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On becoming a “Big Man” (or “Big Woman”) This stren considers what most people want: power, wealth, and freedom: for your self and for those you love. Let’s imagine what life would be like if we had no power? Our muscles are your first and most basic source of power. Without them, we would be helpless, a prisoner in our body. We would survive only if some “other” did everything for us. There is a condition called Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, that slowly robs us of the use of our muscles. My sister-in-law had ALS at a relatively young age. As even the slight moving of her eyelids, which enabled her to respond “yes” or “no” was failing, she felt life so increasingly worthless that she wanted to die. We are prone to take our muscles for granted, along with other basic needs, such as health and the air we breathe. People today tend to think of power and wealth in terms of physical value more than strong muscles: money, gold, jewels, “toys” for children, and special “adult toys” for grown-ups. What “toys” would you like to own? What is your idea of power and wealth? If a genie were to grant you several wishes, would you include the wish to be very powerful and/or wealthy? Most persons want to be rich not only for themselves, but also desire to enrich their loved ones. My most memorable trip was to New Guinea. There, among other things, I learned what it took to become most respected - “a Big Man.” Power and wealth were not enough; to become a Big Man, one must share his wealth with members of the tribe. Since one’s ownership of pigs was the primary measure of wealth, the Big Man regularly provided feasts for all to enjoy. The “Big Man politician” became powerful according to the amount of benefits he obtained for the tribe from the central ruling body. Isn’t it common to want to gift something of ourself to those you love? Are there such loved ones in your life? Have you ever thought you’d like to support a favorite cause? That you would like to bequeath something of your self? This is why we make a Will – instructions of what we want to happen to our material goods when we are no longer here to enjoy them. In your lifetime, have you received something of value from some other(s) that was freely given; that actually provided satisfaction to the giver? Perhaps you have thought of what you might want to bequeath to your loved ones. Most people do not acquire a great deal of material wealth. Have you ever considered gifting your mental wealth to those you love? Few have, few formally do so! Mental wealth is wisdom we attain through the mental muscles we call “thinking.” Mental wealth includes, among other things, the skills that create self-worth (the minimum daily requirement of self-endorsement), meaning, companionship (especially being a good friend to one’s self), peace-of-mind, happiness, enthusiasm, health, and the many skills that grow well-being. Mental wealth may be acquired throughout our lifetime. Every person with even a modest amount of intelligence can acquire and own mental wealth. And, one does not have to wait to die to give it away. The curious thing about giving away your mental wealth is that the more you give, the more you acquire. And if you document your mental wealth (there are many ways to do so), you can create a substantial inheritance for those you love. Consider documenting the most meaningful lessons you learn in your lifetime on a tape or computer disk to bequeath to your loved ones. Would you cherish such a gift from the important people in your life who have passed on? Our physical and mental muscles are our basic sources of power and freedom. Mental strength is relatively easy to grow and considerably easier to pass on to others than physical strength. Our physical muscles consist of many strands. With exercise, they increase in size and strength. Working together, they provide us the physical strength to exercise our will. If you were a slave, your muscles would serve to exercise someone else’s will. How we abhor being someone else’s slave. Mental muscles, like physical muscles, also consist of many strands. Each strand contributes to our collective wisdom. Wisdom is our most basic resource to get us what we want; it is stronger and has more endurance than our physical muscles. Single strands of wisdom are most effective when bunched together, as are our physical muscles. While we inherit our physical muscles, the strands of mental muscles that provide us willpower and mental freedom need be acquired. Like the physical muscles that free our body, the wisdom to free our mind also requires exercise. I label each strand of mental strength a “stren.” Collect strens, exercise them, and we grow mentally strong. The mental wealth we acquire is limited primarily by our willingness to work and exercise our strens. It is said our wisdom is largely the result of the opportunity we have to stand on the shoulders of the giants who have preceded us. A Newer Way of Thinking (ANWOT) is an exercise program of the wisdom of such giants, presented in bits-and-pieces, as strens. Each strand, or stren, will add the mental muscle that empowers us to get what we need, what we want. ANWOT is the growing collection of the strens I have taken from others (most, willingly offered) and share with you. I hope you will accept them from my free offering, “steal” them, modify them, add to them, and/or create new ones, identify them as your own, apply their wisdom, and perhaps, even give back some in new or better condition than the ones I offer. Here is my suggestion for acquiring the skills offered in ANWOT. Select one of the practical strens (usually 1-8 pages in length). Agree and/or disagree. Add or subtract what makes sense to you. Do you put into practice what you consider makes sense to you? As you study and practice strens, experience your well-being grow! You will find yourself creating your own original strens and enjoy sharing them. You can accelerate your learning through discussion of the idea(s) conveyed, with your family, or whomever you might share time together. Arrange to do so, perhaps on a set day of the week, at one of the times you sit together, such as the dinner meal. Share what the stren means to you. Though the strens build on one another, as did the manner you acquired your native language, there is no “correct” order of study. As others have shown, there are many paths to the top of a mountain. Follow the Table of Contents, the topical side bars [E-book version], the order following, or progress according to your own interest. Decide on “a stren a day,” each week, and/or whatever interval it takes to understand a particular stren. Then go to it; add to your collection. The strens are written for an adult mind and, as here written, may not be suitable for a child. Children are best exposed to ANWOT by observing/participating in discussions among adults. Though active participation is most effective, even passive exposure can make a difference and capture the child’s interest. The adult’s challenge is to interpret the concept of each stren in a manner understandable to the child. In doing so, the “teacher” will benefit as much as, or even more so than, the “student.” Suggested order of study to grow “mental strength”PRACTICAL STRENS THEORY STRENS *Strens in progress or presently contemplated |
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