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| August 5, 2006 12:26 AM 1 |
Total Posts: 7
Join Date: July 19, 2006
Rank: Beginner
Post Date: October 6, 2010
Posts: 7
Location: Afghanistan
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Check Your Assumptions
Hello Colleagues, Today being the last day for discussions on the theme "spirituality and management', I thought of inserting some lines on the same since have been busy the whole week long. There’s a wonderful story of a grandfather who takes his twin grandsons to a stable. They walk into a stall filled with manure. The first boy is repulsed, wanting only to get away from the sight and smell of the fresh manure. The second boy begins dancing around happily. When his grandfather asks him why he seems so happy, his response is “With all this manure, there must be a pony around somewhere.” Our lives would be much simpler if in the midst of our “manure” we were able to look for the pony.
Attitude is everything, In a similar vein, we often make assumptions that we fail to check out, and which, quite often, turn out to be wrong. As Alice said, “Things aren't always what they seem.” A whale is not a fish. A peanut is not a nut. And a tomato is not a vegetable. Your thoughts create your reality.
It’s a good habit to stand back from a situation and ask yourself, “What if my assumptions are wrong?” Few of us are able to look at things objectively in the midst of an emotionally charged conflict situation, but it’s a goal to strive for. By peeling things back to a reality stripped of judgments and stories we allow ourselves the freedom in each moment to consciously choose how we both act and react. The goal is to be the driver of our actions, not the passenger.
The following exercise is one way to move in a more positive direction. When a conflict arises, ask yourself what actually happened — Just the facts. Strip away your judgments and interpretations. Pretend you’re a director trying out different ways to present the same story.
Try telling it from a different perspective — anger, blame, indifference, responsibility, compassion or maybe just humor. You may find you see things in a very different light.
When we change the context in which we place events, the meaning instantly shifts. The glass really is half full and half empty. So work on consistently framing your experiences in ways that are empowering for you and others, and make your life more workable and enjoyable. Regards, Sakshi
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| August 5, 2006 11:252 |
kelly
Total Posts: 3
Join Date: July 19, 2006
Rank: Beginner
Post Date: August 5, 2006
Points: 15
Location: Afghanistan
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Re: Check Your Assumptions
Hi Sakshi, That was a wonderful briefing on checking our assumptions. Also check this quote on assumptions which goes like this :- "I can't believe that," said Alice.
"Can't you?" the Queen said, in a pitying tone. "Try again: draw a long breath and shut your eyes."
Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said. "One can't believe impossible things."
"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." -From Through The Looking Glass Warm Regards, kelly
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| August 7, 2006 11:283 |
ganoba Date
Total Posts: 2
Join Date: July 19, 2006
Rank: Beginner
Post Date: August 7, 2006
Points: 10
Location: Afghanistan
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Re: Check Your Assumptions
Assumptions are based on a point of view.
Changing the point of view is not of much help. We will come to formulate a new assumption. We would continue to remain far from the truth.
To get to the truth we need to make a spiritual quantum jump, integrate all points of view. Better still is to drop all points of view, which iin practice means making no assumptions, having no opinions.
Spirituality begins when attachment to any location (nationality, culture, organisation, designation etc.) is seen for what it is, a restrictive leash and is given up.
Out of box thinking will not do. We would have to give up the false sense security afforded by all boxes.
Ganoba Date
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| October 6, 2010 11:064 |
cbz240876
Total Posts: 2
Join Date: July 19, 2006
Rank: Beginner
Post Date: October 6, 2010
Points: 10
Location: Afghanistan
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Re: Check Your Assumptions
Hi Sakshi, I can only say this is nice one. Keep Going Regards
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