There are so many situations in life where we become conditioned to thinking in a certain way. How can we choose what is good for us? How can we accept what is useful and discount that which is not?
With so many more ways to communicate than there were in the past, we have the benefit of accessing information far easier that we did, but we can also be contaminated with information that may not be good for us as unique individuals. Ultimately, what is good for one person may not be good for another. Difficulties occur when one persons opinion is adversely projected on to another.
I like to free think. I like to listen to the opinions of others and draw my own conclusions. In some cases I agree in full with another persons opinion and in others, I may agree with elements of it.
Situations where free thinking can be restricted:
I’ve been discussing the subject with my grown children this evening. My son has been looking for a summer job in his break from university and has considered the “flipping burger” type of opportunities. It is somewhat interesting that after filling in the online applications forms along with the obligatory questionnaires that in some cases, the rejecting and reason for rejection states “not qualified”. This could be seen as a bit of an insult. However, those sort of jobs tend to be akin to the function of a battery hen. In other words, workers are expected to follow a basic set of instructions of what to say and what to do with very little opportunity for diversion. I experienced something similar some years ago when working in a call centre. I have to say that I lasted less than 2 days, choosing to walk out before I went mad! Doing the kind of work that requires that sort of discipline does not make somebody less intelligent, but I think that for some, it can instil restrictive thinking. There comes a point where we learn to do something a certain way. That can seem fine until such time as a change is required i.e. loss of job through redundancy. If we believe that we only have the ability to do one task or job, taking that away creates a lot of anxiety. It creates a self limiting belief.
Another motivator for writing on this subject today is the result of watching a YouTube video recommended to me. It presents, with fascinating and detailed information, an alternative way of looking at how the body works and how it is possible to self heal. I’m impressed with the way that Dr Bruce Lipton presents his findings. His enthusiasm is attractive as is his firm belief and confidence. This information is obviously not new, but it is also not mainstream thinking. Anything that promotes a better life is of interest to me.
Free thinking is powerful. Acting upon it can have positive or negative outcomes. We will, of course make mistakes along the way through trial and error. The issue in not how many times we get it right or wrong, it is the progression and wisdom that we gain though taking action.
Are you a free thinker?
If you work for an employer, have you considered whether elements of your work cause you to have limited beliefs?
Can you do a job or task as required, yet still allow yourself the ability think freely?
Does your job or business allow you to free think?
I’m looking for feedback upon what I have written here. I’m actually inviting you to challenge me on my opinion so that I can learn more.
Do you like what I have written here? You can get my free ebook with 15 affirming articles simply by entering your email address below and clicking “send”. Your email address will NOT be shared with 3rd parties. Thank you for reading
Do your eyes get really tired from reading as mine do?
Do you have trouble proof reading your own articles and get frustrated when you have missed a grammatical error in your content?
I’ve found a great way to overcome this. It is simple and very time saving. I recommend using text reading software. I’ve tested a product called Natural Reader. The voice produced on it is very easy on the ear. It is also very inexpensive. It saves so much time and effort stops that temptation to skip content, especially when reading an instructional article. You can just close you eyes and listen if you wish. Here is the link. Natural Reader.
I’ve watched very little television in recent months. This is mainly because it can be a distraction when there is a lot of negative material such as the news. I avoid soap operas like the plague these days because they mostly sensationalize negative life experiences such as suffering, relationship break up, poor communication, arguments, violence, illness, hate, anger. The worst of this comes on Eastenders in my view.
I did catch a documentary programme just recently called “Home is Where The Heart Is”. It is of interest to me because much of my work in recent years has connections to helping people that are or become homeless. The homeless aspect of the work is very tough and emotionally draining. I’m often interested in seeking enlightenment on this issue.
Successful interior designers Colin and Justin took in a homeless man Jim, a man with severe alcoholism problems. In the show, there were 2 scenes that touched me, so much so that I’ve felt the need to process this and recognise the connection with my own unrelated life events.
Colin and Justin ask Jim if there was anything he could wish for that could have been different in his life, to which Jim stated he wished his parents had never created him. This brought forward compassionate tears from (I’m not sure if it was Colin or Justin). In a later scene from the documentary, Jim was asked if there was something he would like to experience in his life. It appeared to me that Jim understands the power of not having self limiting beliefs. He stated that he had always wanted to fly across The Grand Canyon in a helicopter. Colin & Justin could not quite fulfil the wholeness of that dream, however, they did take him for a flight over Glasgow. The scene of Jim pushing away the cameras as he wept with joy in the realisation of fulfilling this dream really did touch me.
