Every once in a while there comes a movie that embraces or harness the power of human goodness, lifts us to want for or strive for more and to do better. "Pay it Forwards" " Forrest Gump" "Meet Joe Black" "God Grew Tired Of Us" are good examples of this inspiring genre. I was blessed to watch such a movie recently, "The Ultimate Gift" which incorporated and embodied so many values that I personally aspire to hold true.
If you haven't seen the movie then don't read on!
The 12 gifts are:
The Gift of Family
The Gift of Love
The Gift of Dreams
The Gift of Laughter
The Gift of Giving
The Gift of Friends
The Gift of Learning
The Gift of Work
The Gift of Money
The Gift of Problems
The Gift of Gratitude
The Gift of A Day
Take a little time and watch this movie, allow it to inspire you, don't be afraid!
Friday, December 21, 2007
World Shift
The world stands at the edge of a cataclysmic financial abyss, and no i am not talking about the current housing and liquidity crisis, i am talking of something a little further away and somewhat grayer (excuse the pun).
The financial timebomb that is the graying population of the industrialized world.
We live longer, live better, consume more and expend more. If you sit down and read the social security/ welfare document sent each year to every tax paying american, you will also see that the US welfare system is budgeting to run out of money within the next 20-30 years!
yes
thats correct, they admit their funds will have run dry and they will not be able to provide for anyone after that time without a drastic increase in taxes (probably to a scandanavian style 60%) Why is this, because the baby boomers will mature, the first of them passed 59 1/2 in 2005 and thus over the next 10-15 years there will be more people claiming social security pensions than people working and paying into the system, creating an insurmountable deficit.
What do i propose or advocate as a solution, don't just throw stones, give solutions, provide answers that spark debate and could ultimately lead to some kind of resolution. So lets try this, Romania "i believe" recently told its populace they would not be paying for their retirement, people had to plan for it themselves! I think that the social security system is somewhat archaic and grotesquely mismanaged and rather that continue it, make everyone more that 25 years out responsible for their own retirements!!! These people must take financial responsibility and accountability now and start saving.
Several things that need to happen to help society survive;
The government find ways to become more financially efficient and stop or even reverse inflation.
reduce dependency on oil as it is a finite supply and prices will continue to rise even on the exaggeration on the speed of reduction of this decreasing supply. Like Diamonds, it isnt as scarce as prices would indicate, but neither is its supply going to last out our lifetimes!
My solution will have several consequences, many of which i think are inevitable either way, that will be interesting;
The first being that as a collective generation, those that come after the baby boomers will probably be poorer than their parents!
The second that property values will fall significantly as more housing stock is returned to the open market with less inhabitants!
Immigration will increase from countries such as China and India that will become overly populous and lower more affordable prices will draw people in. These countries will ultimately come to resemble Japan and Tokyo in terms of density and expense.
Our generation will have significantly fewer children than our parents as we will simply not be able to afford them.
The financial timebomb that is the graying population of the industrialized world.
We live longer, live better, consume more and expend more. If you sit down and read the social security/ welfare document sent each year to every tax paying american, you will also see that the US welfare system is budgeting to run out of money within the next 20-30 years!
yes
thats correct, they admit their funds will have run dry and they will not be able to provide for anyone after that time without a drastic increase in taxes (probably to a scandanavian style 60%) Why is this, because the baby boomers will mature, the first of them passed 59 1/2 in 2005 and thus over the next 10-15 years there will be more people claiming social security pensions than people working and paying into the system, creating an insurmountable deficit.
What do i propose or advocate as a solution, don't just throw stones, give solutions, provide answers that spark debate and could ultimately lead to some kind of resolution. So lets try this, Romania "i believe" recently told its populace they would not be paying for their retirement, people had to plan for it themselves! I think that the social security system is somewhat archaic and grotesquely mismanaged and rather that continue it, make everyone more that 25 years out responsible for their own retirements!!! These people must take financial responsibility and accountability now and start saving.
Several things that need to happen to help society survive;
The government find ways to become more financially efficient and stop or even reverse inflation.
reduce dependency on oil as it is a finite supply and prices will continue to rise even on the exaggeration on the speed of reduction of this decreasing supply. Like Diamonds, it isnt as scarce as prices would indicate, but neither is its supply going to last out our lifetimes!
