‘TO YOUR SUCCESS’
Issue # 22
OUR MISSION:
To share practical knowledge and proven processes that
enable others to harness their natural power and live to their full
potential!
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“You can’t solve a problem with the same kind of thinking that created
it.” ----- Albert Einstein
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YOUR OPEN MIND!
Have you noticed how, almost without exception; everyone you know
believes that they are open-minded? It’s always others who aren’t, never they.
And have you also noticed that whenever certain subjects are broached
with these very same people, an almost invisible barrier comes crashing down
behind the pupils of their eyes? … Slam!
“No Siree”, you can almost hear them say, “there’ll be no new ideas about this sneaking into MY head.
Heck no, they might conflict with these treasured old beliefs of mine and
NOBODY’S going to mess with them …Unh Unh … over my
dead body!!”
And so it is … the portal is closed … nothing new can enter.
But how can this be … aren’t these the same people who consider
themselves open-minded?
Interestingly, the subjects that cause this reaction may involve almost
anything you can imagine … such as, types of music, how to do or not do
something, racial issues, food tastes, politics or politicians, gender roles,
religious or spiritual truths, alternative medicine, education practices,
homosexuality, sports, business philosophies, child raising methods … the list
goes on and on. Unfortunately, when nothing new enters the mind, learning and
growth come to a screeching halt.
Now of course, we’re talking about others here aren’t we? Certainly not
us ... WE never do that. Hrmphh … of course not! You
and I are certainly not the kind of people who would ever let THAT happen.
Well, we wouldn’t … at least not intentionally. Unfortunately, closed
mindedness is a disease that kind of creeps up on us. It seldom announces
itself with a lot of fanfare … it tends to just slip in when we’re not paying
attention, kind of like a computer virus.
Sooo, perhaps there’s a
lesson here. Maybe we’d be wise to occasionally check ourselves, to be alert to
signs that indicate when we may have allowed our mind to become just a little
closed in some area. That way, if we catch it early enough, it won’t be quite
so painful to re-open.
Some obvious signs of a closed mind are when we …
· Notice only the
negative about certain things or people.
· Tune people out when
they talk about a certain thing.
· Make judgments about
things or people before we even know much about them.
· Fold our arms tightly
across our chest when someone is talking about a certain thing.
· Form an opinion and
response to what someone is saying before they’ve even finished saying it.
· Have disdainful
thoughts such as, “You are sooo wrong … you don’t
know what you’re talking about.”
· Are not open to trying
something new because “It’s different” or “We’ve always done it this way.”
It’s important to understand that having an open mind doesn’t mean we
have to buy into a thing; it just means that we will give it fair consideration
before accepting or rejecting it.
For example, if I’ve never before tasted a certain food, how do I know
whether or not I’ll like it? I may or may not, but I won’t actually know till I
give it a try. The least I can do is put it in my mouth and chew it around a
little. Then, if I don’t like it, I can spit it out.
But what if I do like it? What if it turns out to be my most absolutely
favorite food in the whole wide world? Just think of what I would have missed
had I not tried it, so many lost years of enjoying that wonderful taste. It’s
enough to make one weep!!!
Okay, enough about food … let’s get back to where this is going.
As you may know, Growing Into Success presents
seminars and workshops for many different kinds of businesses and
organizations, as well as public venue courses. Participants are people from
all walks of life who come from a wide variety of education and life experience
backgrounds. Most will take what’s being presented, put it in their mouth
(figuratively speaking of course), and chew it around a little before deciding
what they will swallow and what they won’t. Interestingly, these people almost
always find something in there that they quite like.
But then there are those occasional ones who won’t even have a taste.
They’ll sit there with their eyes clouded over and their body language
screaming, “NO … YOU CAN’T MAKE ME LEARN ANYTHING NEW!!” And of course they’re
right.
On those occasions, although I feel an inside sadness, I bless them and
wish them well. I’ve long since understood that being open or closed is a
personal choice. Each time I witness this however, it reaffirms my personal
commitment to “never let that be me”. It reminds me of how much I’ve benefited
from all I’ve learned … and how much learning is still ahead of me.
A real life example of the power of new information has to do with my
fingers. As a teenager and into my very early twenties I played guitar. I
wasn’t very skilled, but I did enjoy it. Then, for some unknown reason, I
developed a form of ‘tendonitis’ that caused my fingers to swell for weeks at a
time. This was extremely painful and soon reached a state where I could no
longer press down the guitar strings … so I stopped playing.
The next two or three years were spent visiting doctors and specialists
in the hope of finding a cure, but to no avail. In the end I was advised that
I’d just have to live with it, and to take as many painkillers as my body would
tolerate in order to relieve the pain. In my case, that was up to twenty four
aspirin a day. This I did for the next twenty or so years.
Then one day, about thirteen or fourteen years ago, a caring friend
recommended that I try a simple herbal supplement. I’m embarrassed to admit
that I scoffed at the idea (closed mind). My mind and beliefs rejected it
immediately … after all, if something that simple actually worked wouldn’t all
those highly educated and knowledgeable doctors know about it and have directed
me that way years ago?
Fortunately my friend persisted and I gave in, and began taking the
herbs regularly. Within days the swelling and pain subsided. Three months later
I picked up my guitar again for the first time in years … and I’ve been playing
regularly ever since.
But what if I hadn’t given that ‘new idea’ a taste? What if my mind had
remained closed to anything other than what I already believed? What if? I
shudder to even think about it.
So how about you, is your mind as open as you think it is? Are you certain?
Will you commit to ensuring it stays that way?
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“A day dawns, quite like other days; in it, a single hour comes, quite
like other hours; but in that day and in that hour the chance of a lifetime
faces us.” ----- Maltbie Babcock
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UPCOMING PUBLIC WORKSHOP:
Do you lead a team? Is it a harmonious unit performing to its best
potential? Why not give them the knowledge and tools that will enable them to
be and do that – to support and feed off of each other – to get along by
getting along – to create synergy and a ‘positive energy’ environment?
THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION FOR TEAM BUILDING!
Thursday, November 17 – 9 am – 4:30 pm – Abbotsford, BC
(Venue to be announced shortly)
Regular Enrollment - $ 149 – Early Enrollment and Payment by Oct. 11 -
$129
Discounts available for multiple enrollments.
Payment methods – Visa / MasterCard / Cheque /
Cash
Please contact Growing Into Success Training
Ph: 604 793 8696
Email: gist@shaw.ca
www.growingintosuccesstraining.com
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“If you would convince others, seem open to conviction yourself.” -----
Lord Chesterfield
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FUNDRAISER OPPORTUNITY … NO INVESTMENT, NO RISK!
Would your SCHOOL, CHURCH GROUP, or other NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION that's
making a positive contribution to society or the environment benefit from
raising funds while making a positive difference in the lives of others? You
can easily raise $500 to $2,000 or more simply by hosting this rewarding and
meaningful workshop … THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION FOR SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS!
For details and more information please contact:
Growing Into Success Training
Ph 604 793 8696
Email gist@shaw.ca
Fax – 604 792 7467
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“The more you work, study and develop your ability to contribute more to
the lives and well-being of others, the better life you will have in all
areas.” ----- Brian Tracy
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To Your Success,
Reg Neufeld and the Growing
Into Success Training Team
Growing Into Success Training
www.growingintosuccesstraining.com
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