of your imagination. If you are unable to imagine an outcome, it is iunlikely to be realized. Furthermore, the mind is like any other muscle in the body. If unused, it will atrophe and wither (figuratively). However, if you exercise your mindt, it will gain strength and ability.

Therefore, don’t get frustrated if your first attempts at Creative Visualization are disappointing. Use a Visionboard and/or Mind Movie to supplement the progressive training of your imagination. Use resources such as “The Silva Method“ to develop the power of your mind and to assist with developing your imaginative ability.

In short, identify and establish your goal, your desired outcome, then use every tool available to move yourself toward it … on a daily basis.

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By definition, “Self-Confidence” is the confidence you have in yourself which, in turn, is the result of a complex combination of mental attitude, life experience and/or circumstance, genetic attributes and social and physical environment as they pertain to “Self”.

Some aspects which contribute to Self Confidence, like genetic attributes, manifest themselves as physical attributes which society may deem as undesirable, contributing to a possible loss of Self Confidence. Mental Attitude, which derives from thoughts and beliefs pertaining to oneself, may or may not be accurate, depending upon other aspects of character such as Self Esteem. Finally, social and physical environment are dependent upon the specific setting in which you find yourself at any given point in time.

Most, with the possible exceptions of life experience and physical setting, are susceptible to change if the desire to undertake such change exists in sufficient strength to act.

A Definition

“The socio-psychological concept of self-confidence relates to self-assuredness in one’s personal judgment, ability, power, etc., sometimes manifested excessively.[1]

Another definition is the belief of believing in you; to believe that one is able to accomplish what one sets out to do, to overcome obstacles and challenges (Peixe, 2009).

- Wikipedia

Mental Attitude

Mental Programming

In previous lenses, I briefly discussed The Sub-conscious Mind, as well as the concepts of Auto-suggestion and, more generally, Mental Programming. Mental Attitude is very important, even critical, to your level of Self Confidence at any given time.

It is important to realize that one’s level of Self Confidence will vary from time to time, from setting to setting and/or according to changes in circumstance within any given environment (whether social or physical). For example, I am much more comfortable and confident making a presentation to an audience now than when I was in university (temporal). I am much more confident with my family at home than with my family in an airport (setting). Finally, I am much more confident by myself in an empty ballroom than in a ballroom filled with people (social setting and/or circumstance).

With specific reference to a presentation, the content is identical between my home where I practice my presentation delivery and the event at which it is delivered. The differences are: 1) setting, 2) circumstance and/or social setting (a technical conference, for instance), and 3) physical environment (at the podium in front of the audience). The major difference, however, is the mental stress associated with the event, the presentation. Ideally, you are well versed and familiar with the subject matter, have practiced the presentation to the point you can deliver it by memory and are, in every way, prepared. The success of your presentation delivery then depends upon your mental attitude in dealing with the stress of the presentation.

Some speakers have a Mental Attitude that allows them to appear, and sometimes actually feel, completely relaxed and comfortable in front of an audience. Others feel immobilized by fear and some even get violently sick at the thought of a public presentation.

Part of the solution is practice, beginning with small, friendly audiences and building to larger audiences comprised of strangers. To complement practice, I strongly suggest one of the Mental Programming techniques that are widely available (i.e. The Silva Method).

The moment a presentation is successfully delivered (or a contract successfully completed, or a tournament or competition finished) comes the feeling of relief at having the event behind you. If the event has been completed to the best of your ability, then there is usually an increase in your Self Confidence. If you have won the event (tournament or competition), then you may feel supremely confident (imagine the feeling of the recent Olympic Gold Medalists!).

Successes contribute significantly to an increased feeling of Self Confidence.

Life Experience

We are the Sum Total of our Thoughts and Experiences

At any given point in time, if we think of it as a equivalent to a static “photograph”, who we are represents the totality of our thoughts and experiences to that point in time. Every success and every failure, and more specifically, how we dealt with them, has had an effect on our character. The aspects of our character governs our behaviour in any given situation, our response to every event, and has left its imprint on our memories which, over time, develop in to our belief system. Our belief system represents the filter through which we view and interpret every subsequent experience and event.