The point in all of this is the power of dreaming and also living for the moment when it happens. The point of pinching oneself at moments of pure joy is key to the meaning of life as far as I am concerned. This links to so many other aspects of self improvement.
To dream big dreams and see them through and realise them.
To listen and answer honestly the questions asked.
To ask for what we need.
To express gratitude.
To care for humanity and refrain from judgement.
To seek to understand.
Finally, to recognise the power of positive memories and how they can attract more positive experiences.
I’m aware of those people that are working through life coaching courses, in particular those engaged with Steven Aitchison’s Mind Alchemy course right now and the module “My Perfect Day”. I’ve seen people asking questions and giving feedback on this module (one of my personal favourites). It has generated quite a discussion on the related Facebook page.
My final thoughts are that we can learn a lot from Jim. He realised the ability to share a dream when asked. The power expressing it openly without any expectation has created a memory for him that he will treasure, not matter what happens for him for the rest of his life. The work I do working with vulnerable people can, if I allow it to, result in a lot of disappointment when folk choose not to recover. In relation to what I have written today, I get motivation from providing opportunities for people to experience as little as a few hours in a single day doing something new such as some conservation work, going for a walk by the sea or in the countryside, discovering a new practical skill and feeling the benefit from it. I take great comfort from that alone.
Are you going to dream big and sear positive experiences into your mind as clear and wonderful, life long memories?
Do you like what I have written here? You can get my free ebook with 15 affirming articles simply by entering your email address below and clicking “send”. Your email address will NOT be shared with 3rd parties. Thank you for reading
Do your eyes get really tired from reading as mine do?
Do you have trouble proof reading your own articles and get frustrated when you have missed a grammatical error in your content?
I’ve found a great way to overcome this. It is simple and very time saving. I recommend using text reading software. I’ve tested a product called Natural Reader. The voice produced on it is very easy on the ear. It is also very inexpensive. It saves so much time and effort stops that temptation to skip content, especially when reading an instructional article. You can just close you eyes and listen if you wish. Here is the link. Natural Reader.
I’m commenting again of one of my favourite subjects.
The majority of our blue/green planet was aware of a certain wedding ceremony yesterday. There were street parties all over the UK and a feel good factor as people celebrated. I know the vast majority of America love the spectacle pomp and ceremony.
Whilst I’m aware that it is not something that everybody likes, I wonder what it is that people find so attractive.
Everybody likes to celebrate at some point in their lives. A wedding is no exception. When we are all invited to celebrate this event, I guess the answer is “Why not?” It’s party time! It is the attraction of collective fun. Let’s face it, no party is fun if you are on your own. We are social animals, so we like to party together.
After yet another busy day yesterday, I was involved with entertaining people in the afternoon at a street party and again at a Caribbean themed evening at a pub in Deal. When you’re having a ball, people want to get involved. People want to join in and have a piece of the fun.
Weddings often bring up moments of emotion. I spoke with several people who stated they experienced emotion rise within them at the moment of the wedding ceremony. I confess that I felt it too.
I am convinced that there is something spiritual in the atmosphere that touches people. I guess that touches more for some than others. We may not all be aware of it, but it is the very same sort of emotion that occurs at large sport events such as football/soccer matches or big music events. It is infectious and contaminates virtually everyone.
Did you watch the Royal Wedding of William and Catherine?
Did you sense that unseen spiritual collective emotion?
Did you celebrate?
—-oooo0000oooo—-
The previous weekend I was out playing with the band on a balcony at Margate seafront. Someone shot a little video. The sound quality is a bit distorted, but you’ll get the idea.There’s a guy dancing to “Love gets sweeter every day”. I wonder who that is? LOL. Answers on a postcard to Marty BoneIdol.
Do you like what I have written here? You can get my free ebook with 15 affirming articles simply by entering your email address below and clicking “send”. Your email address will NOT be shared with 3rd parties. Thank you for reading
Do your eyes get really tired from reading as mine do?
Do you have trouble proof reading your own articles and get frustrated when you have missed a grammatical error in your content?
I’ve found a great way to overcome this. It is simple and very time saving. I recommend using text reading software. I’ve tested a product called Natural Reader. The voice produced on it is very easy on the ear. It is also very inexpensive. It saves so much time and effort stops that temptation to skip content, especially when reading an instructional article. You can just close you eyes and listen if you wish. Here is the link. Natural Reader.
