09.14.07
Managing Duality
For most thinking people (that’s probably about 5% of the population), we have the option of perceiving most of our circumstances, opportunities, and challenges from a dualistic perspective.
I say most, because some things simply are what they are, and only a psychotic would assume the existence another potential reality. For example, “Randomly beating people up is not a good thing.” The vast majority of situations and choices set before us, however, (and we all have many choices of which we are simply blissfully unaware) can be viewed either from a positive or from a negative perspective: “What’s good about, why will it work, what do I have to gain?” or “What’s bad about it, what can go wrong, what do I have to lose?” Before you jump to the confusion that you know where this argument is going, bare with me.
While every opportunity and challenge has both positive and negative elements, and because our self-esteem, conditioning, and belief systems will to a large extent preempt and dictate our choices, we need to create a situation where we will not continue to run in the wheel of habit, unless it’s a habit that is helping us to be the best we can possibly be. This is quite easily done in three basic steps. If you want the proverbial scales to fall from your eyes to allow the possibilities for magnificent increase in your wealth and success to increase exponentially, you will do well to consider these steps.
Now before you take another sip of your Kool-Aid or tighten your cilice, before you write down the name of another planet you intend to populate after your death or place a call Tom Cruise, may I suggest you remove the judge’s robes and open up your mind a wee bit? I know it’s hard and sinful to consider alternative options, and we all live in cults that strictly discourage that, but it is worth the effort. See, everything you believe either hurts and restricts, or strengthens and liberates you. Every belief ultimately results in a choice which will either help or hinder your progress in life. Accurate perception of the situation, the consideration of your real options, and the strength to make the right choice, is what is at issue here.
Your philosophy will guide everything you do, as will your values. In order to cast aside those muddy spectacles for a short while, and see your options for what they really are, these steps are important. Let me share a quick and simple example with you. If you believe your spouse or parent doesn’t love you, does that help or hurt you? Can you find evidence that provides proof that he or she does, in fact love you? How would that change your life? In some cases, this shift in perception can have spectacular results, fast! Could you suspend your pigheadedness for long enough to even consider the possibility of the alternative reality? What about your other disempowering beliefs about yourself, your worth, your life, your religion, your options, your relationships and your business? (Y.A.H.O.O.! - You Always Have Other Options.)
Naturally, I could waffle on and philosophize about this all day, so let’s get right down to the point and use a less emotional hypothesis: Business. When it comes to religion and politics, many sheep have their egos and sense of security so bound up in their illusions that their fear of being wrong is far stronger than their wish to be free of the mediocrity and desperation with which they exist. I will avoid the use of the word, “live”. Their security blanket, though it stinks to high heaven (couldn’t resist that) and is frayed to bits by common sense, remains their security blanket.
If you honestly and sincerely want to evaluate a business opportunity, choice, or challenge, follow these three simple steps. Before you do, set your compass by your highest values. In my case, they are FREEDOM and RESPONSIBILITY.
1. Remove risk. I do this through the liberating and unlimited power of Joint Ventures. That helps remove the paralyzing and limiting effects of fear.
2. Surround yourself with advisers and mentors who are far more successful that you are and have already accomplished in their lives what you wish to attain in your own.
3. Write it all down and view it in relation to your values and goals. See your business as a monopoly game, or, more accurately, as a game of chess. By involving others and removing the risk, you can maintain a semblance of objectivity and courage.
And here’s a bonus. I use this system to free myself of tunnel vision, conditioning, entropy, and decay. Read the work of smart people who believe the opposite to what you believe. If you’re a theist, read Richard Dawkins. If you’re a capitalist, read Naomi Klein. If you’re socialist and/or lefty, read Mark Steyn. If you’re an atheist, read Bonhoeffer. For a reality check, read Ayn Rand and Buddhism. If you’re prejudiced against a certain race, befriend one of them. I honestly believe that most of what we all believe is mostly inaccurate.
And if this article makes you very angry, remember that anger is usually the result of fear, (”Maybe what I believe is WRONG!”) so you’re getting closer to the truth, which will, my friend, set you free, and that freedom will always come with a price. Don’t worry - the return on investment is exceptionally good.
Robin J. Elliott www.DollarMakers.com