My solution will have several consequences, many of which i think are inevitable either way, that will be interesting;
The first being that as a collective generation, those that come after the baby boomers will probably be poorer than their parents!
The second that property values will fall significantly as more housing stock is returned to the open market with less inhabitants!
Immigration will increase from countries such as China and India that will become overly populous and lower more affordable prices will draw people in. These countries will ultimately come to resemble Japan and Tokyo in terms of density and expense.
Our generation will have significantly fewer children than our parents as we will simply not be able to afford them.
Brain Make Over’s Epistemology (e·pis·te·mol·o·gy (ĭ-pĭs'tə-mŏl'ə-jē)
The branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge, its presuppositions and foundations, and its extent and validity.
Neuro-Plasticity PrincipleThe Brain is malleable or plastic and can be molded, adapted, advanced, trained and developed for increased performance and the reduction of limiting factors.
Redundancy
The Brain has redundant neural and synaptic pathways that can be trained to circumvent and therefore effectively eliminate limiting factors
Scalability
Brain Make Over has adopted the approach that any product it develops should work to some degree for everyone - breadth of scope and application results in a economical solution
Holistic Approach
We believe in the power of assimilation/ integrate treatment styles and processes harmoniously for the common goal of improvement.
Awareness of Collective Conscious
People are increasingly aware of global consciousness and their own role within this. By working to enhance ourselves and our children we positively contribute to the future. “The Secret”, “Anthony Robbins”, “Environmentalism”, “Conservation”, “Celebrities giving back” are increasing manifestations of this.
Alternative Treatment
Utilization of non invasive, non pharmaceutical brain training and development to improve performance without impacting the epigenome and future generations. Societal recognition of its dependence upon pharmaceutical medications of which all side effects may not be known or fully understood.
Interrelation of Science, Technology and Social/ Human evolution
Brain Make Over is attempting to assist with the evolution of the human species in a small fashion my merging the benefits of technology with the human and social element.
No Child Left Behind
Government is recognizing the importance of future generations and the education that they receive and how this can and will impact our species in both the short and long term. With an affordable improvement Brain Make Over bridges the gulf in education qualities by providing enhancement to the fundamental building blocks of learning.
Human Capital
Brain Make Over recognizes the importance of human capital within the workforce and its implications for the future. Through better assessment and selection and enhanced learning and speed of processing companies can increase productivity and corporate wellness.
Empirical data collection
The only true data is that which can be empirically collected which negates outside influencing factors, such as behavior, emotion etc. Only through accurate and objective testing can one know the actual “real” result, no matter what non empirical results my imply
The Human Brain the most complex computer in the universe
The most complex computer in the entire Universe is the Human Brain.
“We are our brains, our brains are us they define who we are, who we will be and who we can be as well as ultimately who we become – nothing defines us as singularly and entirely as our brains and the connections it makes!” Jonathan Rose (founder Brain Make Over)
“We are our brains, our brains are us they define who we are, who we will be and who we can be as well as ultimately who we become – nothing defines us as singularly and entirely as our brains and the connections it makes!” Jonathan Rose (founder Brain Make Over)
Learned Mastery Vrs Learned Helplessness
One of the most important concepts of Brain Development, Education and Success is that successes lead to more successes. As any great athlete will tell you, success is 90% mental and 10% physical. The major boundaries that are created for us are of our own making, because we tell ourselves we cannot do something or aren’t capable. This develops an attitude of learned helplessness where we are bound by confines imposed on us by our minds.
The same is true for the feeling of helplessness, which leads to a greater feeling of helplessness. The key to success is to achieve a greater understanding of the causes of your past successes and learn how to replicate them. Your mind changes constantly. It is highly adaptive. Simple changes in the way that you think can make the difference between fulfillment and misery. We’ve all seen people who have everything we think is necessary for success and yet seemed to be depressed. Then we’ve seen others who, we would think, have every reason to be unhappy and yet seem to be joyous and full of life. What is the difference between those who can never find reasons for happiness and those who almost never see a reason for sadness? The difference is in how and what they think. The Russian author Anton Chekov wrote, "Man is what he believes." If you can learn the principles and strategies of successful men and women, you can use their methods to achieve whatever you desire.
