That defiant spirit of a child – to turn themselves into something quite extraordinary is quite amazing – where the dot connection comes in I’ve no idea! So many start very early (voluntarily or not) .. and that work ethic is there and ripe for development, they’ve been accustomed to failing .. so pick up the sticks and start again. They have that never die attitude .. keep going and the desire to learn and grow ..

Interesting topic – thanks JD .. & I’m looking forward to your post on fast reading .. Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

“You own it now” cuts right to the chase and empowers you to make the most of what you’ve got.

I like your examples of an environmental issue pushing or pulling you.

I like taking the best of the best … sort of like a mixed-martial arts approach. Bruce Lee influenced me early on to not get hung up on a school of thought, and instead focus on what works, test things for yourself, and of course, “absorb what is useful”

I find that regardless of what caused you to be the way you are, you own it now. The digging to find out where it came from can help with awareness and finding out how to shift it, but past that point I’m not sure that it matters really (even though my ego really wants it to matter). Environment, both internal and external, past and present is about locating the push, pull influencers and finding the steering wheel so you can decide on the changes.

I often think about the people who have lost their long term memories. Especially interesting are the ones who have some memories from adulthood but lost them only in the past 10 years. They don’t feel lost usually, but rather are more in the moment.

I say, if I lost my memory would this still be a problem for me? When I come up with “no”, I understand that it’s just a set of thoughts I need to shift. When “yes”, I can see there is some sort of environmental issue still pushing or pulling me and creating that pattern.

For example, issues with my parents are long gone in my case so feeling lonely in high school doesn’t have to effect me now when I sit alone at a lunch table.But if I’m having trouble with running over people and not being heard, that might still be an issue if I lost my memory if it’s environment based.

Brings me back to you post on creating lasting change in an organization from the influencer training. This applies in some ways to yourself as well where you are the “organization” being changed by internal and external influences.

http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/06/09/influencer-the-power-to-change-anything/

There are so many schools of thought when it comes to psychology. They probably all apply in one way or another. There are enough books out there and, crumbs, I’ve read quite a few of them.

Guess it comes down to the whole “nature/nurture” debate.

I think we are a “product” of both i.e. our environment (upbringing) and our genetics. Doesn’t mean we can’t change things though. Just that sometimes the genetics bit takes some work.

Now there are also the alternative therapies that connect the mind and body and I think there is a great deal of power in this approach.

Juliet

The thoughtful, self-directed solopreneur.

@ beijingphoto

Nice.

@ Fred

I agree. Michael Michalko, a former Disney imagineer, wrote a killer post for me on Choice.

I think the key to choice is first expanding awareness. Then it’s practicing the power of the pause. Then it’s distinguishing between emotional input and intellectual process. I think with those raw mechanics in place, it’s a skill you improve over time (and Drucker has many insights on how to improve judgment. I can’t help but to think of judgment as a key skill in life.)

@ Jannie

Very interesting. I want to compare her work with learnings from Marcus Buckingham. I also want to check out Martin Seligman’s other book, that might be related – What You Can Change and What You Can’t.

@ Steven

Good points, and related to shifts, I’m a fan of the strengths movement. Instead of asking what’s wrong with things, it’s about asking what’s right with things. That’s the heart of positive psychology. Find the patterns and practices that work and amplify those.

I’m still a fan of finding the flaws too, but if we only know anti-patterns, we limit ourselves. Focusing on strengths is how we go from good to great.

To what extent do people choose their actions and to what extent are they products of their environment? I don’t think we can say it is 100% one way or another. Instead, we are interdependent on a variety of biological, psychological and environmental factors.

I think a more interesting shift in psychology, which is also related to Seligman, is the change from studying the mentally ill to the mentally gifted. Instead of saying, “How can we limit our suffering?” we are asking, “How can we instill habits of complete and utter success, joy and happiness?” Thus psychology is broadening its implications not only to maintaining mental health, but also to how can we be good achievers?

She was so ahead of her time, and continues to be. I highly,highly recommend Montessori education.