Quit Taking and Start Thinking - Pt. 3

So if we are trying to guide ourselves to be more inclined to do more thinking and we know if we continue to pepper our brains with less than challenging material (i.e. garbage in garbage out), then what Mr. Ripple would you have me be doing on a daily basis to aid in making me more of a thinker?

So glad you asked!

For me the answer to the question is both simple and complex. In order to guide our brains to do our bidding we need to continually encourage them to get up and stretch. Very much like your legs when you sit for long periods of time, the muscles become tight and somewhat resistant to getting up and actually doing physical exercise. Your brain functions very similar and when you quit giving it mind numbing input like television or other less challenging stimuli it is gonna complain and even resist. Just remember....you are in charge. Your brain works for you not the other way around. Don't forget that!

The easy part is making the decision to do things differently - I want to be a thinker damn it! The hard part is breaking the habit of just flipping on the boob tube at night or picking up the latest trashy novel for the 3 hour flight to Denver. It's hard my friends but not impossible. So here's what I have done over the past few years to stimulate my way of thinking and force-feed my brain into working for me not against me.

Here's a few of the things I have done to actually quit taking and start thinking:

I maximizing my morning and afternoon commute by listening to NPR, talk radio or some self-improvement CD program. I pay attention and try and find one interesting story, point or idea and immediately share it with someone when I get to a meeting or into the office. Many a day its those conversations that I start that open up the flood gates of new thoughts and ideas!

I have music playing constantly when I am at the office or I am writing. I find inspiration in all sorts of music and sometimes during a stressful day I will pop on my headphones of shut the lid of my laptop and just let the music wash over me like a warm blanket. The music coupled with some slow breaths allow me to zone out for a few minutes and that's when my brain knows its time to start working. Many a day I can be caught watching the birds outside my office window while the music takes me on a journey of contemplative thought and appreciative understanding.

I exercise. One of the best ways to reduce my stress and clear my mind is going for a long run, walk or a trek on my mountain bike. Motion creates emotion and your brain's chemistry is automatically altered when we take on physical exercise. By doing exercise you automatically force your brain into action and for me that is when some of my best inspirational ideas have started.

I read books that challenge my way of thinking. Whether it be a more heady historical novel or one of the latest business strategy books - I read constantly. On average I probably read between 35-50 books a year. I don't just read to read. I read because it forces me to focus and in doing so, I discover new ideas and new concepts. I also make sure I take periodic breaks when I read to let my mind wander over the material that it is has just seen. It's amazing how sharp this has made my thinking.

Along the same lines of reading constantly I subscribe to numerous periodicals and the Wall Street Journal. I find that opening my Journal every morning forces me to read a wide variety of content from what the markets are doing to the latest book reviews. I try and find at least one or two articles per day and use them as a conversation starting point with someone.

I also believe that in order to force yourself to experience new ideas and new ways of thinking you need to surround yourself with people who will challenge you mentally. I have been lucky to surround myself with many people that enjoy a good conversation, debate or simply sharing new ideas. We have long conversations and dialogue on a variety of subjects; politics, religion, space exploration, you name it. I find that by hearing other people's opinions that my brain is instantly challenged to explore and understand that which it is being exposed to. I make an honest effort to have several stimulating conversations per day and because of that it has made me a more veracious all-around thinker.

So there you have it, that's what what works for me. Sure there is more but this might at least get you started or more to the point....thinking about thinking! I think thinking (slight pun intended here) is one of the most important things we can do as humans. Don't let your minds atrophy. Challenge yourself to spend more time in your own head. Expose yourself to new ideas and other alternative ways of thinking and pay attention to what happens within yourself. If you are like me, once I started, I couldn't stop.

The simple action of trying to evolve as an individual will have a Ripple Effect on the connections you make and the relationships you hope to grow.

Good luck. Good thinking. And as always...

Good Rippling!!!

Kissing Princess Leia

It was one of those father and son moments that I am certain will stick with me forever. Last night as I drove Zachary home from soccer we were talking about school and what were the "haps" in third grade kidom. He chatted more about recess than anything else but then out of no where Zachary revealed why he likes to read so much. The kid has adopted my love for reading, choosing to do it almost as much as television these days. Anyway, it seems he loves reading especially before he goes to bed because he has figured out that if he concentrates really, really hard that he find himself as part of the story in his dreams at night.

