Psychic RAM

After swearing off productivity and self-help books for the tenth time, I saw a copy of Ready for Anything staring at me from the bestsellers shelf. Yes, I did buy it (and thereby supported my local bookseller, Books Inc on Chestnut).

It turns Stephen Covey's book, which never quite "clicked" with me, on its head. Part 1 is totally devoted to getting all of the little things written down, acted upon, crossed off regardless of priority, or the overlooked importance of what some call "busywork". It had this to say on principle-centered time management:

Wouldn't it be better to be more proactive, creative, and forward-thinking instead of focusing on the details of the past?

Sure. But one big reason we don't usually start that way is that it's almost impossible to focues on the bigger picture when a vast majority of your subliminal energy is wrapped around psychic "open loops" in your world. In order to most easily and effectively turn on and access the creative flow needed for new reality thinking, psychic RAM must be freed up.

I love the idea of psychic RAM. I visualize nagging thoughts floating around your brain like little protozoa in a petrie dish, eluding outsiders who wish to nail them down. Another chapter begins with the high-level thought that is results from cleaning your garage:

One of the most effective ways to spark a dynamic vision is to clean your garage. Don't get me wrong. Writing a great strategic plan and creating a clean, well-ordered garage are very different activities. One requires a high-level focus and a willingness to see beyond the conditioning and details of current reality. The other requires an often brithal hand-to-hand combat with those details. Yet there is a strange and wondrous relatonship between the two.

So you have to do mindless busywork some of the time. By doing it you purge your mind of nagging thoughts and open new vessels for creativity. Use the pen and paper, todo lists not for forcing your visions but for committing the nagging protozoa. The big plans, your proactive forward-thinking ideas will be a byproduct.

12:18:31 PM    comment []