If one suffers from low Self Confidence, then that filter may be one of fear and self doubt. If one’s Self Confidence is too high, then that filter may become one of arrogance and thoughtlessness toward our fellow man / woman. Again, it must be remembered we are isolating Self Confidence out of a complex array of inter-dependent emotions and character traits.

Recognizing that our Belief System, our “filter system”, may bias our perception of our experience allows us the opportunity to critically evaluate basis for our current level of Self Confidence. A recurring theme in literature and entertainment is that of the “Ugly Duckling” and some versions of the “Rags to Riches” story. In “The Ugly Duckling”, an “ugly” gosling develops into the beautiful swan, which is really a story of concealed, or dormant, beauty blossoming (or manifesting) itself over time. However, an inherent message is that Self Confidence is co-dependent upon beauty.

The Rags to Riches theme conceals the message under an overall transition from poverty to wealth, as portrayed in the various themes on “Cinderella”. Coupled with the transition from poverty to wealth, is a coincident transition from “plain-ness” to regal beauty (as portrayed in “The Princess Diaries”) and a more subtle increase in Self Confidence. One possible message inherent in this theme is that Self Confidence if co-dependent upon wealth (or “riches”).

Genetic Attributes

Rewarded / Penalized by Society

Some of our physical (and mental) attributes are dictated by our genes and, as a result, we are unable to do anything about it. Some people require glasses, others don’t. Some people have prominent features, others don’t. Some people have god-like physiques, most don’t.

Society is fickle with regard to what it accepts as desirable attributes … and what are not. If one examines the statues from ancient Greek culture and compares them with the latest and greatest fashion model, one might note some discrepancies with regard to an idealized physique, specifically the female figure. Today’s idealized societal standard for the female figure is extremely difficult to achieve, let alone maintain in a healthy manner. This has led to thousands (millions?) of young women with eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia) desperately trying to attain “perfection”, a goal that may be the result of re-touching photographs in order to promote an idealized figure [1], [2], [3], [4].

In the case of males, there has been documented abuse of steroids in both amateur and professional athletes in order to attain greater muscle mass and athletic performance, despite the documented health hazards. Similarly, this trend has some basis in a societal standard for the idealized male physique, without the commitment over time required to achieve it in a healthy manner. Once again, this tendency (desire?) is not exclusively an issue of Self Confidence, but certainly has elements of Self Confidence pertaining to a slight figure (generally associated with a mild and meek personality) in contrast to a muscular physique (generally associated with strength and assertiveness). It is important to distinguish stereotypes as idealized in the media from real ife. Slight and slender people are not necessarily mild and meek, nor are big people necessarily strong and assertive. (Note: I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to meet Bruce Lee in a dark alley if he were mad at me! He certainly had a slight, although muscular, physique).

In many instances, we may not notice on others the very same physical attributes we feel are undesirable and unattractive in ourselves. There are instances of actors and actresses with big noses, poor posture, who wear glasses, too tall, too small, over weight, underweight, … and so on … and so on. They may have Self Esteem issues with regard to these genetic attributes, but it often doesn’t affect their Self Confidence (at least in the public eye, which is where we see and evaluate them).

Some might argue that this is better described as an issue of low Self Esteem, however, I would argue that given the complex inter-dependency between character aspects, low Self Confidence contributes to low Self Esteem (and vice versa).

Social Environment

One of the Easiest … and hardest to Change

The social environment in which one associates with others can be one of the most difficult factors contributing to Self Confidence. In writing this, I am thinking specifically of High School and the social dynamics there. Again, this time of life represents such a crucial Rite of passage between childhood and adulthood that it has been the subject of many movies and books. Young men and women are trying so desperately hard to find a place in which to fit, in such a limited range of social environments. The least criticism from one or more peers in a given social group can be devastating, crushing a fragile state of Self Confidence instantaneously. Having the benefit of hindsight, I now fully realize how little value the opinions of my peers and others held for me.

