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

Feeling Human Again

In this episode, The Unexpected Thankfulness of Feeling Human Again I’ll be honest with you: My triumphant return from France was not the glamorous homecoming I had imagined. No graceful glide back into routine. No cinematic jet-setter moment where I lift my suitcase off the carousel and wink at life like we’re old pals. Instead? I came home and immediately launched into a two-week performance piece titled The Great American Couch Collapse. My days blurred together in a haze of soup, hot tea, tissues, and desperate negotiations with the universe for just one nostril—one!—to function properly. The living room sofa became my emotional support furniture. And any creative idea that dared tiptoe into my congested brain was gently shown the exit with a firm but courteous, “Not today, friend. Try again later.” When life hits the pause button like that—when you’re exhausted, sick, and mentally unplugged—how do you find your spark again? Somehow, today, I felt it. A tiny shift. A clearing of th...

Patience – the Only First-Class Ticket

In this episode, Why Patience is the Only First-Class Ticket They say travel broadens the mind. After eight days sailing the Rhône with 140 fellow luxury vacationers, I can confirm it also tests patience, calf strength, buffet strategy, and one's tolerance for people furious that France insists on being French. Don't get me wrong—I adored this trip. The river shimmered like liquid optimism. The villages looked hand-painted. The pastries could negotiate world peace. But somewhere between Ship Horn Hello and Bon Voyage, we'd inadvertently boarded a floating behavioral research study disguised as a holiday. Our ship was less a cruise and more a ferry for the Sailors of Status. ⌚ The Wristwatch Wars Some passengers approached relaxation like yogis. Others treated leisure like a final exam with extra credit. I came to believe certain luxury watches emit ultrasonic signals that only their owners can detect. A frequency calibrated to trigger rapid movement toward any line forming...

Up the Rhône

Up the Rhône by Patrick Ball We booked a fine cruise up the Rhône — what a treat! With iPhones, lanyards, and schedules so neat. They promised us peace and a mind that would mend, But each calm beginning had chores at the end! "Now breakfast at seven! At eight, take the view!" At nine, there's a lecture on ' What Tourists Do!' At noon, there's a tasting (you must love the cheese), Then hurry to nap time — as corporate decrees! I followed that plan till my patience ran dry. The Rhône softly chuckled, "Oh my, oh my, my! You've missed half my sparkles, my ripples, my tone— You're busy pretending you've peacefully grown!" So I fired my planner and banished my clock. I tossed my agenda right off the dock! I let the wind tickle my schedule away, and drifted through hours that danced where they may. I chatted with swans, had no notion of when, I'd nibble, or nap, or go roaming again. No Wi-Fi! No meetings! No planning! No fuss! Just me and ...

Journey to Avignon (Part II)

🇫🇷 Lost in Transition: Our Journey to Avignon (Part II) When plans derail, sometimes the story gets better. "Mais attendez… peut-être…" the agent murmured, fingers flying across her keyboard. Lori and I leaned in, holding our breath. She frowned, typed again, then sighed. "With this disruption, all trains have been rerouted—and they're already full." We exchanged glances. Around us, the Gare de Lyon pulsed with energy: travelers clutching tickets, voices echoing, the scent of exasperation drifting through the chaos. It felt like the entire station had been swept into the same storm of confusion. Just then, another, older agent appeared beside us. He spoke in clipped, military French. "Where are you coming from? Did you miss your connection because of the incident—the acte de vandalisme ?" We both began to explain, recounting the wrong station, the Metro dash, the missed train—but before we could start, our first agent leaned close, her eyes wide wit...

On The Fly

Search This Blog