Goals And Intentions

Goals and Intentions

Setting a goal is black and white—you either achieve it, or you don’t. Intentions, however, come from a growth mindset, and they set the standard for how you live and act, regardless of whether or not you achieve a set goal.

The big difference here is that intentions are rooted in values, not external outcomes, and they keep your attention in the present, not the future. While accomplishing goals everyday may not be feasible, intentions are flexible and ever-changing, leaving you plenty of freedom to re-evaluate.

Number 1 Sign of High Intelligence

Smart people are actually wrong a lot.

Scientists have "observed that the smartest people are constantly revising their understanding, reconsidering a problem they thought they'd already solved. They're open to new points of view, new information, new ideas, contradictions, and challenges to their own way of thinking."

The Conversation

Whats more important at a given moment, keeping the conversation going or stifling it?

If the constitution were to be interpreted as the framers intended, then you would know that they were all about keeping the conversation going. Not about stifling it. However, the constitution speaks about ling term social issues not immediate crisis. In those instances more direct action is required.

The framers knew all to well that they could never solve all the problems we have today, but what they could solve was whether or not we talked about them. Examining problems. Debating. Bringing new information to light.

Even scientists fell into the religious trap in that late 1800s early 1900s when they began to claim something was correct because it was common sense. When Einstein released his proof on General Relativity, Special Relativity, and it lead to the discover of Quarks, the doctrine of common sense was thrown out the window. The conversations had to start again about, "Gaud playing with dice!" And, "Fuzzy action at a distance."

Some say that leadership is situational, because there are times that the conversation must go forward, or during crisis decisions must be made and executed. Do not mis interpret one situation for another. Nor, disown the conversation because it doesnt affect you. You may see things from your status as an observer very differently.

An example is the caravan walking through Mexico. Whether you think they should or shouldnt be let into the country, have you considered whether these people should be given food, aid, and shelter? And, should the US apply diplomatic pressure to the countries that they are fleeing from? And / or ask the UN to send in troops to stabilize the region so that people can conduct their daily business in peace?

A leader knows how to drive a conversation, bring people to consensus through mutual goals and motivations, and execute a plan.

But, if the constitution were to be amended do you think you or I would ever have a say in the process? Maybe a obligatory vote to appease us, but framers would do what they wanted and sell it to use with lots of promises, and then go back to the courts to interpret it.

Fundamentalists

The problem with fundamentalists, is that they always complain that they are being excluded from the conversation.  Hate speech should be allowed, since all speech should be allowed.  Except, hate speech only has 1 purpose, and I’ll get back to this in a minute.

Fundamentalists aren’t being excluded from the conversation. No, instead, they are being ignored.  Which is more infuriating.  They want to be heard.  But not in a fashion that supports actually resolving an issue. Instead, they want to be heard in such a way that it distracts from solving a problem.  As if kaos were the only solution.

The Supreme Court created a test that stated that speech is not protected when it fails one or both of these tests:

Does it harm yourself

Does it harm others

Think about that for a moment. Does your freedom of expression cause physical harm to yourself.  If you cut yourself in such a way that it puts your life in danger, should this activity be protected?  And, what if a group uses ritual sacrifice, which ends the life of another human, is that protected speech?  In this case NO!.  It is not protected speech.

The second test is whether your speech calls for hurting another person or group.  This came about when Sarah Palin asked her base to shoot a Senator.  Had anyone else said it, they would have been incarcerated immediately.  However, this speech is not protected either.  Calling for someone’s death is akin to demanding genocide.

Which brings us back to what fundamentalists want.  If they believe that kaos is the answer to everything, then their only means of feeling as though they are winning is when kaos rules. Thus, to achieve kaos, they must engage everyone else in fights.  It is the only time that a fundamentalist is being heard.

Fights don’t solve problems.

And, thus, why fundamentalists are ignored. Not silenced. Just not given the space needed to be engaged.  This requires time or energy and will only be lost in a fruitless exchange that leads no where.  

Today’s Fortune Cookies

You will appear as an extra on a TV series

You will hit on a teacher

You will have sex in a grave yard

You will accidently pie on yourself and your teacher when scared

You will fake an orgasm afterward

You will create a fake twitter account to disavow the incident

Making the World a Better Place

While I could share my trails and tribulations of bouncing through several groups, I think you will be better served by my wisdom: 1) A Leader’s motto is, "To make the world a better place one man at a time!" 2) Everyone has an expectation of how we wish to treat each other. 3) Everyone has the right to demand an apology. Every group creates a set of rules that the members are expected to follow.  We hold each other accountable when the rules are broken. These rules even apply to how people interact with each other.  Communities at all levels have rules, expectations, values, cultures, and moralities that strive to encourage proper behavior .. households, apartment complexes, farming communities, cities, counties, states, countries.  We have expectations on what is considered proper behavior. When I see another man break these rules, I have an opportunity to look at myself and determine why this triggers me.  It is also an opportunity to help everyone involved reflect on the event, understand how it affected me, how it is affecting them, how it makes this man look in my eyes, and how it looks when other men support this behavior. It is behavior that we are actively working to change.  We do this through reflecting / reflection. We help other men see how their actions / choices are affecting others around them. When that behavior is repeated without conscious or consequence, the behavior is considered normal, even if it disparages another man or group.  It is here, where men have to build their courage, practice speaking up, and stand against inappropriate behavior, and demand a change. That change comes in two forms, the first is an apology, and the second is a change in the rules, habits, expectations, values, morals, and/or culture. A true apology uses the words "I'm Sorry!" in a way that ensures that the bad behavior is going to be corrected.  They are not a phrase that begs forgiveness. They are not used flippantly in a way that demeans their value. They are powerful. And, when used properly, will release the emotional energy in both parties because 1 party wants to see real change, while both parties want connection. Unfortunately, when we don't know how to ask for an apology, or ask men to adhere to the rules, or have vague undefined expectations, is when men feel powerless to demand an apology. For this, I suggest looking at your own mission statement.  When you are asked, "How will you make the world a better place?" What does a better world look like to you, and what is needed to achieve your version of a better world.  For me, it is helping men reflect on their bad behaviors and choices when they act out.  And, it can be as simple as asking, "How does this help you make the world a better place?"