Necessary wisdom
Once we have a working purpose statement, we need some way
of making it an integral part of our life so that it is able to influence and
shape the way we think.
Motivation speakers and human observers have for decades
been offering us ideas and ways of changing our “mind-set” so we approach life
with more positive or helpful attitudes. As neurologists have learnt more about
the way our brains work and change, these ideas have been refined and tuned to
the point where scientists now know the steps involved in effectively “re-wiring”
our brains or changing neural pathways. We can all use of some of the simpler
forms of these techniques to train our minds to “see” and “notice” things quite
differently. I have summarized seven of the most common and effective of these
strategies into the acronym, “Implant”.
The “I.M.P.L.A.N.T.” Method
These seven types
of strategies can be used individually or in combination with other strategies to
help implant new purpose statements, assumptions, beliefs, values, attitudes, knowledge and ways of
seeing things into our long-term memories. They will then be more readily
available to us throughout our day-to-day life.
Some people have
warned that these methods are really a form of mild “brain washing” and in some
ways, they are. However, the difference here is that we are in control of the process. We choose exactly what we want our
brain’s focus to be, we choose the methods, and we choose the extent to which
we will use those methods. Our purpose here is to make use of our brain’s
ability to focus on, and draw our attention to the things that we choose as
important to us.
Here are the seven
key strategies related to the idea of making our new purpose statement the
focus of our life.
Imagine it
-
Regularly imagine yourself with the new purpose
statement as a reality - as a
permanent part of your life e.g. Start each day imagining yourself acting as if
your purpose statement was being realized in your life. See yourself
successfully living with your purpose statement.
Mythologize it
-
See the new purpose statement as a key turning
point or the next main phase in your own life story or myth.
-
Develop or create symbols to represent the new purpose
statement in your life and display these symbols on computer screens, business
cards, posters etc.
-
Develop symbolic rituals and routines that link
the new purpose statement to yourself e.g. a ritual to remind yourself of your
purpose statement each day.
-
Set up a shrine, altar or monument in honour of your
adoption of the new purpose statement.
-
Make a periodical pilgrimage to the place where
you first decided to adopt the purpose statement - if such a place exists.
Party it - With Music
-
Celebrate the new purpose statement with a party
and music when you first encounter it, and celebrate this event annually e.g.
as part of your own birthday celebrations or on the anniversary of encountering
the purpose statement
-
Wherever possible, link music with the new purpose
statement since studies show that music seems to make our brains more open to
new suggestions
-
Try writing a song about the new purpose
statement, or relating the purpose statement to songs that you already know
-
Establish a special celebration day in honour of
the purpose statement
-
Feel grateful for the new purpose statement at
the start of every day e.g. as part of a daily walk
Learn it
-
Learn and revise the words of the purpose statement
by heart using emotionally charged memory techniques
-
Learn all you can about the purpose statement as
if you were trying to complete research for an important presentation
Act it
-
Act as if the new purpose statement is a day-to-day
reality in your life
-
When facing a decision, ask, “What would someone
with this purpose statement do in this situation?”
-
Start acting from your purpose statement - do
things that someone with your purpose statement would do, even if you do not
really feel like doing those things
Notice it
-
Place notices about your new purpose statement
on your personal web site or “blog” if you have one
-
Write a poem or song expressing the essence of
the new purpose statement
-
Make a sketch or painting showing the new purpose
statement in action in your life
-
Wear the purpose statement expressed or
symbolized on a T-shirt or windcheater
-
Express the essence of the purpose statement in
the types and colours of clothes you wear
-
Make small reminder notices of the purpose
statement and display them in your living and work spaces
-
Place the purpose statement on mobile phones,
media players and computers as wallpaper, or as a computer screensaver so you
notice it every time you use these devices
Talk it
-
Tell significant people in your life that you
have adopted the new purpose statement
-
Mention it to others as if the purpose statement
was a reality in your life
-
Use positive language whenever you talk about
the purpose statement
-
Consider changing the way you speak to reflect your
new purpose statement
-
Recite the words of the new purpose statement to
yourself on a regular basis e.g. on your daily walk or run.
-
Teach others about the new purpose statement - this is one of the best ways of
making it part of you - we are
publicly seen as embodying what we teach
-
Tell your partner that you are trying to act
according to your new purpose statement and that you would appreciate their
support for your efforts
In the above descriptions, you could replace the words,
“purpose statement” with any one of these terms: “assumption”, belief”,
“value”, “attitude”, or “way of seeing things” as a way of changing the way you
think about something. In a later book, I even suggest that you can replace
“purpose statement” with the words “loved one” in all but the last suggestion as
a way of developing a relationship with a new romantic interest.
Creative responses
CREATIVE RESPONSE (CC): Create daily, weekly and annual
customs based on some of the above “IMPLANT” strategies that can continually
remind you of your new purpose statement.
*
Choose two or three strategies
that you believe can work for you and adapt them to work with your own
lifestyle. E.g. you might decide to remind yourself of your purpose statement
as part of a daily walk, and you might also decide to review your statement as
part of an annual review of your life’s goals.
No comments:
Post a Comment