It is easier to feel than to think!

'I feel ...' - How often do you hear this or even say it yourself? And often, there is nothing wrong with it. Just go one step further. THINK it through. Are there sufficient facts to support the feeling? Are we guided by the right feelings e.g. the feelings of fear or anger do not fall into this category?

I prefer

I am currently reading an interesting book ‘Finding the center within’ by Thomas Bien and Beverly Bien.

 

It shares a lot of insights for mindfulness in day-to-day living. Here is one of the many that I liked.

 

If you insist that things should be done or seen ‘Your way’ then you are bound to experience many disappointments, which of course, can be very upsetting.

 

t is better to say ‘I prefer’ it this way. This is a softer approach. You will be able to take things in your stride. And let’s face it, many things can be done one way or another and it really doesn’t make a difference. Why get ‘hot’ about it?

Thinking Flaws

Recently, the Barclays Skyscraper hit the news in the Singapore newspaper. The basic findings are that there is an unhealthy correlation between many skyscrapers being built and economic bust. The report indicates concerns about the building activities of skyscrapers in China and India implying an impending economic bust. They may be right or wrong, there may be a bust or not, maybe because of the skyscrapers or maybe for another reason.

I want to bring this up as this is a classical thinking mistake that we want to avoid. Let’s look at it.

The statement is:
Intense building of skyscrapers (cause) will lead to an economic bust (effect)
This may have indeed happened a few times, but the statement is only well founded if one can qualify.
1. Has there been intense building of skyscrapers (cause) without an economic bust (effect) taking place? Singapore, Hong Kong comes to my mind.
2. Have there been economic busts (effect) without prior massive building of skyscrapers (cause)? Maybe Greece.
If the answer to both questions is a ‘No’, the theory would be proven.

Takeaway:
If you believe that you see a correlation between events A (cause) leading to events B (effect) ask yourself:

- Did events A (cause) also take place without causing events B (effect)
- Did events B (effect) take place without events A (cause) happening prior to this?

After answering these questions you will have a clearer picture.

That is why people wear ‘lucky shirts’. But hard work may show a stronger correlation to good results.

Simplify your Life

I recently had an interesting discussion with a business friend of mine who is in senior management.

He told me that he has only one email address which he uses for business and private emails. At the same time, he has requested his personal assistant, who has also access to his email, for confidentiality.

Of course, he had to tell his friends that all mail will be read by somebody else (the personal assistant) as well.

His reason. Everything I do is ‘above board’ and could be scrutinized by anybody be it related to my business or private life. And it makes life much simpler

Interesting Experience

I just had an interesting conversation (here in Singapore) with a young lady. She is a technician from China. I had some small talk with her and asked the usual questions like from which province she hails, how she likes Singapore etc.

And she said: ‘I like Singapore very much. It is so easy to outshine my colleagues. China is very different. You may think that you are very smart, but then you find soooo many people who are much smarter than you.’

Worthwhile thinking about it, isn’t it?

Steve Jobs

Sadly we learned of the death of Steve Jobs, founder and driving force of Apple.

I suggest that for one moment we should look beyond the innovations credited to him and look at the person. What made him so successful? In order to understand this bit better, go to You Tube search for ‘ Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford Commencement Address ‘ and listen. If you are like me, you will get a deeper appreciation of what respectable human being he was and what we can learn from him.

The Lessons of Life from Jogging

Recently, I took up jogging again around McRithchie. For the non-Singaporeans this is water reservoir surrounded by rugged tracks mainly through a secondary jungle.

First of all it, struck me that this is one of the few places in Singapore where for most of the time you see nature only and hear no traffic noise. Very relaxing.

Jogging (power walking is equally good) is an automatic skill i.e. no thinking is required. You will find your mind is free and wanders. Unfinished thoughts are coming up and you can deal with them. Great ideas are coming up. I am pretty confident to say that more creative ideas are coming up whilst jogging compared to a brain storming session at work. That was my first insight. Here are a few more.

Whilst jogging, I equate the finish line with the long-term goal and every step with the task on hand that has be done now.

Because of the numerous roots and stones making the jog rather uneven I have to focus most of the time on every step I take. Like in life, most of the time you are best advised to fully focus on what you are doing right now.

