Category: Observe

CategoriesActionObserveThink About It

What We Say About Others

Posted on May 14, 2024

We tell people what is important for us about the other person. We do not describe the other person in an unbiased way. We describe them based on our bias and what we want to convey.

So when news reports come out, be sceptical about why the reporter is using those words and in that order. What picture are they painting and why?

When a friend describes another friend, where are they positioning them in your mind?

If you liked Margaret Thatcher, you might describe her as a strong woman, the Iron Lady, who rose from humble beginnings, with a common background, to the halls of power. If you were less of a fan you might just say she was anti-union and destroyed coal mining in the UK.

Both are descriptions that people could use about the same person. So we don’t simply describe the other person, we describe the characteristics that we want to highlight about the other person. So why did we choose those specific highlights?

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CategoriesActionObserveProgressReframe your thoughtsThink About It

Define The Question

Posted on May 5, 2024

Do you want the world to be a better place or do you simply want it to be run the way you currently feel it should be? These can be wildly different.

Wanting the world to continue to get better is next level politics. Unfortunately, most people would rather trash every opposing or slightly different (could we say diverse) viewpoint, just so they could lead and be in charge.

Most people (maybe 80%) would probably agree with great policies, if they didn’t know which side had suggested them. Unfortunately, our tribal instincts and cultures have us preferring the tribe over the policy.

This happens in global and country politics but also in garden variety conversations with neighbours, family and friends.

Find common ground and notice the nuance. Give and take a little. The world could be a much better place if we noticed that the vast majority of people, deep down, want very similar things.

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CategoriesActionObserveThink About It

Who Is Influencing You?

Posted on May 2, 2024

Have you considered who is really helping your mind make decisions? You may think it is you. But is it?

Where did you get the information? Did you get the opposing view in an unbiased way?

Is your info coming from the radio, tv, print media, family or friends? Have you reflected on that information and given it a sensibility test?

Are people using sample sizes of one to get you to believe something is very widespread when it isn’t? Something may be terrible but if it happens just 0.001% of the time, though very unfortunate, it is not a national crisis of epic and massive proportions. Remember that.

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CategoriesActionObserveProgressReframe your thoughtsThink About It

Want To Be Right Or Progress Forward?

Posted on April 27, 2024

Oftentimes we are so focused on our own view, and holding on to it, and defending it so we can be “right”, that we miss the opportunity to improve the situation.

While we stick to our perspective and search only for data to support our bias, we don’t listen to evidence being presented that may have some merit. Defending our position and being right becomes the overriding objective, not solving the problem.

Imagine the improvement in our world if we focused on really understanding the different perspectives presented, clarifying what the actual issue is and using all the data to find a better way ahead.

Try focusing on a better outcome rather than defending your position. It’ll be a game changer.

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CategoriesActionObserveReframe your thoughtsThink About ItTime

Consider All Options

Posted on April 24, 2024

When you’re looking for answers, consider all options. Don’t only think of your usually answers, find out what others would do, or did, in your situation. Find out by going online using a search engine or ChatGPT, watch a video, read a book or speak to someone new.

Brainstorm ideas to come up with some new answers. You don’t have to use the wacky answers but at least mull them over and give it some time to reflect on them.

Then you need to take all that thinking and make a firm decision and drive forward with that best idea without looking back.

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CategoriesObserveReframe your thoughtsThink About ItTime

What Little We Know

Posted on April 14, 2024

There are millions of books yet how many have we read? Over 8 billion people live on Earth today yet how many have you met or heard of even? Every event can be viewed in a myriad of ways and yet you will only ever know one way (yours) for most of them.

Yet we give our opinions like we are an all-knowing super-computer crunching trillions of terabytes of data per millisecond and can confidently give an excellent response to anything.

Though in reality, we barely read half an article written by a biased journalist and believe we are sufficiently well-informed to let loose over a glass of white wine at lunch.

Perhaps get some alternative viewpoints, consider they may also be valid and try to uncover the reality, even if you don’t like that answer. You owe it to yourself to be better informed, less ignorant of real options and to develop objective thinking beyond the tiny bubble you exist in.

Think things through with a little more curiosity, skepticism and thirst for real information in place of the spoon-fed biased reportage you binge on currently.

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CategoriesObserveProgressReframe your thoughts

Know When To Stop

Posted on April 6, 2024

Often times things start out well. Maybe it’s a gentle joke, a little teasing, spending on a few little things or picking at a dish of food. However, these things can go too far.

You know what you’re doing too much of, whether it’s binge watching tv, spending, eating, drinking, teasing, complaining, harassing or staying up too late.

A little bit and occasionally is fine. Moderation in everything as they say. But with that, you need to learn when to stop. And then stop.

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CategoriesGratitudeObserveReframe your thoughts

What Would Better Look Like?

Posted on April 4, 2024

People say they want things to be better. Well, what specifically and how would that look?

Many people say they like natural but when you note that how things are is natural, they want to manufacture it to be different.

People are funny.

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CategoriesActionObserveReframe your thoughts

Look Closely At Your Habits

Posted on March 30, 2024

Your habits are things you don’t even notice. But they will direct your life like no other tool. Pay attention to what you do, that is the real indicator of your true intent.

If our actions aren’t in line with our values, we will know. Similarly, so will everyone else.

So check your habits and see what you are doing and if you really are getting the results you say you want.

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