Totally cool observation if I do say so myself.

He asked me if that's why I read so much. Sadly I admitted no. Not sure I could handle having someone like Malcolm Gladwell showing up in my dreams. Scary!

Then he asked..."So Dad, what did you dream about when you were my age?"

I immediately was eight years old again and my thing was Star Wars. I told him without really realizing that I had done exactly what he was doing with his books, I used to think about all the characters and the movies and hope that the movies would magically replay for me in my dreams each night. I was a huge Star Wars fan I can still remember doing this little mind exercise...a lot!

He asked, "So you imagined yourself being Luke Skywalker and battling Darth Vader?"

"No, no probably by the age you are now, I was more likely to be dreaming about kissing Princess Leia."

That was it....for the next ten minutes Zachary was doubled over laughing and recalling my exact words over and over again to his amusement and mine. By the time we turned the corner of our street we were both almost in tears from laughing so hard.

"That's was a good one dad," he said as he grabbed his gear and climbed out of the back of my Explorer. "But I bet now, you dream of being a famous author don't you?"

I stopped in the middle of the garage.

"You been reading my dreams haven't you?" A big smile sheepishly washed over his face.

"We'll no, but I just know how big you are going to be because your Steve Harper" he proudly exclaimed. "And then when you get big and famous maybe that girl that played Princess Leia will know you and want to kiss you," to which he started busting up again and walked inside.

"Maybe," I quietly said to myself. Maybe.

Ripple Connection Question of the Week

Those of you who know me know that I am a big believer in continually learning. I relentlessly pursue knowledge reading 35+ business books, 5-10 "interest" books and at least one or two good novels per year. I didn't always like reading but during these past few years it has become my addiction and I simply can't quench my thirst to learn as much as I can about a lot of things! I can assure you that Amazon.com isn't complaining.

I highly encourage my clients to find their thirst for knowledge and rediscover their limitless curiosity about life. We all have you know? We may just have temporarily misplaced it!

Whether through books, hobbies or areas of interest I think it is incredibly important to stoke the old coals in the cabeza cabin (that's your brain in your head for you gringos). School doesn't stop when you leave high school, college or earn that advanced degree. In fact, your education, the real education, begins when you start individually searching for it.

Life offers each of us an amazing array of bounties which drip with possibilities and undeniable opportunity.

So in keeping with that theme I give you this week's Ripple Connection Question.

What is something you were
proud to learn this past week?

Asking this connection question will undoubtedly open up an entirely new perspective and dialogue with those whom you wish to connect with. Give it a whirl and come back here and share with us what you find. Perhaps the person you ask will, through their own excitement in answering you, somehow encourage and motivate you to want to play and explore for yourself.

Good Learning...Good Rippling...

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper
www.ripplecentral.com

Ripple Connection Question of the Week

"WHAT BOOKS HAVE
YOU READ RECENTLY?"

I have to admit it.....this is one my favorite connection questions of all time. It reveals a whole lot about a person as to their interests, their guilty pleasures and perhaps a bit of an insight as to whom they are as a person.

In order to use this question effectively, you have to be prepared with a follow up. Something like:

"I have not heard about that book can you tell me more about it?"

"Would you recommend it?"

"How are you using it in your business?" (Obviously we aren't talking about Harlequin Romance novels with this question. Well unless perhaps you are Bill Clinton - just kidding.)

"Oh I read that book too. Would you be interested in comparing notes?"

"If you liked that book might I suggest....."

The types of books one reads provides oodles of connection points and can enhance the relationship you either already have or hope to develop with the person you are talking to. Plus with a little refined question and answer you can understand where the person's interests reside and further add to the relationship value by making additional book suggestions with similar themes or concepts.

Try Rippling yourself to some new connections this week by using this question and let me know how it goes? Plus take a moment to answer the question right here and now! I would love to know what my readers are reading!

Ripple On My Friends!

Steve Harper
www.ripplecentral.com