Using my case, specifically, I decided my “friends” in high school were more destructive than beneficial to me and so I dropped the entire set of friends in the year I took off between high school and university. I entered university 1 year behind my “peers” and. as a result, ended up making an entirely new set of friends in that first year of university. They accepted me for who I was and I felt part of a group, for the first time in a long time. I have since lost touch with those friends and life has progressed, however, they unknowingly got me through a difficult time in my life as a young adult. For that, I am very grateful for the value of their friendship at that time.

Other social environments are just as damaging, ranging from work, clubs, formal and informal organizations and so on. Some,such as gangs, can be very difficult to leave, others require only a decision once you have recognized they are damaging. The difficulty is that you are leaving a “comfort zone” for the unknown, another group, club, work environment, etc. The decision is based on weighing whether the damage to your Self Confidence is less than your fear (uncertainty) of the unknown. Some damage can be overcome and/or compensated by an active program of affirmations and mental programming while you wait for the situation to change (for example, at work). In other cases, you must simply make the decision to leave that social environment … then LEAVE! The decision, ultimately, is yours to make.

Physical Environment

Potentially More Difficult to Change

Obviously, to the extent possible, if one’s physical environment is contributing to an overall decrease in one’s level of Self Confidence, one should make every reasonable attempt to change, or move to, a physical environment more favourable. However, in some cases, changing, or moving, to a different physical environment is not feasible, practical or safe. For example, a prison inmate on the first day of incarceration may experience a considerable decline in the level of Self Confidence, yet he / she is almost certainly unable to change the physical location and must, therefore, undertake a change in mental attitude. Facing an emergency situation is almost certain to challenge one’s level of Self Confidence. In some cases, leaving the area, thereby removing oneself from the dangerous environment, is the obvious choice to make. However, as in the case of being lost, that would be the worst decision to make, so such a decision must be tempered by rationale thought.

Changing one’s physical environment, if damaging to one’s Self Confidence, ranges from very easy to very difficult. Again if at all possible, remove oneself at the earliest possible moment from such an environment.

The one qualifier I would make to the above is if there is a valuable lesson to be learned (and if the environment is not dangerous). For example, for some people, the prospect of making a public presentation is, quite literally, a source of dread. Some people would rather face physical injury, or worse, than speak in a public setting. For most people, making a public presentation is not dangerous, but rather a source of extreme mental stress. The decision to be made, in this specific example, is whether one might face the fear, make the presentation and be better able to face the prospect of making a public presentation in the future. Could the experience of facing the fear and making the public presentation actually contribute an increase in Self Confidence? Might successfully making the presentation be the lesson to be learned, the valuable experience gained, by remaining in such a physical environment?

Temporal

Changes over Time

As several of the aspects contributing to Self Confidence are related to setting (space) and/or change (time), one’s level of Self Confidence is, therefore, also subject to temporal (i.e. changes in time) aspects. One might be very Self Confident in a given setting at one time, yet utterly lacking Self Confidence at another, subject to circumstance, experience, and a host of other possible changes, ranging from minor to dramatic.

As an example, a Grade 1 student is, generally, very uncertain and lacking Self Confidence on the morning of the first day of school. Yet that same student, on the morning of the last day of Grade 1 exudes, generally, a far different level of Self Confidence. At the end of that first year, our student is now dealing with a known set of circumstances, despite the fact that they are generally the same. Over that year, however, our student has come to know the teacher and the other students in class, the school organization and environment. A better example might be to visit our student at 8 a.m. and at 2:55 p.m. on the first day of school, noting any changes in Self Confidence. In the morning, everything about school is an unknown. At the end of the first day, fears have been replaced with knowledge and experience and, in all likelihood, school was not as bad as was initially feared.

We all have similar uncertainties (fears) with regard to the unknowns in our lives, the first day of work or a blind date, for example. In general, our “fears” are worse than the realities. As we address each fear, address each uncertainty, we gain the experience of that situation, as well as the realization, ideally, that there was a difference between our fears and the reality. Successfully facing our fears, addressing our uncertainties, increases our level of Self Confidence with regard to facing the same, or similar, situation in the future. Ideally, it also contributes to our level of Self Confidence is facing completely different unknowns as well.

