Most people don’t learn how to think
It sounds so basic, but most of us have been programmed with ‘what’ to think (via our parents, schooling, media, peers, etc.,) but not ‘how’ to think. Knowing how to think expands our freedom and gives us more options to live the best life possible.
Why a training course?
Rather than just coaching people and helping them resolve specific issues, Aaron asked why I also facilitate training courses. The benefit of attending training is the expansive opportunity it provides to discover how thinking works and how to change any unhelpful ‘programming’ that is not leading us in the direction we’d prefer to go. Participants have an opportunity in the classroom situation to change some aspects of their thinking and notice how it affects them.
Aaron and I discuss the impact and increased understanding people gain when they have a better knowledge of the process of thinking and how this might differ from those around them. We talk about how we perceive the world through our five senses but filter the information according to our values, beliefs, memories, language, etc., to form our ‘map’ – or our version – of reality.
Unfortunately, some folk believe their map is reality – and that everyone experiences life in the same way. The Inside Your Mind course opens our mind to other ways of thinking and being and helps change perceptions we have about others and ourselves.
We discuss some of the teachings of the course including the differences in how people code time. Variations in time coding can create massive problems and misunderstandings in personal and work relationships and our understanding of others behaviour. The way we code time can also affect our stress levels.
Aaron relates his experiences of having lived in an island culture where the inhabitants perceived time in a different manner to their New Zealand visitors. The visitors were endeavouring, unsuccessfully, to bring some structure to the islanders work life.
We also exchange views about the contrast between Global and Specific thinking patterns and how these distinctions can cause problems with understanding as well as an annoyance in the delivery of information.
As usual, there are lots of examples that I’m sure you’ll relate to!
Obviously, there’s a lot more to the course than what we cover in this 30-minute podcast. You might be interested in feedback from some people who participated in last Saturdays course:
- “Prompts me to look at myself and memories and feelings behind my beliefs, values and emotions. Encouraged me to look positively at goals. Reflective and gives an understanding of attitudes and tools to change for the better.” – Jenny
- “I valued time out of daily stuff to spend time on me. You’ll learn what makes you tick.” – Raewyn
- “Learn how to use simple information and techniques to transform learning, personal development and relationships. How changing words creates a more positive approach.” – Sue
- “Awakening, empowering, growing.” – Gemma
- “All very interesting!” – Rachel
- “Understanding my map – awareness to be able to make significant changes – and quickly. It was a fun day with lots of learning and a few aaah-haa moments thrown in.” – Jo