Open the Box

In this episode - Open the Box. . .

When you receive a gift that’s beautifully boxed what’s your first impulse. My guess is you would enthusiastically open the box.

Let me ask you this, what if, in a flash of insight, you realized that you’ve had in your possession the most precious gift on earth yet you’ve never taken the time to open the box?

I’m referring to the power of your creative imagination.

Earl Nightingale summarized it best, “We become what we think about, but the thinking is up to us.”

Let’s examine our daily thoughts, what do you think about? Are your thoughts dependent on your reaction to situations and others? If so that special gift we’re talking about is not being used at all. And if we’re not careful our imagination can lead us into confusing complications. So let’s strive for simplicity.

It's been said the brain has four powers, think of them as switches you can turn on and off.

Switch number:

The power to absorb information and knowledge.
The power of retention.
The power of making judgments.
The power to think creatively.

Children use this fourth switch all the time. They do it by simply asking questions. No admonition or holding back. Just wholesome to the point questions.

Granted people are swayed every day by the media, friends, and neighbors to think negative, self-destructive thoughts. But you can change that.

First, you must recognize that creative ideas can come from anyone at any time.

Keep an idea file. Ideas in the early stages need to be nurtured, record your ideas.
Ideas need encouragement. Treat your ideas with care. Encourage creative thinking in yourself and others.
Creative thinking is like mining for Diamonds in the richest soil you’ll get mostly small ones but if you stay with it you’ll find that big one your looking for too.

So what are you waiting for - turn on switch number four.

How you ask?

Spend 30 minutes a day digging in that gold mine between your ears. At first, those thoughts may be off the wall, absurd thoughts. That’s okay. Capture them.

I’m betting there’s a smartphone in your pocket. A powerful tool to record audio, video, or written text of your brilliant ideas. Ok, I get it, maybe your thoughts are not so brilliant but if you work at it every day for just 30 minutes you will be amazed at what you come up with.

Start with a goal that you want desperately to achieve. By mining those thoughts you will achieve that goal.

It was Ralph Waldo Emerson that said, “The mind, once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions.”

So live a little, open the box. Unleash the power of your creative imagination. Why not?

This is Patrick Ball, thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Unknown said…

Thanks Patrick... your message is Silid.. own your thoughts .. don’t let others hijack them..

May 20, 2020 at 11:35 AM

The Who Was - Series

In this episode, the Who Was? - Series . . . With over 250 titles, Penguin Random House Books Who Was? - Series tells the incredible stories of trailblazers, legends, innovators, and creators. Are you a bibliophile, an individual who loves and frequently reads books (a bookworm)? What is it that compels you to pick up a book? Is it the cover, is it the title, how about an interest in a specialized subject, or just - perhaps it's a whim? One of my ultimate goals with these podcasts is to reach a young audience. I've found that reading children's books is a gratifying and educational experience. Yes, even grown-ups can understand difficult concepts. To my surprise, both children and adults seem to appreciate the experience. With education such a hot topic in the news right now, we need to be reminded that whether it's going to school, visiting a museum, or online learning, the goal of education (both young and old) is to nurture an interest in learning. William Butler Ye

Big Apple, Big Charge

In this episode – Big Apple, Big Charge . . . Welcome back to On the Fly, your weekly dose of quirky observations and unexpected trends. Today, we're fresh off a trip to the Scaffolding/Plywood jungle, where we witnessed a phenomenon that will make you rethink your relationship with the humble wall socket. That's right, we're talking about New York City, and it's . . . wait for it — Free, ubiquitous electric outlets! New York constantly buzzes with traffic, jackhammers, honking horns, and helicopters. But what struck me most was the sheer volume of people glued to their devices while commuting and navigating the streets with hundreds of construction obstacles. It's like everyone's “plugged into” some invisible grid—phones, tablets, watches, headphones, earbuds, e-bikes—you name it. And that's where things get interesting. But, unlike our quiet suburban life, free outlets in NYC aren't exactly abundant. So, how do these New Yorkers keep their gadgets

What Time Is It

In this episode – What Time Is It . . . In the era before smartphones, let’s say we’re on a telephone call, and you ask me, “What time is it?” As a five-year-old, my reply is, "The big hand is on the two (2) and the little hand on the eight (8).” You would then say, "Alright, it's ten minutes after eight o’clock or eight-ten, right?" This is how we learned to tell time as children–remember? Well, what happened . . . During dinner last week in Westfield, NJ, a retired high school teacher told our group, “Did you know that children today cannot read the time on a traditional watch with an analog face?” “Why not?” we asked. “Because of smartphones and the proliferation of digital clocks.” “Wow! That’s hard to believe.” Welcome to this week's episode of "On the Fly." Today, we'll compare classic mechanical watches to modern quartz watches and explore an unexpected social shift. To begin with, let me take you back a few days. I’m a traditionalist and pre

It Runs on Steam

In this episode – It Runs on Steam . . . If you’ve seen Back to The Future III, you may remember Doc Brown's line, “It Runs on Steam !” Recently, I visited my good friend Billy in Westfield, New Jersey. Among his many other hobbies, Billy is a steam engine enthusiast. He proudly fired up his miniature steam engine and confidently explained its workings, which got me thinking . . . (Sound effect of Billy's steam engine whistle) Have you ever considered how environmentally friendly a steam engine powered by renewable energy could be? There would be no need for gasoline, batteries, diesel fuel, or Uranium-234. Imagine an engine powered by water—yes, water. I can hear the naysayers: "But . . .” Welcome back to On the Fly, where we dive into one of history's most fascinating inventions. Today, we're firing up a revolution – the Industrial Revolution, that is – with the mighty steam engine! For centuries, people relied on muscle, wind, and waterpower to get things do

On The Fly

Search This Blog