Increasing Self Confidence

As an Active Program

The key point to this article is that one’s level of Self Confidence is subject to change, it should be expected to increase or decrease as one’s circumstances and setting changes throughout the day, from day to day, week to week, month to month and year to year. Recognizing that the level of one’s Self Confidence changes is the first step to undertaking a program of active intervention, actively increasing one’s overall level of Self Confidence.

Self-Confidence Formula

From “The Law of Success” by Napoleon Hill

“SELF-CONFIDENCE FORMULA

First: I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose, therefore I demand of myself persistent, aggressive and continuous action toward its attainment.

Second: I realize that the dominating thoughts of my mind eventually reproduce themselves in outward, bodily action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality, therefore I will concentrate My mind for thirty minutes daily upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to be, by creating a mental picture of this person and then transforming that picture into reality through practical service.

Third: I know that through the principle of Auto-suggestion, any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of realizing it, therefore I shall devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of the factors named in the sixteen lessons of this Reading Course on the Law of Success.

Fourth: I have clearly mapped out and written down a description of my definite purpose in life, for the coming five years. I have set a price on my services for each of these five years; a price that I intend to earn and receive, through strict application of the principle of efficient, satisfactory service which I will render in advance.

Fifth: I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure unless built upon truth and justice, therefore I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to me the forces I wish to use, and the co-operation of other people. I will induce others to serve me because I will first serve them. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness and cynicism by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me because I will believe in them and in myself.

I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory and repeat it aloud once a day with full faith that it will gradually influence my entire life so that I will become a successful and happy worker in my chosen field of endeavor.

Signed ____________________________________________.”

Napoleon Hill – Law of Success – Chapter 3 – Self-Confidence

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A great Universal Truth is that:

“Whatever the mInd of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve“

W. Clement Stone

A review of the great advances in the history of mankind confirms this truth. Many of mankind’s greatest achievements have been based on great conceptions (plans, goals) acted upon with believe in their eventual achievement. A great example, although seemingly trivial, was the invention of the incandescent light bulb. It is almost a cliche how Thomas Edison undertook approximately 2,000 experiments in which a light bulb based on a tungsten filament would not work, yet persisted (with believe), resulting in the incandescent light bulb.

CONCEPTION, acted upon with strong BELIEF, resulting in successful ACHIEVEMENT.

“YOUR GREATEST ASSET … LIES BETWEEN YOUR EARS”

- Earl Nightingale

Our Brain

A Fascinating Organ
Our brains are simply another organ hosted within our bodies. Yet the complexity of thought (abstract, rational, etc) and the potential capacity offered by our brains is immense.

Our brains host the Autonomic Nervous System, which manages and operates the basic functions and requirements of the body (heart rate, respiration, digestion, etc.). Our conscious thoughts and actions, our conscious state, is exceedingly difficult to rigorously define and yet is so commonplace to our daily lives we barely give it thought until it is damaged or ceases to function properly. Finally, our sub-conscious mind operates continuously, collecting and compiling the information comprising our belief system, our character traits and our personalities, yet very few people give any thought to their sub-conscious mind. The three aspects of an individuals mind are all hosted by, and located within, our brains.

Our Mind

Intangible, yet Critical
“Intangible, yet Critical” is such a basic statement and yet captures so much!

The Mind is, indeed, intangible. It is hosted, without doubt, within the Mind and can be documented based upon electrical impulses, with specific aspects of the Mind (and even personality, moods, etc0 distinguishable using advanced instrumentation such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). However, no one has yet held a MIND in their hand.

The Mind is so obviously Critical as a human being with a brain, but no mind (i.e. no brain activity) is in a “Vegetative” or “Minimally Conscious” state (see these The New Scientist articles [1], [2], [3], [4],[5]). According to our current understanding, no interaction is possible between the person in a vegetative state and one in a conscious state. In fact, given our current level of understanding, a significant question exists as to whether a person in a vegetative state has a mind, or simply has a minimally functioning brain.

Our Greatest Asset

A Brief Historical Perspective
Everyone owns a Mind, free and clear, unencumbered by debt or liability. What to do with it?