Sometimes, I feel like the finishing line is dauntingly very far away, somewhat disheartening. Then I chose to focus on my feet again and just take it step by step. Like in life, step by step into the right direction and you will arrive.

If the path is a bit easier, or I feel stronger, I like to look up, enjoy the scenery and look for the finish line in the distance. Like in life. Enjoy the journey; keep the long-term goal in mind.

I had this great idea to go for a better time and thought if I just use my momentum when running downhill that will do the trick. Well it didn’t, I stumbled over a root and fell flat on my face bleeding all over my left side. Anyway, when you are in the middle of the jungle there is no choice, just had to pick myself up and keep on going! The thought crossed my mind to blame the government for not making an even jogging path. A little joke, sorry. Or maybe not a joke. How often do we blame others for ‘our fall’? Of course, it was me who took the risk so I need to take the blame. Like in life, sometimes we need to take risks to achieve something. If we succeed, we rightfully want all the credit, which means, if we fail, we need to take all the blame as well.

At times I feel that I stumble more than jogging. These are signs of tiredness. Then I slow down and walk for a while. Falls are painful and to be avoided. Like in life. Push yourself but don’t overlook the signs of exhaustion. There are times when we need to recharge a bit before going on.

My time for the 11km is 75 minutes. ‘Not very fast’, many joggers would say so. They are correct. But it doesn’t matter. Since I have started, I improved from 90 minutes to 75 minutes now. That’s important. Keep on improving, and keep on improving. Life will teach us how far we can go. Most of the time farther than we thought

The Seven Deadly Sins

according to Mahatma Gandhi

- Wealth without work
- Pleasure without conscience
- Knowledge without character
- Commerce without morality
- Science without humanity
- Religion without sacrifice
- Politics without principle

Worthwhile to remember

Think The Opposite

I still have my doubts if true thinking can be taught; however, I am convinced that using a few concepts can avoid thinking mistakes. Here is one method that I like very much. Think the opposite! Whatever you are currently thinking about, think of the opposite. What insights do you get? How could you use this for your further action or decision-making?

Some examples:

1. I am very happy. The opposite. I am unhappy. If I am unhappy how would this impact me? On the positive note, if I am not happy with my status quo I would try to change it. Think what I want to change, work hard to achieve it. So, does unhappiness generate more ambition, more alertness towards improving things? Does happiness make us complacent?

2. You find people having very strong opinions on how to deal with others. I recall a manager mentioning that there is only one correct style for managing people and that is to trust them 100%. What would be the opposite? Strict control and monitoring. The benefit of that style would be to notice faster if things go wrong and intervene faster as well, contribute your own ideas more directly.

3. Being confident is certainly something desirable. Anyway, look at the opposite. What is the benefit of low confidence. Wouldn't you be more willing to listen to others' often valuable advice, learn more eagerly?

In summary – Anything, look at the pros and cons; look at the opposite and its pro’s and con’s. It opens up your mind. And you may agree with me. Very rarely is it that either one view or the other view is 100% correct. Mostly, we need to make a judgment on what is the right balance for us between those opposing views.

Time Management – A little intriguing story

Just imagine. There is a bank and this bank will give you every day $ 86400. And more good news. From today onwards, this bank will give you every day $ 86400. That is the promise. Every day another $86400. There is only one other condition. One day the bank will stop paying you. You don’t know when.

With this knowledge on hand. What would you do now? Think for a little while before reading on.

You may think that such a bank does not exist, but it does. Only this bank does not give you dollars, they will give you time. Every day you receive 86400 seconds (24 hours x 60 minute per hour x 60 seconds per minute = 86400 seconds). Day by day and you don’t know when it stops. What do you do? Use your time wisely!

Think

Think about three people whom you highly respect professionally?

Write down their names and a few key words why you hold them in high regard.

Now imagine that each one would have observed you the whole of last month and they will now give you some advice on how to do your job. (Or, if you like to, how to lead your life) What would they say?

Any difference?

Another approach. Whenever you have to make a critical decision ask yourself: "How would my role-model go about this?" There is a good chance that this question would provide some more possible solutions.

If facing ethical questions "What would my mother say about this?" is a good one.