Learned Mastery vs Learned Helplessness
A primary hope and desire is for every child is that they become a responsible, contributing member of society.
It is up to the parent/s to teach their child how to become self-reliant and independent. At the same time the child needs to know how to honor boundaries, know their limits, and have an overall respect for life.
With this core base most children will develop the self confidence they need to tackle any endeavor of their choosing.....knowing they can be successful. This is called Learned Mastery.
In a concept called "Learned Helplessness", coined by Dr. Seligman, is the belief that one has no control over their situations. Operating under this belief leads to an "I can't do" attitude. Unfortunately, for children they learn this behavior from their peers, authority figures or even their parents.
Some Tips and Pointers
o Creating goals that are attainable in order to ensure that the child is aware of the progress they are making.
o Offering positive feedback and affirmation for changes and progress made.
o Including the child in the program by making sure they know they reach their goals and they do the program.
o Offering proper support so the child learns to be motivated about their program and has the desire to be a part of the change.
o Establishing strategies to support the parents with the use of parent-child behavioral management skills specific to the child's needs.
o Teaching them how to stretch the challenge in order to "go for more".
o Re-assessing your child's progress and their overall improvement.
Based upon the results of re-assessment the program can be modified and new goals set.
Parental Role in Intelligence and Brain Develoment - Between Birth and The Age of Five
Between birth and age five, your child has up to thirty IQ points at stake.
Scientists now know that the human brain is undergoing a constant and dramatic transformation in the first years of life. During this peak time of development, every activity and experience leaves an indelible mark on your baby’s brain, for better or worse.
The right kind of stimulation and nutrition will create connections in the brain that promote intelligence and raise IQ.
The wrong kinds of activities and foods can stifle intellectual development, destroy brain cells, and leave your child more vulnerable to learning or behavior problems down the road.
So, what can you do during the first five years to ensure that your child is primed to excel?The good news is that raising a smarter child is easier than you think. It doesn’t require making an investment in expensive equipment or high priced tutors. It’s as simple as playing the right games, serving the right foods, and maintaining a brain-enhancing environment in your home by eliminating common household toxins. learn easy and highly effective strategies that can vastly improve your child’s brain power and reduce his or her chances of developing ADD and ADHD. For example, you can:
- Stimulate Memory: Changing a component on the over-the-crib mobile every week makes the baby compare what was there before to what’s there now, reinforcing memory pathways in the brain that are critical for learning.
- Spread out those shots: Schedule more frequent trips to the pediatrician for vaccinations, so that fewer shots are administered at once. Flooding the immune system with a cocktail of different vaccines can damage the nervous system.
- Get rid of toxins: Protecting a child from neurotoxins found in foods, toys and even baby bottles can help preserve precious IQ points.
In addition, he reveals the numerous toys and household products that contain harmful, brain-damaging toxins and shows how to identify and combat common childhood problems like ADD and food allergies that may affect your child’s development.Your job over the first five years is to help your child build the best brain possible., you can mine the countless opportunities you have each day to make your child smarter, happier and better prepared to excel.
Happiness - Spirituality vrs Materialism
Happiness - Materialism Vs. Spirituality
There is no question that I am very materialistic, I am the first person to admit that I love nice things and spend fortunes purchasing them, be it a Brioni suits, Rolex Watches, Jewelry, Fast Cars, Nice Houses, Big Screen TV’s with separate speakers and amplifiers etc etc (By the way, a Level 3 Monster Power Cleaner is the best TV investment you will ever make, you cant believe the difference it will make to the picture quality) I am the first person in line to spend the money and boy did that paragraph just sound like it, don't let that put you off though.