Many squander it, choosing to fore go an education (either through the public, private or home school route) and utilize electronic (i.e. TV, mp3 players, etc) and/or chemical means to escape, even temporarily, daily life. Many, due to life circumstance, are unable to take fullest advantage of the potential of their minds.

Some, however, choose to pursue a life-long program of educating their mind. The more information one has stored, or access to, the more potential for unconventional lines of thought leading to opportunities for discovery, invention and /or self-improvement. The advantage of an education, whether formalized through schooling or informal through life experience and self-directed study, is to expose oneself to the thoughts of others, the products of the workings of others minds and the results associated with those thoughts.

Everything to which we are exposed in our society, our culture and our lifestyle is the result of the workings of someone else’s mind. Fashion, buildings, art, literature, lifestyles, entertainment and so many other aspects of our lives have evolved as mankind, specifically society, has developed and matured over time. As mankind develops and matures, the products of our thinking have been, to a great degree, been preserved in the artifacts of our culture and society.

The sum total of mankind’s development, to date, is available to anyone with access to our art, literature, mathematical and scientific records, each of which documents the products of people minds through time. In the current age of electronic exchange of information, we have access to huge volumes of information, or variable quality and reliability, representing the complete spectrum of human thoughts and opinions.

Our Greatest Asset

What to do with it?
We each have a mind and are fully equipped to utilize it. The manner and degree to which we utilize out minds is entirely up to us.

It is my firm belief that one’s education never ends. Once we have finished our institutionalized education (whether public, private or home school), we should embark on our informal education. An institutional education serves to give us an, essentially, uniform level of education with our peers in society. It gives us a basic grounding, in varying degrees) in mathematics, science, social science, art and literature. From this basic level of education, we should, ideally, have identified more specific areas of interest which we should pursue independently, using the resources available to us.

It is my strong opinion that one of these areas should be Personal Development. As a Christian, one of the themes that strikes me from the Bible is that there is considerable room for improvement in our lifestyles and Spirituality. It is difficult enough to live up to the standards of Paul, let alone Jesus.

Personal Development

A Personal Program
There are so many resources available for Personal Development from which to develop a personalized program for oneself. I have compiled a partial list of some of the resources I have utilized in my personal program on the Integrated Success Program blog-site. There are considerably more available beyond those I compiled.

Personally, I believe one of the areas in which the greatest advances can be made in Personal Development is in the sub-conscious mind utilizing mental programming. While I, personally, use and recommend “The Silva Method“, others methods may work equally well or better for others and should be explored to identify the method(s) best suited to an individual’s own program of Personal Development.

Your Greatest Asset

Continued and On-going Development
The human mind is a wonderful thing, and terrible when wasted. The mind offers virtually unlimited potential to most people, if only they would utilize it. Untold hours are squandered in a virtual trance in front of the TV in today’s society. Individually, we may never contribute to society in the same manner as Shakespeare, Einstein, Ghandi, Descartes, Socrates or so many other wonderful examples of notable and worthy individuals. However, one never knows the extent to which we might be taken as a role model for the next major contributor to society. Perhaps our son or daughter, niece or nephew, neighbour, student, peer, associate and so on.

Perhaps it is simply exemplifying the change we wish to see in the world.

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Constructive Criticism is offered to a person and/or situation by an individual or group, having a desire to improve that person or situation, on the basis of specific, pertinent knowledge. As such, by definition, Constructive Criticism has high value to the recipient(s).

One must exercise great caution in distinguishing between Constructive Criticism and a simple Opinion, as well as placing an appropriate value on each.

Determine whether you have been offered an opinion or an accurate assessment – <strong>then treat it accordingly!</strong>

Constructive Criticism – Defined

“Constructive criticism, or constructive analysis, is a compassionate attitude towards the person qualified for criticism. Having higher experience, gifts, respect, knowledge in specific field and being able to verbally convince at the same time, this person is intending to uplift the other person materially, morally, emotionally or spiritually. For high probability in succeeding compassionate criticism, the critic has to be in some kind of healthy personal relationship with the other one, which is normally a parent to child, friend to friend, teacher to student, spouse to spouse or any kind of recognized authority in specific field. Hence the word constructive is used so that something is created or visible outcome generated rather than the opposite.”

