And Tochi Says… Whose thoughts are YOU thinking?

At any given time, I believe the reason why many targets, goals, plans and diets fail for many is because we attempt to apply a one-size-fits-all solution to our problem at hand. When that ’solution’ fails, we tend to give up. There is no one solution to a problem for everyone!

We should try frequent experimentation instead, getting rid of the notion in our heads that if our experiment fails, we cannot get what we want. Experimenting enables us to go at it from different angles, and to see our issue from different viewpoints. Sequentially execute experiments for the issue at hand, over a short period of time, like 21 or 30 days. Line them up: if experiment number one fails, move on to experiment number two. If number two fails, move on to number three… and so on until success is achieved or until the issue becomes irrelevant.

I believe that the most important experiments we should start working on are on our minds. That what I’ll be working on for myself in 2010. Our bodies follow our minds. What we think, we are. If we want to change how we are, we need to change how we think. If we are initially incapable or inexperienced in thinking original thoughts (like so many of us are), there is nothing wrong with experimenting with someone else’s thoughts and opinions until we find the best fit from which we can start our own original thinking.

Other people can provide us with a fresh or contrasting viewpoint of our situation; we can use their ideas to short-circuit our circular thinking that has gotten us nowhere. Besides, what doesn’t make sense now may make sense this time next year. Even if we don’t agree with a particular viewpoint, let’s listen anyway. We don’t have to comment or take action on it; just hear it out. Look at those we consider rigid in their attitudes; do we want to become fossilized just like they are?

Let us experiment with friendships. Try friends on like we would clothes. Keep the ones that fit; pass along those that don’t to others who might have some use for them. Let us know when to give up friends who no longer fit us. And just like a physique change after some weight loss or physical toning, we can return to old friends who now fit us after some internal change.

This is the thought: Let this year, 2010, be the year of experimentation for us all. List your issues, list the experiments you are going to do for each of them. Disregard your inner critic who harps that “it can’t be done!”. Find a way out, around, over or through. Keep experimenting until you get what you want.

The image used in this post is courtesy of the contributors to Creative Commons. I am immensely grateful.