Personal Growth
The world is full of conflicting viewpoints and opinions. Ultimately we all have to make up our own minds about our personal choices. To do this we have to have confidence in our ability to sift through data and information and try out the actions that appear to be logical and based on actual observation and then trial and error. While I firmly believe that we can learn from those who came before us we also need to do a bit of work on first principle thinking as well as anecdotal observations of the actual results that we personally attain.
The more I look at new ideas and principles the more I can feel a certain confidence in my own ability to garner useable knowledge that works for me. This doesn’t mean that I’m stuck on anything forever. There is no “be all and end all”. Knowledge is fluid, people keep observing new manifestations and solutions to old problems. You’ve got to be pragmatic to keep growing. You have to stay open to the flow of information coming at you and even more importantly you need to try new ideas out on yourself to ascertain their workability. Maybe even more importantly you then have to apply self discipline to the application of what you believe gets positive results for yourself, that’s the only real test. Continued application. You also need to record the results as a record to look back on when you come across something new that may work better.
Testing, measuring and recording are crucial as these results help you make choices and know that you are on the best possible path based on your current knowledge and ability.
I’d say that throughout my life that I have been easily influenced by the viewpoints of others. Sometimes in a positive manner and at other times negatively. There’s nothing quite like a good presentation to convince you that somebody else might have a more workable path than you currently have.
I believe that while dipping your hat to the past, your earlier knowledge and experiences, that you must be willing to constantly re-assess virtually everything. Realities change constantly. Who is to say what worked yesterday will work just as well tomorrow. Life is a bit like running a gauntlet. New challenges and openings are always going to appear. Old solutions and leanings may not serve you well in different circumstances. I suppose that is what living in the present is all about. Old policies and rules are only useful as long as they continue to work and to act as a guide for you to achieve your goals and purposes. Locking yourself into old habits and ways of thinking can potentially restrain you from forward growth.
It’s sometimes hard to break old habits, especially the ones that you don’t even know that you have created along the way. That is why self observance has to be given some time each and every moment of your life.
Can you be outside yourself and also be looking out from where you are at the same time? I just got a glimpse that this is self awareness, a bit like when you meditate and act as an observer to your own thoughts, noise and turmoil. Before you can change anything you first need to observe what you need to change. Maybe the simple act of honestly observing in itself is enough. What are your motivations, your intentions, what are you reaching for, what is your purpose?
I’m pretty happy where I have arrived at this point in time. There is still much to be learned, loads of adventures to be had, huge amounts of pleasure to be experienced.