As I’m writing this, I am sitting in glorious sunshine in Seasalter waiting to go visit a marshes project to enquire about some conservation work.
This work will involve removing “floating water pennywort”, an invasive species not indigenous to the UK. It grows very quickly. It’s removal helps to protect rare species such as “water soldier”.
Today, and all this week we are experiencing unusually warm weather for April. It is much like the middle of June right now. I am leaning against my car listening to some jazz funk music from my car stereo whilst waiting for a meeting.
There are great benefits in living for the moment. This encourages attraction for similar life experiences of positivity for the future. I’m taking a few moments to record aspects of the “moment”.
The aroma of fresh warm air.
The clear blue sky.
The gentle breeze.
The sound of distant aircraft in the sky.
The sound of birds singing.
The sound of the occasional vehicle going by.
The pulsing sound of a helicopter.
The sound of children shrieking with delight at this time of school holidays.
The sound of crickets in the grass bank.
(a little later on the marshes) the “sound” of peace that is nature.
The next time you experience a moment of great joy, I recommend that you record it in your mind for recall at a later time, perhaps during a time of relaxation and meditation. It is a powerfully healing process.
Typing this up this evening, I’ve had a call from a band member informing me of some great feedback from our busking escapades last weekend. It looks like we have another prestigious gig coming up very soon as a result of many people enquiring at our local council, “Who were that great band that played? They were fantastic!”
I believe this has a lot to do with having a positive attitude that attracts positive opportunities. This has happened so much in the last year or so. It WORKS!
Do you like what I have written here? You can get my free ebook with 15 affirming articles simply by entering your email address below and clicking “send”. Your email address will NOT be shared with 3rd parties. Thank you for reading
Do your eyes get really tired from reading as mine do?
Do you have trouble proof reading your own articles and get frustrated when you have missed a grammatical error in your content?
I’ve found a great way to overcome this. It is simple and very time saving. I recommend using text reading software. I’ve tested a product called Natural Reader. The voice produced on it is very easy on the ear. It is also very inexpensive. It saves so much time and effort stops that temptation to skip content, especially when reading an instructional article. You can just close you eyes and listen if you wish. Here is the link. Natural Reader.
“APPLY” I just made that accronym up right this very minute while finishing this article and seeking a headline. Inspired or what!
I only discovered what NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) is fairly recently. What I didn’t know until someone told me is that I use it without realising.
In the current financial climate, there is plenty of doom and gloom about job prospects and redundancies. Many folk fall for this and simply give up hope of finding a job. When redundancy has hit me in the past I feared never finding another job but never gave up. Besides, I’ve a wife, family and mortgage to feed!
I wrote the story of a life experience a few years ago. Looking back at it now, I see the NLP technique of tricking my mind when going for an interview. I.e. Pretending to be a businessesman.
A journey in and out of employment.
The phone rang.
“Hi Martin, can you come in to work please?”
It was a Monday and I had just worked the weekend, so this was one of my days off. Christmas was over, this was during the last few days of January 1995 and my birthday was coming up.
“Oh, right ok, is there some overtime then?”
“No, we need to see you right away. Book a taxi, we will pay for it when you arrive.”
I got that horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I tried to ignore. Was this the end? Was this the spectre of redundancy looming once again? I kept trying to dismiss these thoughts as unreasonable and over the top, but they kept swimming around my head as the taxi made it’s way to my workplace. Having arrived, I went upstairs to the office where the company secretary and office manager were seated, somewhat officially.
And there it was!
One month short of 2 years at this quirky little company. I received notice of my redundancy. A months pay in lieu and a statement that there was no need to come back.
Don’t bother to go down and see any of the staff. We don’t want to spread any bad feeling.
To say I was furious at this was a massive understatement. I felt betrayed, discarded and very hurt. I ignored their request and went downstairs to the operations floor and said my goodbyes. Walking out of those gates, the tears stung my eyes and face. There was a cold breeze blowing, but I did not feel it. I just walked for about 4 miles in no particular direction and found myself on the seafront, feeling ashamed and not wanting to go home. Eventually, I turned up at my parent’s house and I asked my father if I could borrow the typewriter to start on that journey of creating a CV and distributing it. There was no internet in those days for me. I was back to square one, yet again.
