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PRINCIPLES in BUSINESS: the principles that shape exceptional organisations
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MESSAGE BOARD: Issue 11. October 2008
Hello and welcome to the October 2008 Message Board from PiB, the 11th in our series of monthly news and articles on corporate life,
leadership and of course, the 3Ps approach. If you missed previous Message Boards, you can retrieve them from the
PiB Message Board archive.
As usual, my appreciation for the thoughtful comments on these Message Boards. Remember, you can
email me or phone, anytime - my number is at the bottom of this message.
Enjoy this issue... peace, David.
IN THIS ISSUE
News & Events
The Message Board Feature Article
This month we are looking at The Unsettled Mind. Like a barometer which measures the rise and fall of temperature, our feelings measure the settled or unsettled nature of our minds in any given moment. And ignoring our feelings always has consequences. They are at work in every decision we make, every action we take, in the way we relate to others. They are our very experience of life. More food for thought...
We Are What We Do
Our regular column with insightful ideas to reflect on...
Subscriber & Privacy Information
NEWS & EVENTS
Perth readers who have travelled the 3 Principles road with us will remember our very popular half-day introductory and ten week courses at the Midland Centre. They were a wonderful exploration of the 3 Principles for small groups and we have received a number of requests to conduct similar courses again. If you, or a group of friends, would like to come and enjoy a relaxed Saturday morning,
register your interest here... we'll keep you posted.
THE MESSAGE BOARD FEATURE ARTICLE
The Unsettled Mind
Everyone has an unsettled mind from time to time, some of us more often than we would like to think. Before we talk about the unsettled mind, it might be helpful to explore what we mean by it. To have an unsettled mind does not mean that we are mad or crazy. Generally, it means that our minds are agitated or preoccupied with many thoughts; or a thought that consumes our attention. To describe an unsettled mind we might use words such as uncertain, confused, disorganised, vexed, unsteady or erratic. When our minds are in any of those states we experience life with anxiety, worry, fear, jealousy, envy, anger and others forms of distress. The Figure below outlines three principles, working in partnership, that create our human experience...
Our human experience, or in this case, our feelings, have a direct cause and effect relationship with STATE of MIND. Thus, any feeling (such as irritation) is directly correlated to the type of thinking that is going on in our minds in that moment. Likewise, if we are feeling on top of things our thinking is clear and focused - our STATE of MIND is secure or settled.
Like a barometer which measures the rise and fall of temperature, our feelings measure the settled or unsettled nature of our minds in any given moment. If our minds are scatty, confused, busy jumping from one idea to the next, thinking too far ahead - our feelings reflect this via irritation, anxiousness, anger or even violent outburst.
Similarly, when we are focused, clear-minded and reflective, our feelings will be calm - we feel 'on the ball' and able to meet demanding circumstances with a level-headedness that gets the job done. Often, we realise in hindsight that our thinking was way off - we have worried for nothing, and our behaviour was way out of line. Feelings tell us that our state of mind or thinking is not working for us. Moreover, they provide an opportunity to find a level of calmness, perspective and commonsense.
Signposts on the Road
Our world has so much information via signage: “Slippery when wet”, “Keep kitchen clean”, “No Standing Area”, on and on... is it any wonder that we sometimes fail to read the signs! Driving along, our minds elsewhere, Stop Signs go unheeded - and without the wake up of an accident we continue, oblivious. Or we might (as I did recently) find ourselves fighting a door, only to realise that we are pulling instead of pushing - the sign on the handle clearly indicating "Push".
Likewise, feelings function as signposts, and we can so easily and habitually overlook the importance of them, not recognising that our state of mind is far from settled. When we fail to give due respect to the feelings that reflect our state of mind, this prevents us from taking different actions. We are "pulling" instead of "pushing". Moreover, ignoring our unsettled mind prevents us from being more available to our commonsense, our intuition and sound judgment. Hence, we are less responsive to the circumstances that come our way.
Feelings: our very Experience of Life
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Ignoring our feelings always has consequences, and we ignore them at our peril. They are at work in every decision we make, every action we take, in the way we relate to others... they are our very experience of life.
Feelings are not only a barometer but a gift, and in appreciating our inner signposts, we are provided with an opportunity to quieten and become more self-aware. In that conscious state, we have created the space in our minds to listen more deeply and find our unlimited wisdom.
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Our feelings are at work in every decision we make, every action we take, in the way we relate to others... they are our very experience of Life.
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© David Bodman 2008. Permission to copy for personal use is granted. For other publication rights please contact the author.
WE ARE WHAT WE DO
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The 2008 financial markets have been very reactive and uncertain. Some well-credentialed commentators have remarked that the present dynamics are more about a state of mind than the financial reality. This has caused me to reflect on the powerful influence that state of mind has on individuals and groups. Fear, greed, lack of confidence and panic are all reflections of a rattled or unsettled mind. Some would say that the present financial crisis has been coming for some time now and that we have simply been ignoring the signs. For me personally, I know that when I become fearful, greedy, lack confidence and even resort to panic; it is because I have been ignoring my feelings.
One analyst foretells that those of us who can "stay steady and calm" during these times will come though this financial meltdown with little concern, adding that "These types of investors buy sound stocks and just know that in time the rough seas will settle again."
Isn’t this so true about our human experience? The more understanding I have about the vital connection between state of mind, my feelings and the decisions I make, the more I am enabled to make sound decisions. My life as a whole benefits.
Leadership is about making sound decisions and the building of sound relationships. Our present world leaders require some self-reflection on how they contributed to this present crisis. Consumers, you and I, need to reflect on our behaviour and the associated feelings that fuel that behaviour... yes, our feelings, which tell us all about our state of mind. Have we the 'inner ears' to hear their message?
Until next time... David
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