- Wikipedia

Opinion – Defined

“An opinion is a subjective statement or thought about an issue or topic, and is the result of emotion or interpretation of facts. An opinion may be supported by an argument, although people may draw opposing opinions from the same set of facts. Opinions rarely change without new arguments being presented. However, it can be reasoned that one opinion is better supported by the facts than another by analysing the supporting arguments. [1]

An opinion may be the result of a person’s perspective, understanding, particular feelings, beliefs, and desires. <strong>In casual use, the term opinion may refer to unsubstantiated information, in contrast to knowledge and fact-based beliefs.</strong>” (Note: emphasis added)

- Wikipedia

Opinions

Do They Have Any Value?

In the Canadian Comedy scene, Rick Mercer has often undertaken trips to the United States for the express purpose of humour at the expense of Americans. For my purposes here, the lesson contained is that such comedy relies upon, and documents, a human weakness.

In his comedy segment, Rick Mercer will interview selected Americans about supposed “issues” in Canada in order to solicit <strong>OPINIONS</strong> from the American subject. Canadians, knowing the issue is contrived, find humour in the opinions offered by our American counterparts in a vacuum of information and fact, simply that provided by Rick Mercer. It is important to note that Americans seeking further information upon which to base their opinions are not shown, as this would be counter productive to the segment.

The program relies exclusively on the fact that people, not just Americans but all of us, are often ready to render an unambiguous and strong positional opinion <strong>DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT ASCERTAINED THE FACTS</strong>.

On the basis of this statement, one must be careful with respect to how much value to place on someone’s opinion of you, what you have done, what you represent, etc. as they may not have relied upon some, or even all, the facts in order to formulate their opinion.

Constructive Criticism

A Valuable Resource for Personal Development

Constructive Criticism should be carefully considered, but not necessarily acted upon, as it represents a potentially valuable resource with regard to evaluating oneself as part of your ongoing program of Personal Development. Unless, of course, it is simply an opinion.

Using the definition above, Constructive Criticism is founded upon compassion and a healthy relationship between the source and recipient of such criticism. Furthermore, it is, ultimately, intended “… to uplift the other person materially, morally, emotionally (and/)or spiritually.” Therefore, legitimate Constructive Criticism is intended for constructive purposes, to help oneself improve and address possible weaknesses or undesirable charater traits not recognized.

Almost by definition, someone offering Constructive Criticism should be altruistic in their motivations. Constructive Criticism should, ideally, be offered for the benefit of the recipient, not the source.

However, life is not ideal and motivations are generally not altruistic. Therefore, one must always consider the context of any advice in an attempt to determine whether it is an Opinion or Constructive Criticism.

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As parents, we may feel that the tension between us and our teenage children is unique, despite the fact that our friends may relate virtually identical stories with respect to their children.

Smelling the Roses

Another version of the Same Thought

“The Gift of an Ordinary Day” is simply a recognition of the value of the commonplace.

As parents, we celebrate and rejoice in the victories and successes of our children. We agonize and sympathize with their defeats and difficulties. We empathize with their respective discoveries in their growth and passage through Life.

To the extent possible, we attempt to ease their passage, overcome obstacles and recognize the lessons to be learned. And, finally, at some point, we must release them to become the adults they wish to become.

Katrina Kenison Reads From “The Gift of an Ordinary Day”

This is a YouTube video of Katrina Kenison reading from her latest book “The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother’s Memoir“.

The message is not new, in fact, it is widespread, virtually Universal, to caring parents. For that very reason, it may be disregarded by our children. Similarly, the attitudes of our children is common (although I won’t say Universal) and, although we personalize it because we care so much, it is not a unique reaction.

For me, the value of the video is that it may help us to realize that our situations and reactions are not unique. Parents and their children everywhere, through many different countries and cultures, experience they same tension between children wanting to pull away from their parents so as to assume the role of an adult and their parents wanting to nurture and protect them as they have from birth.

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