Mindfulness

Picture of someone timidly stepping onto rickety bridge - metaphor for tapping intuition

Using intuition to predict the future

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Tapping into Intuition - using our timidity to augment our logic

How can we use more of our inherent wisdom to make better decisions with a more secure outcome?
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What would be the value of knowing, right from the outset, which of an organisations projects will most likely fail?
Supposing there was a simple test you could use to provide a reliable indicator of future failure? How much money, effort and enthusiasm could you save.

Surprisingly, it turns out that this simple test already exists.

The $500 Bet

Back in the 80s, I read that one of the major consulting firms undertook a study of failed projects. In this study, they interviewed the original team members of those projects. One of the questions they asked was: “Think back to the time when you launched this project. Imagine you could have bet $500 of your own money on the success of this project. Would you have placed that bet?”

The question threw people back to how they were feeling at the point of launch. It tended to make them reflect on their emotions and intuition at the time. And almost universally, they answered: “No, I wouldn’t!”

It turns out that  the two aspects of their wisdom were in contradiction. The conscious, rational part of their minds were pushing, maybe enthusiastically, for the project to proceed. But, somewhere inside them, at that very point in time, there was unease. The more subconscious, intuitive parts of their minds were already communicating concerns. And all they needed to help them to access that intuition was a thinking device. In this case, a hypothetical bet of their own wealth.

Thinking devices help us access intuition

The thing is, our intuition can process the ambiguities and uncertainties that are beyond our capacity for analysis and calculation. Even amid the complexities that exist in large projects (and increasingly also in small ones). We can sense truths even before they are realised. And that sense can be remarkably helpful if we access it at the right time, and in the right way.

It is this phenomena that lies at the heart of a meeting tool called “The $500 bet” (which you can find as a template for virtual meetings here). People simply place their avatar (or cursor) in the ‘Yes’ square or the ‘No’ square in response to the question: “Would you bet $500 of your own money on this being a success?”

The purpose of this question is not so crass as to decide the fate of the project. We simply need it to help us access that intuition. And to do it in a way that we can use it to work with our rational minds. In that way, we can work out how to fix whatever is causing the greatest risks.

Highlighting opportunity

The follow up question is therefore: “So, what would need to be different for you to feel comfortable in making that bet?”

This enables people to use their imagination in conjunction with their intuition to reveal the truths that we need to address if the team to be truly be confident of success. In the template, these can be added as sticky notes. The team prioritises these to a practical subset which they need to address, and then ask the question again of themselves (provisional upon the actions). And they do this up until the point when the team really would bet their own money on its success.

A few minutes intuition, or hours in rework?

The tool is simple. It takes barely seconds to apply if the answer is ‘Yes’ from the outset. And if the answer is ‘No’? Well, the extra time in getting to ‘yes’ from ‘no’ is a pitifully small investment in comparison to the costs of failure. Try it out in adventure #019

“The $500 bet” is one of a suite of easy to apply tools and templates for virtual meetings. Activate any of them, in seconds, right in the middle of your meeting, with no prior set-up or preparation, and no cost. Each is designed to better engage people and their ideas, and to build greater commitment in the outcomes.

Simply bookmark the page https://meeting.toolchest.org/participation for the next time you sense that it would be good to gain more involvement, new perspectives, or a more balanced exploration.

Glass orb of cornfield

Do you appreciate your blessing?

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The precise numbers change with time, but in relative terms the following in pretty accurate ….

 

“If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the world.

If you have money in your bank, your wallet, and some spare change, you are among 8 percent of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture or the horrible pangs of starvation, you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.

If you can read this message, you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.”

Source Unknown

 

Given how much the vast majority of the World’s population would enjoy swapping places with us, it seems such a tragic waste that we might not only take our lot for granted, but allow ourselves to be miserable about it too. Perhaps it is time for a rethink?

 

For an adventure related to this poem click here.

The Station by Robert Hastings courtesy Pixabay

The Station and Marketing Disatisfaction

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The Station by Robert Hastings courtesy Pixabay
Gratitude is a phenomenal blessing to the person who feels that gratitude. It magnifies the appreciation and joy in the thing we feel gratitude for. It increases our general sense of happiness and contentment. And it helps build relationships with those around us.

And yet, all to often, when we have an opportunity to feel gratitude we let it pass us by.

We tend to find it easier to take what we have for granted, and to focus instead on what we have not. Part of the reason for this is that there is a massive advertising industry geared to ensuring that we are generally dissatisfied with our current lot – and sometimes they seem to be very good at their job.

One of the most explicit examples of this was an advertising campaign for a new mobile phone in which all those using the older models walked around with paper bags on their heads with embarrassment. To be fair, they are usually more subtle than this, but the result is the same – after all, why would we choose to buy Y if we are blissfully happy with X.

The thing is, if I allow myself to be swept along by marketing campaigns, I don’t have long to appreciate what I have just bought from the last one before they convince us that me that I cannot be truly happy because I am still ‘missing out’. But the reality is, compared to the vast majority of the World population, we are not ‘missing out’!

Somebody described the secret of happiness as “not having all we desire, but desiring all we have”. Gratitude provides a huge lift to our spirits and our relationships.  This is beautifully reflected in Robert Hastings’ poem below.