The conflict that has always raged in me between the lavish and the utilitarian in me has entered a new phase. Living in the center of the materialistic and “Look at me and what I have and please be jealous and suck up too me” universe, (Did I mention the Beckhams just moved to town) the nirvana of “selfishness,” “Beverly Hills” has been an eye opening experience. Whilst, as I previously mentioned, I “like” my material possessions as much as, if not more than anyone else (especially since loosing so much “paper wealth” in 2000-2001 (Tech stock crash) I became orientated towards bricks and mortar, tangible, physical assets one can see and hold and touch!!! Something to show for all the work) The denizens of Beverly Hills seem to “need” material possessions, buying them seems to give them a sense of self and worth, justifying and validating their existence. There is an entitlement which is quite unique, haughtiness to the women who have never personally achieved anything of any significance or benefit to the world other than marrying someone rich and spending their money! You have to love the nouveaux riche.
And the scariest part of the whole is place is that very few actually seem to have any “real” money, the house is on a 10 year interest only loan (in essence they rent) the car (for car, read Bentley or Porsche) is leased for $2000 a month or more, the credit cards are always maxed out and they have to keep working as they cant afford to retire!!! Many of the husbands work from 6am till 10pm and often spend Saturday in the office (I think they are hiding from their wives personally) just to pay the bills and try and keep ahead of the tide of debt and expenses of their lavish lifestyles. Not to mention the plastic surgery money to try and look young and be something your not! But no one seems happy, they want talk to another human being in the elevator, they don’t smile, they complain bitterly about anything and everything any time they can get anyone to listen! So many people says “money buys happiness” come and shadow one of these people for a week and see that it doesn’t.
So why is it I ask myself that all my happiest and most fulfilling moments come from those breathtaking moments on top of a mountain with my wife and dogs, walking on a beach with a beautiful sunset. How come these spiritual moments awaken my senses and fulfill me in a fashion that no material possessions can. Meanwhile when I walk on the beach with these same “Beverly Hills Wives” in the same time and circumstance, are they complaining about the sand damaging their Manolo Blahnik and their pedicure getting ruined and wondering if the can catch “something” (read disease) from walking on the beach.
So why do I still live here, I am in the process of leaving and heading back to the east coast where old money, class and sophistication rule the day. I will probably make land fall in Denver on route for some skiing and relaxation enroute and to try and reset my balance and sense of self. Leave my repulsion for materialism at 13,000 feet and then head back to Greenwich, CT, Manhattan, NY or even Boston, Ma.
There is no question that I am very materialistic, I am the first person to admit that I love nice things and spend fortunes purchasing them, be it a Brioni suits, Rolex Watches, Jewelry, Fast Cars, Nice Houses, Big Screen TV’s with separate speakers and amplifiers etc etc (By the way, a Level 3 Monster Power Cleaner is the best TV investment you will ever make, you cant believe the difference it will make to the picture quality) I am the first person in line to spend the money and boy did that paragraph just sound like it, don't let that put you off though.
The conflict that has always raged in me between the lavish and the utilitarian in me has entered a new phase. Living in the center of the materialistic and “Look at me and what I have and please be jealous and suck up too me” universe, (Did I mention the Beckhams just moved to town) the nirvana of “selfishness,” “Beverly Hills” has been an eye opening experience. Whilst, as I previously mentioned, I “like” my material possessions as much as, if not more than anyone else (especially since loosing so much “paper wealth” in 2000-2001 (Tech stock crash) I became orientated towards bricks and mortar, tangible, physical assets one can see and hold and touch!!! Something to show for all the work) The denizens of Beverly Hills seem to “need” material possessions, buying them seems to give them a sense of self and worth, justifying and validating their existence. There is an entitlement which is quite unique, haughtiness to the women who have never personally achieved anything of any significance or benefit to the world other than marrying someone rich and spending their money! You have to love the nouveaux riche.
And the scariest part of the whole is place is that very few actually seem to have any “real” money, the house is on a 10 year interest only loan (in essence they rent) the car (for car, read Bentley or Porsche) is leased for $2000 a month or more, the credit cards are always maxed out and they have to keep working as they cant afford to retire!!! Many of the husbands work from 6am till 10pm and often spend Saturday in the office (I think they are hiding from their wives personally) just to pay the bills and try and keep ahead of the tide of debt and expenses of their lavish lifestyles. Not to mention the plastic surgery money to try and look young and be something your not! But no one seems happy, they want talk to another human being in the elevator, they don’t smile, they complain bitterly about anything and everything any time they can get anyone to listen! So many people says “money buys happiness” come and shadow one of these people for a week and see that it doesn’t.
