Why Did I Create This Book?
Changing Mindsets
You will notice throughout this book that I
spend lots of time writing about changing mindsets towards people challenged in
many ways. Perhaps this is because I believe that, at various times, and in
many different ways, I have experienced some of life’s hurts that most of you
will bump up against: things like rejection, discrimination, bullying,
condescending attitudes. Some of these experiences take place in my own mind,
my mindsets. It feels as if I have been wrapped up in bubble wrap that
restricts my movements, stops me from speaking freely, makes me look ugly, and
hides the real me. I heard an excellent sermon once about fear, and a similar
analogy was used to explain this concept (see the chapter called “Fear, Anger, and Bullying”, section called “What Does a Lifetime of Fear Do?”):
We put on trappings of fear sometimes based on experiences, and this cripples
us seemingly in physical ways, like stopping us from speaking. Some of us then
spend our lives unlearning these behaviours, and we may throw off the trappings
of fear, but our outward appearance does not change, and we need to learn to
behave in new ways. I used to wonder what was wrong with me, why it seemed
difficult to fit in at times, and it felt as if I did not know the real me. Writing is freeing my expression of
ideas in ways I could never have imagined before.
Growth Through Learning
My writing stems from my life experiences and
my thoughts. I’ve attended management training courses and wondered why these
principles are not taught to everyone: for example, conflict management,
emotional intelligence, and general leadership principles. Some people I used
to work with wondered why I was so enthusiastic attending training I might
never use and which was not seen as a necessary part of my job. I believe all
can benefit from training like this and that constant growth is vital, to
suspend fixed mindsets and be open always to new ways of seeing things and to
be open to other peoples’ viewpoints; to experience constant growth towards
wisdom. I believe some form of leadership training and a process of uncovering
talents and knowing one’s identity should be part of school curriculums, and
this will positively influence our future leaders in their formative years
today. I believe all can benefit from basic leadership principles: from old to
young, from leaders to housewives, the working and the unemployed, the able
bodied and people with challenges; everyone.
Perception’s Black Swan: Everyone Has Purpose
I wonder if a phenomenal change in perception
may be the next Black Swan Event…
The best
way to cause change in our lives is to change our mindsets, which influences
our perception. Our thinking influences our actions and our behaviour. If we change
our thinking, we will change our actions, and cause a change in our worlds. If
more and more of us do this, we will make a difference to the world as a whole.
It starts with each one of us, with our own perceptions.
There is
a phenomenon known as a “Black Swan Event”, so named because sometimes
unexpected happenings can cause a massive divergence from the past. In the book
called The Black Swan: The Impact of the
Highly Improbable, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, April 2007, Random House, it
is mentioned that people never used to know or concede that Black Swans
existed, until the discovery of Black Swans in Australia proved this theory
wrong. Thus, the discovery of extraordinary talents where these are least
expected proves that we must never take anyone for granted. Talents exist in
unexpected places, not only in people who are outwardly beautiful. Think of the
success of previously ignored music superstars, who come from seemingly
nowhere, yet who have massive talent and are snatched up in random events auditioning
for reality TV, and are warmly and tearfully embraced by a searching world.
There was never anything wrong with
singers who seem to astound the audience when talent emerges from what seems an
unlikely frame. I believe the world, each one of us, must make sure we provide
the means for all the people to use and free their talents. Someone who has
previously been ignored for all of his or her life might just change the world
someday.
Impacting the World: the Butterfly Effect
I believe we have the keys to peace and
prosperity within our grasp, and I wanted to get this message out there. This
message is being preached all around us every day. We know we must be friendly
towards others, show caring, avoid discriminating, yet many of us do not actually
take this to heart and actively practice this. When we see someone who is
lonely, most of us will look the other way. When we see someone who is hungry,
we push it to the back of our minds. Various media are full of stories about
famine in Africa, but this is something far away for us and we perhaps feel
fleeting pity and then carry on with our lives. How can each of us make a
difference when the world is so immense? It feels as if all I can do is add a
drop to the ocean, but sometimes drops create ripples that spread wide, and, if
more join, the tide may turn and make a difference to the world. This is known
as the butterfly effect.
In essence, I hope to inspire other people to
discover their own answers by reading this book. My faith, my journey, my thoughts…
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