Once I got over the initial shock, it was a case of focusing on the task ahead. Get out there and find another job as soon as possible. I vowed to rise above it all and put 100% effort into job searching.
Each weekday morning, I rose at 8am, took a shower and shave and put on a suit as if I was going to work. I packed briefcase with paper, pens and copies of my CV, then went about business. The first port of call was the job centre. This is always scraping the bottom of the barrel, but I believed that showing your face in ensured the benefits agency were aware that I was making an effort. I then went round the various employment agencies and finally, to the library where I started marking off all suitable jobs and writing letters. I usually made for home about 4pm having decided that it was equivalent of a days work.
One particularly day, I saw an advert in the job centre for an after sales administrator, advertised at £4 per hour. In those days, that was well above the average rate for a job at the job centre. Most were £2.50 an hour and not worth getting out of bed for. I looked at it and almost changed my mind. I had had an interview in Peckham, London that week for a food Company. The guy who managed their exports was about to retire and the company was going to move to Maidstone. The interview had gone well and I was hopeful of making the second round. In the end, this £4 per hour job was one I finally decided to apply for. There was an initial telephone interview and then I received a call at home inviting to Canterbury to go see this Motor Dealer the next day.
For some reason, I felt I needed to make an extra special effort for this interview in Canterbury. I ironed the shirt with a little more care and gave my shoes an extra special polish. It was raining on that interview day so I took a black brolly and put on the woollen grey RAF style coat my brother had given me. Having got off the bus I walked down toward the motor dealer. There had been a lot of rain and the pathways were pretty muddy, so I was really careful to avoid getting mud on my shoes.
I had never been into a motor dealer before and I was struck by the clinical cleanliness of the showroom and the vehicles on display. Having been asked to take a seat, there was only a small space beside other folk and I didn’t want to feel cramped so I stood and decided to pick up The Daily Telegraph to read in an attempt to make myself look like a businessman. This was a psychological approach I took to give myself a boost of confidence. Whilst pretending to do the crossword, I was then approached and invited into one of the offices. The interview went well and I was told that there was a possibility of a slightly different job that may come up. The interviewer said he would be in touch within the week.
Sure enough, a few days later, I was invited back for a second interview. The second interview went even better than the first and I took a chance to indicate that I was looking for a higher rate of pay. For a moment, I thought I had blown it, then the interviewer considered for a moment and made a decision. He offered me a little more money along with a fortnight trial period, starting Monday. There was a skip in my step as I walked back to the bus stop. I had managed to secure a new job within 2 weeks.
What happened is something that always happens to me in these situations. By the Saturday of that week, I received a letter from the Peckham food company inviting me to a second interview. The job was between me and one other candidate. I had no idea what the salary would be, but this job was much more high profile and likely paid a proper salary. I couldn’t go to this second interview because it was in the week I started working in the job I had accepted. There was nothing for it. I had to let it go.
On reflection, I learned a lot in the motor trade and honed my admin skills to something really substantial. I became a trusted employee over those 5 and a half years, but in a way, it became my downfall. I had not learned to say no or to negotiate properly, so I ended up taking on too much and fell ill with stress in depression in yr 2000, yet again receiving redundancy. I used to wonder at times how things would have been if I’d got the Peckham job, but then that was not my destiny. “
The positive action and attitude attracted the choice of 2 jobs. This has happened to me in most cases when searching for work.
Here’s the secret.
If you get an interview for one job, don’t hold too tightly to that possibility of being successful. Rejection can be very de-motivating if you allow it to be.
Move right on to the next job application with the same vigour. Keep looking until you get an offer. It is more than likely you’ll get offered 2 or more.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/MzDwF7GfYvs[/youtube]
Do you like what I have written here? You can get my free ebook with 15 affirming articles simply by entering your email address below and clicking “send”. Your email address will NOT be shared with 3rd parties. Thank you for reading
Do your eyes get really tired from reading as mine do?
Do you have trouble proof reading your own articles and get frustrated when you have missed a grammatical error in your content?
I’ve found a great way to overcome this. It is simple and very time saving. I recommend using text reading software. I’ve tested a product called Natural Reader. The voice produced on it is very easy on the ear. It is also very inexpensive. It saves so much time and effort stops that temptation to skip content, especially when reading an instructional article. You can just close you eyes and listen if you wish. Here is the link. Natural Reader.
![Alex France - Uni interview today at Huddersfield [Day 23]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3221301604_70c55d65ce_m.jpg)