So why is it I ask myself that all my happiest and most fulfilling moments come from those breathtaking moments on top of a mountain with my wife and dogs, walking on a beach with a beautiful sunset. How come these spiritual moments awaken my senses and fulfill me in a fashion that no material possessions can. Meanwhile when I walk on the beach with these same “Beverly Hills Wives” in the same time and circumstance, are they complaining about the sand damaging their Manolo Blahnik and their pedicure getting ruined and wondering if the can catch “something” (read disease) from walking on the beach.
So why do I still live here, I am in the process of leaving and heading back to the east coast where old money, class and sophistication rule the day. I will probably make land fall in Denver on route for some skiing and relaxation enroute and to try and reset my balance and sense of self. Leave my repulsion for materialism at 13,000 feet and then head back to Greenwich, CT, Manhattan, NY or even Boston, Ma.
Slowing Down to Achieve More and Live a Better Life
The journey or the goal.
I find it interesting when i look back on my life and times when i reached absolute clarity of understanding about something, the seeming illusion of completeness and it lead me to write this article. I have had several periods in my life where i really felt like i "got" life or myself or some element of something and yet these moments were so fleeting, before i was re immersed ion the complexity of day to day living or some drastic reality check upset the apple cart and my happy little world.
So much of life and what we do and are taught to do is related to "goals" We set them, strive for them and drive ourselves with seeming obsessive determination towards achievement. This crowning achievement that will bring happiness, nirvana, completeness etc. However each time this pace upon attainment is so fleeting, a wisp of time before we move onto the next goal.
Did you ever set yourself a goal, a weight, a test score, a GPA, a job title or some other accolade that you may have kept secret and held in a deeply personal place, or you may have broadcast to the world. Sometime later we often look back on this dedicated focus and laugh at how seriously we took this milestone, this building block of our life and future. How small it often seems now, or sadly in some cases, how we reflect upon the heights we reach and the pinnacle we crested as our former selves.
I have a unique opportunity to witness this sensation in the most extreme form by being married to someone who is very driven, highly competitive and has un-containable anxiety. She can never rest in place for even a second, tread water and look around at what is going to on or even reflect on where she is going. Her drive sets constant goals and targets, her competitive nature drives her to reflect on how well those around her are doing at reaching their targets and her anxiety never allows her to rest in case someone else is catching her, or she is falling behind or any one of the myriad of other thoughts that get to race through her mind uncontrolled and un-contained!!!
This is the great skill, the self discipline that i unfortunately see little evidence of in our education, upbringing and schooling system. To navigate one must pause and look around for landmarks, directions and to find a point of focus - a target. To then plow on to that target without any awareness of ones surroundings however, negates much of the pleasure of the journey if not the purpose. The goals itself upon attainment is fleeting for we already target the next goal and are moving forward again! Thus it seems to be that many people attain "venerable" age and suddenly sense life has passed them by, they are in crisis, what happened to this or that!
The process of reflection or prediction are vital tools and skills in life on must skillfully develop, learn from you r mistakes or the mistakes of others. Predict what the future holds and stay one step ahead.......However without living the "majority" of time in the "present" and "acting" rather than thinking we can truely harness wisdom and achieve our potential.......The secret that comes with this is if we live in the present we can excise our demons from the past and not be influenced by our fears of the future, we can enjoy the now, find the brief, beautiful fleeting moments and "live" them with joy, with our entire being for now we are taking pleasure in the journey not just in achieving the goal, creating the memories that will keep us warm in the future and gaining the experience that will guide us through.
I was talking to someone recently who reflected on how hard "life" was - for those who don't know, i had a Brain Aneurysm, my Wife was diagnosed with a Brain Tumor etc etc and yet the are surprised to see me laugh and smile more, to welcome challenge and attack and overcome any and all obstacles......to this i respond with several statements:
1) I will bang my head against a brick wall till either my head cracks or more likely the wall will break and i will proceed though the difficulty!
2) The ultimate goal in life is dying, its how everyones story ends, so with this realization brought on by our own experiences of mortality i now am dedicated to living every single day as fully as possible and nothing has the power to make me role over and die!
3) There are only two real options in life - fight or flight (freezing is in essence flight) and i know that flight just isnt an option as no matter how far or where you run you will always find yourself there!!!! I personally always advocate hard work, self discipline and determination as they are the cornerstone of building a better you - choose to fight as anything else is tantamount to giving up as the day we stop evolving ourselves, progressing and developing is the day we begin dying (we just may not realize it yet)
I find it interesting when i look back on my life and times when i reached absolute clarity of understanding about something, the seeming illusion of completeness and it lead me to write this article. I have had several periods in my life where i really felt like i "got" life or myself or some element of something and yet these moments were so fleeting, before i was re immersed ion the complexity of day to day living or some drastic reality check upset the apple cart and my happy little world.
So much of life and what we do and are taught to do is related to "goals" We set them, strive for them and drive ourselves with seeming obsessive determination towards achievement. This crowning achievement that will bring happiness, nirvana, completeness etc. However each time this pace upon attainment is so fleeting, a wisp of time before we move onto the next goal.
Did you ever set yourself a goal, a weight, a test score, a GPA, a job title or some other accolade that you may have kept secret and held in a deeply personal place, or you may have broadcast to the world. Sometime later we often look back on this dedicated focus and laugh at how seriously we took this milestone, this building block of our life and future. How small it often seems now, or sadly in some cases, how we reflect upon the heights we reach and the pinnacle we crested as our former selves.
I have a unique opportunity to witness this sensation in the most extreme form by being married to someone who is very driven, highly competitive and has un-containable anxiety. She can never rest in place for even a second, tread water and look around at what is going to on or even reflect on where she is going. Her drive sets constant goals and targets, her competitive nature drives her to reflect on how well those around her are doing at reaching their targets and her anxiety never allows her to rest in case someone else is catching her, or she is falling behind or any one of the myriad of other thoughts that get to race through her mind uncontrolled and un-contained!!!
This is the great skill, the self discipline that i unfortunately see little evidence of in our education, upbringing and schooling system. To navigate one must pause and look around for landmarks, directions and to find a point of focus - a target. To then plow on to that target without any awareness of ones surroundings however, negates much of the pleasure of the journey if not the purpose. The goals itself upon attainment is fleeting for we already target the next goal and are moving forward again! Thus it seems to be that many people attain "venerable" age and suddenly sense life has passed them by, they are in crisis, what happened to this or that!
The process of reflection or prediction are vital tools and skills in life on must skillfully develop, learn from you r mistakes or the mistakes of others. Predict what the future holds and stay one step ahead.......However without living the "majority" of time in the "present" and "acting" rather than thinking we can truely harness wisdom and achieve our potential.......The secret that comes with this is if we live in the present we can excise our demons from the past and not be influenced by our fears of the future, we can enjoy the now, find the brief, beautiful fleeting moments and "live" them with joy, with our entire being for now we are taking pleasure in the journey not just in achieving the goal, creating the memories that will keep us warm in the future and gaining the experience that will guide us through.
I was talking to someone recently who reflected on how hard "life" was - for those who don't know, i had a Brain Aneurysm, my Wife was diagnosed with a Brain Tumor etc etc and yet the are surprised to see me laugh and smile more, to welcome challenge and attack and overcome any and all obstacles......to this i respond with several statements:
1) I will bang my head against a brick wall till either my head cracks or more likely the wall will break and i will proceed though the difficulty!
2) The ultimate goal in life is dying, its how everyones story ends, so with this realization brought on by our own experiences of mortality i now am dedicated to living every single day as fully as possible and nothing has the power to make me role over and die!
3) There are only two real options in life - fight or flight (freezing is in essence flight) and i know that flight just isnt an option as no matter how far or where you run you will always find yourself there!!!! I personally always advocate hard work, self discipline and determination as they are the cornerstone of building a better you - choose to fight as anything else is tantamount to giving up as the day we stop evolving ourselves, progressing and developing is the day we begin dying (we just may not realize it yet)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)