There are certain natural laws of life. They are not necessarily good or bad. They just are. They are immutable; unchangeable.
With those laws, you have two choices: acknowledge them, or deny/ignore them.
What you cannot do is change them.
They are what they are.
Let’s take the oft-used example of gravity. At least, oft-used by me. 🙂
Gravity works everywhere on earth. No exceptions; no excuses. It’s neither good nor bad. It just is. I guess it can be considered good in that it keeps us from floating helplessly into space. It could be considered bad when falling off a seven-story building.
The Law of Gravity cannot be changed. And, you know what? It doesn’t matter how much you’d like it to not be true, how much positive thinking you apply (“I can fly…I can fly…I can fly!”), or even how unfair you think it is that gravity works the way it does.
Human beings cannot fly!
Or…can we?
Actually, we can. Most of us have done so. We’ve traveled great distances at high speeds in a tubular-shaped hunk of metal called an airplane. Lately, we can even check our email and post and converse on Facebook and Twitter while doing so.
However, for the airplane to have been created, its developers first had to understand and acknowledge the Universal Law of Gravity and how it works. Only by tapping into the truth of gravity (and aerodynamics) could they work within its principles and actually use them to create the opposite effect, resulting in flight.
First accept how something IS. Then rather than trying to change it, look for ways to work with it in order to obtain the results you want.
It’s exactly the same with people.
There are certain universal laws of human nature that — while not necessarily convenient — simply are. And, only after we first acknowledge them can we work within them. This, in order to effectively influence others in a way that results in a win for everyone involved.
In the next post, we’ll look at some of these immutable laws of humankind and how to create our own “airplanes” with them. 🙂
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Another seemingly simple – yet wildly important concept – delivered in your usual powerful style. My Seven C’s of Branding, http://bit.ly/1CVDMCJ begin with “Control”…not to say one can control their brand or the countless influences, but rather to point out exactly what you have stated so clearly in your post. Some things can be controlled, frankly, most things cannot be. The key is to be aware of the difference and put your efforts exclusively behind the things you can affect. The uncontrollables can only be acknowledged, accepted and managed around.
Bill, thank you. I always appreciate your feedback and kind words. And, loved your “Seven C’s of Branding” since I first read about them! Indeed, control the few things we can control (which, mostly has to do with ourselves) and work correctly within that which we cannot in order to attain the results we want.
What a brilliant discussion of acceptance/mindfulness–a very important topic in my work as a hypnosis practitioner!
Reading this was reminded of Petty’s song Learning To Fly 🙂
Anyway, I agree with Bill here. Simple, yet profound!
Good stuff Bob
James: Thank you. Very appreciated!
Mark: Thank you for your kind compliment (though I’m not familiar with that song of Petty’s). 🙂
Hi Bob,
Another excellent post and great reminder to see and then work with what is rather than what we think it should be. I also want to assure you that you are not the only one using gravity on a regular basis.
I look forward to learning how we will be making airplanes out of the laws of humankind. Cheer.
Didn’t mean to hold back the s…. cheers.
Doug: Thank you. Always appreciate your thoughtful feedback. Not to mention your gravitational assurances! 🙂
Universal laws to human behavior is like the law of gravity. People matters and we have to start with others to build anything. To have the Eye, focus and love for them we serve. I love this post, and the love for what we do and for all human kind is a great way to build something from the very first idea til the finish line. To build and make something much better and to know when we work with humans, airplanes etc we need the big global Eye and an endless love for all people. Thanks for an excellent post! 🙂
Alisia: Thank you for joining the conversation, and for your kind and thoughtful words!
Bob,
Another excellent posting. A great reminder about how we perceive certain things which we accept to be true. We are all conditioned by our circumstances and the people we are surrounded with. The brain is such an incredible tool and when we have the ability to reprogram the brain we can change our perception of what we perceive as reality.
FANTASTIC article Bob!
I especially LOVE this “First accept how something IS. Then rather than trying to change it, look for ways to work with it in order to obtain the results you want.” – WOW that is the simple truth!!! E.g. I’m 59 years young 🙂 and I cannot change that, so I have to come up with a solution to reach my goals, where my age have no influence, so “I can fly anyway”. We often forget this, and just try to change the unchangeable. I’ll work on this point!!!! Thank’s a lot Bob. Lots of love comming you way from Denmark 🙂
Pete: Thank you for your comments. While I agree with you totally in terms of power of the mind, and not allowing “what is” to keep us from accomplishing our goals, I also think it’s important to be able to first understand and accept “what is” (in terms of Universal Laws of Nature) and have that as a starting point, or premise. Only then can we work within that context in order to accomplish what we desire. Of course, I might very well have misunderstood what you were saying. Thank you for always contributing to the conversation!
Lene: Thank you. So glad you enjoyed the article! I always appreciate your kind, uplifting and encouraging attitude. Love back to you and and my “Denmarkian” friends! 🙂