 YOU tell ME: How big is the problem?
Have you ever noticed that little wonder of a planet that we simply call The Moon? As often as I can, I try to enjoy the moon in all of its splendid, majestic beauty. There it is... ...suspended just outside the almost unlimited reach of earthlings like you and me. Here we are... ...undervaluing the beauty of such a lovely orb. I would guess that most of the world’s population thinks of the moon as a pretty circle of light when it’s full, and little more than a sliver or a section of a shiny plate during the other phases of the moon. Indeed, most of us forget that the moon is not a circle, nor is it shiny. The moon, so close - but yet so far - is actually a tiny little planet that lights the night with the same light of the day: The Sun. It’s so easy to neglect the moon and its simple beauty. As earthlings, our focus is near, here, and close to things we hold dear. But on many a moonlit light, I love to sit and gaze intently at the moon, just long enough for my eyes to begin to appreciate its spherical shape. I like to see the bright light fade into the soft shadows of the eventual celestial darkness as the rounded edges of our nearest heavenly body give way to the infinite confines of space. I like knowing that something so big is so close… yet not quite here. In life, our troubles often mirror this astronomic relationship that we enjoy with the moon. All too frequently, we spend too much time focusing on what we think the object is. And we often end up wasting our time trying to solve long-term problems with short-term fixes. Like my gentle, gazing stare while trying to consume the true beauty of the spherical moon, we could all gain significant insight if we sought an accurate understanding and perspective on the depth of our personal issues while simultaneously seeking longer-term solutions for long-term troubles. What does this galactic mumbo-jumbo really mean? It means that we must acquire an ability to look at the big picture if we want to settle our issues in an effective manner. But therein lies the big question: How big is the picture? Well, I’ll tell you this: If your problems are really big… the picture has to be really, really big (that’s one extra “really”). By definition, the solution to our troubles has to be effectively bigger and better than our troubles. Yet, like the earthbound moon-gazer who never sees more than a shiny circle because of his focus here on earth, we often spend too much time focusing on our troubles, and we never see the oh-so-close solution that has been rotating around us for quite some time. How big is the picture? You tell me: How big is the problem? In corporate America, many companies employ something called a “S.W.O.T. analysis” to address current and projected problems. The S.W.O.T. acronym stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. And the S.W.O.T. analysis is based upon objective environmental scans regarding each one of these discrete characteristics. More than a simple list of characteristics, the analysis often involves an internal analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses… and an external analysis of Opportunities and Threats. For example, an organization might consider its sales force to be an industry leader, and, as such a corporate Strength. On the other hand, if the same organization’s Human Resources department has a big problem with turnover, the internal Weakness can actually create an external Threat if competing companies try to lure salespeople and HR personnel from the organization. Ideally, companies should align their Strengths to offset their Weaknesses, and seek Opportunities within their environmental Threats. The Apple (computer company) did just that many years ago when the company launched the iPhone, iPod, and iPad. Not only did Apple take on the threatening world of smart phones, music devices, and tablet computers… they redefined those products and simultaneously delved into direct retail, opening hundreds of Apple stores… cutting out the middleman while watching the company’s stock skyrocket from a measly $40 a share to well over $1,000 a share today (when adjusted for stock splits). The previous Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Steve Jobs, placed a relentless focus on "elegant simplicity." And what did customers do? They subsequently focused on Apple, creating an intensely loyal fan base that is arguably unprecedented within the computer industry. So where does this conversation about the moon and computers leave us? As the Chief Executive Officer of the organization of cells, muscle, bones, and thought that is the person known as you… you really need an intense focus on a few things to become and remain successful. And like the constantly changing corporations of the world, you, too, need a sorta-kinda S.W.O.T. analysis. I call it simply a S.E.L.F. analysis. Specifically, when we are faced with some really freakin’ big problems, we simply HAVE to review the four parts of S.E.L.F.: ** Spiritual Emotional Logical Finite. The Spiritual part of self is definitely real. I won’t spend time in this post trying to convince you that we are not just flesh and bones; you already know that. But did you know that by simply meditating on a regular basis, you can strengthen your Spirituality? Next is the Emotional part of S.E.L.F. This area requires the most work, primarily because many people believe their Emotions matter most. And as I have said before, if we believe it, it’s true (to whomever believes it). What are you doing to drive your Emotions to a calm, enduringly positive state? Oh… and in case you didn’t know: by simply meditating on a regular basis, you can navigate your Emotions to a calm, enduringly positive state. Logically speaking, life is not so bad when you consider the alternative. Ironically, one of our biggest challenges in life is a human tendency to seek a Logical resolution to every problem. Indeed, our thoughts are often the very things that seem to keep us mired in challenging situations. Or is it our Emotions? Actually, by simply meditating on a regular basis, we can better integrate our sense of Spirituality, our need for Emotional balance, and our continuous penchant for a valid understanding of why things happen the way they do, don’t, did, and didn’t. Finally, there is the Finite. What is this Finiteness? It’s the vehicle in which your drivers of Spirit, Emotion, and Logic sit safely in until the day when our Spirit is called to do something different. Indeed, this will not go on forever, at least not in the same Finite frame. Interestingly, three of the four parts of S.E.L.F. are intangible but very real. Perhaps more interestingly, all four parts of S.E.L.F. become magically integrated into a really, really, really, really, really big solution system by simply meditating. Hmmm... Can you think of a good first step toward resolving some seemingly big problems? Your mission for today: S.E.L.F. CONFIRM. Oh... and, as you improve your S.E.L.F., Accept what is. Adapt to a changing landscape. Achieve the best possible outcome. Aloha,   |
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