For an exercise in gratitude, try out Adventure #008

 
 

The Station

A poem about appreciating ‘now’ by Robert Hastings

Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long, long trip that almost spans the continent. We’re traveling by passenger train, and out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hills, of biting winter and blazing summer and cavorting spring and docile fall.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. There will be bands playing, and flags waving. And once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true. So many wishes will be fulfilled and so many pieces of our lives finally will be neatly fitted together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering … waiting, waiting, waiting, for the station.

However, sooner or later we must realize there is no one station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

“When we reach the station that will be it!” we cry. Translated it means, “When I’m 18, that will be it! When I buy a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz, that will be it! When I put the last kid through college, that will be it! When I have paid off the mortgage, that will be it! When I win a promotion, that will be it! When I reach the age of retirement, that will be it! I shall live happily ever after!”

Unfortunately, once we get it, then it disappears. The station somehow hides itself at the end of an endless track

“Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. Rather, it is regret over yesterday or fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot oftener, swim more riers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

 

For an adventure related to this poem click here.

Picture of hands in prayer - prayer for all faiths and none

Prayer for all faiths and none!

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Picture of hands in prayer - prayer for all faiths and noneWhy Pray?
Who’s Listening?

Well, yourself for one! And, frankly, that alone can make a big difference. Occasional times of prayer can do a lot for our peace of mind.

Simply finding the words to voice our situation and desires in our head can help settle our thinking. It can help us work things through, and arrive at decisions. And it can help reduce anxiety and depression. And, even if we are the only one listening, talking to ourselves often helps.

But the fact is, we may not be the only one listening. Prayer changes things, not just in us, but also in those around us. Maybe not massively, but often just enough. Just enough to take another step forward, to see an alternative, to make a connection.

How this happens maybe not as important as that it happens. On one hand, it could simply be that a change in us influences a change in others, or that a change in us provides fresh perspectives or reserves.

On the other hand, there could be connections and influences at work that science has not yet discovered. Even the influence of (as I believe) God. But, whatever your reasoning, whoever you think is or is not listening, it doesn’t really matter. People from a wide range of perspectives who use prayer find that it helps. And at this time of increasing uncertainty, complexity and stress in our lives, we could really use that help.

So, if you are not used to prayer, how might you try it out? Or if your experience of prayer has been restricted to an unfulfilling ‘eyes closed – hands together – recite a list’, what could you do differently?

Here we run through the what, why, where, when, how and who of open prayer …

What is prayer …

Prayer is simply a sincere expression of your heart. It is about deliberately taking time out to express and understand your true emotions about yourself and the world around you – good and bad. Using words, sentences, even written patterns (silently or vocally) can help, providing they remain fully connected with your emotions.

Depending on our situation, our emotions may begin with fear, sadness, resentment, even despair. Wherever our emotions begin, that is where our prayers should start. But, it is psychologically important that they end with a request for how you want things to be different. That they include your hope for what might be, and your gratitude for past and current progress; for good things, or for the bad that hasn’t happened.

Why pray …

At the very least, prayer can provide moments of peace, tranquility and reflection, and these are much needed in our typically busy lives. But, more than this, it gives us checkpoints to take back control of our identity – our ‘being’ amidst our ‘doing’ – who we really are and who we want to be.

In this way, it can help us be our best version of ourselves as we deal with what is happening within us and around us. It can help us be a bit clearer on the path to the outcomes we seek, and to be ready with a thought out response to things, rather than react to them in the moment.

Where and when …

Clearly a quiet room somewhere is an obvious option, but it is not the only one. Furthermore, where we situate ourselves mentally can have little to do with where we are physically. Ideally we will find ourselves somewhere we feel at peace, undisturbed, and maybe inspired. If not physically, then maybe in our imaginations as we close our eyes.

As for when, it is whatever time and frequency best suits you. However, if you are able to do it at the start of the day, this can help better set you up for what lays ahead of you. It is also helpful to consider it whenever you feel you need some time and space during the day.

How …

PRAY conveniently forms a four-step acronym which provides a useful aide-memoire which helps us to ensure that our prayer time is productive: Pause; Reflect; Ask; Yield.

– Pause from your current mental and physical activities. Be still, and slow your breathing. Regather your scattered thoughts to: You; your place in the Universe; and, if appropriate, your presence before God.

– Reflect on how you are feeling at the moment throughout your body. ‘Talk’ silently within yourself about them and what is causing them. Be grateful for the good, and clear about the bad

– Ask clearly and specifically for however you want things to turn out for yourself and others. This helps build clarity and resolve within us for our influence on the outcome, and hope for the bigger picture.

– Yield yourself to whatever may emerge from all of this and your part in that. You can only be you. Others will be themselves. Reminding ourselves of this can help us better cope with what emerges.

Who to …

In terms of who we believe is listening to our prayers, who we are speaking to, that largely depends on whether we allow for a spiritual perspective on things. If you don’t, then we hope that the explanations above have been sufficient to convince you that speaking to yourself in prayer still has great value.

If, however, you do, then you probably already have a sense of where your words are going, and what you hope will emerge from them, and this can add an extra dimension to the power of your prayer.

If you are not sure? Well my own belief, based on my own prayers, is that God listens to every prayer, and loves us all equally. So you can always try that. From my own experience, when I did so, in deep respect, I found both a sense of peace and love, and real spoken answers. But it did take time to get there.

 

For more on mental wellbeing you might find the following useful: