Read2Reap

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH – THE SOURCE OF MERCY – THE MOST MERCIFUL

READ 2REAP

I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU ONLY READ
ONE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BOOK THIS YEAR, IT SHOULD
BE MIND CONTROL SYSTEM. ‘THE BASIC HYPOTHESIS IS
PROFOUND. THE APPLICATION OF PROVEN RESEARCH IS
MASTERFUL. THE EXPLANATIONS AND SUPPORTING STORIES
ARE COMPELLING AND LUCID. THE TRANSLATION OF THE
RESEARCH AND STORIES INTO PRACTICAL IDEAS AND
SOUND ADVICE IS NOTHING SHORT OF BREATHTAKING.’

THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH AND MUHAMMED (PBUH) IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH


RECLAIMING SELF: MAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF

IT OFTEN SEEMS THAT OUR DAYS ARE ENGULFED IN A MYRIAD OF TASKS. TODAY WE HAVE
MANY RESPONSIBILITIES AND MANY ROLES SPOUSE, PARENT, SIBLING, CHILD, FRIEND AND
CAREER WORKER. DO YOU FIND YOU LOSE YOURSELF IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, IN YOUR
NURTURING ROLES, AND IN THE BUSYNESS OF LIFE? DOES IT SEEM LIKE YOUR LIFE HAS
BECOME A SERIES OF TASKS TO COMPLETE, RATHER THAN MOMENTS TO ENJOY? WE OFTEN
GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THE DOING THAT WE FORGET TO BE.

USUALLY THE FIRST THING TO GO IN THIS WHIRLWIND OF ACTIVITY IS TIME FOR OURSELVES.
LACK OF TIME FOR OURSELVES OFTEN LEADS TO FEELING FRUSTRATED, TIRED,
OVERWHELMED AND OUT OF BALANCE. WITHOUT THIS TIME FOR SELF, WE LOSE SIGHT OF
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US AND OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE OUR BEST.

IF YOU ARE FEELING LIKE LIFE IS OUT OF CONTROL, THAT YOU ARE UNDERVALUED, THAT YOU
ARE TOO BUSY, OR IF YOU PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS CONSISTENTLY BEFORE YOUR OWN,
THEN IT IS TIME TO CREATE SOME TIME AND SPACE FOR YOURSELF. TAKING TIME FOR
YOURSELF ALLOWS YOU TO RENEW, HEAL AND CREATE RESERVES OF ENERGY AND PEACE.
HONOURING YOURSELF ENABLES YOU TO DISCOVER YOUR TRUTH, ACCESS YOUR CREATIVITY
AND EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF PEACE, WHOLENESS, PURPOSE AND BALANCE.

TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF IS REALLY ABOUT SELF-CARE AND IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
COMPONENT TO CREATING THE LIFE YOU WANT. IT IS ABOUT HONOURING YOURSELF AND
CONNECTING WITH YOURSELF. TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS ON
THE JOURNEY OF DISCOVERING YOUR TRUTH AND ACCESSING YOUR CREATIVITY. WHEN YOU
TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF IT ALLOWS YOU TO STOP DOING FOR AWHILE AND TO JUST BE. IT
IS IN THE BEING WHERE YOUR POWER LIES. YOU AUTOMATICALLY RAISE YOUR STANDARDS
AND CAPABILITIES AND CREATE POTENTIAL AND POSSIBILITY IN YOUR LIFE. WHEN YOU
HONOUR AND NURTURE YOURSELF YOU CAN HEAR YOUR INNER VOICE MUCH MORE CLEARLY -
YOU CAN HEAR YOUR OWN TRUTH AND THIS CONNECTION ENABLES YOU TO LIVE
AUTHENTICALLY.

IN ORDER TO MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING. WRITE THE ANSWERS
DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER OR IN YOUR JOURNAL OR NOTEBOOK.

QUESTIONS
HOW COULD IT BE A GIFT TO OTHERS TO TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF?
WHAT ACTIVITIES BRING YOU JOY OR NURTURE YOU?
WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM DOING THE THINGS THAT ENERGISE AND INSPIRE YOU?
HOW CAN YOU BRING MORE OF THESE SIMPLE TREATS INTO YOUR DAY?

TAKE ACTION
COMMIT TO DOING ONE ACTIVITY FROM THE LIST YOU CREATED EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT
WEEK:
EACH DAY TAKE 5 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF.
FIND A QUIET PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SIT AND NOT BE DISTURBED.
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SIMPLY FOLLOW THE PATH OF YOUR BREATH. JUST FOCUS ON YOUR
BREATH.
IF OTHER THOUGHTS COME IN, JUST LET THEM GO. IF YOU FIND THIS DIFFICULT AT FIRST,
THEN FOCUS ON REPEATING THE AFFIRMATION "I AM HAPPY AND PEACEFUL".



QUIETING YOUR MIND AND BODY AND FOCUSING ON THE BREATH WILL HELP TO CHANGE
YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE AND PROVIDE YOUR SOUL WITH A PEACEFUL RESPITE FROM THE
BUSYNESS OF YOUR DAY.

TIME FOR YOURSELF DOES NOT HAVE TO TAKE HALF A DAY OR COME AT SOMEONE ELSE'S
EXPENSE. IN FACT, TAKING THE TIME TO REPLENISH AND NURTURE YOURSELF WILL GIVE YOU
MORE ENERGY AND YOU WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE YOU LOVE. IT IS OFTEN
THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, SITTING IN
YOUR FAVOURITE CHAIR AND SIPPING A CUP OF TEA, GOING FOR A WALK, OR LISTENING TO
YOUR FAVOURITE RECITATION. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CARVE OUT 15 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF
EACH DAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT NURTURES YOU AND BRINGS YOU JOY. TRY IT AS AN
EXPERIMENT FOR ONE WEEK AND SEE WHAT CHANGES FOR YOU. RECLAIM YOUR SELF! WHEN
YOU DO, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF PEACE, RENEWAL AND CONNECTION.

4 FORGOTTEN SECRETS TO SELF-CONFIDENCE

MANY PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO BE CONFIDENT BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO BE CONFIDENT. YOU
MAY KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN BORN CONFIDENT, BUT CONFIDENCE IS
A STATE OF MIND NOT AN INHERENT TRAIT.

PEOPLE TEND TO THINK THAT BEING CONFIDENT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF FEELING GOOD
ABOUT YOURSELF WHEN, REALLY, IT IS MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT.

YOU CAN HAVE A VERY HIGH OPINION OF YOURSELF BUT IF OTHERS DON'T RECOGNISE AND
APPRECIATE YOUR WORTH, CHANCES ARE, YOU WON'T BE TOO CONFIDENT.

JUST AS YOU WOULDN'T BE TOO CONFIDENT IF EVERYONE AROUND YOU ADORED YOUR EVERY
MOVE BUT YOU FELT TERRIBLE ABOUT YOURSELF.

THE KEY TO BEING CONFIDENT IS TO MINGLE A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE WITH A FEELING OF
ACCEPTANCE BY THOSE AROUND YOU.

THE FOLLOWING SIMPLE STEPS SHOULD GET YOU WELL ON YOUR WAY TO A MORE CONFIDENT
AIR.

1. HAVE NO FEAR.

STATISTICALLY, REJECTION IS INSIGNIFICANT. FOR EVERY ONE TIME YOU ARE REJECTED, YOU
WILL BE ACCEPTED TEN TIMES, PROVIDING YOUR GOALS ARE REALISTIC. YOU MAY GET 10
REJECTIONS BEFORE YOUR ACCEPTED THE DUE 100, BUT THAT JUST GIVES YOU SOMETHING
TO LOOK FORWARD TO, HOPE. HOPE BREEDS HAPPINESS AND HAPPINESS DISPELS FEAR.

2. FAKE IT `TILL YOU MAKE IT.

IF THEY WANT A DUCK, WALK LIKE ONE, TALK LIKE ONE, THEY WILL THINK YOU ARE ONE AND
SOON YOU WILL BE ONE. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A LIE SO WELL THAT EVEN YOU BELIEVED IT
WAS TRUE? SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED, WHO SEEMED TO EXUDE
CONFIDENCE, MAY HAVE BEEN COMPLETE FRAUDS, BUT PROBABLY NOT FOR VERY LONG.
INEVITABLY IF YOU PRETEND TO BE SOMETHING FOR LONG ENOUGH, YOU WILL BECOME IT.
OTHERS TEND TO BE DRAWN TO THOSE WHO ARE CONFIDENT SO IN FAKING IT, YOU GIVE
THEM A CHANCE TO SEE YOUR POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES AND GAIN THEIR ACCEPTANCE.



3. DRESS THE PART

ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST. SURE YOU CAN RUN TO THE MARKET IN YOUR CURLERS AND
BATHROBE, BUT DON'T EXPECT TO FEEL LIKE YOU CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD BECAUSE IF EYE
CONTACT IS MADE YOU WILL FEEL NOTHING LESS THAN MORTIFIED. YOU WILL FEEL MUCH
MORE CONFIDENT WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU LOOK NICE. IF YOU HAVE TO GO ALL OUT TO
FEEL ATTRACTIVE THEN DO IT, EACH AND EVERY TIME THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR YOU TO BE
REJECTED BY ANYONE, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. AT LEAST YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WALK
AWAY WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH.

4. MIX THINGS UP.

A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WILL OBVIOUSLY MAKE YOU FEEL MORE CONFIDENT. SO QUIT
PUTTING OFF THOSE NEW VENTURES, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE. SOMETHING TO DO FOR FUN,
TO ADD TO YOUR RESUME, TO MAKE YOU MORE INTERESTING, JUST DIVE INTO IT, REMEMBER,
NO FEAR. SEEMS SIMPLE ENOUGH, RIGHT? SO GET OUT THERE AND SHOW THEM ALL WHAT
YOU ARE MADE OF AND EVOLVE INTO A NEWLY CONFIDENT YOU! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE
AND NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP. NOW YOU KNOW HOW TO BE CONFIDENT AND I AM CONFIDENT
IN THAT.

WANT MORE SUCCESS? BE LAZY!

HARD TO IMAGINE, BUT I'VE DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE TO BE AMBITIOUS ABOUT BEING
"LAZY.” AS A PROFESSIONAL, I WORK WITH HIGH ACHIEVING PROFESSIONALS AND
EXECUTIVES AND I AM NO SLOUCH MYSELF. IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU WILL TAKE PRIDE IN
THE NUMBER OF TASKS AND PROJECTS YOU CAN JUGGLE, AND THE SHEER NUMBER OF
INITIATIVES YOU ARE INVOLVED IN ON A GIVEN DAY. YOU MAY FEEL, HOWEVER, THAT SOME
OF YOUR PERSONAL PRIORITIES NEED MORE TIME AND FOCUS THAN YOU PRESENTLY HAVE IN
YOUR PACKED SCHEDULE.

MY FRIEND SAMIR, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD AN EXTREMELY PROFITABLE TEXTILE BUSINESS, BUT
HE FELT LIKE A SLAVE TO IT. HE WANTED TO PURSUE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND SPEND
MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT HOW? FINDING A SOLUTION CAN BE
ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT YOU NEED TO GIVE UP SEEMS TO
HAVE EQUAL VALUE. SO DOES THIS MEAN, THAT INSTEAD OF PARING DOWN, YOU NEED TO BE
EVEN MORE PRODUCTIVE? NOT NECESSARILY. VERY BUSY PEOPLE LIKE US OFTEN HAVE A
TENDENCY TO PUSH OURSELVES HARD TOWARD OUR OBJECTIVES, TO GO AND GO UNTIL WE
ARE AT LEAST A BIT (IF NOT A LOT) FRAZZLED, EXHAUSTED, OR FRUSTRATED. AND SOME
OBJECTIVES REQUIRE ENORMOUS EFFORT AND TAKE FOREVER TO MATERIALISE. IN SUCH
CASES, BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST THAT HARD WORK CAN PAY OFF, WE CAN‟T
HELP WONDERING WHY SOME OF OUR EFFORTS SEEM SO INEFFECTIVE.

IN FACT, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT TAKING A BREATHER HELPS IMPROVE ACHIEVEMENT IN ANY
ENDEAVOUR. IN MY BOOK, MIND CONTROL SYSTEM: HOW TO ACTIVATE THE NATURAL
TRIGGER AND MAXIMISE CREATIVITY, ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTIVITY AND
PERSONAL WELLBEING. GOING FOR A WALK IN THE MORNING, OR EVEN TAKING A BATH CAN
HELP SOLVE THE SEEMINGLY UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM. IT TURNS OUT THAT TAKING TIME OUT
IS A POWERFUL BIOLOGICAL TRIGGER THAT CAN CONVERT CONFLICT AND CONFUSION INTO
CLARITY AND EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE.



HOW? WELL, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN YOU ARE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR OBJECTIVE
AND YOUR STRATEGY, YOU GET THERE A LOT FASTER. HOWEVER, THAT LUCIDITY CAN
SOMETIMES BE ELUSIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH MORE IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES. WE CAN BEST
DEVELOP THAT CRYSTAL CLARITY IF WE RELAX AND "DO NOTHING" FOR AT LEAST A FEW
MINUTES A DAY AND IN MY EXPERIENCE, THEY ARE RIGHT. SURESH, A CONSULTANT FOR
NEXUS, WAS WORRIED THAT THE ORGANISATION WOULDN‟T EXTEND HIS CONTRACT, OR
IMPLEMENT HIS NEW IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. HOWEVER, AFTER HE DEVOTED 10 MINUTES
A DAY OVER TWO MONTHS MEDITATING AND JOURNALING ABOUT HIS OBJECTIVES, THE
REGIONAL DIRECTOR CALLED WITH GOOD NEWS AND PRAISED HIS CLEAR AND THOUGHTFUL
PRESENTATIONS.

HOW IRONIC: WHAT WE WOULD HAVE CALLED "LAZINESS" A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND
NOW A WISE BUSINESS AND PERSONAL INVESTMENT. WHETHER IT'S BEING ABSORBED IN
WATCHING OR PLAYING A SPORTING EVENT, JUST SITTING QUIETLY FOR TEN MINUTES, LYING
IN BED FOR AN EXTRA 10 MINUTES IN THE MORNING, READING A BOOK FOR PLEASURE, IT
TAKES A BIT OF COURAGE TO STEP BACK AND HAVE FAITH THAT DOING "NOTHING" WILL HELP
YOU ACHIEVE YOUR OBJECTIVES. FOR MOST OF US, IT'S A NEW PARADIGM. HOWEVER, IT
WORKS...AND QUICKLY!

HASSAN, A BUSINESS ANALYST, WAS OVERWHELMED WITH CHARTS AND PAPERWORK. HE
NEEDED ORGANISATION, A MORE LUCRATIVE BUSINESS AND A BETTER LIFESTYLE. HIS “LAZY
BREAK” BECAME A DAILY HALF-HOUR GAME OF BASKETBALL. WITHIN FOUR MONTHS OF
INCORPORATING THIS TIME OUT, HE GOT HIS OFFICE SYSTEMS LARGELY UNDER CONTROL
AND HAD REWORKED HIS PRACTICE TO ALLOW HIM TO MOVE TO A MORE UPSCALE
COMMUNITY.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A POWERFUL CONTRADICTION AT WORK HERE. YET, PRACTISING THE
LAZINESS HABIT INCREASES YOUR FULL ENGAGEMENT AND GENERATES A MORE PRODUCTIVE
AND OPTIMALLY FUNCTIONING STATE. YOU LEARN HOW TO BETTER ALLOT YOUR ENERGY,
YOUR TIME AND YOUR RESOURCES. I TELL MY COLLEAGUES TO SCHEDULE A BREAK INTO THE
CALENDAR, JUST LIKE A BUSINESS APPOINTMENT.

IF YOU ARE FEELING RESISTANT AND NERVOUS ABOUT GIVING LAZINESS A TRY, HERE ARE A
FEW SUGGESTIONS:

1. CONSIDER IT AN EXPERIMENT AND STICK TO IT UNTIL YOU GET RESULTS. YOU DIDN‟T GET
TO BE A HIGH NET-WORTH INDIVIDUAL BY GIVING UP AND BEING LAZY IS NO EXCEPTION!
TRY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIME-OUTS AND DON‟T WORRY THAT YOU‟LL GET ADDICTED TO
PUTTING YOUR FEET UP, THAT‟S NOT YOUR STYLE!

2. FIVE OR TEN MINUTES ARE ALL YOU NEED TO START WITH AND MAYBE ALL YOU NEED ON A
REGULAR BASIS. THIS PRACTICE IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE, SO SEE WHAT WORKS BEST
FOR YOU. SOME DAYS CALL FOR MORE LAZINESS THAN OTHERS. BE FLEXIBLE.

3. DON'T MAKE RELAXING BURDENSOME; YOU DON‟T HAVE TO DO IT EVERY DAY IN THE
BEGINNING AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE HAVING FUN. IF IT HELPS, GET A TIME-
OUT BUDDY AND HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.

4. HAVE A CHOICE OF ACTIVITIES AND PICK WHATEVER FEELS MOST APPEALING IN THE
MOMENT. REMEMBER WHAT YOU LOVED DOING AS A KID, OR WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS
WANTED TO DO. CHOICE IS KEY.



5. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR RESULTS, OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT BE INCLINED TO DISCOUNT ITS
EFFECTIVENESS. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE WORKAHOLIC HIGH-ACHIEVERS, IT‟S A BIG
STEP TO ACCEPT THAT “DOING NOTHING” CAN BE EVEN MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN CONSTANT
EFFORT. IT‟S COUNTERINTUITIVE, BUT BRILLIANTLY SO.

11 QUESTIONS TO KICKSTART YOUR DREAM

WHAT‟S YOUR DREAM? WANT TO GIVE YOUR VISION A JUMPSTART? WRITE DOWN YOUR
OBJECTIVES AND USE THESE QUESTIONS TO SPEED UP DELIVERY OF YOUR DREAM.

1. WHAT‟S YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY THIS LIFETIME?

WHAT‟S MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE, EXPLORE OR EMBRACE THIS TIME
AROUND? UNTIL YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION, YOUR LIFE GOALS WILL BE OFF PURPOSE.
UNALIGNED WITH YOUR INNER PASSION, YOUR INTENTIONS WILL LACK THE POWER TO
ATTRACT THE PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS NECESSARY TO BECOME A REALITY. GET GLUED INTO
YOUR TRUE JOY. WHAT ACTIVITIES TURNED YOU ON AS A CHILD? ? WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES
NOW? WHEN YOUR GOALS ARE ALIGNED WITH YOUR SOUL PURPOSE, SYNCHRONICITY KICKS
IN TO GUIDE YOU TO YOUR TARGET. WHEN YOU INTUIT AND OWN YOUR UNIQUE ESSENCE
AND CALLING, ASSISTANCE WILL FLOW TO YOU FROM EVERY EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY
SOURCE.

2. IS THIS YOUR DREAM OR SOMEONE ELSE‟S?

ARE YOUR GOALS YOUR OWN CHOICE, OR WHAT OTHERS THINK YOU SHOULD STRIVE FOR?
DO YOU WANT TO LOOK BACK IN YOUR OLD AGE AND WISH YOU HAD FOLLOWED YOUR
PASSION? WILL YOU REGRET HAVING "PLAYED IT SAFE?" IS IT SELFISH TO GO AFTER YOUR
OWN DREAM? WHAT JOY CAN YOU GIVE TO OTHERS IF YOU HAVEN‟T GIVEN IT TO YOURSELF
FIRST? YOU HAVE A DIVINE RIGHT TO LISTEN TO YOUR HEART. YOU HAVE A SOCIAL
OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAM. ONLY THEN CAN YOU FULFIL YOUR DESTINY AND MAKE
THE EARTHLY CONTRIBUTION YOU WERE BORN TO MAKE.

3. DO YOU REALLY, REALLY WANT THIS DREAM?

DO YOU BOUND OUT OF BED EVERY MORNING TO PURSUE YOUR VISION? OR IS IT A
LUKEWARM DREAM YOU CHASE BECAUSE IT SOUNDS MEANINGFUL? ONLY THE REAL MCCOY
WILL GENERATE ENOUGH ENERGY TO MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE WORLD.

4. ARE YOU SETTLING FOR LESS THAN?

ARE YOU RESIGNED TO ACCEPTING LESS THAN YOUR FULL SHARE OF LOVE, HEALTH AND
SUCCESS THIS LIFETIME? HAVE YOU COMPROMISED AND SACRIFICED YOUR DREAM TO
DEATH? ANYTHING SHORT OF LIVING YOUR TRUE PASSIONS WILL NEVER MAKE YOU HAPPY.
DO YOU WANT TO ARRIVE AT THE GATES WITH THE REGRET OF NOT MARRYING THAT ONE
CAPTIVATING PERSON, STARTING THAT FUN BUSINESS, OR SEEING THAT EXOTIC PART OF THE
WORLD YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO VISIT?

5. IS YOUR DREAM ACTUALLY JUST A MEANS TO SOME OTHER DREAM?

IS YOUR GOAL THE ULTIMATE END IN ITSELF, OR MERELY A LIMITED MEANS TO THAT END?
ISN‟T IT REALLY THE NEW CAR ITSELF YOU WANT, RATHER THAN THE MONEY, THE MEANS TO



BUY THE NEW CAR? MORE TO THE CORE, ISN‟T IT REALLY A RENEWED SENSE OF SELF-WORTH
YOU DESIRE, RATHER THAN THE NEW CAR OR HOUSE TO IMPRESS THE FAMILY AND
NEIGHBOURS? AND ISN‟T IT REALLY HAPPINESS YOU WANT, RATHER THAN THE PICTURE-
PERFECT MATE, JOB OR BODY? FOCUS ON THE EXPERIENCE YOU WANT TO CREATE, NOT THE
PHYSICAL FORM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BRING YOU THAT EXPERIENCE.

6. WHAT WILL YOU FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU REACH YOUR DREAM?

PERSONAL PASSION FUELS A VISION. DIVE INTO THE THRILL AND EXHILARATION OF THE
FEELING OF LIVING YOUR DREAM. EVERY MOMENT YOU CAN, DRINK IN THE JOY OF HAVING
YOUR GOAL. "WHERE YOUR CREATIVE ATTENTION FLOWS, SO FLOWS YOUR LIFE." IS YOUR
DAILY ATTENTION FEEDING YOUR DREAM? AS THE TV PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
REMINDS US, "IT‟S MIDNIGHT. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE?" HEY, IN YOUR
LIFE, IT‟S HIGH NOON! DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CREATIVE EXCITEMENT IS FLOWING? IT‟S
HIGH TIME YOU MANIFESTED YOUR ASPIRATIONS. DYNAMIC, SATISFYING CREATIONS ARE
NURTURED WITH LOVE AND CARE AS A FLOWER IN A GARDEN.

7. HOW WILL YOU BENEFIT FROM GETTING YOUR DREAM?

GET SPECIFIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS YOU‟LL RECEIVE FROM ACHIEVING YOUR VISION. WRITE
DOWN THESE PLUSES SO THEY WILL SINK IN AS MOTIVATORS. WHAT EXACTLY WOULD
HAPPEN IF YOU MADE A LOT OF MONEY DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVE? HOW WOULD YOU
APPROACH YOUR LIFE DIFFERENTLY IF YOU ALLOWED PEOPLE TO LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH MORE VITALITY AND HEALTH?

8. WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TODAY TOWARD YOUR DREAM?

DON‟T DEFER YOUR DREAM. SET UP SUPPORTS AND SYSTEMS AROUND YOU TO INSTANTLY
TRANSLATE YOUR INTENTIONS INTO ACTION. JUMP ON EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT IS IN LINE
WITH YOUR PURPOSE AND VISION. KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. NO MATTER HOW HECTIC
LIFE GETS, PLEDGE TO TAKE AT LEAST ONE ACTION A DAY. EVEN THE SMALLEST ACTIONS
JOTTING DOWN A NEW IDEA, READING A SINGLE PAGE, OR MAKING ONE PHONE CALL CAN
START TO ADD UP. ARE THERE SMALLER PROJECTS THAT LEAD TO YOUR LARGER DREAM THAT
CAN GIVE YOU PLEASURE IN THE MEANTIME? IF THE DREAM IS TO RUN A MARATHON, TRAIN
FOR A LOCAL FUN-RUN FIRST. AND FIND A WAY TO MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS. TRACK THOSE
LITTLE WINS BY WRITING IN A JOURNAL OR TELLING A FRIEND.

9. ARE YOU TELLING YOURSELF: "I CAN‟T HAVE MY DREAM?"

MOST PEOPLE DON‟T BELIEVE THEY CAN LIVE THEIR DREAM. EITHER THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM
HAS THEM BELIEVING THEY CAN‟T MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT THEY LOVE, OR THEY FEEL
THEY DON‟T DESERVE THEIR DREAM. TO AVOID THE PAIN OF FEELING THEY CAN‟T HAVE
THEIR DREAM, PEOPLE OFTEN KEEP THEIR DREAM SO BURIED THEY CAN‟T REMEMBER THEY
EVER HAD A DREAM. EVERYONE HAS A DREAM! AND EVERYONE IS DESTINED TO FULFIL THAT
PURPOSE. WHY WAIT?

10. ARE YOU AFRAID OF GETTING YOUR DREAM?

STATISTICALLY, MORE HEART ATTACKS OCCUR WHEN "GOOD" THINGS HAPPEN, THAN WHEN
"BAD" THINGS HAPPEN! GETTING YOUR DREAM IS LIFE THREATENING! OF COURSE, REALISING
YOUR DREAM IS ONLY THREATENING TO YOUR OLD EXPERIENCE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR LIFE



YOU KNOW THE ONE THAT‟S BORING OR PAINING YOU TO DEATH! CHANGE IS SCARY. FIND A
WAY TO MOVE THE ENERGY OF FEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID FEELING FEAR IS TO AVOID
LIVING ALTOGETHER!

11. DO YOU REALLY NEED TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM?

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS TO BE HAPPY? ENTER THE "HOOTLESS STATE"
WHERE YOU NO LONGER GIVE A HOOT IF THE EXACT "PICTURE" OF YOUR DREAM COMES
TRUE. WITHOUT THE INTERFERENCE OF THE EGO‟S PUSH, PRESSURE AND MICRO MANAGING,
YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF BEING IN THE RIGHT VIBRATION SPACE TO ATTRACT
REAL HAPPINESS. WHEN YOU RELAX YOUR GRIP ON THE EXACT WAY YOUR FUTURE "HAS" TO
UNFOLD, YOU GIVE THE UNIVERSE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW IT CAN FULFIL YOUR WISHES.
AND, ON A HIGHER PLANE, WHAT IF OUR TRUE TASK HERE ON IS SIMPLY TO BE WHO WE
ALREADY ARE IN OUR ESSENTIAL NATURE WITH OR WITHOUT MANIFESTING OUR SPECIFIC
GOALS? WHAT IF THE ESSENCE OF WHO WE ARE IS ENOUGH?

20 WAYS TO TELL SOMEONE "NO"

TELL ME IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR...

SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY DON‟T WANT TO DO OR YOU
HONESTLY DON‟T HAVE TIME FOR. IT MIGHT BE A SCHOOL FUNDRAISER, PARTICIPATING ON A
COMMITTEE, OR EVEN JUST WORKING LATE. BUT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WILL LET THE OTHER
PERSON DOWN IF YOU SAY NO. YOU FEEL GUILTY ALREADY AND YOU HAVEN‟T EVEN
RESPONDED YET!

SO YOU SAY, “SURE,” EVEN THOUGH DOING SO IS GOING TO PUT YOU UNDER TREMENDOUS
STRESS AND PRESSURE. YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY END UP RESENTING THIS
ACTIVITY AND MAYBE EVEN DUCKING SOME OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE YOUR
HEART‟S JUST NOT IN IT, BUT YOU GO AHEAD AND AGREE ANYWAY.

WHY ARE WE SO AFRAID TO TELL PEOPLE "NO”?

FOR SOME REASON, WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT "NO" IS DISRESPECTFUL AND EVEN
INSULTING. WE SEEM TO VALUE OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME MORE THAN OUR OWN FEELING THAT
WE NEED TO BEND OVER BACKWARD TO ACCOMMODATE OTHERS, EVEN IF IT
INCONVENIENCES US. I KNOW WE ARE ATONING FOR THE "ME", BUT LET'S BE REASONABLE!
"NO" IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST WORDS THAT CAN COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

WHEN YOU TELL SOMEONE "NO," YOU ARE REALLY SAYING THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND
ACCEPT YOUR OWN LIMITS AND DON'T WANT TO DO A SHODDY JOB BY OVERWHELMING
YOURSELF. THAT YOU VALUE YOUR TIME AND PRIORITIES AND AREN'T WILLING TO TAKE AWAY
FROM THE TRULY IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE. A LITTLE SELFISHNESS IS NECESSARY, IF
YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN A BALANCED AND SANE LIFE!

SO HOW DO YOU SAY "NO" WITHOUT INSULTING THE OTHER PERSON, FEELING CONSUMED
WITH GUILT, OR HURTING YOUR OWN CREDIBILITY?

WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO SAY "NO" WITHOUT DRAGGING UP ALL OF THOSE HIDDEN
FEARS; THEY'LL THINK I AM LAZY OR SELFISH, THAT I HAVE NO CAREER DRIVE, THAT I AM
NOT AMBITIOUS, THAT I HAVE NO CONCERN FOR OTHER PEOPLE. AND IT'S TIME TO GIVE UP



ALL OF THOSE ROLES YOU ARE SO PROUD OF SUPERMAN, MARTYR AND HERO BUT ARE
KEEPING YOU FROM FINDING TRUE PEACE.

ONCE YOU'VE ACCEPTED THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT (AND OFTEN RESPONSIBILITY) TO TURN
SOMEONE DOWN, YOU CAN DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A REJECTION. LET ME
SHOW YOU HOW:

1. I CAN'T RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN DO IT LATER
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HELP THE PERSON BUT DON'T HAVE TIME NOW, TELL THEM SO.
OFFER A LATER TIME OR DATE IF THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU THEY WILL FIND SOMEONE ELSE.

2. I AM REALLY NOT THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE JOB
IF YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU HAVE ADEQUATE SKILLS TO TAKE ON A TASK, THAT'S OKAY. IT'S
BETTER TO ADMIT YOUR LIMITATIONS UP FRONT THAN FEEL OVERWHELMED DOWN THE ROAD.

3. I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM IN MY CALENDAR RIGHT NOW
BE HONEST IF YOUR SCHEDULE IS FILLED AND "FILLED" DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN REALLY
FILLED! IT JUST MEANS YOU HAVE SCHEDULED AS MUCH AS YOU ARE WILLING AND YOU ARE
STOPPING.

4. I CAN'T, BUT LET ME GIVE YOU THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO CAN
IF YOU AREN'T AVAILABLE TO HELP OUT, OFFER ANOTHER QUALIFIED RESOURCE.
PROFESSIONALS DO THIS ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY REFER A CLIENT TO A COLLEAGUE.

5. I HAVE ANOTHER COMMITMENT
AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THAT COMMITMENT IS. IT COULD BE A MEETING OR A
DENTIST APPOINTMENT OR A DAY IN THE PARK WITH YOUR KID. THE POINT IS, YOU AREN'T
AVAILABLE.

6. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SEVERAL PROJECTS AND CAN'T SPARE THE TIME
LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, NO ONE
IS GOING TO FAULT YOU FOR HAVING ALREADY FILLED YOUR PLATE.

7. I HAVE HAD A FEW THINGS COME UP AND I NEED TO DEAL WITH THOSE FIRST
UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN THAT THROW YOUR SCHEDULE OFF IT HAPPENS. SO ACCEPT
THAT YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS UNTIL YOUR LIFE STABILISES AGAIN.

8. I WOULD RATHER DECLINE THAN END UP DOING A MEDIOCRE JOB
KNOWING THAT YOU AREN'T ABLE TO DELIVER A QUALITY PRODUCT FOR WHATEVER REASON
IS REASON ENOUGH FOR TURNING A REQUEST DOWN.

9. I AM REALLY FOCUSING MORE ON MY PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE RIGHT NOW
PEOPLE ACT ASHAMED OF WANTING TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES LIKE IT MEANS
THEY DON'T HAVE GOALS. HAVING A STRONG FAMILY IS A GOAL IN AND OF ITSELF!

10. I AM REALLY FOCUSING MORE ON MY CAREER RIGHT NOW
THE REVERSE IS TRUE ALSO; YOU MAY HAVE TO GIVE UP SOME CIVIC OR COMMUNITY DUTIES
TO FOCUS YOUR ENERGIES ON A WORK-RELATED TASK (AND THAT'S FINE, TOO!)

11. I REALLY DON'T ENJOY THAT KIND OF WORK



WHO SAID YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO ENJOY YOUR CHORES AND ASSIGNMENTS! WELL, IF YOU
DON'T ENJOY THEM, WHY DO THEM? LIFE ISN'T ABOUT DRUDGERY AND BOREDOM.

12. I CAN'T, BUT I AM HAPPY TO HELP OUT WITH ANOTHER TASK
IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING YOU REALLY DESPISE, REFUSE BUT THEN OFFER
TO HELP WITH SOMETHING YOU FIND MORE ENJOYABLE OR STIMULATING.

13. I HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST THAT THIS REALLY ISN'T MY STRONG SUIT
ANOTHER WAY OF ADMITTING YOUR LIMITATIONS. DID YOU KNOW THAT ACTUALLY MAKES
YOU STRONGER? KNOWING WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE AND WHAT YOU CAN'T IS A TREMENDOUS
TALENT!

14. I AM SURE YOU WILL DO A WONDERFUL JOB ON YOUR OWN
MANY TIMES, PEOPLE ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY DOUBT THEIR OWN ABILITIES. LET THE
OTHER PERSON KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED.

15. I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, SO I CAN'T HELP YOU
VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OUT SHOULDN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO LEARN AN ENTIRELY NEW
SET OF SKILLS. OFFER TO HELP OUT WITH SOMETHING YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO.

16. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT
YOU MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, THE TYPE OF WORK, THE
MORAL IMPLICATIONS, THIS IS A VERY RESPECTFUL WAY TO AVOID A STICKY SITUATION.

17. I HATE TO SPLIT MY ATTENTION AMONG TOO MANY PROJECTS
LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO DO A GOOD JOB FOR THEM BUT THAT YOU CAN'T
WHEN YOUR FOCUS IS TOO DIVIDED OR SPLINTERED.

18. I AM COMMITTED TO LEAVING SOME TIME FOR MYSELF IN MY SCHEDULE
SELFISH, SELFISH, SELFISH! BUT IN A GOOD WAY! TREAT YOUR PERSONAL TIME LIKE ANY
OTHER APPOINTMENT BLOCK IT OFF IN YOUR CALENDAR AND GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE!

19. I AM NOT TAKING ON ANY NEW PROJECTS RIGHT NOW
YOU AREN'T SAYING THAT YOU WILL NEVER HELP OUT AGAIN, JUST THAT YOU FEEL YOUR
SCHEDULE IS AS FULL AS YOU WOULD LIKE RIGHT NOW.

20. NO
SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY JUST TO SAY NO! JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAY IT IN A WAY THAT
EXPRESSES RESPECT AND COURTESY THAT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR GOOD RELATIONS.

4 SUPER REASONS YOU WILL LOVE "EASIFYING" YOUR LIFE

ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO WANTS A SIMPLER LIFE, BUT WHO ASSOCIATES SIMPLIFYING WITH
GIVING AWAY EVERYTHING YOU OWN AND GOING BACK TO BAKING YOUR OWN BREAD?
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ATTITUDE CAN SCARE YOU AWAY FROM MAKING THE SIMPLE CHANGES
THAT CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE SO MUCH EASIER, BETTER, AND HAPPIER. INSTEAD, LET'S AGREE
THAT SIMPLIFYING MEANS WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO MEAN IN YOUR OWN PARTICULAR
LIFE.

FOR ME, IT MEANS ELIMINATING THE STUFF AROUND ME THAT I FIND NEITHER USEFUL NOR
BEAUTIFUL (AND TRUST ME, OTHER PEOPLE WOULD NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH MY DEFINITION



OF USEFUL OR BEAUTIFUL); HOWEVER, IT ALSO MEANS SETTING UP SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE
THAT I HAVE EASIER WAYS TO HANDLE SOME AGE-OLD PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.

TO ME, SIMPLIFYING MEANS "EASE-I-FYING" (OK, SO THERE'S NO SUCH WORD, BUT THERE
SHOULD BE!). EASIFYING DEFINED WOULD BE: "MINIMUM EFFORT FOR MAXIMUM PLEASURE."
EASIFYING SIMPLY LOOKS AT THE PROBLEMS OF EVERYDAY LIFE THEN POSES CREATIVE
EASIFYING SOLUTIONS.

HERE ARE 4 SUPER REASONS THAT YOU WILL LOVE EASIFYING YOUR LIFE.

1. LESS STUFF, FEWER PROBLEMS

WITH LESS STUFF CLUTTERING UP YOUR LIFE THE BENEFITS ARE EASY TO SEE: YOU'LL HAVE
LESS STUFF TO CLEAN. LESS STUFF TO HAVE REPAIRED (MORE MONEY FOR YOU!); LESS
STUFF TO DISPOSE OF. (ENVIRONMENTALLY GOOD!), AND; LESS STUFF TO FIND. JUST PICK
ONE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE AND LOOK AROUND IT. HOW MUCH OF THAT STUFF ARE YOU
REALLY ENJOYING AND GETTING USE FROM? HOW MUCH OF IT IS AN AGGRAVATION FOR
CLEANING, REPAIRING, LOSING, FIXING, DISPOSING OF, ETC.?

2. LESS EFFORT, MORE ENERGY

YOU'LL HAVE LESS FEAR AND WORRY ASSOCIATED WITH CARRYING AROUND A LOT OF STUFF.
IT WILL SIMPLY REQUIRE LESS EFFORT. BY SIMPLY COMBINING THINGS INTO ONE (AEROBICS
AND WEIGHTLIFTING AT THE SAME TIME), BY SETTING UP A SYSTEM TO DO THE WORK FOR
YOU (A BILL PAYING SYSTEM), BY ELIMINATING A TASK ALTOGETHER (DELEGATE IT TO
SOMEONE ELSE), YOU WILL BE CALMER, NOT STRESSED WITH THE DAY TO DAY LOGISTICS OF
STUFF. AN EXAMPLE, I LOVE TO USE IS THE FREEDOM THAT COMES FROM NOT SMOKING. IT'S
NOT THE FREEDOM FROM THE HABIT THAT MOST PEOPLE NOTICE FIRST. IT'S THE NO MORE
WORRYING ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH CIGARETTES, NO MORE FEARS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO
FIND A LIGHTER. YOU'LL FEEL MORE IN CONTROL OF YOUR TIME, YOUR SPACE AND YOUR
ENERGY.

3. LESS BAGGAGE, BETTER RELATIONSHIPS

"STUFF" REFERS TO NOT ONLY MATERIAL THINGS, BUT MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CLUTTER AS
WELL. BY CLEANING OUT THE 'NEED-TO, HAVE-TO, AND OUGHT-TOS' OF YOUR OWN LIFE,
YOU'LL HAVE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AS MUCH "STUFF" IN YOUR LIFE
TO FIGHT ABOUT. PUT THE PAST IN THE PAST BY RETURNING ANYTHING YOU BORROWED, BY
APOLOGISING TO WHOEVER YOU NEED TO, BY GETTING YOUR BILLS UP TO DATE, BY SENDING
THE CARD OR GIFT YOU FORGOT TO SEND, BY MAKING THE PHONE CALL YOU NEED TO MAKE.
YOU GET THE IDEA. ANYTHING THAT YOU "SHOULD" HAVE DONE, BUT NEGLECTED TO, HAS
YOU TIED TO THE PAST.

4. MORE FUN!

HAVING AN EASIFIED LIFE MEANS HAVING MORE TIME FOR THE THINGS YOU DREAM OF...
LIKE READING, OR TRAVELLING, OR ENTERTAINING, OR EXERCISING, OR PLAYING WITH THE
KIDS, OR VISITING WITH FRIENDS. YOU'LL FEEL MORE IN CONTROL BECAUSE THE CLUTTER,
PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WILL NO LONGER DICTATE HOW YOUR SPACE IS
ARRANGED, OR HOW YOUR TIME IS SPENT (LOOKING FOR THINGS), OR HOW YOUR ENERGY IS
USED (FRUSTRATION, AGGRAVATION).



NEED I SAY MORE?

THREE STEPS TO SUCCESS

HERE ARE THREE SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE:

DO IT

"ACTION IS A GREAT RESTORER AND BUILDER OF CONFIDENCE. INACTION IS NOT ONLY THE
RESULT, BUT THE CAUSE, OF FEAR. PERHAPS THE ACTION YOU TAKE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL;
PERHAPS DIFFERENT ACTION OR ADJUSTMENTS WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW. BUT ANY ACTION IS
BETTER THAN NO ACTION AT ALL."

IF YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS OR UNTIL YOU KNOW HOW YOU WILL HANDLE
EVERY POSSIBLE CHALLENGE THAT COMES ALONG, YOU'LL NEVER GET STARTED. BEGIN
SOMEWHERE. YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING UNTIL YOU BEGIN. DO IT.

DO IT RIGHT

"IF A TASK IS ONCE BEGUN,
NEVER LEAVE UNTIL IT'S DONE.
BE THE LABOUR GREAT OR SMALL,
DO IT WELL OR NOT AT ALL."

IT'S TRUE: IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT, WHEN WILL YOU FIND TIME TO DO IT
OVER? DO IT RIGHT.

DO IT RIGHT NOW

IN A FAMOUS WAR, AS THE SOLDIERS WERE TRYING TO CAPTURE A HILL, THEY WERE
THROWN BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE BLACK POWDER AMMUNITION THEY WERE USING
PINPOINTED THEIR POSITION FOR THEIR ENEMIES. AS SOLDIER AFTER SOLDIER TOPPLED,
THE TROOPS BEGAN TO PANIC. UP RODE THE COMMANDER, ON A LITTLE HORSE URGING HIS
MEN TO FIGHT ON. ENCOURAGED BY HIS BRAVERY IN EXPOSING HIMSELF TO THE WHIZZING
BULLETS, THE TROOPS BEGAN TO CHEER THEIR COMMANDER.

"DON'T CHEER, MEN, THE COMMANDER CALLED OUT TO THEM. "FIGHT! NOW‟S THE TIME TO
FIGHT!"
THERE IS A TIME TO CHEER. A TIME TO REFLECT. A TIME TO PLAN. A TIME TO REMINISCE. BUT
THERE IS ALSO A TIME TO ACT. THOSE WHO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING WORTHWHILE KNOW
THAT TIME IS NOW. DO IT. DO IT RIGHT. DO IT RIGHT NOW. THESE ARE THREE SIMPLE STEPS
TO SUCCESS.

EVERYDAY TOOLS FOR EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS

I AM OFTEN ASKED ABOUT THE "SECRETS TO SUCCESS". I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK
WITH HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE AND THE GOOD NEWS IS,
THERE ARE NO "SECRETS" FOR SUCCESS!



THERE ARE, HOWEVER, A FEW TOOLS THAT, WHEN USED TOGETHER, COME CLOSE TO BEING A
"SECRET WEAPON". THEY REQUIRE NO SPECIAL TALENT OR SKILLS. THEY COST VERY LITTLE
AND EVERY SCHOOL CHILD HAS A COMPLETE SET.

THEY ARE AROUND US EVERY DAY, YET WE FAIL TO USE THEM AND WE DEPRIVE OURSELVES
OF THEIR POWER. HERE IS MY LIST OF THE TOP 5 "SECRET" WEAPONS OF EXTRAORDINARILY
SUCCESSFUL LEADERS:

1. 3X5 CARDS
YES, I AM REFERRING TO THOSE LITTLE CARDS YOUR MUM USED FOR RECIPES. SUCCESSFUL
PEOPLE USE THEM TO JOT NOTES, KEEP TIPS AND STORE VALUABLE INFORMATION. I CARRY
THEM EVERYWHERE AND HAVE SUPPLIES BY THE PHONE, BESIDE MY BED AND ON THE
KITCHEN COUNTER. THEY ARE WONDERFUL! THEY LAST FOREVER I HAVE CARDS I WROTE
OVER YEARS AGO! AND IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LEAVE THEM IN YOUR POCKETS, THEY EVEN GO
THROUGH THE WASH. (TRUST ME ON THIS!)

2. A WATCH
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE ARE INTENSELY TIME CONSCIOUS. THEY DON'T SPEND THEIR
TIME, THEIR ENERGY OR THEIR LIVES ON TRIVIAL PURSUITS. THEY WEAR A WATCH AND THEY
USE IT TO STAY ON TASK UNTIL THEY ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND CREATE THE LIFE THEY
WANT. TIME IS YOUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET AND OUR MOST UNDER-VALUED COMMODITY.
WEAR AND USE A WATCH!

3. AN ALARM CLOCK
"EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN (OR WOMAN) HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE".
IT'S STILL TRUE! I LIVE AND WORK WITH WEALTHY PEOPLE AND THEY GO TO BED AT 10:00
P.M., WAKE UP AROUND 6:00 IN THE MORNING, EVERYONE IS UP, AND THE CARS ARE
ALREADY HEADING FOR THE OFFICE. BUY AND USE AN ALARM CLOCK! START EARLY, WORK
SMART.

4. A LIST
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE PLAN THEIR DAY. THEY MAKE A LIST OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT
PRIORITIES. THEY CHOOSE THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE A MAJOR, LONG-TERM, DIFFERENCE
AND THEY FOCUS ON THEM ALL DAY LONG. LAST THING IN THE EVENING, OR FIRST THING IN
THE MORNING, CREATE A LIST AND WORK FROM IT DURING YOUR DAY.

5. A COMPASS

MY MOST SUCCESSFUL CLIENTS ALWAYS HAVE A MAP, A PICTURE OR POSTER OF THEIR MOST
IMPORTANT GOALS AND THEY USE IT TO GUIDE THEM DURING THE DAY. THEY STAY ON
COURSE. IF THEY GET LOST, THEY RE-ASSESS AND GET BACK ON-TRACK IMMEDIATELY. HAVE A
"COMPASS" THAT REMINDS YOU OF YOUR DREAMS, YOUR GOALS, AND YOUR MOST DARING
DESIRES. STAY ON COURSE!

10 WAYS TO KEEP YOURSELF ENTHUSED

ALMOST ALL OF US FEEL ENTHUSIASTIC AT THE START OF A NEW PROJECT. HOWEVER,
KEEPING THE ENTHUSIASM GOING OVER TIME IS ANOTHER ISSUE, AND IS PROBLEMATIC FOR
MANY PEOPLE.



IN THE PROGRESS OF EVERY PROJECT WHEN ENERGY FADES UNLESS THERE IS AN INFLUX OF
EXTERNAL ENERGY. SINCE WE CANNOT BE SURE THAT WE WILL RECEIVE AN ENERGY BOOST
FROM OUTSIDE OURSELVES AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO PREVENT
OUR ENTHUSIASM FROM FLAGGING.

1. USE VISUAL REMINDERS OF YOUR GOAL.

DEVELOP VISUAL REMINDERS OF YOUR GOAL AND THE ADVANTAGES YOU WILL EXPERIENCE
WHEN YOU REACH IT. THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE IS THAT IF, WHEN YOU ACHIEVE IT, YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO AFFORD THAT LUXURY ITEM YOU ARE YEARNING FOR, GET YOUR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN
WITH THAT ITEM (E.G. GO TO A CAR SHOWROOM, SIT IN THE CAR OF YOUR DREAMS, AND
HAVE A FRIEND TAKE A PICTURE), AND PLACE THE PHOTOGRAPH WHERE YOU WILL SEE IT
DAILY.

2. DEVELOP TINY STEPS.

IT IS EASY TO BECOME DISCOURAGED IF EACH STEP LOOMS LARGE AND REQUIRES A MAJOR
EXPENDITURE OF TIME. IF YOU BREAK THE PROJECT DOWN TO EXTREMELY SMALL STEPS,
THEN YOU CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS EVEN IF YOU HAVE ONLY FIVE MINUTES. IT MAY BE
SOMETHING AS SMALL AS SETTING OUT THE MATERIALS FOR THE NEXT STEP, BUT,
NONETHELESS, IT IS PROGRESS.

3. CHECK OFF SMALL STEPS.

AS YOU TAKE THOSE SMALL STEPS, CHECK THEM OFF AS ACHIEVED, AND GIVE YOURSELF A
PAT ON THE BACK FOR YOUR PROGRESS. FOCUS ALWAYS ON PROGRESS YOU HAVE MADE AS
BEING JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE DISTANCE YOU HAVE TO GO.

4. CUT OUT, OR AT LEAST CUT DOWN ON, YOUR TIME-WASTERS AND MIND NUMBERS.

LEARN TO IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS TIME-WASTERS THAT YOU USE TO "NUMB OUT." THEN
AVOID THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE LIST MAY INCLUDE TOO MUCH TV, CHAT-ROOMS,
COMPUTER GAMES, TIME ON THE PHONE, SHOPPING, MIND-ALTERING CHEMICALS SUCH AS
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS, OR OTHER BEHAVIOURS IN WHICH YOU INDULGE FAIRLY
OBSESSIVELY.

5. GET ENOUGH SLEEP/REST.

OFTEN, WHEN WE FEEL THE NEED TO WORK HARDER ON A PROJECT, THIS TRANSLATES TO
MORE HOURS OF WORK, AND LESS OF REST. THE STATISTICS ON SLEEP DEPRIVATION IN THIS
DECADE ARE FRIGHTENING. IT IS TRUE THAT CERTAIN GREAT LEADERS HAVE BEEN REPUTED
TO FUNCTION ON VERY LITTLE SLEEP. HOWEVER, MOST OF THEM WERE IN SUCH POSITIONS
OF POWER THAT THEY COULD CATNAP WHEN THEY CHOSE AND THEY DID. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO
OUR EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING THAT WE GET ENOUGH SLEEP. YOUR PROJECT WILL SUFFER IF
YOU DO NOT.

6. JOURNAL ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF YOUR PROJECT.

JOURNALING INVOLVES HARNESSING OUR BODIES AND THE VERBAL PART OF OUR BRAIN TO
WHATEVER IT IS WE JOURNAL ABOUT. BY GETTING BOTH OF THESE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT, YOU BECOME MORE FULLY INVOLVED WITH IT. DO THIS



ESPECIALLY AT THE START, WHEN YOUR ENERGY IS HIGH. ADD TO THIS JOURNAL WHENEVER
YOU CAN AND RE-READ IT REGULARLY.

7. DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOUDS OVER YOUR PARADE.

YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO WORRY THAT IF YOU SUCCEED YOU MAY GROW AWAY FROM
THEM. THERE ARE OTHERS WHO JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU AIM TOO HIGH AND THEN BE
DISAPPOINTED. THEY MEAN WELL, BUT AVOID GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAIN ON
YOUR PARADE. PRACTICE WAYS TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT IF THEY TRY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR
PROJECT.

8. KEEP YOURSELF PHYSICALLY WELL.

IT SEEMS THAT WE CANNOT OPEN A NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE, OR VISIT A WEB SITE,
WITHOUT RECEIVING INFORMATION ON KEEPING OURSELVES HEALTHY. EAT RIGHT, EXERCISE,
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER... YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE. THE TRICK IS TO KEEP AT IT SO THAT
YOU HAVE THE PHYSICAL ENERGY NEEDED FOR YOUR PROJECT.

9. AVOID ALL-OR-NOTHING THINKING.

WHEN WE FALL INTO THE TRAP OF ALL-OR-NOTHING THINKING, WE BEGIN TO BELIEVE THAT
ENCOUNTERING OBSTACLES, OR FAILURE, AT ONE JUNCTURE EQUALS TOTAL FAILURE ON THE
ENTIRE PROJECT. REMEMBER THAT EACH STEP IS JUST A SMALL STEP. IF ONE DOES NOT
SUCCEED, TRY ANOTHER IN ANOTHER DIRECTION AND KEEP THE BIG PICTURE IN MIND.

10. CLEAR THE DECKS.

A MAJOR CAUSE OF LOSS OF ENERGY IS THE OTHER STUFF THAT ACCUMULATES AROUND US
WHEN WE ARE FOCUSING ON ONE PARTICULAR PROJECT. SCHEDULE TIME TO KEEP THE PILES
(PHYSICAL OR MENTAL) FROM ACCUMULATING. DO THE FILING, IF NECESSARY. KEEP UP WITH
YOUR TO-DO LIST IF YOU KEEP ONE. IF YOU DON'T, THEY WILL SAP YOUR ENERGY AND
OVERWHELM YOU. YOU MAY THINK THAT DOING THESE THINGS TAKES TIME FROM YOUR
PROJECT, BUT THEY WILL ACTUALLY FREE UP MORE ENERGY TO TAKE YOU TO A SUCCESSFUL
CONCLUSION WITH YOUR ENTHUSIASM STILL IN FULL FLOW.

THOSE WHO WILL LISTEN WILL LEARN

ADVICE COMES IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. FOR INSTANCE, SOMEONE GAVE THE SAGE
ADVICE: "IF YOU DANCE WITH A GRIZZLY BEAR, YOU HAD BETTER LET HIM LEAD." I SUPPOSE
IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHEN TO GO ALONG WITH SOME PEOPLE.

IT'S BEEN ACCURATELY SAID THAT THERE IS A LOT OF ADVICE AVAILABLE FOR NOTHING AND
MOST OF IT IS WORTH IT. BUT HERE IS SOUND GUIDANCE, FROM AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR,
WORTH TAKING TO HEART: "IF SOMEONE HURTS YOU, BETRAYS YOU, OR BREAKS YOUR HEART,
FORGIVE; FOR THAT PERSON HAS HELPED YOU LEARN ABOUT TRUST AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF CAUTION. IF SOMEONE LOVES YOU, LOVE BACK UNCONDITIONALLY; THAT ONE IS
TEACHING YOU TO LOVE.

MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT. APPRECIATE EVERY MOMENT AND TAKE FROM THOSE MOMENTS
EVERYTHING THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN, FOR YOU MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE IT
AGAIN. TALK TO PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE NEVER TALKED TO BEFORE AND ACTUALLY LISTEN.



LET YOURSELF FALL IN LOVE, BREAK FREE AND SET YOUR SIGHTS HIGH. HOLD YOUR HEAD UP
BECAUSE YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO. TELL YOURSELF YOU ARE A GREAT INDIVIDUAL AND
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, FOR IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, IT WILL BE HARD FOR
OTHERS TO BELIEVE IN YOU. YOU CAN MAKE OF YOUR LIFE ANYTHING YOU WISH. CREATE
YOUR OWN LIFE AND THEN GO OUT AND LIVE IT WITH ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS. MOST
IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU LOVE OTHERS, TELL THEM, FOR YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MAY COME
TOMORROW. AND LEARN A LESSON IN LIFE EACH DAY YOU LIVE." EVEN SOME FREE ADVICE
CAN PROFIT TO THOSE WHO LISTEN.

DISCOVERING WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR LIFE

I OFTEN RECOMMEND THAT LIFE PLANNING BE BASED UPON AN INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL
VISION AND PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO HANDCRAFT A LIFE OF CHOICE, YOU'LL NEED TO
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE THE CHOICES THAT TAKE YOU THERE. THE
TROUBLE IS THAT MANY (MOST?) OF YOU CANNOT NAME WHAT IT IS YOU WANT.

IF YOU DON'T MAKE CHOICES FOR YOUR LIFE, OTHERS WILL. OFTEN, CHOICES ARE MADE BY
CIRCUMSTANCES, WEAK FOUNDATION. CHOOSING WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE AND OUT OF LIFE
IS A NEW SKILL FOR MANY PEOPLE. IT MAY TAKE SOME PRACTICE. AT SOME POINT YOU
REALISE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO AND MUST, MAKE CHOICES FOR YOUR LIFE.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT YOU CAN USE TO HELP YOU DISCOVER WHAT YOU DO WANT IN
THIS BRIEF, BUT MAGNIFICENT EXPERIENCE CALLED LIFE.

1. NAME WHAT YOU DON'T WANT; YOU MAY REALISE YOUR WANTS THROUGH CONTRAST.

2. TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT IS SO. DON'T PUT A POSITIVE SPIN OR POWERFUL
INTERPRETATION ON YOUR LIFE TODAY IF YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IT. IF YOU THINK YOUR
LIFE IS LOUSY, SAY SO AND GET READY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

3. IDENTIFY WHAT YOU DO VERY WELL AND WHAT YOU ARE LOUSY AT.

4. IDENTIFY THE FIVE THINGS/PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST NEGATIVELY OR OVER-INFLUENCING
YOUR BEHAVIOUR TODAY.

5. CONSCIOUSLY SCAN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE, IT'S PARTICIPANTS AND ACTIVITIES. LIST YOUR
TOP FIVE APPEALING CAREERS/ACTIVITIES THAT SERVE HUMANITY OR YOU LIKE THE BEST.

6. IDENTIFY THE TOP FIVE WAYS YOU'D LIKE TO EXPERIENCE YOURSELF. DON'T PUT ANY
LIMITS ON THIS.

7. TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOURSELF NEWLY. WEED OUT BELIEFS THAT NO LONGER
SERVE YOU. ARTICULATE YOUR NEEDS AND VALUES. ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF SELF-
DISCOVERY.

8. ALLOW STILLNESS. CREATE EMPTY SPOTS WITHIN A BUSY LIFE IN ORDER TO CREATE THE
SPACE THROUGH WHICH NEW IDEAS CAN EMERGE. THE UNIVERSE ABHORS A VOID; WHEN
YOU CREATE THE EMPTY SPACE, IT WILL BE FILLED VERY QUICKLY.

9. CAPTURE THE IDEAS ABOUT VISION, PURPOSE, OR MISSION AS THEY COME. COMPILE THEM
IN A FILE OR BOX FOR FUTURE REVIEW.



10. FORMULATE YOUR IDEAS INTO A PERSONAL VISION OR SENSE OF PURPOSE THAT PULLS
YOU FORWARD. HOW MUCH TIME THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE DEPENDS ON YOU. THE BEST
PLACE TO START IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE. YOU AND YOUR IDEAS ABOUT THIS, ARE EVER
EVOLVING. YOUR MIND IS THE GREATEST TOOL THAT YOU CAN USE IN THIS ENDEAVOUR. YOU
MUST USE IT IN A DELIBERATE AND FOCUSED WAY TO YIELD THE RESULTS YOU WANT. YOUR
THOUGHT COMES FIRST, THEN, YOU TAKE ACTIONS CONSISTENT WITH YOUR THOUGHT. LIFE
IS MUCH MORE GRATIFYING WHEN WE DELIBERATELY ENGAGE IT THROUGH OUR CHOICES
RATHER THAN LIVING THE EFFECTS OF SOMEONE ELSE'S CHOICES. IN OTHER WORDS, BEING
AT CAUSE OF LIFE, NOT AT THE EFFECT OF LIFE. BE THE ONE WHO CHOOSES THE LIFE GAME
YOU PLAY!

WHAT OWNS YOU?

SOME PEOPLE MOVE EASILY FROM A PALACE INTO A HUT. OTHERS FEEL DEPRIVED WHEN
THEIR INCOME FALLS BELOW AED300,000 A YEAR OR WHEN THEIR CHECKING ACCOUNT FALLS
BELOW FIVE FIGURES. IF YOU FEEL ANXIOUS AND NEEDY, YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE MOVING
FORWARD.

AT THE SAME TIME, EVERY MONTHLY OBLIGATION CAN BECOME A SOURCE OF STRESS. I
DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I READ THIS STORY: A SENIOR PHYSICIAN, ADDRESSING NEW
MEDICAL STUDENTS WAS ASKED, "HOW CAN WE AVOID THE STRESSFUL LIFESTYLE THE EARLY
HEART ATTACKS, ADDICTIONS AND STROKES?" THE OLDER DOCTOR ANSWERED SIMPLY,
"DON'T BUY A BIG HOUSE." WHAT HE MEANT WAS, "DON'T STRETCH YOUR SPENDING TO THE
LIMIT." WHEN YOU LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS, YOU CAN BUILD YOUR NEST EGG FOR FREEDOM.
HERE ARE THREE PRINCIPLES TO KEEP IN MIND.

1. WHEN YOU AGREE TO MAKE PAYMENTS, YOUR NEW POSSESSION BECOMES A MEMBER OF
THE FAMILY. YOU GAIN SATISFACTION BUT YOU ALSO LIMIT YOUR FUTURE OPTIONS. I KNOW
PEOPLE WHO INSIST A DOG OR CAT IS TOO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY, WHILE THEY BLITHELY
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE FOR JEEPS, PICK-UPS, BOATS AND CUSTOM FURNITURE.

2. WHEN YOU ENJOY YOUR CAREER AND YOUR LIFE, YOU USUALLY SPEND LESS. MANY OF MY
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS HAVE EMBARKED ON SECOND CAREERS AS ARTISTS OR WRITERS.
AND MANY OF US STOPPED OUR CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE BECAUSE WE ARE TOO BUSY
LIVING OUR REAL LIVES TO WATCH SHADOWY FIGURES ON A SCREEN. SHOPPING IS NO
LONGER A RECREATION. WHO HAS TIME OR MOTIVATION? WE'RE FULFILLED BY OUR WORK
AND OUR LIFE.

3. SPENDING "FOR THE FAMILY?" EVERY CAREER COUNSELLOR MEETS MIDLIFE
PROFESSIONALS WHO SAY, "I HAD TO CHOOSE THIS PATH TO PLEASE MY PARENTS. AFTER
ALL, THEY SACRIFICED FOR MY FUTURE. NOW I WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME!"

YOUR CHILDREN NEED SELF-RELIANCE, CONFIDENCE, FLEXIBILITY AND A SENSE OF HUMOUR.
I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON CHILD REARING. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE YOU CAN HELP MOST BY
SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF LIVING A HAPPY, FULFILLED LIFE AND RESPECTING DREAMS THAT
MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OWN.

BOTTOM LINE: CAREER FREEDOM COMES WHEN YOU MOVE FROM, "CAN I AFFORD THIS
PURCHASE?" TO "IS THIS PURCHASE WORTH WHAT IT REALLY COSTS FUTURE OPTIONS,
CHOICES, STAYING IN A JOB I NO LONGER WANT?" SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS YES. OTHER



TIMES, YOU CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY "NO" AND YOU FIND YOURSELF MOVING TO YOUR DREAMS,
FASTER AND MORE EASILY THAN YOU BELIEVED POSSIBLE.

HOW TO DO EVERYTHING

"I GUESS I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO THE IDEA THAT I CAN'T DO EVERYTHING I
WANT TO DO," MY CLIENT SAID. AT FIRST, I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND WE
CONTINUED TALKING. HIS STATEMENT STUCK IN MY MIND, SO MUCH SO THAT, A FEW
SECONDS LATER, I STOPPED HIM IN MID-SENTENCE. "WAIT A MINUTE," I SAID, "WHY,
EXACTLY, CAN'T YOU DO EVERYTHING?"

THE QUESTION STARTLED US BOTH, REALLY, BUT AS WE DISCUSSED IT, WE DISCOVERED
THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO "EVERYTHING" YOU WANT TO DO, IF YOU KEEP THE FOLLOWING
POINTS IN MIND...

1. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT NOT ALL AT ONCE. THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE I FIND KEEPING
INDIVIDUALS FROM ACCOMPLISHING ALL THAT THEY WANT TO DO, IS THAT THEY TRY TO DO
TOO MUCH ALL AT ONCE. THEIR WISH LIST OF GOALS AND ACTIVITIES GETS LONGER AND
LONGER, AND EACH ITEM IS GIVEN THE SAME PRIORITY: ASAP! DESPITE WHAT WE'VE BEEN
LED TO BELIEVE IN OUR MODERN AGE OF MULTI-TASKING COMPUTERS AND MEGA-TIME-
SAVING DEVICES, GIZMOS AND GADGETS, MOST PEOPLE CAN ONLY DO ONE THING AT A TIME.

2. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, IF IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO YOU TO DO. WHEN REVIEWING
PEOPLE'S LISTS OF "EVERYTHING" THEY WANT TO DO, I FIND THAT MANY OF US HAVE ITEMS
AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENDED UP ON OUR LISTS BY DEFAULT. WE ADDED THEM BECAUSE
SOMEBODY ELSE SAID WE SHOULD DO THEM OR BECAUSE WE THOUGHT, AT THE TIME,
THEY'D BE IMPORTANT... ONLY NOW THEY'RE NOT. IF IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT TO YOU, YOU'LL
FIND THE TIME AND WAY TO DO IT. IF IT'S NOT IMPORTANT, YOU WILL KEEP AVOIDING,
POSTPONING AND PROCRASTINATING ABOUT IT. IF THAT'S THE CASE, SCRATCH IT OFF YOUR
LIST AND MOVE ON.

3. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT YOU MAY NOT BE THE BEST AT EVERYTHING. IF YOUR GOAL
IS TO BE THE BEST IN EVERY FIELD OF ENDEAVOUR YOU ARE TRYING TO PURSUE THEN
CHANCES ARE YOU ARE SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY
TRUE IF YOU HAVE MANY DIVERSE AREAS OF INTEREST. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY HAVE GOALS
IN THE AREAS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WRITING, POLITICS OR WHATEVER. WHILE IT'S
POSSIBLE YOU MIGHT CREATE A VERY SUCCESSFUL RETAIL BUSINESS WHILE WRITING A
BEST-SELLING NOVEL OR GETTING ELECTED AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WHICH IS NOT
VERY PROBABLE. STRIVE, WORK SMART, AND APPLY YOURSELF AT EVERY ACTIVITY, BUT KEEP
IN MIND THAT BEING THE BEST REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF TIME, FOCUS AND ENERGY THAT
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMMIT IF YOU ARE GOING IN 100 DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

4. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT THERE WILL BE LIMITATIONS. EVERY ACTIVITY, EVERY
GOAL, BRINGS IT'S OWN SET OF LIMITING FACTORS THAT WILL EFFECT YOUR PARTICIPATION.
THINGS LIKE TIME, HEALTH, MONEY, AGE, SEX, WEATHER, POLICIES, ETC. SOME OF THESE
ARE CHANGEABLE, SOME ARE NOT.

5. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT YOU WILL NEED HELP. OH, YOU CAN TRY TO DO IT ALL ON
YOUR OWN, BUT THE MORE YOU ATTEMPT TO DO, THE MORE HELP YOU WILL NEED TO GET IT
ALL DONE. SUCCESS IS RARELY A SOLO ADVENTURE. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH
SUCCESSFUL, ENCOURAGING AND UPLIFTING PEOPLE WHO WILL INSPIRE AND SUPPORT YOU



AS YOU PURSUE YOUR DREAMS. AFTER ALL, ONCE YOU MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME YOU, YOU
WILL WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH SOMEONE.

SPEAK UP!

EVER BEEN IN A MEETING WITH SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SAY AND REMAINED SILENT? YOU
MAY HAVE FELT THE FLUSH OF THE GOOD IDEA AND THE RISING ADRENALINE. YOU MAY HAVE
MOVED TO THE FRONT OF YOUR SEAT AND READIED YOUR BODY TO SPEAK...AND THEN
DIDN'T. WHAT STOPPED YOU?

CERTAINLY THERE IS WISDOM IN KNOWING WHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO. KNOWING
THE POLITICS OF A SITUATION OR THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, YOU MAY CHOOSE NOT TO SPEAK.
OFTEN, THOUGH, YOU MAY HAVE A UNIQUE VIEW, PERSPECTIVE, ISSUE OR CONCERN THAT
NEEDS TO BE RAISED. THAT CONTRIBUTION WOULD ADD A NEW DIMENSION TO THE
DISCUSSION OR CHANGE THE DECISION ABOUT TO BE MADE.

YOU MAY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT A NEW POLICY AND YOUR SILENCE ALLOWS FOLKS TO THINK
YOU AGREE. IS THAT THE MESSAGE YOU WISH TO SEND?

RECENTLY I WAS INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR A
DEPARTMENT. THIS BROUGHT TOGETHER FOUR PEOPLE WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD FELT THAT
THEY WERE IN A 'PECKING ORDER' AND CHANGED THEM INTO A COHESIVE DECISION-MAKING
TEAM. TWO OF THE FOUR HAVE STRONG OPINIONS AND ARE VERY COMFORTABLE
EXPRESSING THEM. TWO ARE VERY QUIET. IN FORMING THE TEAM, WE DISCUSSED THIS
DYNAMIC. HOW ARE WE EACH GOING TO BEST CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM? WE TALKED ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE TALKATIVE TWO COULD OVERPOWER THE SILENT TWO. IN FACT,
THEY MIGHT EVEN DO THE TALKING FOR THEM! FOCUSING ON THE FACT THAT EACH PERSON
WAS HIRED BECAUSE HE OR SHE IS AN EXPERT IN A DISTINCT FIELD, IT WAS SOON DECIDED
THAT EACH PERSON'S OPINION WAS VITAL TO GOOD DECISION-MAKING.

THE TWO WHO ARE QUIET ARE VERY COMPETENT AS ARE THE OTHERS. INCREASING THEIR
LEVEL OF COMFORT WITH ADDING THEIR VOICES TO THE GROUP WAS IMPORTANT. TWO
THINGS WERE AGREED UPON: EVERY PERSON WOULD SPEAK ON EVERY ISSUE AND EACH
PERSON WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOING SO. ONE OF THE NATURAL 'TALKERS'
OFFERED TO ASK THE QUIET TWO FOR THEIR OPINIONS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA ON
THE SURFACE, HOWEVER, AS A RULE, IT IS A POOR IDEA.

WHY IS IT A POOR IDEA? SIMPLE. IF ONE PERSON TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHERS THERE ARE TWO NEW KINDS OF CONTROL BEING ENCOURAGED.
THE 'TALKER' HAS CONTROL OVER WHEN THE OTHERS ARE ASKED FOR THEIR OPINIONS. THE
'SILENT' COULD BE WAITING TO BE ASKED MAKING THEIR CONTRIBUTION THE 'TALKERS'
RESPONSIBILITY. NEITHER OF THESE OPTIONS ARE OPTIMAL.

THE IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT EACH PERSON UNDERSTANDS THAT HE OR SHE WAS HIRED TO
CONTRIBUTE HIS OR HER EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO THE TEAM. IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO CONTRIBUTE. FOR THE TALKERS THAT IS EASY. IN
FACT, IT IS ENJOYABLE. FOR THE QUIET FOLKS, TWO THINGS SEEMED TO BE TRUE. ONE OF
THEM ONLY FELT IT NECESSARY TO CONTRIBUTE IF SHE DISAGREED WITH THE DIRECTION OF
THE CONVERSATION. THE OTHER IS VERY SHY. WHAT TO DO?



WITH SOME INDIVIDUAL COACHING FOR EACH TEAM MEMBER, EACH BEGAN TO MONITOR
INVOLVEMENT IN THE MEETINGS. FOR THOSE FOR WHOM IT WAS DIFFICULT, THEY
UNDERTOOK TO AT LEAST SAY WHEN THEY AGREED OR DISAGREED. FOR THOSE FOR WHOM IT
WAS EASY, THEY UNDERTOOK TO LEAVE SOME AIRTIME FREE. OFTEN, IT IS A CHALLENGE TO
FIND A QUIET MOMENT TO SUMMON UP THE GUMPTION TO SPEAK!

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO A MEETING,
FORMULATE YOUR THOUGHTS, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND JUMP IN. NOTHING LIFE-
THREATENING WILL HAPPEN. IT'S A LITTLE LIKE LEARNING TO SWIM. THE FIRST FEW TIMES
YOU MAY GET A MOUTHFUL OF WATER AND SPUTTER A LITTLE. YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF
GASPING FOR AIR. YOU MAY FLAIL AROUND A LITTLE, BUT, WITH PRACTICE, THINGS EVEN
OUT AND YOU MAKE PROGRESS. YES, IT MAY FEEL AWKWARD. YES, YOU MAY DISCOUNT THE
IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY BEFORE YOU SAY IT. BUT, JUMP IN. YOU ARE THERE
TO OFFER YOUR SKILLS AND LEARNING. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

A TIP OR TWO ABOUT HANDLING THOSE WHO ONLY VALUE THE SOUND OF THEIR OWN
VOICES MAY BE IN ORDER. THEY HAVE TO TAKE A BREATH SOMETIME. BE READY TO STEP IN
AND TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AGREE WITH THEM
BEGINNING WITH 'I AGREE WITH _____________ PART OF YOUR OPINION..." AND GO ON TO
OFFER YOUR THOUGHTS. BEING AGREED WITH, EVEN IN PART, WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO
LISTEN TO YOU.

USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE
TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU THINK WOULD BE BEST AND WHY RATHER THAN TELLING THEM WHAT
IS WRONG WITH THEIR IDEAS. AGAIN, YOU MAY CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION.

HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR IDEAS
WORK WITHIN YOURSELF TO CLARIFY YOUR THOUGHTS PRIOR TO THE MEETING. YOU MAY
EVEN MAKE SOME NOTES. BEING PREPARED WILL MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT YOU WILL HAVE
SOME ENERGY BEHIND YOUR POINTS OF VIEW AND THEREFORE, BE MORE LIKELY TO EXPRESS
THEM.

BE BRIEF AND SPECIFIC
THIS IS A GREAT TIP FOR EVERYONE AT THE MEETING. STAY ON THE TOPIC AND THE POINT.
GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND REASONS IN SHORT SENTENCES, THEN STOP AND LET OTHERS
RESPOND. THIS IS THE WAY BUSINESS GETS DONE! WHO WANTS INTERMINABLE MEETINGS?
SPEAK UP! YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO.

POWER WORDS: TAKING CHARGE ONE WORD AT A TIME

RESPECT THE POWER OF WORDS CHOOSE THEM WITH CARE.

ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING AREAS OF SELF-CREATION COMES IN THE FORM OF WORDS. THE
THINGS WE THINK AND SAY TO OURSELVES AND THE THINGS WE THINK AND SAY TO OTHERS,
CARRY A CREATIVE SURGE OF POWER.

THIS IS AN AREA OF CREATION THAT IS OFTEN UNDER EMPHASISED. IT IS TRULY INCREDIBLE
HOW WE CAN BECOME SO UNAWARE OF THE WORDS THAT COME OUT OF OUR MOUTHS. WHEN
WE DON‟T MAKE THE EFFORT TO SCRUTINISE THEM CAREFULLY, THIS AREA OF OUR POWER



CAN EASILY SLIP OUR GRASP. OUR WORDS, OUR UTTERANCES ARE POWERFUL CREATIVE
ENERGY, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THEY ARE THE ENERGY THAT CAN EITHER ALLOW OR DENY OUR
DREAMS.

I HAVE RETAINED THE VIEWPOINT OF GIVING DIGNITY TO MYSELF BY GIVING DIGNITY TO MY
WORDS. AFTER ALL, IT IS OUR WORDS THAT REPRESENT US. THEY COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS
WHAT WE FEEL INSIDE AND IT IS PRECISELY THOSE FEELINGS THAT LIFE HONOURS.

WOULD YOU GO AROUND RANDOMLY TOSSING NAILS EVERYWHERE YOU WENT? OF COURSE
YOU WOULD NOT, BECAUSE TO DO SO WOULD MEAN TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOURSELF AND
OTHERS. CERTAINLY, THERE WOULD BE A RESULT TO YOUR ACTION. YOUR WORDS HAVE THE
SAME IMPACT. THEY EFFECT YOUR LIFE IN SUCH AN AMAZING WAY BECAUSE OF THEIR
INHERENT CREATIVE/CAUSING POWER. SO JUST AS WITH THE NAILS, WE ARE WISE TO KEEP
IN CHECK EVERY THING WE SAY AND SEND OUT INTO THE WORLD.

BELIEVING THAT "THE SKY IS THE LIMIT" OR THAT THERE IS A "GLASS CEILING" ARE SOME OF
THE MORE OBVIOUS LIMIT MAKERS. BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THE COMMON EVERYDAY
WORDS WE USE CAN BE MUCH MORE INSIDIOUS. THIS IS, AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY CAN SO
EASILY ESCAPE OUR ATTENTION.

HERE IS A SAMPLING OF POWER WORDS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO KEEP AN OPEN EAR TO.
NOTICE HOW THEY ARE USED AND HOW THEY EITHER ALLOW OR NEGATE CERTAIN REALITIES
AND POSSIBILITIES FROM ENTERING YOUR LIFE:

NOTICE WHERE THE POWER IS PLACED WHEN YOU SAY "I CAN‟T DO THAT TODAY" OR "I HAVE
TO GO SOON." IN ACTUALITY "I CAN‟T" MEANS THAT YOU ARE CHOOSING NOT TO DO THAT
PARTICULAR THING. YOU ACTUALLY, PHYSICALLY COULD DO THAT PARTICULAR THING, BUT
YOU ARE OPTING NOT TO.

"I HAVE TO," IN REALITY MEANS, "I AM GOING TO," BY MY OWN CHOICE. "I HAVE TO GO TO
THE DENTIST TODAY" OR "I HAVE TO GO MY NEIGHBOUR‟S PARTY" FROM A POWER ANGLE
COULD BE PHRASED AS "I AM GOING TO THE DENTIST TODAY (EVEN IF I AM AFRAID)" OR "I
AM GOING TO MY NEIGHBOUR‟S PARTY (EVEN THOUGH I DON‟T LIKE HIM)."

"I CAN‟T GO SHOPPING TONIGHT" FROM A POWER ANGLE TRANSLATES TO "I AM CHOOSING
TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TONIGHT (AND NOT SHOPPING)".

THERE IS AN IMMENSE UNIVERSE OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BELIEVING THAT YOU HAVE TO
DO SOMETHING AND KNOWING THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY CHOOSING TO DO SOMETHING. IN
ORDER TO BE A CREATOR IN YOUR LIFE, YOU NEED TO ALIGN YOUR OUTER EXPRESSION OF
WORDS WITH YOUR INNER TRUTH.



WHEN YOU BECOME AWARE OF YOUR WORDS AND STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
MESSAGE OF CREATION YOU ARE SENDING OUT. IT DOES US WELL TO LISTEN TO OUR WORDS
AND TO CATCH THE IMPLICATION BEHIND THEM. THE VERY FOUNDATION OF LIVING AS A
POWERFUL AND CREATIVE BEING IS IN KNOWING OUR PLACE OF CHOICE AT ALL TIMES. BY
UNDERSTANDING AND USING OUR POWER WORDS WITH CARE, WE TAKE A VERY EFFECTIVE
ROLE IN OUR LIFE.

SUCCESS HABITS

WHAT ONE THING COULD YOU DO TODAY TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL
SUCCESS? WHAT DIFFERENCE TO YOUR LIFE WOULD THIS MAKE IF IT BECAME A HABIT?

FORMING HABITS WHICH BECOME INGRAINED WILL YIELD RESULTS. I HAVE HESITATED TO
SAY 'THE RESULTS YOU REALLY WANT' BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

ARE YOUR HABITS KEEPING YOU STUCK OR ARE THEY MOVING YOU FORWARDS? IF ONE OF
YOUR HABITS IS SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME PLANNING AND NOT ENOUGH TIME DOING, THEN
YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO ACHIEVE YOUR DESIRED RESULTS.

LET'S TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO MAKE TELEPHONE CALLS TO FURTHER
THEIR BUSINESS. A HABIT TO BREAK MAY BE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME THINKING ABOUT
EACH CALL, PUTTING IT OFF, OR FINDING OTHER THINGS TO DO. THE NEW HABIT TO
INTRODUCE MAY BE TO MAKE 3 TELEPHONE CALLS A DAY OR TO IDENTIFY THE ONE DAILY
TELEPHONE CALL WHICH WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR BUSINESS.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO IDENTIFY AND INTRODUCE ONE DAILY HABIT INTO YOUR BUSINESS OR
PROFESSIONAL LIFE. KEEP IT SMALL TO START WITH AND AS YOUR FEELING OF SUCCESS
INCREASES, YOU CAN ADD TO IT. YOUR SUCCESS LIES WITH THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE EACH
DAY.

WHY FAILURE IS GOOD FOR YOU

HOW DO YOU VIEW FAILURE? DO YOU SEE IT AS SOMETHING NEGATIVE THAT YOU DON'T
WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH OR DO YOU SEE IT AS SOMETHING POSITIVE? MOST PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD DON'T LIKE FAILURE.

FEAR OF FAILURE IS THE MAIN REASON WHY MORE THAN 80% OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE
NOT PREPARED TO CHANGE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. WHY DO PEOPLE FEAR FAILURE SO
MUCH? THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS
INVOLVED IN SUCCESS AND FAILURE.

EVERYTHING WE DO IN LIFE HAS EITHER A RIGHT WAY OF DOING IT AND A WRONG WAY OF
DOING IT. WHEN WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY WE MEET WITH SUCCESS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT
WHEN WE DO IT THE WRONG WAY WE ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. UNDERSTANDING THIS IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PUTS FAILURE IN ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE AND REMOVES THE FEAR
AROUND IT.

WHEN SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THIS DYNAMIC MEETS WITH TEMPORARY
FAILURE HE GIVES UP THINKING THAT HE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH OR THAT HE WILL NEVER
MAKE IT. BUT IS THIS REALLY WHAT IT IS? DOES THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT THE



FIRST TIME MEAN THAT YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH? DOES IT MEAN THAT YOU WILL NEVER
MAKE IT? NOT AT ALL! ALL IT MEANS IS YOU HAVE NOT FOUND THE CORRECT METHOD YET!
SO WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

YOU GO BACK AND TRY AND FIND OUT WHERE YOU WENT WRONG.
THEN YOU TRY AGAIN BUT THIS TIME EMPLOYING A DIFFERENT METHOD.
WHEN THIS DOESN'T WORK YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE SO
FAR.
TALK TO SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE IT IN THIS AREA.
THINK OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LEFT OUT AND TRY AGAIN.
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GIVE UP.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS?

EVERY FAILURE, EVERY ADVERSITY AND EVERY HEARTACHE, CARRIES WITH IT THE SEED OF
AN EQUIVALENT OR A GREATER BENEFIT.

FAILURE CONTAINS THE SEED OF VICTORY AND OF SUCCESS. FAILURE TEACHES YOU WHAT
WORKS AND WHAT DON'T. WHEN YOU STUDY THE REASONS FOR YOUR FAILURE AND LEARN
FROM IT, YOU WILL FIND THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS.

THE GREAT INVENTOR THOMAS EDISON KNEW THIS TRUTH BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. IT
TOOK EDISON 8000 TRIALS BEFORE HE PERFECTED THE EDISON BATTERY? AFTERWARDS HE
UTTERED THIS FAMOUS QUOTE: "AT LEAST WE KNOW 8000 THINGS THAT DON'T WORK".

YOU SHOULD ALSO BE LIKE THAT. EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERSON HAS HAD TO OVERCOME
TEMPORARY DEFEAT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. KNOW THIS! YOU HAVEN'T REALLY FAILED
UNTIL YOU ACCEPT DEFEAT.

DO YOU ENVY THOSE WHO GOT SUCCESS EASILY? DON'T! SUCCESS EARNED IN SPITE OF
EARLIER FAILURE IS SO MUCH SWEETER THAN IF YOU WOULD GET IT OTHERWISE. THOSE
WHO EARN SUCCESS IN THIS WAY KNOW THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. THEY ARE NOT AFRAID OF
LOSING WHAT THEY HAVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEARNED HOW TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL.

THOSE WHO EASILY GOT SUCCESS DON'T KNOW THE ROAD. THEY GOT THERE SO QUICKLY
THAT THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO LOOK AROUND. LET ME USE THE FOLLOWING ANALOGY TO
ILLUSTRATE. TAKE TWO GUYS TRAVELLING TO THE SAME DESTINATION, WITH THIS
DIFFERENCE. THE ONE IS GOING BY AEROPLANE AND THE OTHER BY CAR, BUT THE ONE
ARRIVING BY CAR HAD A FEW BREAKDOWNS ALONG THE WAY.

IF YOU TAKE THESE TWO GUYS BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION AND ASK THEM TO FIND
THEIR WAY TO THEIR DESTINATION, WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO REMEMBER THE ROAD
BETTER THE NEXT TIME? SURELY THE GUY WHO HAD A FEW BREAKDOWNS AND SPENT SOME
TIME ON THE ROAD, BECAUSE HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AROUND.

LET TEMPORARY DEFEAT NO LONGER BE AN OBSTACLE. YOU HAVE MANY HIDDEN TALENTS, SO
START WORKING TOWARDS REALISING YOUR DREAMS. DON'T BE PUT OFF BY THE FEAR OF
FAILURE. FAILURE IS AN ALLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS THE SEED OF SUCCESS.

3 WAYS TO GET POSITIVE



YOU LEAVE YOUR OLD, SECURE JOB FOR A FRESH OPPORTUNITY AT A HOT NEW COMPANY, BUT
ONE-MONTH LATER THAT HOT COMPANY IS OUT OF GAS, AND YOU ARE OUT OF A JOB.

AN OPTIMIST WOULD SAY, "WELL, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT'S JUST TEMPORARY. I HAVE
OTHER POSSIBILITIES. I DID ALL I COULD." THIS PERSON BOUNCES BACK FROM
DISAPPOINTMENT AND STAYS MOTIVATED.

PESSIMISTS, HOWEVER, LOOK AT THE SAME SETBACK AND SAY, "THIS IS TERRIBLE. I WILL
NEVER GET OVER IT. IT JUST RUINS EVERYTHING. I DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES FOR THIS
BUSINESS." THIS ATTITUDE WITHERS MOTIVATION AND LEADS TO DESPAIR AND SELF-BLAME.

WHICH STYLE IS YOURS? IF YOU TAKE THE PESSIMISTIC APPROACH, YOU MAY BE MAKING
HARMFUL SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECIES, PREDICTING FAILURE AND ROBBING YOURSELF OF
ENERGY AND DRIVE.
IF YOU ARE PLAGUED BY PESSIMISM, GIVE YOUR ATTITUDE AN OVERHAUL. IT JUST TAKES
AWARENESS AND EFFORT. START BY LOOKING AT WHAT ARE CALLED THE THREE P'S OF
PESSIMISM - PERMANENT, PERVASIVE AND PERSONAL.

IF YOU THINK THE SITUATION IS PERMANENT, YOU BELIEVE IT'S UNCHANGEABLE AND THE
CONSEQUENCES WILL LAST FOREVER. IF YOU ALLOW THE PROBLEM TO BE PERVASIVE, IT
WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE. IF YOU TAKE THE SITUATION
PERSONALLY, YOU FEEL IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOUR FLAWS OR FAILURE.

LEARN TO CHALLENGE THESE THREE P'S.

PERMANENT: ALWAYS LOOK TO SEE WHAT CAN BE CHANGED OR SALVAGED, THE OLD MAKING
LEMONADE FROM LEMONS APPROACH.

PERVASIVE: FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC SITUATION AND DON'T GENERALISE. DON'T LET ONE
SMALL, ISOLATED PROBLEM BECOME LIKE A WILDFIRE ROARING THROUGH YOUR LIFE
AFFECTING EVERYTHING.

PERSONAL: DON'T PERSONALISE EVENTS WITH SELF-BLAME. ACCEPT LEGITIMATE
RESPONSIBILITY AND LEARN FROM MISTAKES BUT DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP FOR EVERY
SETBACK.

THE KEY TO CHANGING YOUR PESSIMISTIC OUTLOOK IS LEARNING THAT YOU CAN CHANGE IT.
ACCEPTING THIS TRUTH IS THE FIRST STEP TO PERSONAL GROWTH. NEXT, FOCUS ON YOUR
STRENGTHS AND THEN ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POSITIVE EFFORTS. YOU WILL SOON START
LIVING BETTER AND HAPPIER

7 STEPS TO A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER YOU

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS ARE NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO HAVE IN ONE'S LIFE. IT JUST TAKES
SOME ATTENTION AND SOME ACTION TO INSURE THAT YOU HAVE AS MUCH OF BOTH AS YOU
DESIRE.



FAR FROM BEING DIFFICULT, TIRING EXERCISES, GETTING HEALTHY CAN BE QUITE EASY. A
FEW SIMPLE ACTS OR LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN PUT YOU ON THE PATH TO FEELING HAPPIER
AND HEALTHIER FASTER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE EXERCISE TO BE HEALTHY. YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY HAVE TO DO
EXERCISE TO BE HEALTHY AT LEAST NOT IN AS MUCH AS CREATING A STRICT, HARD-CORE
DIET AND EXERCISE ROUTINE. A FEW SIMPLE ACTS OR LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN PUT YOU ON
THE PATH TO FEELING HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER FASTER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE...

EAT BREAKFAST EVERY DAY.
YOUR MUM WAS RIGHT, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY. DON'T SKIP IT.

DRINK LOTS OF WATER.
IN THESE DAYS OF COFFEE, TEA, SODAS, COLAS AND COOLERS IT'S EASY TO THINK WE ARE
GETTING ALL THE WATER WE NEED, BUT NOTHING BEATS GOOD OLD PLAIN WATER. NINE
GLASSES A DAY.

GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AS ONE WHO DEALS WITH SLEEP PROBLEMS, I CAN TELL YOU
FROM EXPERIENCE, POOR SLEEP PATTERNS CAN QUICKLY DISRUPT YOUR LIFE. RESEARCH
SHOWS THAT 6 TO 8 HOURS OF RESTFUL SLEEP IS WHAT MOST OF US NEED TO BE HAPPY AND
PRODUCTIVE. IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SLEEPING, CONTACT A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

EAT MORE FRUIT
THE OLD "AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY" SAYING MAY NOT BE 100% TRUE, BUT
THE TRUTH IS THAT FRUIT PROVIDES YOUR BODY WITH NEED VITAMINS, MINERALS AND
NATURAL SUGARS.

START WALKING
FOR SHORT, NEARBY TRIPS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, LEAVE THE CAR AT HOME AND TAKE A
WALK. DO THIS A FEW TIMES A WEEK AND THE RESULTS WILL AMAZE YOU.

TURN OFF THE TELLY
READ A BOOK, GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY WITH THE PING PONG, HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH
YOUR SPOUSE. LOOK FOR THINGS TO DO OTHER THAN WATCH THE TELLY, ESPECIALLY
AROUND NEWS TIME.

LAUGH
EVERY DAY. A REAL, GOOD, HEARTY, BELLY LAUGH. LOOK FOR THE FUNNY THINGS THAT LIFE
HAS TO OFFER. SHARE A JOKE WITH A FRIEND. SHARE A LOT OF JOKES. LAUGHTER IS GOOD
FOR THE HEART AND SOUL, FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SPIRIT. NONE OF THESE THINGS
REQUIRES YOU TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. NONE OF THEM TAKE MUCH TIME OR ENERGY. BUT
EACH ONE CAN, OVER TIME, DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
PICK ONE OR TWO TO FOCUS ON THIS WEEK AND BE HEALTHY!

MIND OVER MATTER

WHY SHOULD WE THINK UPON THINGS THAT ARE LOVELY? BECAUSE THINKING DETERMINES
LIFE. IT IS A COMMON HABIT TO BLAME LIFE UPON THE ENVIRONMENT. ENVIRONMENT
MODIFIES LIFE BUT DOES NOT GOVERN LIFE.



IN LIFE A LOT OF THINGS CAN MATTER TO US. WHAT MATTERS TO YOU? FOR EXAMPLE, THE
TYPE OF CAR YOU DRIVE OR THE NAME BRAND OF THE CLOTHES YOU WEAR. HOW MUCH YOU
WEIGH? YOUR AGE? WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU?

HAVE YOU SAID TO SOMEONE, "IT DOESN'T MATTER"? WHAT DID YOU MEAN? HAS ANYONE
EVER ASKED YOU, "DOES IT MATTER?" WHAT DID THEY WANT TO KNOW? WHAT ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT? WHAT IS IT THAT MATTERS? WHAT DOES „MATTER‟ MEAN?

SOMETHING MATTERS WHEN IT CONCERNS US. SOMETHING MATTERS WHEN IT IS IMPORTANT.
IT MATTERS WHEN WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. IF WE DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, IT DOESN'T
MATTER. WHAT DO YOU TAKE SERIOUSLY? WHAT MATTERS TO YOU? WHAT MATTERS TO YOU
DEPENDS UPON WHAT YOU MIND.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ASKED, "DO YOU MIND?" IT MIGHT BE, "DO YOU MIND IF I SMOKE?" IT
MEANS, 'DO YOU CARE?' IT MEANS 'DOES IT MATTER?' MIND AND MATTER ARE CONNECTED.

IF YOU MIND, THEN IT MATTERS.

AS A CHILD YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE REFRAIN, "STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY
BONES, BUT WORDS CAN NEVER HURT ME." THIS IS TRUE. WORDS ALONE CANNOT HURT YOU.
WORDS ONLY HURT IF THEY MATTER. WORDS ONLY HURT IF YOU MIND. IT IS YOUR RESPONSE
TO THE WORDS THAT DETERMINES HOW YOU REACT.

SUPPOSE THAT SOMEONE INSULTS YOU BY CALLING YOU "STUPID." DOES IT MATTER? WELL,
IT DOES IF YOU MIND. IF YOU MIND, YOU COULD START THINKING, "WHO DO THEY THINK
THEY ARE? NOBODY CAN TREAT ME THIS WAY. THEY WON'T GET AWAY WITH IT. I WILL SHOW
THEM." NOW YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A MOOD OF ANGER BECAUSE IT MATTERS. OR, YOU COULD
THINK, "I GUESS THEY ARE RIGHT. I JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING. WHY DO I BOTHER TO TRY?"
AGAIN, IT MATTERS BECAUSE YOU MIND AND YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO SLIP INTO A STATE OF
SADNESS AND SELF-CRITICISM.

A THIRD POSSIBILITY IS THAT YOU DON'T MIND BECAUSE YOU DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
YOU MIGHT THINK, "WELL, THAT'S THEIR OPINION, BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT TRUE. IT'S RUDE,
BUT MAYBE THEY ARE HAVING A BAD DAY." YOU PAY IT NO MIND. IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU
DON'T GET ANGRY OR SAD. YOU DON'T DWELL ON IT ALL DAY OR CREATE MISERY FOR
YOURSELF.

HERE IS THE SECRET OF MIND OVER MATTER: IF YOU DON'T MIND, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER.
BE CAREFUL OF THE THINGS YOU MIND. BE CAREFUL OF WHAT MATTERS. INTENTIONALLY
MAKE THESE CHOICES. DECIDE WHAT YOU WILL TAKE SERIOUSLY AND WHAT YOU WILL
OVERLOOK.

SOME THINGS MATTER AND THEY NEED TO MATTER. THEY ARE IMPORTANT. OTHER THINGS
DON'T MATTER. THEY ARE OF SMALL CONSEQUENCE. LEARN TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. LEARN
TO PRACTICE MIND OVER MATTER AND SEE IF LIFE GOES BETTER.

HOW TO BE A GOOD GUEST

FIRST THINGS FIRST. WHEN YOU GET AN INVITATION, R.S.V.P. THE HOST OR HOSTESS NEEDS
TO KNOW HOW MANY TO PLAN FOR.



ARRIVE 10-15 MINUTES AFTER THE INVITATION TIME (BUT NO LATER). THIS GIVES YOUR
HOST AND/OR HOSTESS THOSE LAST FEW MINUTES TO PREPARE.

WHEN YOU CALL TO R.S.V.P. CHECK AND SEE IF CHILDREN ARE INVITED, IF THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN EXPLICIT. IF THEY AREN'T, DON'T BRING YOURS. NOR SHOULD YOU EXPECT YOUR HOST
AND HOSTESS TO SOLVE THE BABYSITTER DILEMMA FOR YOU.

DON'T ARRIVE EMPTY-HANDED. PARTICIPATE! IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAKE IT A PARTY. BEING A
GUEST IS NOT A PASSIVE THING. A GOOD PARTY OR GET-TOGETHER RELIES ON EVERYONE
BEING PRESENT AND MAKING IT GOOD. TALK TO SOMEONE WHO'S ALONE, MIX AND MINGLE,
MAKE GOOD CONVERSATION, MAKE IT A POINT TO TALK WITH EVERYONE THERE AT SOME
POINT, DO YOUR PART.

DON'T OVERSTAY YOUR WELCOME, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU ARE ENJOYING YOURSELF.
THEY'VE BEEN COOKING AND CLEANING FOR DAYS. USE YOUR INTUITION. YOU MAY HAVE
BEEN TOLD 2-5, OR JUST "COME AROUND 8", BUT YOUR HOST AND/OR HOSTESS WILL GIVE
OFF NON-VERBAL SIGNALS WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO HOME.

PITCH IN AN UNOBTRUSIVE WAY. SAY GOOD-BYE. EVEN IF IT'S A LARGE GATHERING, SEEK
OUT THE HOST AND/OR HOSTESS AND TELL THEM GOOD BYE, AND THANK THEM!

AND LASTLY, SEND A WRITTEN THANK-YOU NOTE AFTERWARDS. IT'S JUST A NICE THING TO
DO. DON'T FORGET TO DO THIS FOR FAMILY, THEY MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL.
THINK HOW MUCH YOUR MUM WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WROTE HER A NOTE AFTER THE
GET-TOGETHER!

SMILING, MOODS, & HEALTH

HE WHO LAUGHS, LASTS.

DO YOU WANT A GUARANTEED, EASY WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD AND YOUR HEALTH? TRY
SMILING. HUMOUR IS GOOD FOR US NOT ONLY FOR OUR MOOD BUT FOR OUR HEALTH AS
WELL.

LAUGHTER RELIEVES STRESS AND IMPROVES OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. LAUGHING HAS BEEN
DESCRIBED AS AN INTERNAL JOG; MASSAGING OUR INNER ORGANS AND GIVING THEM A
WORKOUT. SMILING EXERCISES 14 FACIAL MUSCLES. WHEN WE LAUGH OUR BLOOD
PRESSURE GOES UP AND THEN COMES DOWN. WE ALSO STRETCH OUR LUNGS, RELAX OUR
CHESTS, AND BREATHE EASIER. LAUGHTER CAUSES OUR BODIES TO RELEASE NEURO
CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH AN IMPROVED MOOD. WHEN WE CAN LAUGH AT
SOMETHING, WE CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE AND OUR ATTITUDE.
IT IS HARD TO HAVE A GRUMPY OUTLOOK WHEN LAUGHING. AS WE LAUGH, WE MOMENTARILY
DISTRACT OURSELVES FROM OUR PROBLEMS AND PERHAPS, EVEN FROM OUR PHYSICAL
DISCOMFORT. LIFE JUST SEEMS TO GET BETTER WHEN WE CAN LAUGH. HOW FREQUENTLY DO
YOU LAUGH?

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SMILE?

RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN SMILE AND LAUGH ABOUT 400 TIMES
A DAY WHILE FOR ADULTS SMILES AND LAUGHTER DECREASE TO ONLY 14 TIMES A DAY. FOUR-
YEAR-OLDS ARE OFTEN JOYOUS AND ADULTS ARE NOT. WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN CHILDHOOD



AND ADULTHOOD? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? MAYBE, AS WE BECOME SERIOUS, HARD-
WORKING ADULTS, WE LOSE OUR SENSE OF HUMOUR ALONG WITH THE FREEDOM TO LAUGH.
SUCH A LOSS IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE HUMOUR CAN BE HEALING.

NOW YOU MAY SAY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TO LAUGH ABOUT AND THIS MAY BE TRUE.
IT IS HARD TO FORCE YOURSELF TO LAUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. YOU
CAN, HOWEVER, MAKE YOURSELF SMILE. FORCING YOURSELF TO SMILE MAY WORK ALMOST
AS WELL AS LAUGHING, AT LEAST, FOR CHANGING YOUR MOOD. PUTTING A BIG SMILE ON
YOUR FACE SENDS A MESSAGE TO YOUR BRAIN THAT THINGS ARE OKAY. IF YOU ARE SMILING,
YOUR BRAIN THINKS, "I MUST BE HAPPY!" YOU CAN FOOL YOURSELF INTO FEELING GOOD BY
SMILING. AS YOUR MOOD IMPROVES, YOU OPEN YOURSELF TO NEW POSSIBILITIES. OTHER
PEOPLE, NOTICING THE CHANGE, RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO YOU AND SOON YOU MAY BE
LAUGHING AS WELL AS SMILING. LIFE IS GETTING BETTER BECAUSE YOU SMILED. BE SURE
YOU SMILE TODAY. SMILE ON PURPOSE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. SEE IF YOU CAN
FOOL YOURSELF INTO A GOOD MOOD. AS THE SAYING GOES, "FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT".
INTENTIONALLY SMILE. LAUGH, IF YOU CAN. IT IMPROVES YOUR MOOD AND HEALTH. SO
START SMILING AND SEE IF YOUR LIFE DOESN'T BEGIN TO GO BETTER.

THE POWER OF FOCUS

WHAT ONE THING IS OFTEN MISSING FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL? THE
TYPICAL ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT OF HAVING MANY IDEAS, PROJECTS AND THINGS TO DO
ARE OFTEN THERE IN ABUNDANCE. PERHAPS YOU SEE MANY OPPORTUNITIES AND
POSSIBILITIES. HOWEVER, THE TENDENCY IS TO SPREAD YOURSELF TOO THIN AND 'TRY' TO
DO EVERYTHING. THIS OFTEN RESULTS IN YOU NOT ACHIEVING WHAT YOU SAY YOU WANT.

IT SEEMS THAT THE MORE IDEAS I HAVE, THE MORE IDEAS THIS GENERATES. RECENTLY THE
NUMBER OF IDEAS HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. THEY ARE THERE FIRST THING IN THE
MORNING AND EVEN WAKING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. VISUALISING AND
JOURNALING IS BRINGING UP EVEN MORE. I FEEL INSPIRED, EXCITED AND HAVE A LOT OF
ENTHUSIASM FOR MANY OF THE IDEAS. HOWEVER, I REALISED THAT IF I WANTED TO TURN
THESE IDEAS AROUND, GET THEM COMPLETED AND BE MORE PRODUCTIVE, THERE WAS ONLY
ONE THING FOR IT. I NEEDED TO BE EVEN MORE FOCUSED THAN I'D EVER BEEN. A CLEAR
INTENTIONAL FOCUS THAT MOVES US TOWARDS OUR DREAMS QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE VERY BUSY, WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MANY THINGS ON THE GO AT
ONCE, THEY ARE OFTEN SCATTERED AND YOU END UP DABBLING IN THINGS. YOU THEN FIND
YOU ARE NOT PRODUCING THE RESULTS YOU WANT. NOT ONLY THIS, BUT YOU MAY FEEL
OVERWHELMED, FRUSTRATED AND FED UP. THE FRICTION OF BEING PULLED IN MANY
DIRECTIONS, FEELING STRESSED AND HEAVY, EATS UP YOUR TIME AND ENERGY, LEAVING YOU
LESS ABLE TO BE FOCUSED AND MOVE FORWARD.

IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO HAS LOTS OF IDEAS, PROJECTS AND THINGS YOU WANT TO DO,
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FACT. ACCEPT THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO ACT ON THEM ALL NOW AND BE
WILLING TO LET SOME THINGS GO FOR THE TIME BEING. THERE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE
SOME FEAR ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS NATURAL. CHOOSE TO BE WITH THE FEAR, ACCEPT IT FOR
WHAT IT IS AND CHOOSE INSTEAD TO BE FOCUSED.

WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE FOCUSED, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND
INCREASED SUCCESS. FOCUS BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR FASTER RESULTS, LEAVING YOU MORE
PRODUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE.



WHEN YOU ARE READY AND WILLING TO BE MORE FOCUSED, I SUGGEST YOU START BY
EXAMINING ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. BRAINSTORM IT ALL OUT ON PAPER. GET IT OUT OF
YOUR HEAD SO YOU CAN SEE IT ALL CLEARLY. WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE
MORE CLEARLY, START EXPERIMENTING WITH BEING FOCUSED. PLAY WITH THE IDEA OF
FOCUSING ON ONLY 3 THINGS. CHOOSE THE 3 IDEAS THAT EITHER FEEL MOST IMPORTANT TO
YOU, OR WHERE YOUR PASSION LIES, OR WHAT WOULD BRING YOUR DREAM ALIVE OR MAKE
YOUR HEART SING. WRITE DOWN YOUR 3 AREAS OF FOCUS, SPECIFICALLY. THE MORE
SPECIFIC YOU ARE, THE MORE FOCUSED YOU WILL BE.

WHEN YOU HAVE CHOSEN 3 THINGS, SEE EXACTLY WHERE THEY FIT INTO YOUR VISION OR
DREAM AND ASCERTAIN WHETHER THEY ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE CHOICE TODAY. WITH
EACH OF YOUR 3 IDEAS, DEFINE YOUR COMPELLING REASON FOR PURSUING THEM AND
IDENTIFY WHAT EACH WILL GIVE YOU. YOUR COMPELLING REASON WILL INSPIRE YOU TO
CONTINUE AND BE COMMITTED. CHECK EACH DAY ON YOUR 3 AREAS OF FOCUS AND TAKE
ACTIONS, WHICH ARE ALIGNED WITH BEING FOCUSED.

MAKING THE SHIFT TO BEING FOCUSED AND EXPERIMENTING WITH THE IDEA OF ONLY
PURSUING 3 IDEAS AT ANY ONE TIME MAY BE QUITE A STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
YOU MAY START THIS EXPERIMENT ONLY TO FIND YOURSELF SLIPPING BACK. IF YOU'RE READY
TO BE FOCUSED, WHOM DO YOU KNOW WHO WILL CHALLENGE YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR
FOCUS? BEING CHALLENGED IN A HEALTHY WAY BY SOMEONE ELSE CAN ADD FUN TO THE
PROCESS, KEEPING IT LIGHT-HEARTED AND HELPING YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR COMMITMENT.
WHAT I WANT FOR YOU IS TO BE FOCUSSED, ENABLING YOU TO ATTRACT AND ACHIEVE THE
SUCCESS YOU WANT.

THE 7 BREAKTHROUGH WAYS TO CRUSH PROCRASTINATION

1. SUCCESS IS NOT ACHIEVED ACCIDENTALLY. IT IS A SYSTEMATIC, DELIBERATE PROCESS OF
DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WILL DO WHEN YOU GET
THERE AND WHAT THE STEPS ARE TO GET YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF SUCCESS IS THE ABILITY TO VISUALISE YOUR PATH AND STAY
FOCUSED ON YOUR GOAL UNTIL YOU REACH IT.

2. THE MORE RAPIDLY YOU ENVISION YOUR DREAMS AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO TURN THEM
INTO REALITY, THE FASTER YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS. MENTAL PICTURES ARE A
MECHANISM TO LEAD YOU DOWN THE PATH OF TRUE INDEPENDENCE AND MOTIVATION.
PROCRASTINATION IS A SELF-DEFEATING BEHAVIOUR THAT DEVELOPS IN PART DUE TO LOW
SELF-ESTEEM AND FEAR OF FAILURE. YOUR IMAGINATION IS LIKE A PREVIEW OF YOUR
FUTURE. IF YOU DON'T USE YOUR IMAGINATION YOUR LIFE WILL REMAIN MUNDANE AND
UNFULFILLING.

3. OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION IS THE FIRST STEP IN HELPING YOU CREATE THE
LIFESTYLE YOU DESIRE. YOU MUST CHANGE THE HABITS AND BEHAVIOURS THAT LED YOU TO
PROCRASTINATE IN THE FIRST PLACE. CHANGE IS A SLOW PROCESS SO BE SURE TO REWARD
YOURSELF ALONG THE WAY FOR SMALL ACHIEVEMENTS. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE
DIFFICULTY OF A LARGE TASK, BREAK IT INTO SMALLER JOBS AND CREATE A TIMELINE FOR
FINISHING THEM.

4. SEVERAL SMALL JOBS DONE OVER TIME ARE MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE THAT ONE LARGE
TASK WITH NO END IN SIGHT. YOU WILL BE ASTONISHED AT HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET DONE



IF YOU CONCENTRATE ON ONE THING AT A TIME INSTEAD OF CLUTTERING YOUR MIND WITH
MULTIPLE TASKS. TRY TACKLING THE MORE UNDESIRABLE TASKS EARLY IN THE DAY SO THAT
BY AFTERNOON YOU CAN PURSUE MORE PLEASANT ACTIVITIES.

5. RELIEVE YOURSELF OF THE PRESSURE CREATED BY CLUTTER IN YOUR OFFICE OR HOME.
DEVELOP A FILING SYSTEM, RID YOURSELF OF UNNECESSARY PAPERS AND GIVE YOURSELF AN
ORGANISED PLACE TO WORK. WHEN YOU EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE IN YOUR
SURROUNDINGS AS WELL AS YOUR BEHAVIOURS, YOU WILL MAKE MAJOR STRIDES IN
ACCOMPLISHING YOUR GOALS IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. NO MATTER WHAT IS
HAPPENING AROUND YOU, KEEP YOUR MIND FOCUSED ON THE REWARD YOU WILL RECEIVE BY
REACHING YOUR GOALS.

6. IF PEOPLE OR OUTSIDE FORCES DISTRACT YOU, USE THE POWER OF THE HUMAN MIND TO
BLOCK OUT WHAT IMPEDES YOUR PROGRESS AND CONCENTRATE SOLELY ON THE TASK AT
HAND. YOU WILL MAKE REMARKABLE PROGRESS BY REFUSING TO LET OTHERS ALTER THE
PATH YOU HAVE CHOSEN. OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION AND STAYING MOTIVATED IS THE
WAY TO LIFETIME SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS. YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS RAPIDLY WHEN
YOU STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR DESTINATION AND THE REWARDS THAT WILL FOLLOW.

7. REVIEW YOUR HABITS AND WAY OF THINKING TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU ARE VISUALISING
MOST OF THE TIME. IF YOUR VISIONS DO NOT LEAD YOU IN THE DIRECTION OF
ACCOMPLISHING YOUR GOALS, THEN YOU MUST CHANGE THEM. DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO
CONCENTRATE ON YOUR GOALS THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AND IF YOU STRAY FROM THE
PATH, GET PROMPTLY BACK ON. IMAGINE WHAT THE REWARDS WILL BE WHEN YOU FINALLY
REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND KEEP THAT THOUGHT FOREMOST IN YOUR MIND.
PROCRASTINATION IS OF NO USE TO YOU IN YOUR QUEST TO FULFIL YOUR DREAMS. LOSE
THOSE OLD HABITS AND REPLACE THEM WITH HABITS THAT LEAD TO SELF-MOTIVATION AND
CONTROL OVER YOUR LIFE.

TOP 10 WAYS TO START LIVING A MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE

TOO MANY OF US LIVE LIKE GOLDFISH, SWIMMING IN THE SAME ORBIT DAY IN AND DAY OUT
FEELING UNINSPIRED, TIRED, BORED AND SOMETIMES WORSE. LIFE IS MUCH TOO PRECIOUS
TO WASTE THAT WAY. EVERY PERSON HAS A UNIQUE PURPOSE IN LIFE. I IMPLORE YOU NOT
TO WASTE YOUR DAYS BERATING YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW AND DON'T DO
WELL. INSTEAD, DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS, PASSIONS, PURPOSE AND BUILD YOUR LIFE ON
THOSE.

HERE ARE 10 IDEAS ABOUT LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE, AS I UNDERSTAND THEM.
EMBRACING EVEN A FEW OF THESE WILL HELP YOU BEGIN THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF SELF-
DISCOVERY.

1. WE ARE ALL HERE FOR A PURPOSE. YOUR BEING HERE MAKES A DIFFERENCE. YOUR
PURPOSE MAY BE OBSCURE TO YOU AND A CHALLENGE TO DISCOVER. START NOW. THERE ARE
MANY RESOURCES, BOOKS TO HELP YOU WITH THIS ENDEAVOUR.

2. THE SECRET TO FULFILMENT IS SELF-KNOWLEDGE. START THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF
DISCOVERY.



3. THE SECOND PART OF THE SECRET TO FULFILMENT IS TO APPLY YOUR SELF-KNOWLEDGE
TO WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU LIVE. THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU CAN ACTIVELY
PURSUE YOUR TRUE PURPOSE.

4. DON'T WASTE TIME LAMENTING WHAT YOU DON'T DO WELL. CONCENTRATE ON YOUR
STRENGTHS. THOSE REFLECT WHO YOU ARE. LEAVE THE OTHER THINGS TO PEOPLE WHO DO
THEM WELL.

5. BUILD ON YOUR STRENGTHS. DO MORE OF THEM AND GIVE YOURSELF RECOGNITION FOR
DOING THE THINGS YOU DO WELL.

6. PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALL DETAILS THAT YOU ENJOY IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE. DO
MORE OF THEM.

7. PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALL DETAILS YOU DON'T ENJOY. FIND WAYS (SUCH AS
DELEGATION) TO ELIMINATE AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE.

8. KEEP A JOURNAL AND PUT PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF AND
EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE FOR WHICH YOU ARE GRATEFUL.

9. MAKE AN EFFORT TO RELEASE THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF YOUR PAST. TRY NOT BE
IMPRISONED BY YOUR PAST. DO NOT DEFINE YOURSELF BY YOUR PAST.

10. JUMPSTART YOUR SELF-ESTEEM BY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEER IN A
MEANINGFUL WAY THAT SUITS WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR INTERESTS. ENJOY THE JOURNEY.
YOU WILL GET TO KNOW AND LIKE YOURSELF IN A WHOLE NEW WAY. WORK WITH A FRIEND,
AND USE THE RESOURCES OUT THERE, TO HELP YOU WITH OBJECTIVITY.

HAVE SOMEONE POINT OUT THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU THAT YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO
OVERLOOK. AS SOON AS YOU STOP DOING WHAT YOU HATE AND START DOING WHAT YOU
LOVE, YOU MAY FIND YOUR LIFE MORE MEANINGFUL AND FULFILLING.

THE 5 SECRETS TO STAYING MOTIVATED UNTIL YOU SUCCEED

FOR A LOT OF US OUR WORK SCHEDULES AT HOME AND AT OUR JOBS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR
SOURCE OF COMPLICATIONS IN OUR LIVES. OUR FINANCIAL WELL BEING DEPENDS ON OUR
PAYCHEQUE, AND OUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING DEPENDS IN PART ON HAVING A
WELL-ORGANISED LIFE.

BUT A FEW SIMPLE CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED UNTIL
YOU SUCCEED. WITH SO MANY DEMANDS BEING PLACED UPON US, IT BECOMES CONFUSING
AS TO WHERE TO PLACE OUR PRIORITIES. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, IN THE MIDST OF
ALL THE UNCERTAINTIES OF OUR LIVES, WE TEND TO LOSE OUR SENSE OF MOTIVATION. AND
INSTEAD CHOOSE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, PROCRASTINATION.

HERE ARE A FEW SECRET TIPS TO GET YOUR LIFE ORGANISED SO YOU CAN BECOME
MOTIVATED UNTIL YOU SUCCEED...

1. FOR MOST OF US, A JOB IS OUR MEANS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTES TO
OUR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AS WELL, SO QUITTING YOUR JOB IS NOT
AN OPTION FOR MOST. THE TRICK IS TO BALANCE YOUR JOB WITH YOUR HOME LIFE. THIS



CAN BE A CHALLENGING TASK BUT YOU CAN BEGIN BY CUTTING YOUR WORKDAY TO EIGHT OR
NINE HOURS A DAY TO ALLOW YOURSELF MORE TIME AT HOME. IF MAKING CHANGES IN THE
NUMBER OF HOURS YOU WORK IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR YOU, TRY SIMPLIFYING IN OTHER
AREAS TO GIVE YOU MORE TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY; THAT IS, IF YOU LIVE SIMPLY, YOU
WILL NOT NEED AS MUCH MONEY.

2. EVEN TAKING THE SIMPLEST STEPS CAN REWARD YOU WITH MORE TIME AND LESS STRESS,
SUCH AS CHANGING YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS (ONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT),
DROPPING THE CALL WAITING FEATURE ON YOUR TELEPHONE AND HAVING SIMPLE HOLIDAYS
WITHOUT MUCH FUSS OR SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

3. GETTING RID OF THE EMOTIONAL GARBAGE IN YOUR LIFE SUCH AS ANGER, HATRED AND
FORGIVING THOSE WHO NEED YOUR FORGIVENESS OR MENDING BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
WILL HELP CLEAR THE WAY TO SHOW YOU HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED UNTIL YOU SUCCEED BY
GIVING YOU BACK YOUR TIME AND ENERGY. DECIDE HOW YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO BE. WHAT
DO YOU NEED MOST IN YOUR LIFE AT THIS MOMENT ENERGY, PEACE, QUIET, TRANQUILLITY,
WISDOM, SPIRITUAL GROWTH? MAKE A PROMISE TO YOURSELF THAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE
WHATEVER YOU WANT AND THEN SET ABOUT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

4. CONCENTRATE ON WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT AND PRIORITISE YOUR TASK LIST (THIS
SHOULD BE DONE BOTH AT YOUR JOB AND AT HOME). A GOOD METHOD IS TO PLACE EACH
ITEM ON YOUR "TO DO" LIST IN ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE BY HAVING THREE LISTS: "MUST BE
DONE," "SHOULD BE DONE," AND "NICE THINGS TO DO." ONCE YOU PLACE A VALUE ON EACH
ITEM YOU WILL QUICKLY SEE THAT SOME THINGS NEED NOT BE DONE AT ALL. IN FACT, THE
ONLY TIME PROCRASTINATION MAY PAY OFF MIGHT BE WHEN EVERYTHING ON THE "NICE
THINGS TO DO" LIST CAN ALL BE MARKED OFF AS UNNECESSARY.

5. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. THE SHEER VOLUME OF TASKS IN OUR DAILY LIVES IS
ENOUGH TO MAKE US WANT IT TO "JUST GO AWAY." AS A RESULT WE PROCRASTINATE, THUS
LOSING OUR MOTIVATION. IT IS NOT A SIGN OF INCOMPETENCE OR INEFFICIENCY TO ADMIT
YOU NEED HELP. LET YOUR CO-WORKERS OR YOUR SUPERVISOR AT WORK KNOW YOU NEED
HELP. AT HOME, EVEN THE SMALLEST CHILD IN YOUR FAMILY CAN DO SIMPLE TASKS.

SLOW DOWN, SIMPLIFY, SPEND LESS, ENJOY SIMPLE PLEASURES WITH YOUR FAMILY THAT
DON'T COST A CENT, AND YOUR LIFE MAY BECOME MORE BEAUTIFUL, HAPPIER AND
FULFILLING. GETTING ORGANISED AND RIDDING YOURSELF OF THINGS THAT ARE
UNNECESSARY ARE THE FIRST STEPS OF LEARNING HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED UNTIL YOU
SUCCEED.

CAN YOU BE AN OPTIMISTIC REALIST?

ONE QUESTION YOU MIGHT HAVE WHEN YOU READ THIS TITLE IS, "WHY I WANT TO BE AN
OPTIMIST?" OR, EVEN, "HOW COULD I BE OPTIMISTIC WITH LIFE THE WAY IT IS?" OR "WHO
COULD BE AN OPTIMIST IN TODAY'S WORLD? AND "TODAY'S WORLD" MAY MEAN TO YOU THAT
OFFICE YOU WORK IN THAT'S SO HOPELESSLY UNDERSTAFFED AND DISORGANISED, OR YOUR
INEPT BOSS, OR TERRORISM, STARVATION AND VIOLENCE IN THE WORLD, YOUR PERSONAL
INADEQUACIES FOR FACING YOUR PERSONAL CHALLENGES, THE LACK OF HELP AROUND THE
HOUSE, YOUR HYPER 2 YEAR OLD TWIN BOYS, SPENDING YOUR DAYS REELING AMONG THE
EMOTIONAL STATES OF YOUR TEENAGERS, YOUR MIDLIFE-CRISIS SPOUSE, AND YOUR AGEING
MOTHER, OR ANY OF THE ABOVE.



I WAS REMINDED OF THIS DILEMMA WHEN I WAS CORNERED THE OTHER DAY BY A
COLLEAGUE WHOSE WIFE WAS WATCHING THE PRINCE CHARLES THING ON THE TELLY, WHEN
THERE WERE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD. BY THE END OF HIS
TIRADE HE HAD LISTED TERRORISM, CANCER, THE NATIONAL BUDGET CRISIS AND THE LEGAL
SYSTEM AS THINGS MORE WORTHY OF OUR ATTENTION THAT WERE, AT THE SAME TIME. BY
THE END OF HIS TIRADE, HIS WIFE'S "PESSIMISTIC ATTITUDE" HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE
LIST, AS HAVING "RUINED" HIS DAY. AND, HAD I ALLOWED IT, I COULD'VE ADDED TO THE LIST
THAT HIS RETELLING OF THE WAR STORY HAD "RUINED" MINE.

LET'S FACE IT: IT'S EASIER TO BE CYNICAL. IT'S ALSO MORE REALISTIC TO BE CYNICAL. IF
YOU ARE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO HAS A NEED TO BE RIGHT, BETTING THAT THE WORK
PROJECT WILL BE MESSED UP, THAT THE MARRIAGE WILL NEVER LAST AND THAT BUSH WILL
MAKE ANOTHER DECISION THAT WILL FAIL TO MAKE THE WORLD PERFECT ARE SURER BETS
THAN THE OPPOSITE.

AND SO, IF YOU ARE NEGATIVE AND PESSIMISTIC, YOU WILL MORE OFTEN BE RIGHT. BUT
LOOK AT WHAT ELSE YOU WILL GET: YOU WILL ATTRACT TO YOURSELF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE
SAME WAY AND WILL JOIN YOU IN A NEGATIVE DOWNWARD SPIRAL; YOU WILL BE QUICK TO
BLAME ANYTHING BUT YOURSELF, LEAVING YOURSELF FEELING HOPELESS AND HELPLESS AS
WELL AS ANGRY; YOU WILL WASTE A LOT OF TIME BELABOURING THE OBVIOUS; AND YOU
WILL ALSO STRESS YOURSELF AND YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. NEGATIVE THINKING LEADS TO
NEGATIVE EMOTIONS, WHICH BRING ON PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS WHICH CAN DAMAGE
YOUR HEALTH IN THE SHORT-TERM AND IN THE LONG-TERM.

BEING OPTIMISTIC DOESN'T MEAN NOT BEING REALISTIC. IT MEANS MAKING CHOICES THAT
INFLUENCE OUTCOMES, BECAUSE THEY CAN ALSO BE SELF-FULFILLING. IF YOU ARE SURE
YOUR SECRETARY IS GOING TO FAIL YOU AGAIN, SHE WILL. WE ARE ALL INFLUENCED BY THE
ENERGY AROUND US AND WHO CAN FUNCTION WHEN SOMEONE IS HOVERING AROUND THEM
WHO THINKS SHE OR HE IS "AN IDIOT"? ALSO, IF YOU ARE DETERMINED SHE WILL FAIL YOU,
YOU MUST MAKE THAT HAPPEN TO DEFEND YOUR EGO AND SO WHAT ELSE CAN YOU THINK
WHEN IT'S OVER? SHE FAILED YOU.

REALISM WOULD SAY, IF YOU TRULY HIRED THE WRONG PERSON, DON'T BE A VICTIM. TAKE
CARE OF THE PROBLEM. IF YOU HIRED A PERSON WHO, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, HAS GOOD
DAYS AND BAD, WORKS IN AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM, HAS TO TRY AND READ YOUR MIND AND
ACCOMMODATE TO YOUR ADMITTEDLY DIFFICULT DISPOSITION AT TIMES AND IS OVER-
WORKED, DON'T PLAY THE VICTIM. LOOK AT THE SYSTEM AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO
MAKE THINGS WORK BETTER, ASSUMING (OPTIMISTICALLY) THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE, I.E.,
THINGS WILL NEVER BE PERFECT, BUT THEY CAN GENERALLY BE IMPROVED UPON AND YOU
ARE THE ONE TO DO IT. YOU COULD START, IN THAT INSTANCE, WITH YOUR OWN ATTITUDE
AND EXPECTATIONS.

IN FACT, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, START WITH YOUR
SECRETARY'S "WORLD." GET IT? PRAGMATICALLY SPEAKING, THAT IS, IF YOU WANT TO
FUNCTION IN THE REAL WORLD, AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW WORKS BETTER. IT GIVES YOU THE
ENERGY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU POSITIVE EMOTIONAL ENERGY.
FUNCTIONALLY SPEAKING, IT IS WISER TO BE OPTIMISTIC. OPTIMISM IS A TOOL, THEREFORE.
IF YOU CAN STILL THAT VOICE IN YOUR HEAD THAT SAYS EVERYTHING STINKS, YOU CAN
BEGIN TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THINGS AS THEY ARE, SOME OF WHICH, YES,
"STINK," BUT NOT ALL. IF YOU ARE PLAGUED BY THE SUFFERING OF TERRORISM AND
TSUNAMIS, FOR INSTANCE, SET ASIDE A TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT



THEM. YOU WILL QUICKLY REALISE THE DILEMMA OF WORLD LEADERS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE
TO DO THIS ON A GRAND SCALE; BUT YOU WILL ALSO FIND SMALL THINGS YOU CAN DO IN
YOUR OWN WORLD TO ADDRESS THESE ILLS. CALL YOUR LOCAL RED CRESCENT. THEY HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR CALL; BECAUSE, CONTRARY TO WHAT THE PESSIMIST THINKS, YOU
SEE, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE SUFFERING IN THE WORLD AND ARE
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT RATHER THAN COMPLAINING.

IN THE MEANTIME, KEEP YOUR OWN LIFE GOING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION, WITH OPTIMISM.
IF YOU ARE DETERMINED THAT YOU CAN'T BE HAPPY UNTIL ALL THE ILLS OF THE WORLD HAVE
BEEN ADDRESSED, YOU WILL BE A LONG TIME WAITING. YOU WILL ALSO FAIL TO ADDRESS
WHAT YOU CAN ADDRESS, BECAUSE OF LAMENTING OVER LARGER THINGS, WHICH BASICALLY
ARE BEYOND YOUR CONTROL. IF YOU WANT TO TURN AROUND YOUR ATTITUDE, TURN YOUR
FACE IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S RIGHT ABOUT THINGS DOESN'T MEAN
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THINGS ARE WRONG, OR HOW WRONG THEY ARE. IT MEANS YOU
ARE MAKING A CHOICE ABOUT YOUR OWN PORTION OF THE WORLD, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
IN IT, AND YOUR OUTLOOK.

DOES IT HELP "THE WORLD" IF YOU GO ON A TIRADE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND
DUMP ALL YOUR FRUSTRATION ON YOUR SPOUSE? OF COURSE NOT. REMEMBER YOU AND
YOUR SPOUSE ARE ALSO A PART OF "THE WORLD." FROM AN OBJECTIVE POSITION, THE
YOUNG MAN MENTIONED ABOVE HAS A GOOD JOB, A NICE HOME, PLENTY OF FOOD,
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES, AND A LOVELY WIFE WHO WAS CHEERFUL, LOVELY AND
DRESSED TO GO TO HER JOB FOR THE DAY. THAT'S A SCENE HALF THE PEOPLE IN THIS WILL
NEVER HAVE. OPTIMISM MEANS, NOT "SLAYING THE REAL FOR THE UNREAL." THE MOMENT
THIS YOUNG MAN HAD WAS REAL AND IT WAS GOOD. THEN HE GOT INTO HIS OWN HEAD AND
DRAGGED UP ALL THE REASONS HE COULD THINK OF TO BE UNHAPPY; REASONS WHICH
EXIST AND ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF US, BUT SO IS THE CONTENTMENT OF THE IMMEDIATE
REALITY. IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE TAKES PRIDE IN BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THERE ARE ILLS
IN THE WORLD, AS IF HE WERE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW THIS AND WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

FOR AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOUR SELF-TALK DOES TO YOU, CONSIDER THIS SCENARIO. LET'S
SAY HASSAN IS FEELING LOW. HE THINKS HIS LIFE IS IMPOSSIBLE; IT CONTAINS THE USUAL
ARRAY OF HARD WORK, TOO MUCH STRESS, ARGUMENTS WITH HIS WIFE AND KIDS AND A
HOME PLUMBING SYSTEM THAT KEEPS BACKING UP. HOWEVER, HIS JOB, WIFE AND KIDS ARE
ALL WITHIN "THE NORMAL RANGE." HE WALKS OUTSIDE AND HAS A CHAT WITH HIS
NEIGHBOUR. THE NEIGHBOUR HAS A 23-YEAR-OLD SON WHO LIVES WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE.
THEY ARE RETIRED, LIVING ON A LIMITED INCOME AND SUFFERING HEALTH PROBLEMS. MOST
OF US WOULD SAY, A PRAYER FOR THE NEIGHBOUR, BUT A SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR OUR
OWN SET OF PROBLEMS, WHICH IS MUCH SMALLER AND SOMEHOW SEEMS, NOW, MORE
MANAGEABLE. HASSAN, THE PESSIMIST, HOWEVER, GOES BACK INSIDE FEELING LOWER THAN
EVER, HAVING DECIDED THAT IF THE WORLD IS THAT AWFUL, WHY TRY AT ALL.

PESSIMISM HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR BELIEFS, WHICH FEED INTO OUR EXPECTATIONS. IF A
PERFECT WORLD IS ONE OF YOUR BELIEFS, OR THE FEELING THAT YOU CAN'T BE HAPPY UNTIL
YOU LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD, WHY NOT TAKE IT OUT AND HAVE ANOTHER LOOK. WRITE
DOWN YOUR CORE BELIEFS AND THEN GO OVER THEM WITH OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM IN
MIND.

LEARN ABOUT OPTIMISM AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE. BE ABLE TO CHANGE YOUR SELF-TALK AND
ATTITUDE. THIS FLEXIBILITY WILL DEVELOP YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, AND IN THE
LONG RUN, THE HAPPINESS YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.



WIN THE INNER GAME OF SUCCESS -- THE DYNAMIC PATH TOWARD THE LIFE YOU
MOST DESIRE!

DO WE ALL WANT TO LIVE LIVES OF DEEP SATISFACTION AND SUCCESS? SURE, WHO
WOULDN‟T? HOWEVER, MOST OF US HAVE BEEN KNOCKED AROUND BY LIFE ENOUGH TO
BEGIN TO LOSE OUR FAITH THAT OUR DREAMS ARE ACTUALLY REACHABLE.

I HAVE HAD TO FIGHT THIS CHALLENGE MYSELF AND I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS
ENTIRELY POSSIBLE FOR US TO SUCCEED AND REACH ALL OF OUR DREAMS. AND THAT MEANS
YOU, TOO. HOW DO I KNOW? BECAUSE I AM SUCCEEDING AND WINNING THE INNER GAME OF
SUCCESS.

IF I CAN DO IT, I ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT YOU CAN TOO. WHY? BECAUSE I AM NOBODY
SPECIAL, JUST A GUY WHO HAD A DREAM TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. (MAYBE
„PEOPLE‟ LIKE YOU…).

FAR TOO MANY TIMES, WE ARE EXPOSED TO GOOD IDEAS AND THEN WE WATCH THEM WASH
AWAY IN THE LAUNDRY OF OUR LIVES. IS THERE ANOTHER CHOICE? YES. BUT FIRST WE HAVE
TO LOOK AT WHAT GETS IN THE WAY. THERE ARE OF COURSE LOTS OF OBSTACLES, BUT FOUR
BIG ONES THAT STAND OUT. I CALL THESE ROADBLOCKS THE BIG STOPPERS:

BIG STOPPER #1:

TAKING ACTION THAT EITHER DOESN‟T HELP OR ACTUALLY TAKES YOU IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION AWAY FROM YOUR GOALS AND DREAMS. MY FRIENDS KNOW THIS ALL TOO WELL.
SO OFTEN WE STEP INTO OUR DREAMS WITH EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM AND END UP
TAKING STEPS THAT DON‟T MATTER, THAT ARE REALLY WAYS TO AVOID THE TOUGHER, MORE
DEMANDING, “REAL” STEPS, THE STEPS THAT WILL REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I KNOW, I
HAVE DONE IT TOO, SO IT‟S OKAY TO ADMIT IT.

BIG STOPPER #2:

WAITING. IT‟S SIMPLE: THE FAST EATS THE SLOW. PROCRASTINATION STOPS SUCCESS COLD.
IT JUST DOES. WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO SIT AND THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA OR THAT
ONE, WEIGHING THEM OUT ENDLESSLY. A PERSON GEARED TOWARD SUCCESS STEPS INTO
THE DREAM, JUMP-STARTS THE ENTHUSIASM AND GETS GOING. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IT‟S
THE FAST THAT EAT THE SLOW, AND WE ALL KNOW IT, DON‟T WE?

BIG STOPPER #3:

DRAMATIC SO-CALLED “LIFE PROBLEMS”. PROBLEMS DRAIN US OF VITAL ENERGY. THEY CAN
GIVE US A LITTLE EMOTIONAL “JUICE”, DUE TO THE “DRAMA FACTOR”. BUT THIS JUICE COMES
AT A HIGH COST. THE COST IS THIS: WE LOSE FAITH IN OURSELVES AND OUR ABILITY TO
HAVE THE LIFE WE MOST DESIRE. IF YOUR LIFE IS FULL OF SO-CALLED PROBLEMS, THEN IT‟S
HARD TO BE ABLE TO SEE, CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN HAVE A LIFE THAT REALLY
WORKS, A LIFE THAT MOVES YOU FORWARD TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAMS. PROBLEMS
CREATE A FUNK IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A LIFE THAT IS
PROBLEM FREE? I BELIEVE IT IS. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE ACT FROM OUR OWN INTEGRITY,
TAKING CARE OF OUR SELVES FIRST, THEN PROBLEMS TEND TO DISAPPEAR.



BIG STOPPER #4:

IT‟S NOT JUST ABOUT SUCCESS. IT‟S ABOUT YOU. SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE AREN‟T ALL THAT
SPECIAL. THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME DEBILITATING, STULTIFYING BARRIERS AS THE
REST OF THE POPULATION. AND THEIR STRUGGLES HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH THEIR ABILITY
TO ACCESS “RESOURCES”. THESE ARE SO BOUNTIFUL; YOU COULD FILL A WHOLE LIBRARY
WITH THE WISDOM PUBLISHED BY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY DON‟T
BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES, AT FIRST. TO WIN THE INNER GAME OF SUCCESS, WE HAVE TO
START WITH YOU! I WANT YOU TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU BELIEVE IN YOU, IN YOUR
ABILITY TO STRETCH INTO YOUR LIFE, YOUR AMBITION, AND YOUR DREAMS. LET‟S “SELL” YOU
ON WHO YOU CAN BECOME AND WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH. YOUR PATH TOWARD SUCCESS
CAN BE REAL, IF YOU‟LL ONLY LET IT BE. I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR LIFE IS
WORTHWHILE. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR OWN LIFE AND GREATLY CONTRIBUTE
TO THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND YOU. YOU CAN BE AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE HUMAN BEING
AND MAKE A TON OF MONEY! HOW?

FIRST, YOU BEGIN TO TAKE THE STEPS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE ENERGY DRAINS AND STOP
FOCUSING ON DRAMA-BASED “PROBLEMS”. YOU CAN THEN START FULFILLING YOUR NEEDS
AND PURSUING YOUR DREAMS STEP BY STEP, CREATIVELY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY, UNTIL
THEY ARE ACTUAL AND REAL. IS THIS POSSIBLE? YES IT IS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO
STEP FORWARD? COURAGE. DETERMINATION. SUPPORT. GUIDANCE AND MENTORING. AND
NEVER, EVER GIVING UP.

IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE FOR SALE? THERE IS NO PURPOSE TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL

"I AM SUCH AN IDIOT. HOW COULD I HAVE SAID THAT?"
"I AM A LOOSER. I WILL NEVER GET ANYWHERE."
"I AM SO STUPID. I SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THIS BY NOW."
"I DON'T FIT IN. I DON'T BELONG WITH THESE PEOPLE."
"I WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH. I WILL NEVER DO IT RIGHT ENOUGH."
"I AM PERMANENTLY EMOTIONALLY DAMAGED. I WILL NEVER BE OKAY."
"NO ONE COULD LOVE ME. I AM NOT LOVABLE."
…AND SO ON AND SO ON.

ARE YOU AWARE OF YOUR SELF-JUDGEMENTS? ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW OFTEN YOU JUDGE
YOURSELF AS BAD, WRONG, OR INADEQUATE? ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW YOU END UP FEELING
AS A RESULT OF YOUR SELF-JUDGEMENTS?

I FIND THAT SELF-JUDGEMENT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES OF FEAR, ANGER, ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION. YET MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALISE THAT THESE PAINFUL FEELINGS ARE THE
RESULT OF THEIR OWN THOUGHTS, THEIR OWN SELF-JUDGEMENTS. MOST OF THE TIME,
WHEN I ASK AN ANXIOUS PERSON WHY THEY ARE FEELING ANXIOUS, THEY TELL ME THAT IT'S
BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO THEM. THEY USUALLY BELIEVE THAT AN EVENT
OR A PERSON CAUSED THEIR ANXIETY. YET WHEN I ASK THEM WHAT THEY ARE THINKING
THAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THEIR ANXIETY, THEY WILL TELL ME A SELF-JUDGEMENT SUCH AS,
"I'LL NEVER GET THIS RIGHT," OR THEY ARE PROJECTING THEIR OWN JUDGEMENT ONTO ME
AND TELLING THEMSELVES, "SO AND SO DOESN'T LIKE ME," OR "SO AND SO IS GETTING
IMPATIENT WITH ME." WHEN THEY JUDGE THEMSELVES OR MAKE UP THAT I AM JUDGING
THEM, THEY GET ANXIOUS. THERE IS NOTHING ACTUALLY HAPPENING THAT IS CAUSING
THEIR ANXIETY, OTHER THAN THEIR OWN THOUGHTS.



POINTING OUT TO THEM THAT THEY ARE CAUSING THEIR ANXIETY WITH THEIR SELF-
JUDGEMENT DOESN'T NOT NECESSARILY STOP THE JUDGEMENT. THIS IS BECAUSE SELF-
JUDGEMENT IS OFTEN AN ADDICTION. AN ADDICTION IS A HABITUAL BEHAVIOUR THAT IS
INTENDED TO PROTECT AGAINST PAIN. WHAT IS THE PAIN THAT SELF-JUDGEMENT IS
INTENDED TO PROTECT AGAINST?

GENERALLY, THE HOPE OF SELF-JUDGEMENT IS TO PROTECT AGAINST REJECTION AND
FAILURE. THE FALSE BELIEFS ARE THAT, "IF I JUDGE MYSELF, THEN OTHERS WON'T JUDGE ME
AND REJECT ME. I CAN BE SAFE FROM OTHERS' JUDGEMENT BY JUDGING MYSELF FIRST," OR
"IF I JUDGE MYSELF, I CAN MOTIVATE MYSELF TO DO THINGS RIGHT AND SUCCEED. THEN I
WILL FEEL SAFE AND BE LOVED AND ACCEPTED BY OTHERS."

HOWEVER, JUST AS A CHILD DOES FAR BETTER IN SCHOOL WITH ENCOURAGEMENT THAN
WITH CRITICISM, SO DO WE AS ADULTS. CRITICISM TENDS TO SCARE AND IMMOBILISE US.
INSTEAD OF MOTIVATING US, IT OFTEN CREATES SO MUCH ANXIETY THAT WE GET FROZEN
AND BECOME UNABLE TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION FOR OURSELVES. MORE SELF-
JUDGEMENT FOLLOWS THE LACK OF ACTION, WHICH RESULTS IN MORE ANXIETY AND
IMMOBILISATION, UNTIL WE CREATE A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE COMPLETELY STUCK AND
MISERABLE.

THE WAY OUT OF THIS IS TO BECOME AWARE OF THE FEELINGS OF FEAR, ANXIETY, ANGER OR
DEPRESSION AND THEN ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT DID I JUST TELL MYSELF THAT IS CREATING
THIS FEELING?" ONCE YOU BECOME AWARE OF THE SELF-JUDGEMENT, YOU CAN THEN ASK
YOURSELF, "AM I CERTAIN THAT WHAT I AM TELLING MYSELF IS TRUE?" IF YOU ARE NOT 100%
CERTAIN THAT WHAT YOU ARE TELLING YOURSELF IS TRUE, YOU CAN ASK YOUR HIGHER,
WISE SELF OR A SPIRITUAL SOURCE OF WISDOM, "WHAT IS THE TRUTH?" IF YOU ARE REALLY
OPEN TO LEARNING ABOUT THE TRUTH, THE TRUTH WILL POP INTO YOUR MIND, AND IT WILL
BE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TELLING YOURSELF.

FOR EXAMPLE, "I AM SUCH A IDIOT. HOW COULD I HAVE SAID THAT?" BECOMES "WE ALL
MESS UP AT TIMES. IT'S OKAY TO MAKE MISTAKES IT'S PART OF BEING HUMAN. MAKING A
MISTAKE DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU ARE AN IDIOT." WHEN WE OPEN TO THE TRUTH, WE WILL
DISCOVER A KIND AND COMPASSIONATE WAY OF SPEAKING TO OURSELVES, A WAY THAT
MAKES US FEEL LOVED AND SAFE RATHER THAN ANXIOUS, ANGRY OR DEPRESSED.

ADDICTIONS ARE ALWAYS CHALLENGING TO RESOLVE, AND AN ADDICTION TO SELF-
JUDGEMENT IS NO EXCEPTION. SO BE EASY ON YOURSELF, AND DON'T JUDGE YOURSELF FOR
JUDGING YOURSELF! IT WILL TAKE TIME AND DEDICATION TO BECOME AWARE OF YOUR SELF-
JUDGEMENTS AND LEARN TO BE KIND TOWARD YOURSELF, BUT THE END RESULT IS SO
WORTH THE EFFORT!

SIX THINGS TO TAKE FOR A GREAT LIFE

1. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

YOUR LIFE IS ALL UP TO YOU! THE SOONER YOU BELIEVE AND ACCEPT THAT, THE BETTER.
STOP LEAVING IMPORTANT DECISIONS UP TO OTHERS. STOP TRYING TO BLAME OTHERS FOR
WHAT GOES WRONG (OR WHAT DOESN'T GO AT ALL). TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE
AND YOU TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO REALLY ENJOYING THE REST OF IT!

2. TAKE A LEAP



NO ONE CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE SPENDS TOO MUCH TIME
THINKING ABOUT THE PAST AND HOW THINGS THEY DID "WAY BACK WHEN" MAY AFFECT
THINGS THEY WANT TO DO TODAY. THE PAST IS PAST, THE FUTURE IS OUT THERE. BUT RIGHT
NOW, STOP WORRYING ABOUT EVERY LITTLE THING AND TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH! DO THE
THINGS YOU REALLY WANT TO DO. TAKE A CHANCE THAT YOUR DREAMS AREN'T JUST
DREAMS. TAKE A CHANCE ON YOURSELF. LIFE REWARDS THOSE WHO ACT, SO ACT!

3. TAKE A STAND

REMEMBER: YOU ARE THE SPOKESPERSON FOR YOUR LIFE! STOP WAFFLING. MAKE A
DECISION YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO. MOST OF THE TIME YOU WILL BE RIGHT AND THOSE
FEW TIMES THAT YOU ARE WRONG WILL BE THE POINTS WHEN YOU LEARN THE MOST. DRAW
A LINE. SHARE YOUR OPINIONS. SPEAK UP!

4. TAKE YOUR TIME

EVERYTHING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DONE TODAY. THIS HOUR. THIS MINUTE. RIGHT NOW! AND
JUST BECAUSE NONE OF US KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD
RUSH, RUSH, RUSH THROUGH OUR DAYS ON A SENSELESS QUEST OF QUANTITY OVER
QUALITY. SLOW DOWN. YOU CAN'T SMELL THE FLOWERS IF YOU CAN'T SEE 'EM.

5. TAKE STOCK

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG IT'S OH-SO-EASY TO COMPILE A LIST OF PROBLEMS AND
COMPLAINTS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF
THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES AND AVAILABLE TO US. EACH OF US HAS
MORE THAN WE THINK WE HAVE, ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT THAT MUCH ABOUT
IT. SO THINK ABOUT IT.

6. TAKE A BOW

WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TRYING ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH AND SO LITTLE TIME APPRECIATING
WHAT WE HAVE DONE. TAKE CREDIT FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. BE PROUD OF WHAT
YOU'VE ACHIEVED. SUCCESS IS A GOOD THING!

ASSUMPTIONS THAT KILL SUCCESS

I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT PEOPLE HAVE THIS KNACK FOR MAKING ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT
THEIR LIVES AND THEIR GOALS THAT ARE JUST INCREDIBLY, WILDLY WRONG. WORSE, THESE
ASSUMPTIONS AREN'T JUST INCORRECT, THEY ARE DEFLATING AND DEADLY TO THE SUCCESS
THEY SEEK.

I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT WHEN PEOPLE PUT THESE ASSUMPTIONS ASIDE AND GET FOCUSED
ON THE TRUTH, THEY BEGIN MAKING PROGRESS QUITE QUICKLY.

BELOW ARE THE TOP 10 ASSUMPTIONS I HAVE RUN ACROSS. CONSIDER THIS A "MOST-
WANTED" LIST OF KILLER ASSUMPTIONS TO TRY AND AVOID:

1. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON



WARNING! IF YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING/THINKING THIS, IT'S TIME TO STOP AND ASK A
FEW MORE QUESTIONS. INVARIABLY, THE MOMENT WE THINK WE SEE EVERYTHING IS
USUALLY WHEN WE HAVE THE SMALLEST FIELD OF VISION. RECHECK YOUR FACTS, GET MORE
INFORMATION AND THEN PROCEED.

2. I HAVE A FOOLPROOF PLAN

NO PLAN IS FOOLPROOF. (AT BEST, YOU MIGHT HAVE A PLAN THAT IS "FOOL RESISTANT".)
CONSIDER WORST-CASE SCENARIOS AND AS MANY "WHAT-IFS" AS TIME WILL ALLOW.

3. I DON'T NEED (OR CAN'T GET) HELP

FEW PEOPLE IN HISTORY HAVE CREATED SUCCESS SOLELY ON THEIR OWN. A SECOND
OPINION, A SPARE SET OF HANDS AND A FRESH PERSPECTIVE SELDOM GO AMISS... AND THEY
ARE ALL MUCH EASIER TO FIND THAN YOU THINK.

4. I DON'T HAVE THE EDUCATION

IT'S IDEAS PUT TO ACTION THAT CREATE SUCCESS, NOT DIPLOMAS, SO STOP USING THIS TO
DELAY GETTING STARTED. IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE FORMAL "EDUCATION" THERE ARE
PLENTY OF WAYS TO GET IT. THEY MAY NOT BE TRADITIONAL, BUT THEY CAN BE JUST AS
EFFECTIVE.

5. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY

NOT HAVING THE MONEY NOW DOES NOT MEAN YOU CANNOT GET THE MONEY IN THE
FUTURE. FOCUS ON HOW YOU CAN SAVE, EARN, OR BORROW WHAT YOU NEED.

6. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME

ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD. YOU MAY NEED TO RESCHEDULE SOME
THINGS, CHANGE PRIORITIES, AND/OR STOP DOING OTHER THINGS, BUT YOU WILL NEVER
HAVE MORE TIME THAN YOU DO RIGHT NOW.

7. I AM TOO OLD (OR NOT OLD ENOUGH)

YOU ARE ONLY "TOO OLD" WHEN YOU ARE DEAD. AND IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT NOT
BEING "OLD ENOUGH," THEN TRUST ME, YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH.

8. I AM BEING UNREALISTIC

SOME OF THE GREATEST SUCCESSES EVER ARE THE ONES THAT WERE THOUGHT THE LEAST
REALISTIC. DREAM BIG. BE BOLD. LET THE CRITICS DEBATE WHETHER IT'S REALISTIC OR
NOT.... WHILE YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN.

9. I DON'T DESERVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL

REALLY? WHY NOT JUST GO AHEAD AND FIND OUT? I THINK YOU WILL BE PLEASANTLY
SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT YOU'RE WRONG.

10. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO



MAYBE NOBODY YOU KNOW NOW, BUT TAKE A LOOK AROUND. THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH
WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL STRUGGLING TO CREATE THEIR OWN SUCCESS. OPEN UP,
SHARE YOUR DREAMS WITH THEM. YOU WILL SOON FIND MORE SUPPORTERS THAN YOU CAN
COUNT!

WHAT IS ANGER?

THE NATURE OF ANGER

ANGER IS "AN EMOTIONAL STATE THAT VARIES IN INTENSITY FROM MILD IRRITATION TO
INTENSE FURY AND RAGE.” LIKE OTHER EMOTIONS, IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY PHYSIOLOGICAL
AND BIOLOGICAL CHANGES; WHEN YOU GET ANGRY, YOUR HEART RATE AND BLOOD
PRESSURE GO UP, AS DO THE LEVELS OF YOUR ENERGY HORMONES, ADRENALINE, AND NOR
ADRENALINE.
ANGER CAN BE CAUSED BY BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL EVENTS. YOU COULD BE ANGRY AT
A SPECIFIC PERSON (SUCH AS A CO-WORKER OR SUPERVISOR) OR EVENT (A TRAFFIC JAM, A
CANCELLED FLIGHT), OR YOUR ANGER COULD BE CAUSED BY WORRYING OR BROODING
ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL PROBLEMS. MEMORIES OF TRAUMATIC OR ENRAGING EVENTS CAN
ALSO TRIGGER ANGRY FEELINGS.

EXPRESSING ANGER

THE INSTINCTIVE, NATURAL WAY TO EXPRESS ANGER IS TO RESPOND AGGRESSIVELY. ANGER
IS A NATURAL, ADAPTIVE RESPONSE TO THREATS; IT INSPIRES POWERFUL, OFTEN
AGGRESSIVE, FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOURS, WHICH ALLOW US TO FIGHT AND TO DEFEND
OURSELVES WHEN WE ARE ATTACKED. A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ANGER, THEREFORE, IS
NECESSARY TO OUR SURVIVAL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE CAN'T PHYSICALLY LASH OUT AT EVERY PERSON OR OBJECT THAT
IRRITATES OR ANNOYS US; LAWS, SOCIAL NORMS, AND COMMON SENSE PLACE LIMITS ON
HOW FAR OUR ANGER CAN TAKE US.

PEOPLE USE A VARIETY OF BOTH CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS PROCESSES TO DEAL WITH
THEIR ANGRY FEELINGS. THE THREE MAIN APPROACHES ARE EXPRESSING, SUPPRESSING,
AND CALMING. EXPRESSING YOUR ANGRY FEELINGS IN AN ASSERTIVE, NOT AGGRESSIVE
MANNER IS THE HEALTHIEST WAY TO EXPRESS ANGER. TO DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO LEARN
HOW TO MAKE CLEAR WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE, AND HOW TO GET THEM MET, WITHOUT
HURTING OTHERS. BEING ASSERTIVE DOESN'T MEAN BEING PUSHY OR DEMANDING; IT
MEANS BEING RESPECTFUL OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

ANGER CAN BE SUPPRESSED, AND THEN CONVERTED OR REDIRECTED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN
YOU HOLD IN YOUR ANGER, STOP THINKING ABOUT IT, AND FOCUS ON SOMETHING POSITIVE.
THE AIM IS TO INHIBIT OR SUPPRESS YOUR ANGER AND CONVERT IT INTO MORE
CONSTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR. THE DANGER IN THIS TYPE OF RESPONSE IS THAT IF IT ISN'T
ALLOWED OUTWARD EXPRESSION, YOUR ANGER CAN TURN INWARD ON YOURSELF. ANGER
TURNED INWARD MAY CAUSE HYPERTENSION, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OR DEPRESSION.

UNEXPRESSED ANGER CAN CREATE OTHER PROBLEMS. IT CAN LEAD TO PATHOLOGICAL
EXPRESSIONS OF ANGER, SUCH AS PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR (GETTING BACK AT
PEOPLE INDIRECTLY, WITHOUT TELLING THEM WHY, RATHER THAN CONFRONTING THEM HEAD-



ON) OR A PERSONALITY THAT SEEMS PERPETUALLY CYNICAL AND HOSTILE. PEOPLE WHO ARE
CONSTANTLY PUTTING OTHERS DOWN, CRITICISING EVERYTHING, AND MAKING CYNICAL
COMMENTS HAVEN'T LEARNED HOW TO CONSTRUCTIVELY EXPRESS THEIR ANGER. NOT
SURPRISINGLY, THEY AREN'T LIKELY TO HAVE MANY SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS.

FINALLY, YOU CAN CALM DOWN INSIDE. THIS MEANS NOT JUST CONTROLLING YOUR
OUTWARD BEHAVIOUR, BUT ALSO CONTROLLING YOUR INTERNAL RESPONSES, TAKING STEPS
TO LOWER YOUR HEART RATE, CALM YOURSELF DOWN, AND LET THE FEELINGS SUBSIDE.

"WHEN NONE OF THESE THREE TECHNIQUES WORK, THAT'S WHEN SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
IS GOING TO GET HURT."

ANGER MANAGEMENT

THE GOAL OF ANGER MANAGEMENT IS TO REDUCE BOTH YOUR EMOTIONAL FEELINGS AND
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AROUSAL THAT ANGER CAUSES. YOU CAN'T GET RID OF, OR AVOID, THE
THINGS OR THE PEOPLE THAT ENRAGE YOU, NOR CAN YOU CHANGE THEM, BUT YOU CAN
LEARN TO CONTROL YOUR REACTIONS.
ARE YOU TOO ANGRY?

THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS THAT MEASURE THE INTENSITY OF ANGRY FEELINGS, HOW
PRONE TO ANGER YOU ARE, AND HOW WELL YOU HANDLE IT. BUT CHANCES ARE GOOD THAT
IF YOU DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANGER, YOU ALREADY KNOW IT. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF
ACTING IN WAYS THAT SEEM OUT OF CONTROL AND FRIGHTENING, YOU MIGHT NEED HELP
FINDING BETTER WAYS TO DEAL WITH THIS EMOTION.

WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE MORE ANGRY THAN OTHERS?

SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY MORE "HOT-HEADED" THAN OTHERS ARE; THEY GET ANGRY MORE
EASILY AND MORE INTENSELY THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON DOES. THERE ARE ALSO THOSE
WHO DON'T SHOW THEIR ANGER IN LOUD SPECTACULAR WAYS BUT ARE CHRONICALLY
IRRITABLE AND GRUMPY. EASILY ANGERED PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS CURSE AND THROW
THINGS; SOMETIMES THEY WITHDRAW SOCIALLY, SULK, OR GET PHYSICALLY ILL.

PEOPLE WHO ARE EASILY ANGERED GENERALLY HAVE WHAT SOME PSYCHOLOGISTS CALL A
LOW TOLERANCE FOR FRUSTRATION, MEANING SIMPLY THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD
NOT HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO FRUSTRATION, INCONVENIENCE, OR ANNOYANCE. THEY
CAN'T TAKE THINGS IN STRIDE, AND THEY'RE PARTICULARLY INFURIATED IF THE SITUATION
SEEMS SOMEHOW UNJUST: FOR EXAMPLE, BEING CORRECTED FOR A MINOR MISTAKE.

WHAT MAKES THESE PEOPLE THIS WAY? A NUMBER OF THINGS. ONE CAUSE MAY BE GENETIC
OR PHYSIOLOGICAL: THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT SOME CHILDREN ARE BORN IRRITABLE,
TOUCHY, AND EASILY ANGERED, AND THAT THESE SIGNS ARE PRESENT FROM A VERY EARLY
AGE. ANOTHER MAY BE SOCIOCULTURAL. ANGER IS OFTEN REGARDED AS NEGATIVE; WE'RE
TAUGHT THAT IT'S ALL RIGHT TO EXPRESS ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, OR OTHER EMOTIONS BUT
NOT TO EXPRESS ANGER. AS A RESULT, WE DON'T LEARN HOW TO HANDLE IT OR CHANNEL IT
CONSTRUCTIVELY.

RESEARCH HAS ALSO FOUND THAT FAMILY BACKGROUND PLAYS A ROLE. TYPICALLY, PEOPLE
WHO ARE EASILY ANGERED COME FROM FAMILIES THAT ARE DISRUPTIVE, CHAOTIC, AND NOT
SKILLED AT EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS.



IS IT GOOD TO "LET IT ALL HANG OUT?"

PSYCHOLOGISTS NOW SAY THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS MYTH. SOME PEOPLE USE THIS
THEORY AS A LICENSE TO HURT OTHERS. RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT "LETTING IT RIP" WITH
ANGER ACTUALLY ESCALATES ANGER AND AGGRESSION AND DOES NOTHING TO HELP YOU
(OR THE PERSON YOU'RE ANGRY WITH) RESOLVE THE SITUATION.

IT'S BEST TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS THAT TRIGGERS YOUR ANGER, AND THEN TO DEVELOP
STRATEGIES TO KEEP THOSE TRIGGERS FROM TIPPING YOU OVER THE EDGE.

STRATEGIES TO KEEP ANGER AT BAY

RELAXATION

SIMPLE RELAXATION TOOLS, SUCH AS DEEP BREATHING AND RELAXING IMAGERY, CAN HELP
CALM DOWN ANGRY FEELINGS. THERE ARE BOOKS AND COURSES THAT CAN TEACH YOU
RELAXATION TECHNIQUES, AND ONCE YOU LEARN THE TECHNIQUES, YOU CAN CALL UPON
THEM IN ANY SITUATION. IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A RELATIONSHIP WHERE BOTH PARTNERS
ARE HOT-TEMPERED, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR BOTH OF YOU TO LEARN THESE
TECHNIQUES.

SOME SIMPLE STEPS YOU CAN TRY:

YOU. PICTURE YOUR BREATH COMING UP FROM YOUR "GUT."
X," "TAKE IT EASY." REPEAT IT
TO YOURSELF WHILE BREATHING DEEPLY.

IMAGINATION.

CALMER.

PRACTICE THESE TECHNIQUES DAILY. LEARN TO USE THEM AUTOMATICALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN
A TENSE SITUATION.

COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING

SIMPLY PUT, THIS MEANS CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK. ANGRY PEOPLE TEND TO CURSE,
SWEAR, OR SPEAK IN HIGHLY COLOURFUL TERMS THAT REFLECT THEIR INNER THOUGHTS.
WHEN YOU'RE ANGRY, YOUR THINKING CAN GET VERY EXAGGERATED AND OVERLY DRAMATIC.
TRY REPLACING THESE THOUGHTS WITH MORE RATIONAL ONES. FOR INSTANCE, INSTEAD OF
TELLING YOURSELF, "OH, IT'S AWFUL, IT'S TERRIBLE, EVERYTHING'S RUINED," TELL
YOURSELF, "IT'S FRUSTRATING, AND IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT I'M UPSET ABOUT IT, BUT
IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD AND GETTING ANGRY IS NOT GOING TO FIX IT ANYHOW."

BE CAREFUL OF WORDS LIKE "NEVER" OR "ALWAYS" WHEN TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF OR
SOMEONE ELSE. “THIS! &*%@ MACHINE NEVER WORKS," OR "YOU'RE ALWAYS FORGETTING
THINGS" ARE NOT JUST INACCURATE, THEY ALSO SERVE TO MAKE YOU FEEL THAT YOUR
ANGER IS JUSTIFIED AND THAT THERE'S NO WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO
ALIENATE AND HUMILIATE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU



ON A SOLUTION. REMIND YOURSELF THAT GETTING ANGRY IS NOT GOING TO FIX ANYTHING,
THAT IT WON'T MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER (AND MAY ACTUALLY MAKE YOU FEEL WORSE).

LOGIC DEFEATS ANGER, BECAUSE ANGER, EVEN WHEN IT'S JUSTIFIED, CAN QUICKLY BECOME
IRRATIONAL. SO USE COLD HARD LOGIC ON YOURSELF. REMIND YOURSELF THAT THE WORLD
IS "NOT OUT TO GET YOU," YOU'RE JUST EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE ROUGH SPOTS OF
DAILY LIFE. DO THIS EACH TIME YOU FEEL ANGER GETTING THE BEST OF YOU, AND IT'LL HELP
YOU GET A MORE BALANCED PERSPECTIVE. ANGRY PEOPLE TEND TO DEMAND THINGS:
FAIRNESS, APPRECIATION, AGREEMENT, AND WILLINGNESS TO DO THINGS THEIR WAY.
EVERYONE WANTS THESE THINGS, AND WE ARE ALL HURT AND DISAPPOINTED WHEN WE
DON'T GET THEM, BUT ANGRY PEOPLE DEMAND THEM, AND WHEN THEIR DEMANDS AREN'T
MET, THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT BECOMES ANGER. AS PART OF THEIR COGNITIVE
RESTRUCTURING, ANGRY PEOPLE NEED TO BECOME AWARE OF THEIR DEMANDING NATURE
AND TRANSLATE THEIR EXPECTATIONS INTO DESIRES. IN OTHER WORDS, SAYING, "I WOULD
LIKE" SOMETHING IS HEALTHIER THAN SAYING, "I DEMAND" OR "I MUST HAVE" SOMETHING.
WHEN YOU'RE UNABLE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE NORMAL
REACTIONS FRUSTRATION, DISAPPOINTMENT, HURT BUT NOT ANGER. SOME ANGRY PEOPLE
USE THIS ANGER AS A WAY TO AVOID FEELING HURT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE HURT
GOES AWAY.

PROBLEM SOLVING

SOMETIMES, OUR ANGER AND FRUSTRATION ARE CAUSED BY VERY REAL AND INESCAPABLE
PROBLEMS IN OUR LIVES. NOT ALL ANGER IS MISPLACED, AND OFTEN IT'S A HEALTHY,
NATURAL RESPONSE TO THESE DIFFICULTIES. THERE IS ALSO A CULTURAL BELIEF THAT EVERY
PROBLEM HAS A SOLUTION, AND IT ADDS TO OUR FRUSTRATION TO FIND OUT THAT THIS
ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE. THE BEST ATTITUDE TO BRING TO SUCH A SITUATION, THEN, IS NOT
TO FOCUS ON FINDING THE SOLUTION, BUT RATHER ON HOW YOU HANDLE AND FACE THE
PROBLEM.

MAKE A PLAN, AND CHECK YOUR PROGRESS ALONG THE WAY. RESOLVE TO GIVE IT YOUR
BEST, BUT ALSO NOT TO PUNISH YOURSELF IF AN ANSWER DOESN'T COME RIGHT AWAY. IF
YOU CAN APPROACH IT WITH YOUR BEST INTENTIONS AND EFFORTS AND MAKE A SERIOUS
ATTEMPT TO FACE IT HEAD-ON, YOU WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO LOSE PATIENCE AND FALL INTO
ALL OR NOTHING THINKING, EVEN IF THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GET SOLVED RIGHT AWAY.

BETTER COMMUNICATION

ANGRY PEOPLE TEND TO JUMP TO AND ACT ON CONCLUSIONS, AND SOME OF THOSE
CONCLUSIONS CAN BE VERY INACCURATE. THE FIRST THING TO DO IF YOU'RE IN A HEATED
DISCUSSION IS SLOW DOWN AND THINK THROUGH YOUR RESPONSES. DON'T SAY THE FIRST
THING THAT COMES INTO YOUR HEAD, BUT SLOW DOWN AND THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT
YOU WANT TO SAY. AT THE SAME TIME, LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT THE OTHER PERSON IS
SAYING AND TAKE YOUR TIME BEFORE ANSWERING.

LISTEN, TOO, TO WHAT IS UNDERLYING THE ANGER. FOR INSTANCE, YOU LIKE A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF FREEDOM AND PERSONAL SPACE, AND YOUR "SIGNIFICANT OTHER" WANTS MORE
CONNECTION AND CLOSENESS. IF HE OR SHE STARTS COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR
ACTIVITIES, DON'T RETALIATE BY PAINTING YOUR PARTNER AS A JAILER, A WARDEN, OR AN
ALBATROSS AROUND YOUR NECK.



IT'S NATURAL TO GET DEFENSIVE WHEN YOU'RE CRITICISED, BUT DON'T FIGHT BACK.
INSTEAD, LISTEN TO WHAT'S UNDERLYING THE WORDS: THE MESSAGE THAT THIS PERSON
MIGHT FEEL NEGLECTED AND UNLOVED. IT MAY TAKE A LOT OF PATIENT QUESTIONING ON
YOUR PART, AND IT MAY REQUIRE SOME BREATHING SPACE, BUT DON'T LET YOUR ANGER OR
A PARTNER'S LET A DISCUSSION SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. KEEPING YOUR COOL CAN KEEP THE
SITUATION FROM BECOMING A DISASTROUS ONE.

USING HUMOUR

"SILLY HUMOUR" CAN HELP DEFUSE RAGE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. FOR ONE THING, IT CAN
HELP YOU GET A MORE BALANCED PERSPECTIVE. WHEN YOU GET ANGRY AND CALL SOMEONE
A NAME OR REFER TO THEM IN SOME IMAGINATIVE PHRASE, STOP AND PICTURE WHAT THAT
WORD WOULD LITERALLY LOOK LIKE. IF YOU'RE AT WORK AND YOU THINK OF A CO-WORKER
AS A "DIRTBAG" OR A "SINGLE-CELL LIFE FORM," FOR EXAMPLE, PICTURE A LARGE BAG FULL
OF DIRT (OR AN AMOEBA) SITTING AT YOUR COLLEAGUE'S DESK, TALKING ON THE PHONE,
GOING TO MEETINGS. DO THIS WHENEVER A NAME COMES INTO YOUR HEAD ABOUT ANOTHER
PERSON. IF YOU CAN, DRAW A PICTURE OF WHAT THE ACTUAL THING MIGHT LOOK LIKE. THIS
WILL TAKE A LOT OF THE EDGE OFF YOUR FURY; AND HUMOUR CAN ALWAYS BE RELIED ON TO
HELP UNKNOT A TENSE SITUATION.

THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE OF HIGHLY ANGRY PEOPLE IS "THINGS OUGHT TO GO MY WAY!"
ANGRY PEOPLE TEND TO FEEL THAT THEY ARE MORALLY RIGHT, THAT ANY BLOCKING OR
CHANGING OF THEIR PLANS IS AN UNBEARABLE INDIGNITY AND THAT THEY SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO SUFFER THIS WAY. MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE DO, BUT NOT THEM!

WHEN YOU FEEL THAT URGE, PICTURE YOURSELF AS A SUPREME RULER, WHO OWNS THE
STREETS AND STORES AND OFFICE SPACE, STRIDING ALONE AND HAVING YOUR WAY IN ALL
SITUATIONS WHILE OTHERS DEFER TO YOU. THE MORE DETAIL YOU CAN GET INTO YOUR
IMAGINARY SCENES, THE MORE CHANCES YOU HAVE TO REALISE THAT MAYBE YOU ARE BEING
UNREASONABLE; YOU'LL ALSO REALISE HOW UNIMPORTANT THE THINGS YOU'RE ANGRY
ABOUT REALLY ARE. THERE ARE TWO CAUTIONS IN USING HUMOUR. FIRST, DON'T TRY TO
JUST "LAUGH OFF" YOUR PROBLEMS; RATHER, USE HUMOUR TO HELP YOURSELF FACE THEM
MORE CONSTRUCTIVELY. SECOND, DON'T GIVE IN TO HARSH, SARCASTIC HUMOUR; THAT'S
JUST ANOTHER FORM OF UNHEALTHY ANGER EXPRESSION.

WHAT THESE TECHNIQUES HAVE IN COMMON IS A REFUSAL TO TAKE YOURSELF TOO
SERIOUSLY. ANGER IS A SERIOUS EMOTION, BUT IT'S OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY IDEAS THAT,
IF EXAMINED, CAN MAKE YOU LAUGH.

CHANGING YOUR ENVIRONMENT

SOMETIMES IT'S OUR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS THAT GIVE US CAUSE FOR IRRITATION AND
FURY. PROBLEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES CAN WEIGH ON YOU AND MAKE YOU FEEL ANGRY AT
THE "TRAP" YOU SEEM TO HAVE FALLEN INTO AND ALL THE PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT FORM
THAT TRAP.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME "PERSONAL TIME" SCHEDULED FOR
TIMES OF THE DAY THAT YOU KNOW ARE PARTICULARLY STRESSFUL. ONE EXAMPLE IS THE
WORKING MOTHER WHO HAS A STANDING RULE THAT WHEN SHE COMES HOME FROM WORK,
FOR THE FIRST 15 MINUTES "NOBODY TALKS TO MUM UNLESS THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE." AFTER



THIS BRIEF QUIET TIME, SHE FEELS BETTER PREPARED TO HANDLE DEMANDS FROM HER KIDS
WITHOUT BLOWING UP AT THEM.

SOME OTHER TIPS FOR EASING UP ON YOURSELF

TIMING: IF YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE TEND TO FIGHT WHEN YOU DISCUSS THINGS AT NIGHT
PERHAPS YOU'RE TIRED, OR DISTRACTED, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST HABIT TRY CHANGING THE
TIMES WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IMPORTANT MATTERS SO THESE TALKS DON'T TURN INTO
ARGUMENTS.

AVOIDANCE: IF YOUR CHILD'S CHAOTIC ROOM MAKES YOU FURIOUS EVERY TIME YOU WALK
BY IT, SHUT THE DOOR. DON'T MAKE YOURSELF LOOK AT WHAT INFURIATES YOU. DON'T SAY,
"WELL, MY CHILD SHOULD CLEAN UP THE ROOM SO I WON'T HAVE TO BE ANGRY!" THAT'S NOT
THE POINT. THE POINT IS TO KEEP YOURSELF CALM.

FINDING ALTERNATIVES: IF YOUR DAILY COMMUTE THROUGH TRAFFIC LEAVES YOU IN A
STATE OF RAGE AND FRUSTRATION, GIVE YOURSELF A PROJECT LEARN OR MAP OUT A
DIFFERENT ROUTE, ONE THAT'S LESS CONGESTED OR MORE SCENIC. OR FIND ANOTHER
ALTERNATIVE, SUCH AS A BUS OR COMMUTER TRAIN.

DO YOU NEED COUNSELLING?

IF YOU FEEL THAT YOUR ANGER IS REALLY OUT OF CONTROL, IF IT IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON
YOUR RELATIONSHIPS AND ON IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR LIFE, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER
COUNSELLING TO LEARN HOW TO HANDLE IT BETTER. A PSYCHOLOGIST OR OTHER LICENSED
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CAN WORK WITH YOU IN DEVELOPING A RANGE OF
TECHNIQUES FOR CHANGING YOUR THINKING AND YOUR BEHAVIOUR.

WHEN YOU TALK TO A PROSPECTIVE THERAPIST, TELL HER OR HIM THAT YOU HAVE PROBLEMS
WITH ANGER THAT YOU WANT TO WORK ON, AND ASK ABOUT HIS OR HER APPROACH TO
ANGER MANAGEMENT. MAKE SURE THIS ISN'T ONLY A COURSE OF ACTION DESIGNED TO "PUT
YOU IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FEELINGS AND EXPRESS THEM" THAT MAY BE PRECISELY WHAT
YOUR PROBLEM IS. WITH COUNSELLING, PSYCHOLOGISTS SAY, A HIGHLY ANGRY PERSON CAN
MOVE CLOSER TO A MIDDLE RANGE OF ANGER IN ABOUT 8 TO 10 WEEKS, DEPENDING ON THE
CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE TECHNIQUES USED.

WHAT ABOUT ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING?

IT'S TRUE THAT ANGRY PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN TO BECOME ASSERTIVE (RATHER THAN
AGGRESSIVE), BUT MOST BOOKS AND COURSES ON DEVELOPING ASSERTIVENESS ARE AIMED
AT PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL ENOUGH ANGER. THESE PEOPLE ARE MORE PASSIVE AND
ACQUIESCENT THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON; THEY TEND TO LET OTHERS WALK ALL OVER
THEM. THAT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT MOST ANGRY PEOPLE DO. STILL, THESE BOOKS CAN
CONTAIN SOME USEFUL TACTICS TO USE IN FRUSTRATING SITUATIONS.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN'T ELIMINATE ANGER AND IT WOULDN'T BE A GOOD IDEA IF YOU COULD.
IN SPITE OF ALL YOUR EFFORTS, THINGS WILL HAPPEN THAT WILL CAUSE YOU ANGER; AND
SOMETIMES IT WILL BE JUSTIFIABLE ANGER. LIFE WILL BE FILLED WITH FRUSTRATION, PAIN,
LOSS, AND THE UNPREDICTABLE ACTIONS OF OTHERS. YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT; BUT YOU
CAN CHANGE THE WAY YOU LET SUCH EVENTS AFFECT YOU. CONTROLLING YOUR ANGRY
RESPONSES CAN KEEP THEM FROM MAKING YOU EVEN MORE UNHAPPY IN THE LONG RUN.



FOUR PROVEN TECHNIQUES FOR MANAGING ANGER

THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS MANAGING ANGER IN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
APPROPRIATELY IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE MISTAKEN ATTITUDES AND CONVICTIONS
THAT PREDISPOSE US TO BEING EXCESSIVELY ANGRY IN THE FIRST PLACE!

ONCE THESE MISTAKES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, WE WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO FLY OFF THE
HANDLE THAN WE WERE IN THE PAST.

THE SECOND STEP IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF THOSE FACTORS FROM OUR CHILDHOOD THAT
PREVENTS US FROM EXPRESSING OUR ANGER AS APPROPRIATELY AS WE OTHERWISE MIGHT.
THESE FACTORS INCLUDE FEAR, DENIAL, IGNORANCE AND SO ON.

THESE IMPEDIMENTS TO THE EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT OF OUR ANGER
TOWARDS OTHERS CAN BE REMOVED SO THAT OUR SUPPRESSED ANGER WILL NOT
COMPOUND ITSELF INSIDE OF US AS IT HAS BEEN DOING FOR YEARS.

THE THIRD STEP IS LEARNING THE APPROPRIATE MODES OF EXPRESSING OUR "LEGITIMATE"
ANGER AT OTHERS SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO COPE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH ANGER
PROVOKING SITUATIONS AS THEY ARISE IN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. WHEN WE ARE
ANXIOUS OR DEPRESSED IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS, WE ARE OFTEN EXPERIENCING THE
CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SUPPRESSED ANGER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE SUPPRESSED
OUR ANGER SO DEEPLY THAT WE SUCCEEDED IN CONCEALING IT FROM OUR OWN SELVES!
ALL WE ARE LEFT WITH IS THE RESIDUAL EVIDENCE OF IT, OUR ANXIETY OR OUR
DEPRESSION. WHEN WE ARE DEPRESSED, VERY OFTEN WE ARE ALSO ANGRY AT OUR SELF
WITHOUT REALISING IT.

LEARNING TO APPROPRIATELY MANAGE OUR ANGER AT OURSELVES IS THE ANTIDOTE TO
MUCH OF ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE. BUT THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR ANGER DOES NOT
END IN LEARNING THESE NEW AND MORE APPROPRIATE WAYS TO EXPRESS IT. THERE
REMAINS ONE LAST STEP.

THE FOURTH STEP IN THE ANGER MANAGEMENT PROCESS IS TO BIND UP THE WOUNDS THAT
MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT BY THE POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF ANGER.
"ANGER WOUNDS" LEFT IN US AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED US. IF WE DO NOT
COMPLETE THIS MOPPING UP STEP, WE WILL CLING TO THE RESENTMENT OF HAVING BEEN
DONE WRONG AND WILL CARRY THE FESTERING RESIDUE OF OUR ANGER AND RAGE IN OUR
HEARTS FOREVER. ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF GIVING OURSELVES IMMEDIATE
RELIEF FROM ANGER IN OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IS TO FORGIVE OTHERS.

MANY OF US CANNOT FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE TRESPASSED AGAINST US.

SOMETHING BELOW THE LEVEL OF OUR CONSCIOUS AWARENESS PREVENTS US FROM
RELIEVING OUR RESIDUAL ANGER BY FORGIVING THE OTHER PERSON AND WE THEN CARRY A
GRUDGE IN OUR HEARTS FOR THIRTY YEARS! THIS UNRESOLVED ANGER POISONS OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES. IT EVEN SPOILS OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH OURSELVES! WE MAKE OUR OWN LIVES MEAN AND MISERABLE INSTEAD OF HAPPY AND
FULL. VERY OFTEN THE FEELING IS, "WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE THEM? WHAT THEY DID WAS
WRONG!" BUT, IS FORGIVENESS FOR THOSE WHO ONLY DO US RIGHT? MOST PEOPLE HAVE A
HARD TIME FORGIVING OTHERS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WRONG UNDERSTANDING OF



WHAT FORGIVENESS IS! WHEN YOU FORGIVE SOMEONE, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU
CONDONE OR ARE LEGITIMISING THEIR BEHAVIOUR TOWARD YOU. TO FORGIVE THEM MEANS
THAT YOU REFUSE TO CARRY PAINFUL AND DEBILITATING GRUDGES AROUND WITH YOU FOR
THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! YOU ARE "REFUSING" TO CLING TO THE RESENTMENT OF THEM
HAVING DONE YOU WRONG. YOU ARE GIVING YOURSELF SOME IMMEDIATE RELIEF FROM
YOUR OWN ANGER!

TO FORGIVE, THEN, IS AN ACT THAT WE DO ON OUR OWN BEHALF.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH "LIFTING" THE OTHER PERSON'S SIN! YOU ARE NOT DOING IT
FOR THEIR SAKE. YOU ARE DOING IT FOR YOURSELF. THIS IS A CHOICE YOU ARE MAKING ON
YOUR OWN TERMS IN ORDER TO RELIEVE YOUR OWN PENT-UP EMOTIONS. THE BOOK, MIND
CONTROL SYSTEM CONTAINS AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE PROCESS, TO HELP YOU TO
COMPLETELY MASTER THE ANGER MANAGEMENT PROCESS.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT ANGER IS, AND WE'VE ALL FELT IT: WHETHER AS A FLEETING
ANNOYANCE OR AS FULL-FLEDGED RAGE. ANGER IS A COMPLETELY NORMAL, USUALLY
HEALTHY, HUMAN EMOTION. BUT WHEN IT GETS OUT OF CONTROL AND TURNS DESTRUCTIVE,
IT CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS: PROBLEMS AT WORK, IN YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND
IN THE OVERALL QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE. AND IT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU'RE AT
THE MERCY OF AN UNPREDICTABLE AND POWERFUL EMOTION. THIS BROCHURE IS MEANT TO
HELP YOU UNDERSTAND AND CONTROL ANGER.

WHAT IS HAPPINESS

PSYCHOLOGISTS HAVE NOW COME UP WITH A FORMULA FOR HAPPINESS.

PLEASURE + ENGAGEMENT + MEANING = HAPPINESS.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT BRINGS US PLEASURE. BUT THE TROUBLE IS ALL TOO OFTEN IT IS
FLEETING AND IT JUST DOES NOT LAST.

A NEW SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY, CALLED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, SUGGESTS THAT WE NEED
TWO OTHER VITAL INGREDIENTS IF WE WANT TO ACHIEVE MORE LASTING HAPPINESS.

FIRST, THEY SUGGEST WE NEED TO BE REALLY ENGAGED AND ENGROSSED IN WHAT WE DO.
IN THE JARGON IT IS CALLED "FLOW".

WE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED IT. IT IS THAT FEELING WE GET WHEN WE JUST DO NOT EVEN
BOTHER TO LOOK AT THE CLOCK BECAUSE WE ARE SO INTO WHAT WE ARE DOING.

SECOND, POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGISTS SUGGEST WE NEED MEANING IN OUR LIVES.

WE CAN GET THIS FROM DOING AN INTERESTING JOB, OR WORKING ON A PROJECT WE
REALLY BELIEVE IN, OR BY DOING SOMETHING WORTHWHILE.

WHILE WE ADAPT QUICKLY TO MORE MONEY AND MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, IT SEEMS WE
ADAPT LESS QUICKLY, IF AT ALL, TO MEANINGFUL THINGS.

PROBLEMS WITH THE FORMULA



HOWEVER, THIS SIMPLE FORMULA HIDES A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ISSUES.

THE UNDERVALUED COMPONENT OF HAPPINESS.

IT TURNS OUT YOU CAN HAVE TOO MUCH ENGAGEMENT AND IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY LEAD
TO MORE HAPPINESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN BECOME ENGROSSED IN WORK AND BECOME A WORKAHOLIC AND
LESS HAPPY.

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE FLOW IN GAMBLING BUT IT WILL NOT NECESSARILY MAKE YOU HAPPY.

THE FORMULA IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE OR COMPREHENSIVE.

AS PSYCHOLOGIST POINTS OUT, THE FORMULA FAILS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CONTENTMENT.

THE DANGER OF RELYING ON ANY FORMULA IS THAT IT MAY ACTUALLY MAKE US UNHAPPY, BY
PUTTING YET MORE PRESSURE ON US TO LIVE THE PERFECT LIFE.

AND WHAT IS MORE THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT ONE FORM OF HAPPINESS OFTEN
CONFLICTS WITH OTHER SOURCES OF HAPPINESS AND MAY EVEN MAKE OTHER PEOPLE
UNHAPPY.

SO SOME PEOPLE ARGUE WE SHOULD NOT EVEN CONTEMPLATE TRYING TO MAKE OURSELVES
HAPPIER.

A LITTLE EXTRA HAPPINESS

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGISTS COUNTER THIS BY SAYING THAT THEIR SUGGESTIONS ARE NOT
MIRACLE CURES AND THEY ACCEPT THAT YOU CANNOT TURN A GRUMP INTO A DELIRIOUSLY
HAPPY PERSON.

STAYING HAPPIER FOR LONGER

THEY MAINTAIN IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SOMEONE A LITTLE HAPPIER, AS MUCH AS 10-15%,
IF SOMEONE WORKS AT IT.

THIS ARTICLE EXPLAINS SOME OF THE EXERCISES YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOURSELF HAPPIER.

RESEARCH IS NOW TRYING TO TEST HOW WELL THESE EXERCISES WORK.

THE EXERCISES INCLUDE DISPUTATION, WHICH INVOLVES CHALLENGING NEGATIVE
THOUGHTS AND ANALYSING WHETHER YOU NEED TO BE AS NEGATIVE, PLAYING TO YOUR
STRENGTHS AND COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS FOR THE THINGS THAT GO WELL IN YOUR LIFE.

SCIENTISTS CLEARLY DO NOT HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. THERE IS AS YET NO SIMPLE AND
COMPREHENSIVE FORMULA FOR HAPPINESS.

HOWEVER, THE NEW EMPHASIS ON HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS, FLOW AND MEANING DOES
OFFER AN INTERESTING INSIGHT INTO WHAT REALLY MAKES US HAPPY AND CHALLENGES US
TO THINK WHETHER IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO LIVE HAPPIER LIVES.



SOCIETIES, RELIGIONS AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE VARIOUS VIEWS ON THE NATURE OF
HAPPINESS AND HOW TO PURSUE IT.

WESTERN SOCIETY TAKES ITS CONCEPT OF HAPPINESS, AT LEAST IN PART, FROM THE GREEK
CONCEPT OF 'EUDAIMONIA.' EUDAIMONIA (GREEK: Εὐ ΔΑΙΜΟΝΊΑ) IS A CLASSICAL GREEK
WORD COMMONLY TRANSLATED AS 'HAPPINESS'. ETYMOLOGICALLY, IT CONSISTS OF THE
WORD "EU" ("GOOD" OR "WELL BEING") AND "DAIMŌN" ("SPIRIT" OR "MINOR DEITY", USED
BY EXTENSION TO MEAN ONE'S LOT OR FORTUNE). ALTHOUGH POPULAR USAGE OF THE TERM
HAPPINESS REFERS TO A STATE OF MIND, RELATED TO JOY OR PLEASURE, EUDAIMONIA
RARELY DESCRIBES A STATE OF MIND AND THE LESS SUBJECTIVE "HUMAN FLOURISHING" IS
THEREFORE CURRENTLY PREFERRED AS A TRANSLATION.

IN MODERN WESTERN SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH AMERICA, IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED
THAT HAPPINESS IS ATTAINED THROUGH BEING SUCCESSFUL, HEALTHY AND HAVING
BEAUTIFUL FAMILY; CREATING MONETARY WEALTH AND SUCCESS; BEING PHYSICALLY
ATTRACTIVE EVEN THROUGH OLD AGE; AND MAINTAINING ONE'S INTELLIGENCE AND WIT.
SOME OF THESE ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE; FOR EXAMPLE, MONEY DOES
NOT APPEAR TO INCREASE HAPPINESS (OTHER THAN FOR THE IMPOVERISHED) AND HAVING
CHILDREN DOES NOT ON AVERAGE INCREASE OR DECREASE HAPPINESS.

AS WELL, A PORTION OF THE UNEDUCATED POPULATION BELIEVES THAT HAPPINESS IS
ACHIEVED BY FOLLOWING THE LATEST CULTURAL FADS, SUCH AS KEEPING ONE'S CLOTHES IN
FASHION OR KEEPING THEM IN FASHION AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE, GOING TO THE
LATEST CLUBS, RESTAURANTS OR BARS, BUYING CONSUMER PRODUCTS SEEN AS TRENDY OR
COOL, OR CHANGING A HAIR STYLE SO THAT IT IS CURRENT. HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE
DISAGREE WITH THESE PRECEDING IDEALS BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER THEM TOO
SUPERFICIAL, CONSUMERIST AND UNSATISFYING.

FOR AMERICANS, THE HAPPY OR IDEAL LIFE IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE AMERICAN
DREAM, WHICH CAN BE SEEN AS THE IDEA THAT ANY GOAL CAN BE ATTAINED THROUGH
SUFFICIENT HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION, BIRTH AND PRIVILEGE NOTWITHSTANDING.
WHILE MANY ARTISTS, WRITERS AND SCHOLARS CAN AND DO CONSIDER THEIR WORK TO
FALL WITHIN THE AMERICAN DREAM, IT IS USUALLY THOUGHT OF AS RELATING TO FINANCIAL
SUCCESS.

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

THE POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY DEFINITION OF HAPPINESS AS CONSISTING OF BOTH POSITIVE
EMOTIONS (LIKE COMFORT) AND POSITIVE ACTIVITIES (LIKE ABSORPTION).

THE THREE CATEGORIES OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS:

PAST: FEELINGS OF SATISFACTION, CONTENTMENT, PRIDE AND SERENITY.
PRESENT (EXAMPLES): ENJOYING THE TASTE OF FOOD, GLEE AT LISTENING TO MUSIC,
ABSORPTION IN READING, AND COMPANY OF PEOPLE YOU LIKE E.G. FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
FUTURE: FEELINGS OF OPTIMISM, HOPE, TRUST, FAITH AND CONFIDENCE.

THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES OF PRESENT POSITIVE EMOTIONS:

BODILY PLEASURES, E.G. ENJOYING THE TASTE OF FOOD.



HIGHER PLEASURES, E.G. GLEE AT LISTENING TO MUSIC.
GRATIFICATIONS, E.G. ABSORPTION IN READING.

THE BODILY AND HIGHER PLEASURES ARE "PLEASURES OF THE MOMENT" AND USUALLY
INVOLVE SOME EXTERNAL STIMULUS. AN EXCEPTION IS THE GLEE FELT AT HAVING AN
ORIGINAL THOUGHT.

DIFFICULTIES IN DEFINING INTERNAL EXPERIENCES.

IT IS PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE TO OBJECTIVELY DEFINE HAPPINESS AS WE KNOW AND
UNDERSTAND IT, AS INTERNAL EXPERIENCES ARE SUBJECTIVE BY NATURE. IT IS ALMOST AS
POINTLESS AS TRYING TO DEFINE THE COLOUR GREEN SUCH THAT A COMPLETELY COLOUR
BLIND PERSON COULD UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCE OF SEEING GREEN. WHILE WE CAN NOT
OBJECTIVELY EXPRESS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GREENNESS AND REDNESS, WE CAN
CERTAINLY EXPLAIN WHICH PHYSICAL PHENOMENA CAUSE GREEN TO BE OBSERVED, AND CAN
EXPLAIN THE CAPACITIES OF THE HUMAN VISUAL SYSTEM TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN LIGHT
OF DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS, AND SO ON. LIKEWISE, IN THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS, WE
WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE THE INTERNAL SENSATION OF HAPPINESS, BUT WILL
INSTEAD CONCENTRATE ON DEFINING ITS LOGICAL BASIS. IMPORTANTLY, WE WILL TRY TO
AVOID CIRCULAR DEFINITIONS FOR INSTANCE, DEFINING HAPPINESS AS "A GOOD FEELING",
WHILE "GOOD" IS DEFINED AS BEING "SOMETHING WHICH CAUSES HAPPINESS".

IN ANIMALS

FOR ANIMALS, HAPPINESS MIGHT BE BEST DESCRIBED AS THE PROCESS OF REINFORCEMENT,
AS PART OF THE ORGANISM'S MOTIVATIONAL SYSTEM. THE ORGANISM HAS ACHIEVED ONE
OR MORE OF ITS GOALS (PURSUIT OF FOOD, WATER, SEX, SHELTER, ETC.), AND ITS BRAIN IS
IN THE PROCESS OF TEACHING ITSELF TO REPEAT THE SORT OF ACTIONS THAT LED TO
SUCCESS. BY REINFORCING SUCCESSFUL DECISION PATHS, IT PRODUCES AN EQUILIBRIUM
STATE NOT UNLIKE POSITIVE-TO-NEGATIVE MAGNETS. THE SPECIFIC GOALS ARE TYPICALLY
THINGS THAT ENABLE THE ORGANISM TO SURVIVE AND REPRODUCE.

BY THIS DEFINITION, ONLY ANIMALS WITH SOME CAPACITY TO LEARN SHOULD BE ABLE TO
EXPERIENCE HAPPINESS. HOWEVER, AT ITS MOST BASIC LEVEL THE LEARNING MIGHT BE
EXTREMELY SIMPLE AND SHORT TERM, SUCH AS THE NEARLY REFLEXIVE FEEDBACK LOOP OF
SCRATCHING AN ITCH (FOLLOWED BY PLEASURE, FOLLOWED BY SCRATCHING MORE AND SO
ON) WHICH CAN OCCUR WITH ALMOST NO CONSCIOUS THOUGHT.

IN HUMANS

WHEN SPEAKING OF ANIMALS WITH THE ABILITY TO REASON (GENERALLY CONSIDERED THE
EXCLUSIVE DOMAIN OF HUMANS), GOALS ARE NO LONGER LIMITED TO SHORT TERM
SATISFACTION OF BASIC DRIVES. NEVERTHELESS, THERE REMAINS A STRONG RELATIONSHIP
OF HAPPINESS TO GOAL FULFILMENT AND THE BRAIN'S REINFORCEMENT MECHANISM, EVEN
IF THE GOALS THEMSELVES MAY BE MORE COMPLEX AND/OR CEREBRAL, LONGER TERM, AND
LESS SELFISH THAN A LOWER ANIMAL'S GOALS MIGHT BE.

PHILOSOPHERS OBSERVE THAT SHORT-TERM GRATIFICATION, WHILE BRIEFLY GENERATING
HAPPINESS, OFTEN REQUIRES A TRADE-OFF WITH NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS IN THE LONG
RUN. EXAMPLES OF THIS COULD BE SAID TO INCLUDE DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY AND
EQUIPMENT THAT MAKES LIFE EASIER BUT OVER TIME ENDS UP HARMING THE ENVIRONMENT,



CAUSING ILLNESS OR WASTING FINANCIAL OR OTHER RESOURCES. VARIOUS BRANCHES OF
PHILOSOPHY, AS WELL AS SOME RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS, SUGGEST THAT "TRUE" HAPPINESS
ONLY EXISTS IF IT HAS NO LONG-TERM DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS. UTILITARIANISM IS A THEORY
OF ETHICS BASED ON QUANTITATIVE MAXIMISATION OF HAPPINESS.

FROM THE OBSERVATION THAT FISH MUST BECOME HAPPY BY SWIMMING AND BIRDS MUST
BECOME HAPPY BY FLYING, ONLY MAN HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITIES TO THE ROUTE OF
HAPPINESS. OF ALL THE ANIMALS ONLY MAN CAN SIT AND CONTEMPLATE REALITY. OF ALL THE
ANIMALS ONLY MAN CAN DEVELOP SOCIAL RELATIONS TO THE POLITICAL LEVEL. THUS THE
CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE OF A MONK OR PROFESSOR, OR THE POLITICAL LIFE OF A MILITARY
COMMANDER OR POLITICIAN WILL BE THE HAPPIEST.

ONLY MAN IS ENDOWED WITH THE ABILITY NECESSARY TO GENERATE COMPLEX LANGUAGE
AND THROUGH THAT CAN BE USED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THINGS AND FORM
DICHOTOMIES. THESE DICHOTOMIES THEN FORMED, MAN TRIES TO FIND REASONS TO LIKE
ONE SIDE OF THINGS AND HATE THE OTHER. HENCE, HE LOSES HIS ABILITY TO ROVE FREELY,
IN TRUE HAPPINESS, UNLIKE THE REST OF ANIMALS.

IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE VIEW THAT HAPPINESS IS A REINFORCEMENT STATE CAN APPLY TO SOME NON-
BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AS WELL. IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, A PROGRAM OR ROBOT COULD
BE SAID TO BE "HAPPY" WHEN IT IS IN A STATE OF REINFORCING PREVIOUS ACTIONS THAT
LED TO SATISFACTION OF ITS PROGRAMMED GOALS. FOR INSTANCE, IMAGINE A SEARCH
ENGINE THAT HAS THE CAPACITY TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ITS SEARCH
RESULTS BY ACCEPTING AND PROCESSING FEEDBACK FROM THE USER REGARDING THE
RELEVANCE OF THOSE RESULTS. IF THE USER RESPONDS THAT A SEARCH RESULT IS GOOD
(I.E. PROVIDES POSITIVE FEEDBACK), THIS TELLS THE SOFTWARE TO REINFORCE (BY
ADJUSTING VARIABLES OR "WEIGHTS") THE DECISION PATH THAT LED TO THOSE RESULTS. IN
A SENSE, THIS COULD BE SAID TO "REWARD" THE SEARCH ENGINE. HOWEVER, EVEN IF THE
PROGRAM IS MADE TO ACT LIKE IT IS HAPPY, THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE SEARCH
ENGINE HAS NO SUBJECTIVE SENSE OF BEING HAPPY. CURRENT COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY
MERELY IMPLEMENTS ABSTRACT MATHEMATICAL PROGRAMS, WHICH LACK THE CAUSAL AND
CREATIVE POWER OF NATURAL SYSTEMS. THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT
FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES MAY BEGIN TO BLUR THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SUCH MACHINE
HAPPINESS AND THAT EXPERIENCED BY AN ANIMAL OR HUMAN.

SUCCESS IS NOT THE KEY TO HAPPINESS. HAPPINESS IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. IF YOU LOVE
WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

HAPPINESS COMES WHEN YOUR WORK AND WORDS ARE OF BENEFIT TO YOURSELF AND
OTHERS

HAPPINESS CANNOT COME FROM WITHOUT. IT MUST COME FROM WITHIN. IT IS NOT WHAT
WE SEE AND TOUCH OR THAT WHICH OTHERS DO FOR US WHICH MAKES US HAPPY; IT IS
THAT WHICH WE THINK AND FEEL AND DO, FIRST FOR THE OTHER FELLOW AND THEN FOR
OURSELVES

WHEN ONE DOOR OF HAPPINESS CLOSES, ANOTHER OPENS; BUT OFTEN WE LOOK SO LONG
AT THE CLOSED DOOR THAT WE DO NOT SEE THE ONE WHICH HAS BEEN OPENED FOR US.



HAPPINESS IS A PROLONGED OR LASTING EMOTIONAL OR AFFECTIVE STATE THAT FEELS
GOOD OR PLEASING. OVERLAPPING STATES OR EXPERIENCES ASSOCIATED WITH HAPPINESS
INCLUDE WELLBEING, JOY, SEXUAL PLEASURE, DELIGHT, HEALTH, SAFETY AND LOVE, WHILE
CONTRASTING ONES INCLUDE SUFFERING, SADNESS, GRIEF, AND PAIN.

FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON,
AND A TIME FOR EVERY MATTER UNDER THE SUN:
A TIME TO BE BORN AND A TIME TO DIE;
A TIME TO PLANT AND A TIME TO PLUCK UP WHAT IS PLANTED;
A TIME TO KILL AND A TIME TO HEAL;
A TIME TO BREAK DOWN AND A TIME TO BUILD UP;
A TIME TO WEEP AND A TIME TO LAUGH;
A TIME TO MOURN AND A TIME TO REJOICE;
A TIME TO THROW AWAY STONES AND A TIME TO GATHER STONES TOGETHER;
A TIME TO EMBRACE AND A TIME TO REFRAIN FROM EMBRACING;
A TIME TO SEEK AND A TIME TO LOSE;
A TIME TO KEEP AND A TIME TO THROW AWAY;
A TIME TO TEAR AND A TIME TO SEW;
A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE AND A TIME TO SPEAK;
A TIME TO LOVE AND A TIME TO HATE,
A TIME FOR WAR AND A TIME FOR PEACE.

CREATIVITY AND QUALITY

THE LONG HELD BELIEF THAT CREATIVITY IS A TALENT POSSESSED ONLY BY A GIFTED FEW
WHO CAN SEE BEYOND CURRENT PARADIGMS. CREATIVITY IS A SKILL THAT CAN BE
DEVELOPED AND ENHANCED THROUGH STRUCTURED LEARNING AND TRAINING. LET ME
SHARE THESE THOUGHTS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CREATIVITY AND QUALITY. IN THIS
ESSAY LET ME SHOW MY VIEWS ON POSSIBLE LIMITATIONS OF TRADITIONAL QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT THINKING AND DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE THAT CREATIVITY PLAYS IN
ENHANCING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS.

CONFORMISTS ARE GOOD AT PLAYING THE GAME. AT SCHOOL THEY QUICKLY LEARN HOW TO
PASS TESTS, HOW TO PLEASE THE TEACHER AND HOW TO COPY WHEN NECESSARY. LATER IN
LIFE THEY ARE ALSO GOOD AT ASSESSING THE GAME THAT IS IN PLAY AND THEN GOOD AT
PLAYING THAT GAME.

SO WE HAVE TENDED TO LEAVE CREATIVITY TO THE REBELS. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO
CANNOT PLAY THE GAME, DO NOT WANT TO PLAY THE GAME AND EVEN WANT TO BE
DIFFERENT FOR THE SAKE OF BEING DIFFERENT. WE HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH THAT IMAGE
OF CREATIVITY. WE HAVE SUPPOSED THAT CREATIVITY IS A COMBINATION OF 'REBELLIOUS'
MOTIVATION AND INBORN TALENT. SUPPOSE THAT IMAGE OF CREATIVITY IS NOT ONLY
WRONG BUT ALSO DANGEROUS. SUPPOSE THAT IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT PREVENTS US
FROM ADVANCING THE SERIOUS USE OF CREATIVITY.

WE CAN, I BELIEVE, MOVE AWAY FROM THIS OLD-FASHIONED VIEW OF CREATIVITY. TO MOVE
AWAY FROM THE NOTION THAT CREATIVITY IS JUST MESSING AROUND WITH BRAINSTORMING
AND HOPING NEW IDEAS WILL HAPPEN.



CONSIDER AN ORDINARY PERSON WHO IS BOUND UP TIGHTLY WITH A ROPE. OBVIOUSLY
THAT PERSON IS NOT ABLE TO PLAY THE VIOLIN. IF THE TIED-UP PERSON CANNOT PLAY THE
VIOLIN THEN SURELY CUTTING THE ROPE AND FREEING THAT PERSON MAKES THE PERSON A
VIOLINIST? THIS IS AN ABSURD LEAP OF LOGIC. FREEING THE PERSON MAY BE A NECESSARY
STEP TOWARD VIOLIN PLAYING BUT DOES NOT, BY ITSELF, PROVIDE VIOLIN-PLAYING SKILLS.
WHY THEN DO WE APPLY THIS ABSURD LOGIC TO CREATIVITY?

WE HAVE OBSERVED THAT INHIBITED PEOPLE ARE NOT CREATIVE. WE THEN SUPPOSE THAT
"LIBERATING" PEOPLE WILL SUDDENLY MAKE THEM CREATIVE. IT DOES NOT FOLLOW AT ALL.
YET ALMOST THE ENTIRE EFFORT TOWARD ENCOURAGING CREATIVE THINKING HAS BEEN
CONCERNED WITH FREEING PEOPLE UP AND LIBERATING THEM FROM THEIR INHIBITIONS. IT
IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENOUGH TO BE CRAZY. NO WONDER CREATIVITY IS NOT TAKEN
SERIOUSLY AND IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS IT MIGHT BE.

TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE 'GAME' OR CREATIVITY.
THIS MEANS THAT THE CONFORMISTS CAN NOW LEARN TO PLAY THIS GAME. BECAUSE
CONFORMISTS ARE BETTER AT LEARNING AND PLAYING GAMES, THERE IS NOW A STRONG
POSSIBILITY THAT CONFORMISTS WILL ACTUALLY BECOME MORE CREATIVE THAN THE
REBELS, IF THE CONFORMISTS HAVE THE MOTIVATION.

HOW ARE THE CONFORMISTS GOING TO GET THE CREATIVE MOTIVATION, WHICH IS SO
NATURAL TO THE REBELS? THERE ARE TWO APPROACHES.

1 CONFORMISTS CAN BE SHOWN THE "LOGIC" OF CREATIVITY. WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE IS
AN ABSOLUTE MATHEMATICAL NEED FOR CREATIVITY IN ANY SELF-ORGANISING INFORMATION
SYSTEM SUCH AS HUMAN PERCEPTION. I HAVE FOUND THAT MATHEMATICIANS, HIGHLY
TECHNICAL PEOPLE AND ACCOUNTANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, SUDDENLY SEE THE LOGICAL BASIS
OF CREATIVITY. ONE TIME I WAS EXPLAINING MIND CONTROL METHODS TO A GROUP OF
STUDENTS. AT FIRST THEY WERE DOUBTFUL, BUT ONCE THEY COULD SEE THE LOGIC BEHIND
THE TECHNIQUES, THEY TRIED THEM OUT AND WERE SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THEY
WORKED.

2 EXHORTING PEOPLE TO BE CREATIVE HAS ONLY A VERY LIMITED EFFECT ON MOTIVATION
AND EVEN THAT LIMITED EFFECT WEARS OFF PRETTY QUICKLY. IT IS FAR BETTER TO
DEMONSTRATE SOME MIND CONTROL TECHNIQUES. ONCE PEOPLE FIND THAT THEY CAN USE
SUCH TECHNIQUES SYSTEMATICALLY AND THAT THEY PRODUCE RESULTS, THEN MOTIVATION
FOLLOWS. IF YOU FIND THAT YOU CAN BE CREATIVE, THEN YOU WANT TO BE.

THE GAME OF CREATIVITY

MY RESEARCH COVERED MANY OF THE COMPLICATED INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS IN THE HUMAN
BODY: RESPIRATION, CIRCULATION, KIDNEYS, ENDOCRINE GLANDS AND SO ON. I WAS
FORCED TO DEVELOP CONCEPTS TO DEAL WITH SELF-ORGANISING INFORMATION SYSTEMS.

IN THE BOOK MIND CONTROL SYSTEM, WHICH IS BASED ON HOW NERVE NETWORKS
ALLOWED INFORMATION TO ORGANISE ITSELF INTO SEQUENCES OR ROUTINE PATTERNS. AT
THE TIME IT WAS WRITTEN, THOSE IDEAS WERE UNUSUAL. TODAY THEY ARE MAINSTREAM
THINKING. IN FACT, THOSE WHO HAVE READ THE BOOK OBSERVED THAT I WAS WRITING
ABOUT THESE THINGS BEFORE MATHEMATICIANS STARTED LOOKING AT CHAOS AND NON-
LINEAR, UNSTABLE SYSTEMS.



WITH JUST 9 ITEMS OF CLOTHING TO PUT ON IN THE MORNING, (DEPENDING ON ONES
CULTURAL DRESS) THERE ARE MILLIONS OF WAYS OF GETTING DRESSED, THOUGH NOT ALL
THESE ARE FEASIBLE. IF THE BRAIN WAS NOT SO EXCELLENT AT FORMING THE ROUTINE
PATTERNS OF PERCEPTION AND ACTION, LIFE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS THE EXCELLENCE
OF THE BRAIN AS A SELF-ORGANISING INFORMATION SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS EXPERIENCE TO
ORGANISE ITSELF INTO ROUTINE PATTERNS. THIS IS THE BASIS OF PERCEPTION. IN FACT,
THE BRAIN IS EVEN BETTER THAN THAT BECAUSE IT CAN CENTRE PATTERNS, WHICH
COMPUTERS FIND VERY HARD TO DO.

IN SUCH SYSTEMS, THERE IS NO ACCESS TO THE SIDE BRANCHES FROM THE MAIN TRACK,
BUT THERE IS ACCESS TO THE MAIN TRACK, BUT THERE IS ACCESS TO THE MAIN TRACK
FROM THE SIDE-TRACKS. THIS BASIC ASYMMETRY OF PATTERNS GIVES RISE TO BOTH
HUMOUR AND CREATIVITY. THAT IS WHY HUMOUR IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIOUR OF
THE HUMAN BRAIN BECAUSE IT INDICATES THE EXISTENCE OF A SELF-ORGANISING SYSTEM.

WITH CREATIVITY WE SOMEHOW JUMP ACROSS TO THE SIDE-TRACK FROM THE MAIN TRACK.
THAT IS WHY ALL VALUED CREATIVE IDEAS ARE ALWAYS LOGICAL IN HINDSIGHT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BELIEVED THAT BECAUSE CREATIVE IDEAS ARE LOGICAL IN
HINDSIGHT, THEN LOGIC SHOULD BE ENOUGH IN FORESIGHT. THIS IS TOTALLY UNTRUE IN A
PATTERNING SYSTEM BUT QUITE TRUE IN A PASSIVE SYSTEM. IT IS THIS RECENT "UNIVERSE"
SWITCH FROM PASSIVE INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO SELF-ORGANISING SYSTEMS THAT HAS
ALLOWED US TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF CREATIVITY.

AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS UNDERSTANDING, WE CAN DESIGN DELIBERATE AND FORMAL
MIND CONTROL TOOLS SUCH AS RANDOM ENTRY AND PROVOCATION. THESE FORMAL TOOLS
CAN BE LEARNED, PRACTISED AND USED SYSTEMATICALLY. THEY CAN BE USED BY
INDIVIDUALS ON THEIR OWN. THERE IS NO NEED FOR A BRAINSTORMING TOOL. WE
DELIBERATE USE OF SUCH SYSTEMATIC TOOLS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM JUST MESSING
AROUND AND HOPING THINGS HAPPEN. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE THE FORMAL METHODS OF
"MOVEMENT', WHICH IS AN ACTIVE MENTAL OPERATION AND NOT JUST A SUSPENSION OF
JUDGEMENT.

QUALITY IN THINKING

WHILE WE HAVE SOUGHT TO IMPROVE QUALITY IN MOST PLACES, THE ONE AREA WE HAVE
NEGLECTED HAS BEEN OUR THINKING. WE MAY HAVE SOUGHT TO DO BETTER WHAT WE ARE
ALREADY DOING, BUT WE HAVE NOT SOUGHT BETTER WAYS OF DOING THINGS.

IN THE FIRST PART OF THIS ESSAY, I SOUGHT TO SHOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE APPLY
QUALITY TO CREATIVITY ITSELF. WE GET A VERY DIFFERENT AND MUCH MORE POWERFUL
PROCESS. BUT WE CAN ALSO APPLY QUALITY TO OTHER ASPECTS OF THINKING.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRADITIONAL WESTERN METHOD OF ARGUMENT IS TIME CONSUMING,
WASTEFUL, INEFFICIENT AND SUBJECT TO POLITICAL ABUSE. WE CAN REPLACE THIS
ADVERSARIAL METHOD WITH EFFECTIVE THINKING IN WHICH ALL THOSE PRESENT THINK CO-
OPERATIVELY. THE DIRECTIONS FOR THE EFFECTIVE EFFORTS ARE SET BY THE SIX THINKING
CAPS. THE WHITE CAP INDICATES A FOCUS ON INFORMATION. THE RED CAP LEGITIMISED AN
EXPRESSION OF FEELING AND INTUITION.



THE BLACK CAP IS FOR CAUTION. THE YELLOW CAP ASKS FOR BENEFITS AND VALUES. THE
GREEN CAP IS FOR CREATIVE EFFORT. THE BLUE CAP IS FOR CONTROL OF THE THINKING
PROCESS ITSELF.

THE SIX-CAP METHOD IS NOW BEING WIDELY USED BY MANY MAJOR PEOPLE. USING SUCH
METHODS REDUCED THINKING TIME BY 75 PERCENT. THIS METHOD ALLOWS ALL THE
"INTELLECTUAL HORSEPOWER" OF THOSE ATTENDING A MEETING TO BE USED PRODUCTIVELY.
IT ALSO PREVENTS POLITICS. THE GREEN CAP PROVIDES A SPECIFIC PLACE FOR CREATIVITY
AND THE BLACK CAP ENSURES THAT CRITICISM IS ONLY USED IN ITS PROPER PLACE.

OUR BASIC SECULAR THINKING HABITS WERE SET 2,500 YEARS AGO BY THE GREEK GANG OF
THREE (SOCRATES, PLATO, AND ARISTOTLE). IT IS A SYSTEM BASED ON ANALYSIS,
JUDGEMENT AND ARGUMENT. IT IS A SYSTEM THAT IS LACKING IN CREATIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE
AND DESIGN ENERGY.

CREATIVITY IN QUALITY

THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS ESSAY MAY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BACKWARDS.
WHY HAVE I WRITTEN ABOUT CREATIVITY FIRST AND ABOUT THE NEED FOR CREATIVITY IN
QUALITY PROGRAMS SECOND? THE REASON IS THAT UNLESS THE READER HAS A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I MEAN BY CREATIVITY (SERIOUS CREATIVITY), THERE IS NO
POINT IN SETTING THE PLACE OF CREATIVITY IN QUALITY PROGRAMS.

REMOVAL OF FAULTS

THIS IS A BASIC HABIT OF WESTERN THINKING. IF YOU CAN ONLY GET RID OF FAULTS
EVERYTHING ELSE WILL BE FINE. THERE ARE TWO OBVIOUS DANGERS:

1 WE ONLY FOCUS OUR THINKING ON WHAT IS WRONG.
2 GETTING RID OF THE FAULTS IN A POORLY DESIGNED SYSTEM DOES NOT RESULT IN A
BETTER-DESIGNED SYSTEM.

NEVERTHELESS, THE EARLY SUCCESSES OF QUALITY PROGRAMS OFTEN ARISE FROM THE
REMOVAL OF FAULTS, INEFFICIENCIES, WASTAGE AND PROBLEMS. THIS PART IS
INTELLECTUALLY EASY, EVEN IF IMPLEMENTATION IS NOT QUITE SO EASY.

WHEN THIS EASY PART HAS BEEN DONE, TQM PROGRAMS OFTEN RUN OUT OF STEAM. EVEN
WITHIN THIS PROBLEM-SOLVING PHASE, THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR SERIOUS CREATIVITY TO
HELP SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS.

LOCKED IN BY SUCCESS

IF WE ARE TOO SUCCESSFUL IN IMPROVING THE CURRENT WAY OF DOING THINGS, THEN WE
CAN GET LOCKED INTO THAT CURRENT WAY, JUST AS WE HAVE BECOME LOCKED INTO OUR
TRADITIONAL THINKING HABITS.

THE GOAL OF QUALITY PROGRAMS SHOULD NOT BE JUST TO IMPROVE PRESENT METHODS
BUT ALSO TO SEEK ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF REACHING THE AGREED OBJECTIVES.



CREATIVITY IS NEEDED TO GENERATE THE ALTERNATIVES. OFTEN THERE IS A NEED FOR NEW
CONCEPTS. WHEN THE ALTERNATIVES HAVE BEEN GENERATED, THEN THEY CAN BE MEASURED
AGAINST EACH OTHER AND AGAINST THE CURRENT METHOD.

SUCCESS IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE EXISTING METHOD MAY LOCK US INTO
CONTINUING THAT PARTICULAR OPERATION WHEN A CREATIVE CHALLENGE WOULD HAVE
SHOWN THAT THE WHOLE OPERATION DID NOT NEED DOING AT ALL.

CHANCE OF OBJECTIVES

WE CAN IMPROVE THE CURRENT WAY OF REACHING THE CURRENT OBJECTIVE.

WE CAN FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO REACH THE CURRENT OBJECTIVE.

WE CAN CHANGE THE OBJECTIVE ITSELF.

CREATIVITY CAN BE HELPFUL IN GETTING US TO THINK FREELY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO DO. CREATIVITY OPENS UP POSSIBILITIES. CREATIVITY PROVOKES OUR THINKING ABOUT
OBJECTIVES.

VALUES AND EXPECTATIONS

PARTICULARLY IN THE HEALTH FIELD, VALUES AND EXPECTATIONS ARE COMPLEX AND CHANGE
EVERY DAY. FOR EXAMPLE, A SEVERELY ILL PATIENT MAY PREFER THE SURVEILLANCE OF A
GENERAL WARD BECAUSE FEAR IS UPPERMOST. A CONVALESCING PATIENT MAY PREFER THE
COMFORT OF PRIVACY. ONE PATIENT MAY VALUE CHARM BUT ANOTHER PREFERS BRUSQUE
EFFICIENCY. SOME PEOPLE LIKE THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE. OTHERS DO NOT WANT TO BE
BURDENED BY HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS. SOME VALUE FULL INFORMATION, OTHERS DO
NOT WANT TO BE CONFUSED BY INFORMATION.

CREATIVITY HELPS IN THE EXPLORATION OF VALUES AND THE DESIGN OF NEW VALUES.

CHANGES IN EXPECTATIONS CAN DRAMATICALLY LOWER COSTS. HOW CAN WE GET SUCH
CHANGES IN EXPECTATIONS?

CREATIVE FOCUS

IT IS EASY TO FOCUS ON PROBLEMS AND DEFECTS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO FOCUS ON THINGS
THAT ARE GOING WELL. IT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO FOCUS ON THINGS WE DO NOT EVEN
NOTICE.

WHY DO QUALITY EFFORTS LOSE THEIR FIZZ ??

QUALITY IS NO LONGER ENOUGH

WHEN QUALITY PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR SOME TIME THE FIZZ GOES OUT OF
THEM AND THEY CAN BECOME BORING. BUT THAT IS ONLY A MINOR PROBLEM COMPARED TO
THE MORE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES THAT I INTEND TO COVER HERE.

WATER IS NECESSARY FOR SOUP BUT SOUP IS MORE THAN WATER. IF YOU ARE GIVEN A BOWL
OF SOUP THAT IS JUST PURE WATER YOU DO NOT CRITICISE THE WATER. IF A CAR HAS A FLAT



TIRE YOU DO NOT CRITICISE THE THREE INFLATED TIRES BUT POINT OUT THE DEFICIENCY. IN
EXACTLY THE SAME WAY IT MAY BE NECESSARY AT THIS STAGE TO POINT OUT THAT QUALITY
PROGRAMS ARE WONDERFUL BUT TO ASK WHETHER THEY ARE SUFFICIENT. THAT IS NO
CRITICISM OF QUALITY PROGRAMS, WHICH USUALLY DO A MUCH-NEEDED JOB VERY WELL.

THREE PHASES OF WESTERN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

WE CAN BEGIN BY DISTINGUISHING THREE PHASES IN THE EVOLUTION OF WESTERN
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.

PHASE ONE…PROBLEM SOLVING, THIS PHASE LASTED A VERY LONG TIME (FROM THE MID
1940S TO THE MID 1960S). IT WAS FIRMLY BASED ON THE SAYING: IF IT ISN‟T BROKE DON'T
FIX IT." WESTERN BUSINESS HAD A VIRTUAL MONOPOLY IN AN EXPANDING MARKET.
BUSINESS WAS SET ON A PROSPEROUS PATH AND „MAINTENANCE' WAS ENOUGH. WHY WASTE
TIME FIXING SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT BROKEN? PROBLEMS WERE A 'DEVIATION' THAT HAD
TO BE FIXED SO THAT WE COULD GET BACK TO THE PROPER PATH.

THE GANG OF THREE…THIS PHASE FITTED IN VERY WELL WITH THE NEGATIVE ORIENTATION
OF WESTERN THINKING WHICH WAS DERIVED FROM THE INFAMOUS GREEK GANG OF THREE:
SOCRATES, PLATO AND ARISTOTLE. THIS STYLE OF THINKING PLACED ARGUMENT OR
CONFRONTATION AS CENTRAL TO WESTERN THINKING CULTURE.

ARGUMENT MEANT POINTING OUT WHAT WAS WRONG IN THE OTHER PARTY'S VIEW OR
PROPOSAL. SADLY WE STILL PUT FAR TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THIS IN THE TEACHING OF
CRITICAL THINKING IN SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF PRODUCTIVE THINKING.

CENTRAL TO THIS WESTERN THINKING IS THE NOTION THAT IF YOU REMOVE THE FAULTS
THEN ALL WILL BE WELL. SO PROBLEM SOLVING WAS ENOUGH. FIND THE PROBLEM, DEFINE
THE PROBLEM, SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND ALL WILL BE WELL.

THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO 'IMPROVEMENT' WAS THE SAME. WE LOOKED FOR FAULTS,
DEFECTS, WEAKNESSES AND BOTTLENECKS AND THEN SET ABOUT PUTTING THESE RIGHT.
FAR TOO MANY QUALITY PROGRAMS TODAY STILL OPERATE ON THAT BASIS.

THEN ALONG CAME THE JAPANESE. THE MOST STRIKING THING ABOUT JAPANESE CULTURE IS
NOT THAT IT HAS EXTRA FEATURES BUT THAT IT IS WITHOUT SOME OF THE MAJOR DEFECTS
OF WESTERN THINKING SUCH AS THE NEGATIVE ORIENTATION AND EGO PROBLEMS (AND
SHORT TERM MAXIMISATION). THE JAPANESE HAD NOT BEEN INFLUENCED BY CLASSIC GREEK
THINKING SO THEY DID NOT SET OUT TO FIND WHAT WAS WRONG-THEY SET OUT TO MAKE
THINGS BETTER. THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THE JAPANESE DO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND CORRECT FAULTS BUT THAT IS ONLY THE
BEGINNING OF IMPROVEMENT. THEN THEY GO ON TO MAKE BETTER WHAT ALREADY SEEMS
PERFECT. AWARENESS OF THIS APPROACH AND LOSS OF MARKET SHARE FORCED THE WEST
INTO A SECOND PHASE.

PHASE TWO…QUALITY AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. TO COMPETE WITH THE JAPANESE,
WESTERN BUSINESS WAS FORCED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE PROBLEM-SOLVING PHASE. YOU
COULD SOLVE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS BUT THAT ONLY BROUGHT YOU BACK TO WHERE YOU HAD
BEEN. MEANWHILE YOUR COMPETITORS WERE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AT POINTS, WHICH



WERE NOT PROBLEMS AND ONE DAY YOU WOKE UP AND FOUND THAT YOU HAD BEEN LEFT
FAR BEHIND.

SO THE WEST HAD TO SET ABOUT DOING WHAT CAME MORE NATURALLY TO THE JAPANESE
WHO NEVER HAD THE NEGATIVE ORIENTATION OF THINKING. THE WEST HAD TO DEVISE AND
INSTITUTE FORMAL QUALITY PROGRAMS, WHICH WERE CONCERNED WITH CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT.

THIS WAS NO LONGER JUST A MATTER OF PROBLEM SOLVING AND FIXING DEFECTS BUT OF
MAKING BETTER WHAT WAS ALREADY GOOD. SO CAME THE NOTION OF QUALITY AND
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

THE CHOICE OF THE WORD QUALITY IS A GOOD ONE. YOU CAN HAVE AN ADEQUATE SUIT
WHICH PERFORMS THE FUNCTIONS OF A SUIT BUT YOU CAN ALSO HAVE A QUALITY SUIT.
WITH THE QUALITY SUIT YOU ARE STILL ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY.

IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE THE QUALITY MOVEMENT SET UP FRAMEWORKS SUCH AS
QUALITY CIRCLES OR TEAMS WHICH ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO EXAMINE WHAT THEY WERE
DOING INSTEAD OF JUST DOING IT AUTOMATICALLY. THE MOTIVATION VALUE OF THIS WAS
CONSIDERABLE EVEN IF FEW CHANGES WERE ACTUALLY MADE. THERE WERE NOW TWO
LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT. THE FIRST WAS DOING WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
THE SECOND WAS ATTEMPTING TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS ITSELF.

THE QUICK RESULTS TRAP…IN TRADITIONAL COST CUTTING OR SLIMMING DOWN PROGRAMS
THE BIG BENEFITS COME EARLY. IT IS NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO GET RID OF THE FAT AND
INEFFICIENCIES THAT HAVE BUILT UP OVER THE GOOD YEARS WHEN THERE WAS NO
PRESSURE ON COSTS. BUT AS COSTS ARE CUT AND EFFICIENCY IS INCREASED THEN IT
BECOMES MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GET RESULTS.

THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH QUALITY PROGRAMS. THE BEST RESULTS COME EARLY AND
THE MORE SUCCESSFUL THE PROGRAMS THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES TO GET BIG
RESULTS ALTER. THIS IS WHEN QUALITY PROGRAMS CAN BECOME BORING. AT THIS POINT
THERE IS A NEED TO SHIFT TO THE THIRD PHASE OF BUSINESS WHICH IS JUST BEGINNING.

PHASE THREE…CREATIVITY OR QUALITY PLUS. THE GERMAN ECONOMY HAS THRIVED TO THE
POINT WHERE IT BECAME THE WORLD'S LARGEST EXPORTER. THIS IS IN SPITE OF VERY HIGH
WAGE RATES AND MUCH LONGER HOLIDAYS THAN IN OTHER INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES (FIVE
WEEKS VACATION A YEAR). THE SUCCESS OF THE GERMAN ECONOMY WAS BASED ON
EXCELLENCE AND HIGH QUALITY PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF ENGINEERING.

THIS HIGH QUALITY WAS BASED ON TWO THINGS. THE FIRST THING WAS A VERY HIGHLY
SKILLED WORK FORCE, WHICH COMES FROM A UNIQUE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM IN WHICH
WORKERS LEARN THEIR SKILLS THROUGH EARLY ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. THE SECOND THING
WAS A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO PUT QUALITY BEFORE CREATIVITY.

THE QUALITY, FIRST AND ONLY TRAP…PUTTING QUALITY BEFORE CREATIVITY MAKES A LOT OF
SENSE. CREATIVITY WITHOUT QUALITY IS NOT WORTH MUCH AS US AND BRITISH INDUSTRY
FOUND WHEN COMPETING WITH THE GERMANS AND THE JAPANESE. QUALITY WITHOUT
CREATIVITY DOES HAVE A HIGH VALUE SO LONG AS YOUR COMPETITORS CANNOT ALSO
OFFER QUALITY, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO FURTHER.



THAT IS WHY GERMAN INDUSTRY MAY BE IN BAD TROUBLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE NOT YET REALISED THAT OTHERS ARE CATCHING UP ON QUALITY. FOR EXAMPLE
GERMANY HAS FALLEN FAR BEHIND THE ELECTRONICS AREA AND IS SEEKING TO CATCH UP
THROUGH JOINT VENTURES WITH THE JAPANESE.

THE LIMIT TO QUALITY ALONE, WATER IS NECESSARY FOR SOUP BUT SOUP IS MORE THAN
WATER. FLAVOUR WITHOUT WATER DOES NOT MAKE SOUP. CREATIVITY WITHOUT QUALITY IS
OF LITTLE VALUE BUT QUALITY ALONE IS ALSO NOT ENOUGH.

THE WORD QUALITY IS A GOOD WORD AND IMPLIES DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING BETTER.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY VALID. BUT MAKING BETTER FOUNTAIN PENS WHEN YOU
SHOULD HAVE BEEN SWITCHING OVER TO BALLPOINTS MAY NOT BE THE BEST THING TO DO.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NICHE FOR HIGH QUALITY EXPENSIVE FOUNTAIN PENS BUT THAT IS
A SMALL SPECIALIST MARKET. AT THIS POINT WE COME TO THE CHIEF LIMITATION OF THE
NOTION OF QUALITY.

SHOULD WE EXPAND QUALITY'S DEFINITION? I SEE A VERY CONSIDERABLE DANGER IN
EXPANDING THE NOTION OF QUALITY TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING GOOD THAT CAN BE DONE.
THERE IS DANGER IN EXPANDING THE NOTION OF QUALITY TO INCLUDE THEIR CREATIVE
CHANGE OF CONCEPT AS WELL.

THE DANGER IS THAT WHEN WE SEEK TO EXPAND A WORD BEYOND ITS TRUE MEANING WE
ONLY END UP CONFUSING PEOPLE AND ALSO LOSING THE POWER OF THE ORIGINAL
MEANING. THERE IS EXACTLY THE SAME DANGER IN THE TEACHING OF 'CRITICAL THINKING'
IN SCHOOLS. THE PROPONENTS OF CRITICAL THINKING CLAIM THAT IT COVERS ALL
THINKING, WHICH IS CLEARLY NONSENSE.

THE WORD 'CRITICAL' COMES FROM THE GREEK KRITIKOS, WHICH MEANS JUDGEMENT.
INDEED, JUDGEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THINKING BUT THERE IS ALSO THE NEED
FOR GENERATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE THINKING. IN THE SAME WAY WE MUST NOT LOSE THE
VALUE OF THE WORD QUALITY BY PRETENDING THAT IT INCLUDES ALL THAT NEEDS DOING.
WE END UP BY DE-VALUING THAT WORD AND NOT DOING ALL THAT NEEDS DOING.

SO WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT VALUE OF QUALITY AND THE CONTINUING NEED
FOR IT. AND THEN WE NEED TO ADD THE CONCEPT OF CREATIVITY AS WELL. THIS IS IN NO
SENSE A CRITICISM OF QUALITY OR AN ATTACK ON QUALITY. RECALL, IF YOU WILL, THAT TO
POINT OUT THAT FLATNESS OF ONE TIRE DOES NOT ATTACK THE FULL INFLATION OF THE
OTHER TIRES.

ORGANISATION FOR QUALITY AND CREATIVITY

MANY LARGE ORGANISATIONS ARE SLOWLY COMING TO REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF
ADDING CREATIVITY TO THEIR QUALITY PROGRAMS.

ORGANISATION FOR QUALITY AND CREATIVITY…THIS MEANS CREATIVITY THROUGHOUT THE
ORGANISATIONS AND NOT JUST IN SPECIAL AREAS SUCH AS MARKETING, CORPORATE
STRATEGY, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, ETCETERA. IT IS RIGHT THAT QUALITY SHOULD
COME BEFORE CREATIVITY BUT EVENTUALLY THERE COMES A TIME WHEN CREATIVITY NEEDS
TO BE ADDED TO QUALITY.



SOME ORGANISATIONS SUCH HAVE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT 'RE-ENGINEERING' WHICH
INTRODUCES THE CONCEPT OF CREATIVITY. INSTEAD OF DOING THE SAME THING BETTER. IS
THERE A DIFFERENT AND BETTER WAY OF DOING IT?

TWO APPROACHES TO COMPANY WIDE CREATIVITY

THE TOOL-KIT APPROACH. THE SIMPLEST APPROACH IS TO SEEK TO INTRODUCE CREATIVE
THINKING TECHNIQUES INTO THE QUALITY PROGRAMS AS TOOLS FOR ACHIEVING
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND EVEN CHANGING CONCEPTS. IN THIS WAY THE TOOLS
BECOME AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WORKING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EXISTING
QUALITY PROGRAMS.

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TOOLS CAN BE DONE IN A FORMAT AND SYSTEMATIC MANNER
THOUGH PROPERLY TRAINED FACILITATORS OR TRAINERS. THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT IT
NEEDS TO BE DONE SERIOUSLY AND SHOULD NOT JUST BE A TOKEN GESTURE TOWARDS
CREATIVITY WITH SOME WEAK BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS.

CREATIVITY IN ALL AREAS IS GOING TO BE THE KEY INGREDIENT FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS. AS
TECHNOLOGY BECOMES A COMMODITY AND ALL COMPETITORS REACH THE SAME LEVEL OF
COMPETENCE, IT IS ONLY CREATIVITY SHOULD NOT BE SEEN JUST AS A SUBSET OF QUALITY
OR ONLY AS A TOOL KIT FOR QUALITY PROGRAMS.

CREATIVITY NEEDS TO EXIST IN ITS OWN RIGHT IN AN ORGANISATION WITH A NOMINATED
CHAMPION AND WHERE POSSIBLE, A CREATIVITY CENTRE. THIS CREATIVITY CENTRE CAN
THEN PROVIDE THE TRAINING AND TOOL KIT FOR THE QUALITY PROGRAM.

FIXING MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT CREATIVITY

THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF NONSENSE AND RUBBISH WRITTEN ABOUT CREATIVITY. IT IS A
SUBJECT, WHICH ATTRACTS A LARGE NUMBER OF OPERATORS WHO HAVE LOADS OF STYLE
BUT ONLY INCOMPETENTLY BORROWED SUBSTANCE. MUCH OF THE CONFUSION ARISES FROM
SOME BASIC MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT CREATIVITY.

CREATIVITY MISPERCEPTION NUMBER ONE. ARTISTIC CREATIVITY AND CONCEPTUAL
CREATIVITY ARE THE SAME THING.

THE WORD 'CREATIVITY' IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE UNFORTUNATELY INCLUDES THE ARTS.
SO IT IS SUPPOSED THAT ALL ARTISTS ARE CREATIVE. THIS IS NOT SO. MANY ARTISTS ARE
SIMPLY PRODUCTIVE STYLISTS WHO PRODUCE WITHIN A STYLE OR PERCEPTION AND
EXPRESSION. THIS HAS NOTHING WHATEVER TO DO WITH CHANGING CONCEPTS.

WE NEED TO DISTINGUISH CLEARLY BETWEEN THE CREATIVITY INVOLVED IN CHANGING
CONCEPTS AND ARTISTIC CREATIVITY. BEING ARTISTICALLY INCLINED DOES NOT MAKE A
PERSON CREATIVE OR CAPABLE OF TRAINING OTHERS IN CREATIVITY.

CREATIVITY MISPERCEPTION NUMBER TWO. EVERYONE IS CREATIVE BUT HAS BEEN
UNTRAINED OR INHIBITED BY PEERS.

THERE IS A TRADITION THAT EVERYONE IS REALLY CREATIVE AND THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN
INHIBITED BY A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT DEMANDS THE ONE RIGHT ANSWER AND BY THE FEAR



OF SEEMING RIDICULOUS. THE HOPE IS THAT IF WE BECOME LIBERATED AND FREED FROM
SUCH INHIBITIONS THEN WE SHALL ALL BE CREATIVE.

THIS IS NONSENSE. THE BRAIN IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE CREATIVE AND IF IT WERE SO
DESIGNED THEN LIFE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. THE BRAIN IS DESIGNED TO SET UP
PERCEPTUAL PATTERNS AND TO STICK TO THEM. TO BE CREATIVE WE HAVE TO DO THINGS
WHICH ARE 'NOT NATURAL' AND WHICH GO AGAINST THE WAY THE BRAIN IS DESIGNED TO
WORK. SO REMOVING INHIBITIONS ONLY HAS A MILD EFFECT.

CREATIVITY MISPERCEPTION NUMBER THREE. WE NEED ONLY UNDERSTAND LEFT AND RIGHT
BRAIN FUNCTIONS, AND INCREASE RIGHT BRAIN THINKING.

THE SPLIT BETWEEN RIGHT AND LEFT BRAIN HAD SOME USEFULNESS IN INDICATING A
DIFFERENT SORT OF THINKING BUT HAS SINCE DONE FAR MORE HARM THAN IT OFFERED
VALUE.

THE LEFT BRAIN IS THE EDUCATED BRAIN AND HAS LEARNED WHAT THINGS ARE AND HOW TO
USE LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS ETCETERA. THE RIGHT BRAIN IS INNOCENT. THIS INNOCENCE
MAY HAVE VALUE IN SUCH AREAS AS DRAWING AND MUSIC BUT NOT MUCH VALUE IN
CONCEPTUAL MATTERS. PET SCANS OF THE BRAIN SHOW THAT WHEN A PERSON IS BEING
CREATIVE, BOTH SIDES OF THE BRAIN ARE IN USE THE WHOLE TIME. THERE IS THE ADDED
DANGER OF FATALISTIC CATEGORISATION: "I AM LEFT BRAIN." "SHE IS RIGHT BRAIN,"
ETCETERA. THIS GIVES A TOTALLY FALSE IMPRESSION, FOR CREATIVITY CAN BE LEARNED BY
ANYONE.

CREATIVITY MISPERCEPTION NUMBER FOUR. BRAINSTORMING IN A GROUP IS THE END ALL
AND BE ALL OF CREATIVITY.

THE OLD IDEA OF BRAINSTORMING HAS HELD BACK THE DEVELOPMENT OF SERIOUS
CREATIVITY. BRAINSTORMING WAS DEVELOPED FOR THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY WHERE
NOVELTY IS SUFFICIENT TO CREATE VALUE. EVERYWHERE ELSE NOVELTY HAS TO BE TURNED
INTO SOMETHING PRACTICAL.

BRAINSTORMING IS A VERY WEAK TECHNIQUE AND PEOPLE TRAINED IN BRAINSTORMING ARE
OFTEN UNABLE TO DEAL SYSTEMATICALLY WITH NEW CONCEPTS. BECAUSE BRAINSTORMING
IS NOW TRADITIONAL, IT IS OFTEN FELT THAT CREATIVITY REQUIRES ONLY A
BRAINSTORMING SESSION. BRAINSTORMING HAS ALSO LED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT
CREATIVITY HAS TO BE A GROUP PROCESS. THIS IS NOT TRUE, CREATIVE THINKING
PROCESSES CAN BE USED BY A PERSON ENTIRELY ON HIS OR HER OWN.

CREATIVITY MISCONCEPTION NUMBER FIVE. CREATIVITY AND STRUCTURE DON'T MIX.

THERE IS A FEELING THAT CREATIVITY IS A MATTER OF INTUITION AND INSPIRATION AND
THAT ANY STRUCTURAL APPROACH IS A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS. AGAIN THIS IS
NONSENSE.

THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF LIBERATING STRUCTURES; LANGUAGE IS A LIBERATING
STRUCTURE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO DO THINGS WE COULD NOT DO WITHOUT IT. A CUP IS A
LIBERATING STRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS US TO DRINK LIQUIDS MORE EASILY. A LADDER IS A
LIBERATING STRUCTURE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO GET TO NEW PLACES. A BOAT IS A



LIBERATING STRUCTURE ETCETERA. SO ALSO ARE THE SYSTEMATIC TOOLS OF CREATIVITY
AND THE BOOK MCS THAT ALLOWS US TO HANDLE PERCEPTIONS IN NOVEL WAYS.

MIND CONTROL SYSTEM

IT WAS PRECISELY TO GET AWAY FROM THE VAGUENESS AND CONFUSION OF THE TERM
CREATIVITY THAT THE TERM MCS CAME. IT IS SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED WITH CHANGING
CONCEPTS AND PERCEPTIONS.

A STRUCTURED APPROACH TO CREATIVITY… IN THE END, SPECIFIC THINKING TOOLS MUST BE
PRACTICAL, SIMPLE, AND POWERFUL.

CREATIVE THINKING BASED ON THE FORMAL AND STRUCTURED USE OF SUCH TOOLS DOES
NOT DEPEND ON INSPIRATION OR BEING IN THE RIGHT MOOD. NOR IS IT A MATTER OF LOOSE
BRAINSTORMING IN THE HOPE THAT SOMETHING COPES UP. THE MENTAL OPERATION OF
MOVEMENT CAN BE USED SYSTEMATICALLY TO GET VALUE FROM PROVOCATIONS. THIS IS
TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE WEAK ADMONITION TO 'WITHHOLD JUDGEMENT.'

SUMMING UP

WHEN QUALITY IS POOR THERE IS A NEED FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT BUT AS QUALITY
IMPROVES THERE IS A NEED TO SUPPLEMENT QUALITY WITH CREATIVE THINKING.

FOUR POINTS COME TO MIND HERE:

1. THERE COMES A POINT WHEN WE HAVE TO WONDER WHETHER DOING THINGS IN A
DIFFERENT WAY MAY NOT BE MORE USEFUL THAN DOING THINGS BETTER IN THE SAME OLD
WAY. THIS APPLIES BOTH TO INTERNAL OPERATIONS WITHIN AN ORGANISATION AND TO
WHAT THE ORGANISATION HAS TO OFFER TO ITS MARKET.
2. COMPETENCE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS AS COMPETENT. WATER IS
NECESSARY FOR SOUP BUT SOUP IS MORE THAN WATER.
3. CREATIVITY CAN PROVIDE A TOOL KIT FOR QUALITY PROGRAMS BUT CREATIVITY NEEDS TO
EXIST IN ITS OWN RIGHT WITHIN AN ORGANISATION.
4. GENERATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. FOCUS YOUR CREATIVE ENERGY AND TURN PROBLEMS
INTO OPPORTUNITIES!

TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVE ENERGY, ADD STRENGTH TO YOUR NATURAL ABILITIES, IMPROVING
TEAMWORK, PRODUCTIVITY & PROFIT. THINK CREATIVE ON EVERYDAY ISSUES!

CHANGING THE CORPORATE MINDSET CAN BE AS EASY AS CHANGING A HAT. REPLACE ONE-
DIMENSIONAL THINKING FROM EMOTION TO FACTS, POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE, CRITICAL TO
CREATIVE. MAKE YOUR THINKING MORE DELIBERATE AND GENERATE MORE IDEAS, IDENTIFY
ALTERNATIVES, STIMULATE INNOVATION & SOLVE PROBLEMS FASTER. IMPROVE TEAMWORK &
HAVE BETTER MEETINGS.

BE A VISIONARY, IMPROVE QUALITY AND OUTTHINK YOUR COMPETITION USING THESE MCS
TOOLS.

SIMPLIFYING COMPLICATIONS IS THE FIRST ESSENTIAL OF SUCCESS. IN AN INCREASINGLY
COMPLEX WORLD, "SIMPLICITY" IS BECOMING ONE OF THE KEY VALUES. THERE IS OFTEN A
MUCH SIMPLER WAY OF DOING THINGS, IF YOU MAKE THE EFFORT TO LOOK FOR IT.



SIMPLICITY DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN, IT HAS TO BE INCULCATED. IN MCS YOU WILL LEARN
THE USE AND VALUE OF SIMPLICITY, WHY PEOPLE HATE SIMPLICITY AND LOVE COMPLEXITY,
OVERVIEW OF METHODS, TECHNIQUES AND APPROACHES TO SIMPLIFY, DANGERS OF
SIMPLICITY AND THE RULES OF SIMPLICITY

INNOVATION IS THE KEY TO SURVIVAL IN THIS EVER-CHANGING AND COMPETITIVE WORLD.
HAVING THE LEADING EDGE AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ARE INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN
THE MARKETING POSITION. INNOVATION ENSURES THAT YOU CONSOLIDATE & CHAMPION
YOUR COMPANY'S PRODUCTS IN THE DO-OR-DIE MARKETPLACE.

ACHIEVE HIGHER LEVELS OF CREATIVITY & MEMORY, CLEARER ORGANISATION OF THOUGHTS,
INCREASED CONCENTRATION AND MORE CONCISE COMMUNICATION IMPROVE ACCESS TO
YOUR MEMORY FOR BETTER RECALL AND RETENTION.

RESPECT - A PRICELESS GIFT

RESPECT IS AN ATTITUDE OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE FEELINGS AND INTERESTS OF ANOTHER
PARTY IN A RELATIONSHIP. RESPECT DOES NOT NECESSARILY IMPLY DEFERENCE, BUT A
RESPECTFUL ATTITUDE RULES OUT UNCONSIDERED SELFISH BEHAVIOUR.

RESPECT IS SOMETIMES LOOSELY USED AS A SYNONYM FOR POLITENESS OR MANNERS,
THOUGH THESE ARE BEHAVIOURS, WHEREAS RESPECT IS AN ATTITUDE. INTERCULTURAL
DIFFERENCES IN BEHAVIOURS, SELF-PERCEPTION AND OUTWARD APPEARANCE MAY RESULT
IN THE UNINTENTIONAL APPEARANCE OF DISRESPECT. MANY MOVEMENTS HAVE AT DIFFERENT
TIMES CLAIMED RESPECT AS THE CORE ELEMENT TOWARDS MUTUAL EXISTENCE.

RESPECT IS

A FEELING OF APPRECIATIVE,
POLITE EXPRESSIONS OF CONSIDERATION.
TO AVOID VIOLATION OF OR INTERFERENCE WITH.
WILLINGNESS TO SHOW CONSIDERATION OR APPRECIATION.
THE STATE OF BEING REGARDED WITH HONOUR OR ESTEEM.

RESPECT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. AS CHILDREN WE ARE TAUGHT (ONE
HOPES) TO RESPECT OUR PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND ELDERS, SCHOOL RULES AND TRAFFIC
LAWS, FAMILY AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS, OTHER PEOPLE'S FEELINGS AND RIGHTS, THE
TRUTH AND PEOPLE'S DIFFERING OPINIONS. AND WE COME TO VALUE RESPECT FOR SUCH
THINGS; WHEN WE'RE OLDER, WE MAY SHAKE OUR HEADS (OR FISTS) AT PEOPLE WHO SEEM
NOT TO HAVE LEARNED TO RESPECT THEM. WE DEVELOP GREAT RESPECT FOR PEOPLE WE
CONSIDER EXEMPLARY AND LOSE RESPECT FOR THOSE WE DISCOVER TO BE CLAY-FOOTED;
AND SO WE MAY TRY TO RESPECT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE TRULY WORTHY OF OUR RESPECT.
WE MAY ALSO COME TO BELIEVE THAT, AT SOME LEVEL, ALL PEOPLE ARE WORTHY OF
RESPECT.

WE MAY LEARN THAT JOBS AND RELATIONSHIPS BECOME UNBEARABLE IF WE RECEIVE NO
RESPECT IN THEM; IN CERTAIN SOCIAL MILIEUS WE MAY LEARN THE PRICE OF DISRESPECT IF
WE VIOLATE THE STREET LAW: “MESS WITH ME AND YOU DIE.” CALLS TO RESPECT THIS OR
THAT ARE INCREASINGLY PART OF PUBLIC LIFE: ENVIRONMENTALISTS EXHORT US TO
RESPECT NATURE, FOES OF ABORTION AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT INSIST ON RESPECT FOR



HUMAN LIFE, MEMBERS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES AND THOSE DISCRIMINATED
AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER, AGE, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, OR ECONOMIC STATUS,
DEMAND RESPECT BOTH AS SOCIAL AND MORAL EQUALS AND FOR THEIR CULTURAL
DIFFERENCES. AND IT IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT PUBLIC DEBATES ABOUT SUCH
DEMANDS SHOULD TAKE PLACE UNDER TERMS OF MUTUAL RESPECT. WE MAY LEARN BOTH
THAT OUR LIVES TOGETHER GO BETTER WHEN WE RESPECT THE THINGS THAT DESERVE TO
BE RESPECTED AND THAT WE SHOULD RESPECT SOME THINGS INDEPENDENTLY OF
CONSIDERATIONS OF HOW OUR LIVES WOULD GO.

WE MAY ALSO LEARN THAT HOW OUR LIVES GO DEPENDS EVERY BIT AS MUCH ON WHETHER
WE RESPECT OURSELVES. THE VALUE OF SELF-RESPECT MAY BE SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE
FOR GRANTED, OR WE MAY DISCOVER HOW VERY IMPORTANT IT IS WHEN OUR SELF-RESPECT
IS THREATENED, OR WE LOSE IT AND HAVE TO WORK TO REGAIN IT, OR WE HAVE TO
STRUGGLE TO DEVELOP OR MAINTAIN IT IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. SOME PEOPLE FIND
THAT FINALLY BEING ABLE TO RESPECT THEMSELVES IS WHAT MATTERS MOST ABOUT
GETTING OFF WELFARE, KICKING A DISGUSTING HABIT, OR DEFENDING SOMETHING THEY
VALUE; OTHERS, SADLY, DISCOVER THAT LIFE IS NO LONGER WORTH LIVING IF SELF-RESPECT
IS IRRETRIEVABLY LOST. IT IS PART OF EVERYDAY WISDOM THAT RESPECT AND SELF-RESPECT
ARE DEEPLY CONNECTED, THAT IT IS DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE BOTH TO RESPECT
OTHERS IF WE DON'T RESPECT OURSELVES AND TO RESPECT OURSELVES IF OTHERS DON'T
RESPECT US. IT IS INCREASINGLY PART OF POLITICAL WISDOM BOTH THAT UNJUST SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONS CAN DEVASTATINGLY DAMAGE SELF-RESPECT AND THAT ROBUST AND
RESILIENT SELF-RESPECT CAN BE A POTENT FORCE IN STRUGGLES AGAINST INJUSTICE.

THE UBIQUITY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF RESPECT AND SELF-RESPECT IN EVERYDAY LIFE
LARGELY EXPLAINS WHY PHILOSOPHERS, PARTICULARLY IN MORAL AND POLITICAL
PHILOSOPHY, HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN THESE TWO CONCEPTS. THEY TURN UP IN A
MULTIPLICITY OF PHILOSOPHICAL CONTEXTS, INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS OF JUSTICE AND
EQUALITY, INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION, AUTONOMY AND AGENCY, MORAL AND POLITICAL
RIGHTS AND DUTIES, MORAL MOTIVATION AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT, CULTURAL DIVERSITY
AND TOLERATION, PUNISHMENT AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE. THE CONCEPTS ALSO PLAY A ROLE
IN BIOETHICS, (THE STUDY OF THE ETHICAL AND MORAL IMPLICATIONS OF NEW
BIOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND BIOMEDICAL ADVANCES, AS IN THE FIELDS OF
GENETIC ENGINEERING AND DRUG RESEARCH) ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, BUSINESS
ETHICS, WORKPLACE ETHICS, AND A HOST OF OTHER APPLIED ETHICS CONTEXTS. ALTHOUGH
A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS ARE SAID TO DESERVE RESPECT, CONTEMPORARY
PHILOSOPHICAL INTEREST IN RESPECT HAS OVERWHELMINGLY BEEN FOCUSED ON RESPECT
FOR PERSONS, THE IDEA THAT ALL PERSONS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH RESPECT SIMPLY
BECAUSE THEY ARE PERSONS. RESPECT FOR PERSONS IS A CENTRAL CONCEPT IN MANY
ETHICAL THEORIES; SOME THEORIES TREAT IT AS THE VERY ESSENCE OF MORALITY AND THE
FOUNDATION OF ALL OTHER MORAL DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS.

DESPITE THE WIDESPREAD ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECT AND SELF-
RESPECT IN MORAL AND POLITICAL LIFE AND THEORY, THERE IS NO SETTLED AGREEMENT IN
EITHER EVERYDAY THINKING OR PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION ABOUT SUCH ISSUES AS HOW
TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS, WHAT THE APPROPRIATE OBJECTS OF RESPECT ARE, WHAT
IS INVOLVED IN RESPECTING VARIOUS OBJECTS, WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE FOR SELF-
RESPECT, AND WHAT THE SCOPE IS OF ANY MORAL REQUIREMENTS REGARDING RESPECT AND
SELF-RESPECT. THIS ENTRY WILL SURVEY THESE AND RELATED ISSUES.



THE CONCEPT OF RESPECT

AMONG THE MAIN QUESTIONS ABOUT RESPECT THAT PHILOSOPHERS HAVE ADDRESSED ARE
THESE:

(1) HOW SHOULD RESPECT IN GENERAL BE UNDERSTOOD? (A) WHAT CATEGORY OF THING IS
IT? PHILOSOPHERS HAVE VARIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IT AS A MODE OF ACTION, A FORM OF
TREATMENT, A MOTIVE, AN ATTITUDE, A FEELING, A MODE OF VALUING, A WAY OF ATTENDING
TO THINGS, A MORAL PRINCIPLE, A DUTY, AN ENTITLEMENT, A MORAL VIRTUE, AN EPISTEMIC
(OF, RELATING TO, OR INVOLVING KNOWLEDGE; COGNITIVE.) VIRTUE: ARE ANY OF
THESE CATEGORIES MORE CENTRAL THAN OTHERS? (B) WHAT ARE THE DISTINCTIVE
ELEMENTS OF RESPECT? (C) TO WHAT OTHER ATTITUDES, ACTIONS, VALUINGS, DUTIES, ETC.
IS RESPECT SIMILAR, AND WITH WHAT DOES IT CONTRAST? (D) WHAT BELIEFS, ATTITUDES,
EMOTIONS, MOTIVES, AND CONDUCT DOES RESPECT INVOLVE, AND WITH WHAT IS IT
INCOMPATIBLE?

(2) WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE OBJECTS OF RESPECT, I.E., THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT CAN
BE REASONABLY SAID TO WARRANT RESPECT?

(3) WHAT ARE THE BASES OR GROUNDS FOR RESPECT, I.E., THE FEATURES OF OR FACTS
ABOUT OBJECTS IN VIRTUE OF WHICH IT IS REASONABLE AND PERHAPS OBLIGATORY TO
RESPECT THEM?

(4) WHAT WAYS OF ACTING AND FORBEARING TO ACT EXPRESS OR CONSTITUTE OR ARE
REGULATED BY RESPECT?

(5) WHAT MORAL REQUIREMENTS, IF ANY, ARE THERE TO RESPECT CERTAIN TYPES OF
OBJECTS, AND WHAT IS THE SCOPE AND THEORETICAL STATUS OF SUCH REQUIREMENTS?

(6) ARE THERE DIFFERENT LEVELS OR DEGREES OF RESPECT? CAN AN OBJECT COME TO
DESERVE LESS OR NO RESPECT?

(7) WHY IS RESPECT MORALLY IMPORTANT? WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DOES IT ADD TO MORALITY
OVER AND ABOVE THE CONDUCT, ATTITUDES, AND CHARACTER TRAITS REQUIRED OR
ENCOURAGED BY VARIOUS MORAL PRINCIPLES OR VIRTUES?
(8) WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF RESPECT FOR PROBLEMATIC MORAL AND SOCIO-
POLITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS RACISM AND SEXISM, PORNOGRAPHY, PRIVACY, PUNISHMENT,
RESPONSES TO TERRORISM, PATERNALISM IN HEALTH CARE CONTEXTS, CULTURAL DIVERSITY,
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, ABORTION, AND SO ON?

ELEMENTS OF RESPECT

IT IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RESPECT, WHICH
COMPLICATES THE ANSWERING OF THESE QUESTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, ANSWERS
CONCERNING ONE KIND OF RESPECT CAN DIVERGE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THOSE ABOUT
ANOTHER KIND. MUCH PHILOSOPHICAL WORK HAS GONE INTO EXPLICATING THE
DIFFERENCES AND LINKS AMONG THE VARIOUS KINDS. BEFORE LOOKING AT THE
DIFFERENCES, HOWEVER, IT IS USEFUL FIRST TO NOTE SOME ELEMENTS COMMON AMONG
THE VARIOUS KINDS OF RESPECT.



RESPECT IS, MOST GENERALLY, A RELATION BETWEEN A SUBJECT AND AN OBJECT, IN WHICH
THE SUBJECT RESPONDS TO THE OBJECT FROM A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE IN SOME
APPROPRIATE WAY. RESPECT NECESSARILY HAS AN OBJECT: RESPECT IS ALWAYS FOR,
DIRECTED TOWARD, PAID TO, FELT ABOUT, SHOWN FOR SOME OBJECT. WHILE A VERY WIDE
VARIETY OF THINGS CAN BE APPROPRIATE OBJECTS OF ONE KIND OF RESPECT OR ANOTHER,
THE SUBJECT OF RESPECT IS ALWAYS A PERSON, THAT IS, A CONSCIOUS RATIONAL BEING
CAPABLE OF RECOGNISING THINGS, BEING SELF-CONSCIOUSLY AND INTENTIONALLY
RESPONSIVE TO THEM, AND HAVING AND EXPRESSING VALUES WITH REGARD TO THEM.
THOUGH ANIMALS MAY LOVE OR FEAR US, ONLY PERSONS CAN RESPECT AND DISRESPECT US,
OR ANYTHING ELSE. RESPECT IS A RESPONSIVE RELATION, AND ORDINARY DISCOURSE
ABOUT RESPECT IDENTIFIES FOUR KEY ELEMENTS OF THE RESPONSE: ATTENTION,
DEFERENCE, VALUING, AND APPROPRIATE CONDUCT.

FIRST, AS SUGGESTED BY ITS DERIVATION FROM THE LATIN RESPICERE, WHICH MEANS “TO
LOOK BACK AT” OR “TO LOOK AGAIN,” RESPECT IS A PARTICULAR MODE OF APPREHENDING
THE OBJECT: THE PERSON WHO RESPECTS SOMETHING PERCEIVES IT DIFFERENTLY FROM ONE
WHO DOES NOT AND RESPONDS TO IT IN LIGHT OF THAT PERCEPTION. THIS PERCEPTUAL
ELEMENT IS COMMON ALSO TO SYNONYMS SUCH AS REGARD (FROM “TO WATCH OUT FOR”)
AND CONSIDERATION (“EXAMINE (THE STARS) CAREFULLY”). THE IDEA OF PAYING HEED OR
GIVING PROPER ATTENTION TO THE OBJECT THAT IS CENTRAL TO RESPECT OFTEN MEANS
TRYING TO SEE THE OBJECT CLEARLY, AS IT REALLY IS IN ITS OWN RIGHT, AND NOT SIMPLY
SEEING IT THROUGH THE FILTER OF ONE'S OWN INTERPRETATIONS, DESIRES, FEARS, ETC.
THUS, RESPECTING SOMETHING CONTRASTS WITH BEING OBLIVIOUS (LACKING
CONSCIOUS AWARENESS; UNMINDFUL) OR INDIFFERENT TO IT, IGNORING OR QUICKLY
DISMISSING IT, NEGLECTING OR DISREGARDING IT, OR CARELESSLY OR INTENTIONALLY
MISIDENTIFYING IT.

AN OBJECT CAN BE PERCEIVED BY A SUBJECT FROM A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES; FOR
EXAMPLE, ONE MIGHT RIGHTLY REGARD ANOTHER HUMAN INDIVIDUAL AS A RIGHTS-BEARER,
A JUDGE, A SUPERLATIVE SINGER, A TRUSTWORTHY PERSON, OR A THREAT TO ONE'S
SECURITY. THE RESPECT ONE GIVES HER IN EACH CASE WILL BE DIFFERENT, YET ALL WILL
INVOLVE CAREFUL ATTENTION TO HER AS SHE REALLY IS AS A JUDGE, THREAT, ETC. IT IS IN
VIRTUE OF THIS ASPECT OF CAREFUL ATTENTION THAT RESPECT IS SOMETIMES THOUGHT OF
AS AN EPISTEMIC VIRTUE.

AS RESPONSIVE, RESPECT IS OBJECT-GENERATED RATHER THAN SUBJECT-GENERATED,
SOMETHING THAT IS OWED TO, CALLED FOR, DESERVED, ELICITED, (TO CALL FORTH,
DRAW OUT, OR PROVOKE (A REACTION, FOR EXAMPLE) OR CLAIMED BY THE OBJECT.
RESPECT INVOLVES “AN EXPERIENCE” THE EXPERIENCE THAT ONE MUST PAY ATTENTION AND
RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. IT THUS IS MOTIVATIONAL: IT IS THE RECOGNITION OF
SOMETHING “AS DIRECTLY DETERMINING OUR WILL WITHOUT REFERENCE TO WHAT IS
WANTED BY OUR INCLINATIONS”. IN THIS WAY RESPECT DIFFERS FROM, FOR EXAMPLE,
LIKING AND FEARING, WHICH HAVE THEIR SOURCES IN THE SUBJECT'S INTERESTS OR
DESIRES. WHEN WE RESPECT SOMETHING, WE HEED ITS CALL, ACCORD IT ITS DUE,
ACKNOWLEDGE ITS CLAIM TO OUR ATTENTION. THUS, RESPECT INVOLVES DEFERENCE, IN THE
MOST BASIC SENSE OF YIELDING: SELF-ABSORPTION AND EGOCENTRIC CONCERNS GIVE WAY
TO CONSIDERATION OF THE OBJECT, ONE'S MOTIVES AND FEELINGS SUBMIT TO THE OBJECT'S
REALITY. BUT THIS DEFERENCE IS NOT ERASURE OF THE SELF, FOR RESPECT IS AT THE SAME
TIME AN EXPRESSION OF ACTION: IT IS DELIBERATE, A MATTER OF DIRECTED RATHER THAN
GRABBED ATTENTION, OF REFLECTIVE CONSIDERATION AND WILLINGNESS TO OBEY, AND WE
ARE FREE TO REFUSE TO HEED THE CALL.



THE RESPECTFUL RESPONSE IS REGARDED BY THE SUBJECT AS DESERVED BY THE OBJECT OR
OWED TO OR APPROPRIATE TO IT. THE OBJECT, THAT IS, IS PERCEIVED AS RIGHTFULLY
CLAIMING ATTENTIVE RESPONSE IN VIRTUE OF WHAT OR HOW IT IS ITSELF. RESPECT THUS
INVOLVES BELIEVING THAT THERE IS SOME FEATURE OF OR FACT ABOUT THE OBJECT THAT
WARRANTS THIS RESPONSE. THIS FEATURE OR FACT IS THE GROUND OR BASIS IN THE
OBJECT, THAT IN VIRTUE OF WHICH IT CALLS FOR RESPECT. THE BASIS GIVES US A REASON
TO RESPECT THE OBJECT; IT MAY ALSO INDICATE MORE PRECISELY HOW TO RESPECT IT.
RESPECT IS THUS REASON-GOVERNED: WE CANNOT RESPECT A PARTICULAR OBJECT FOR
JUST ANY OLD REASON OR FOR NO REASON AT ALL. RATHER, WE RESPECT AN OBJECT FOR
THE REASON THAT IT HAS, IN OUR JUDGEMENT, A CERTAIN RESPECT-WARRANTING
CHARACTERISTIC, THAT IT IS, IN OUR VIEW, THE KIND OF OBJECT THAT CALLS FOR THAT
KIND OF RESPONSE. AND THESE REASONS ARE CATEGORICAL, IN THE SENSE THAT THEIR
WEIGHT OR STRINGENCY DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE SUBJECT'S INTERESTS, GOALS, OR
DESIRES; HENCE ACTING AGAINST THESE REASONS, OTHER THINGS EQUAL, IS WRONG.
RESPECT IS THUS BOTH SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE. IT IS SUBJECTIVE IN THAT THE
SUBJECT'S RESPONSE IS CONSTRUCTED FROM HER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OBJECT, ITS
CHARACTERISTICS, THE LEGITIMACY OF ITS CALL, AND HOW FITTINGLY TO ADDRESS THE
CALL. AN INDIVIDUAL'S RESPECT FOR AN OBJECT CAN THUS BE INAPPROPRIATE OR
UNWARRANTED, FOR THE OBJECT MAY NOT HAVE THE FEATURES SHE TAKES IT TO HAVE, OR
THE FEATURES SHE TAKES TO BE RESPECT-WARRANTING MIGHT NOT BE, OR HER IDEA OF
HOW PROPERLY TO TREAT THE OBJECT MIGHT BE MISTAKEN. BUT, AS OBJECT-GENERATED,
THE LOGIC OF RESPECT IS THE LOGIC OF OBJECTIVITY AND UNIVERSALITY, IN FOUR WAYS.

FIRST, IN RESPECTING AN OBJECT, WE RESPOND TO IT NOT AS AN EXTENSION OF FEELINGS,
DESIRES, AND INTERESTS WE ALREADY HAVE, BUT AS SOMETHING WHOSE SIGNIFICANCE IS
INDEPENDENT OF US.

SECOND, WE EXPERIENCE THE OBJECT AS UNCONDITIONALLY CONSTRAINING OUR ATTITUDES
AND ACTIONS.

THIRD, OUR REASONS FOR RESPECTING SOMETHING ARE, WE LOGICALLY HAVE TO ASSUME,
REASONS FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO RESPECT IT (OR AT LEAST TO ENDORSE OUR RESPECT FOR
IT FROM A COMMON POINT OF VIEW). RESPECT IS THUS, AN IMPERSONAL RESPONSE TO THE
OBJECT.

FOURTH, RESPECT IS UNIVERSALISING, IN THE SENSE THAT IF X IS A RESPECT-WARRANTING
FEATURE OF OBJECT Y, THEN RESPECTING Y ON ACCOUNT OF X COMMITS US, OTHER THINGS
EQUAL, TO RESPECTING OTHER THINGS THAT ALSO HAVE FEATURE X. IN RESPECT, THEN,
SUBJECTIVITY DEFERS TO OBJECTIVITY.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT REASONS WHY OBJECTS WARRANT RESPECT. SOME ARE
DANGEROUS OR POWERFUL, AND SO RESPECT CAN BE LIKE FEAR, AWE, OR SUBMISSION.
OTHER THINGS HAVE AUTHORITY OVER US, SO RESPECT CAN BE LIKE OBEDIENCE. BUT
RESPECT IS MOST COMMONLY THOUGHT OF AS A MODE OF VALUING. IN PARTICULAR,
RESPECT IS ONE MODE OF EXPERIENCING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE INTRINSIC VALUE OR
SIGNIFICANCE OF SOMETHING. TO RESPECT SOMETHING (AT LEAST, FOR SOME KINDS OF
RESPECT) IT IS TO APPRECIATE IT AS HAVING WORTH OR IMPORTANCE THAT IS INDEPENDENT
OF OUR ANTECEDENT (A PRECEDING OCCURRENCE, CAUSE, OR EVENT) DESIRES OR
COMMITMENTS. THUS, WE CAN RESPECT THINGS WE DON'T LIKE OR AGREE WITH, SUCH AS
OUR ENEMIES OR SOMEONE ELSE'S OPINION. AS A VALUING RESPONSE, RESPECT INVOLVES



HAVING AND ACTING FROM ATTITUDES OF POSITIVE VALUING. IN THIS REGARD, RESPECT IS
LIKE ESTEEM AND ADMIRATION, VENERATION AND REVERENCE, LOVE AND HONOUR, WHILE
REGARDING SOMETHING AS UTTERLY WORTHLESS OR INSIGNIFICANT OR DISDAINING OR
HAVING CONTEMPT FOR IT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH RESPECTING IT. RESPECT ALSO AIMS TO
VALUE ITS OBJECT APPROPRIATELY, SO IT CONTRASTS WITH DEGRADATION AND
DISCOUNTING. THE KINDS OF VALUING THAT RESPECT INVOLVES ALSO CONTRAST WITH
OTHER FORMS OF VALUING SUCH AS PROMOTING OR USING. INDEED, REGARDING A PERSON
MERELY AS USEFUL (TREATING HER AS JUST A SEXUAL OBJECT, AN ATM MACHINE, A
RESEARCH SUBJECT) IS COMMONLY IDENTIFIED AS A CENTRAL FORM OF DISRESPECT FOR
PERSONS, AND MANY PEOPLE DECRY THE KILLING ENDANGERED WILD ANIMALS FOR THEIR
TUSKS OR HIDES AS DESPICABLY DISRESPECTFUL OF NATURE. RESPECT IS SOMETIMES
IDENTIFIED AS A FEELING; IT IS TYPICALLY THE EXPERIENCING OF SOMETHING AS VALUABLE
THAT IS IN FOCUS IN THESE CASES.

FINALLY, RESPECT IS GENERALLY REGARDED AS HAVING A BEHAVIOURAL COMPONENT. IN
RESPECTING AN OBJECT, WE OFTEN CONSIDER IT BE MAKING LEGITIMATE CLAIMS ON OUR
CONDUCT AS WELL AS OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS. HERE, RESPECT INVOLVES
REFRAINING FROM CERTAIN TREATMENT OR ACTING ONLY IN PARTICULAR WAYS IN
CONNECTION WITH IT, WAYS THAT ARE REGARDED AS DESERVED BY, APPROPRIATE TO, OR
OWED TO THE OBJECT. AND THERE ARE VERY MANY WAYS TO RESPECT THINGS: KEEPING OUR
DISTANCE FROM THEM, HELPING THEM, PRAISING OR HONOURING THEM, OBEYING OR
ABIDING BY THEM, NOT VIOLATING OR INTERFERING WITH THEM, DESTROYING THEM IN
SOME WAYS RATHER THAN LETTING THEM BE DESTROYED IN OTHERS, PROTECTING OR BEING
CAREFUL WITH THEM, TALKING ABOUT THEM IN WAYS THAT REFLECT THEIR WORTH OR
STATUS, MOURNING THEM, NURTURING THEM. AT THE VERY LEAST, RESPECT INVOLVES
REGARDING THE OBJECT AS, BY ITS NATURE (E.G., AS OF WORTH), GIVING US GOOD REASON
TO CONSTRAIN OUR BEHAVIOUR. RESPECT IS MORE THAN MERELY RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOUR,
HOWEVER, FOR ONE CAN SHOW RESPECT THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE. FOR EXAMPLE, A TEEN
MAY DISDAIN ADULTS AND YET BEHAVE RESPECTFULLY TOWARD HER FRIEND'S PARENTS IN A
SCHEME TO GET THE CAR, BUT SHE MANIPULATES RATHER THAN RESPECTS THEM. TO BE A
FORM OR EXPRESSION OF RESPECT, BEHAVIOUR HAS TO BE MOTIVATED BY ONE'S
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE OBJECT AS CALLING FOR THAT BEHAVIOUR, AND IT HAS TO BE
MOTIVATED DIRECTLY BY CONSIDERATION THAT THE OBJECT IS WHAT IT IS, WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO ONE'S OWN INTERESTS AND DESIRES. ON THE OTHER HAND, CERTAIN KINDS
OF FEELINGS WOULD NOT COUNT AS RESPECT IF THEY DID NOT FIND EXPRESSION IN
BEHAVIOUR OR INVOLVED NO DISPOSITIONS TO BEHAVE IN CERTAIN WAYS RATHER THAN
OTHERS, AND IF THEY DID NOT SPRING FROM THE BELIEFS, PERCEPTIONS, AND JUDGEMENTS
THAT THE OBJECT IS WORTHY OR CALLS FOR SUCH BEHAVIOUR.

AS THUS ANALYSED, RESPECT, MOST GENERALLY, HAS COGNITIVE (HAVING A BASIS IN OR
REDUCIBLE TO EMPIRICAL FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE.) DIMENSIONS (BELIEFS,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, JUDGEMENTS, DELIBERATIONS, COMMITMENTS), AFFECTIVE
DIMENSIONS (EMOTIONS, FEELINGS, WAYS OF EXPERIENCING THINGS), AND COGNITIVE
DIMENSIONS (MOTIVATIONS, DISPOSITIONS TO ACT AND FORBEAR FROM ACTING). SOME
FORMS OF RESPECT ALSO HAVE VALUATIONAL DIMENSIONS. ON THIS ANALYSIS, THEN,
RESPECT IS, MOST CENTRALLY, AN ATTITUDE, OR MORE BROADLY (SINCE ADDITIONAL
ATTITUDES MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN RESPECTING SOMETHING), RESPECT IS A COMPLEX “WAY-
OF-BEING-TOWARD-SOMETHING.” ACTIONS AND MODES OF TREATMENT TYPICALLY COUNT AS
RESPECT INSOFAR AS THEY EITHER MANIFEST AN ATTITUDE OF RESPECT OR ARE OF A SORT
THROUGH WHICH THE ATTITUDE OF RESPECT IS CHARACTERISTICALLY EXPRESSED. A



PRINCIPLE OF RESPECT IS ONE THAT, LOGICALLY, MUST BE ADOPTED BY SOMEONE WITH THE
ATTITUDE OF RESPECT OR THAT PRESCRIBES THE ATTITUDE OR ACTIONS THAT EXPRESS IT.

KINDS OF RESPECT

THAT IT IS THE NATURE OF THE OBJECT THAT DETERMINES ITS RESPECT-WORTHINESS, AND
THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF OBJECTS CALLING FOR CORRESPONDINGLY DIFFERENT
KINDS OF ATTENTION, ATTITUDES, AND ACTION HAS LED MANY PHILOSOPHERS TO ARGUE
THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RESPECT. IN WHAT FOLLOWS, THREE SETS OF
DISTINCTIONS WILL BE DISCUSSED.

SPECULATING ON THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE IDEA THAT ALL PERSONS AS SUCH
DESERVE RESPECT, AND USING TERMS FOUND ON ACHTUNG (THE GERMAN WORD USUALLY
TRANSLATED AS “RESPECT”), IDENTIFIES THREE DISTINCT CONCEPTS FOR WHICH “RESPECT”
HAS BEEN THE NAME. RESPECT IS THE “UNEASY AND WATCHFUL ATTITUDE THAT HAS 'THE
ELEMENT OF FEAR' IN IT”. ITS OBJECTS ARE DANGEROUS THINGS OR THINGS WITH POWER
OVER THE SUBJECT. IT IS RESPECT THAT WOODWORKERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE FOR
POWER TOOLS, THAT A CITY DWELLER MIGHT HAVE FOR STREET GANGS, A NEW SAILOR
MIGHT BE ADMONISHED TO HAVE FOR THE SEA, A CHILD MIGHT HAVE FOR AN ABUSIVE
PARENT. RESPECT CONTRASTS WITH CONTEMPTUOUS DISREGARD; IT IS SHOWN IN CONDUCT
THAT IS CAUTIOUS, SELF-PROTECTIVE, OTHER-PLACATING. OBSERVANTIA (IS THE
MORALISED ANALOGUE OF RESPECT) IS THE MORALISED ANALOGUE OF RESPECT. IT
INVOLVES REGARDING THE OBJECT AS MAKING A RIGHTFUL CLAIM ON OUR CONDUCT, AS
DESERVING MORAL CONSIDERATION IN ITS OWN RIGHT, INDEPENDENTLY OF
CONSIDERATIONS OF PERSONAL WELL BEING. IT IS OBSERVANTIA, THAT HISTORICALLY WAS
EXTENDED FIRST TO CLASSES OF NON-DANGEROUS BUT OTHERWISE WORTHY PEOPLE AND
THEN TO ALL PERSONS AS SUCH, REGARDLESS OF MERIT OR ABILITY. OBSERVANTIA
ENCOMPASSES BOTH THE RESPECT SAID TO BE OWED TO ALL HUMANS EQUALLY AND THE
FORMS OF POLITE RESPECT AND DEFERENCE THAT ACKNOWLEDGE DIFFERENT SOCIAL
POSITIONS. REVERENTIA IS THE SPECIAL FEELING OF PROFOUND AWE AND RESPECT WE
HAVE IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY OR SUBLIME, A FEELING THAT BOTH
HUMBLES AND UPLIFTS US. THE MORAL LAW AND PEOPLE WHO EXEMPLIFY IT IN MORALLY
WORTHY ACTIONS ELICIT REVERENTIA (IS THE SPECIAL FEELING OF PROFOUND AWE
AND RESPECT WE HAVE IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY OR
SUBLIME, A FEELING THAT BOTH HUMBLES AND UPLIFTS US.)FROM US, FOR WE
EXPERIENCE THE LAW OR ITS EXEMPLIFICATION AS “SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS TRUMPS OUR
INCLINATIONS IN DETERMINING OUR WILLS”. THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF POWER AS
UNDERLYING THE THREE KINDS OF RESPECT; IN EACH CASE, RESPECT IS THE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE POWER OF SOMETHING OTHER THAN OURSELVES TO DEMAND,
COMMAND, OR MAKE CLAIMS ON OUR ATTENTION, CONSIDERATION AND DEFERENCE.

A FOUR-FOLD DISTINCTION AMONG KINDS OF RESPECT, ACCORDING TO THE BASES IN THE
OBJECTS. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING SETS OF EXAMPLES: (A) RESPECTING A COLLEAGUE
HIGHLY AS A SCHOLAR AND HAVING A LOT OF RESPECT FOR SOMEONE WITH “GUTS”; (B) A
MOUNTAIN CLIMBER'S RESPECT FOR THE ELEMENTS AND A TENNIS PLAYER'S RESPECT FOR
HER OPPONENT'S STRONG BACKHAND; (C) RESPECTING THE TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT AND
RESPECTING A PERSON'S RIGHTS; AND (D) SHOWING RESPECT FOR A JUDGE BY RISING
WHEN SHE ENTERS THE COURTROOM AND RESPECTING A WORN-OUT FLAG BY BURNING IT
RATHER THAN TOSSING IT IN THE TRASH. THE RESPECT IN (A), EVALUATIVE RESPECT, IS
SIMILAR TO OTHER FAVOURABLE ATTITUDES SUCH AS ESTEEM AND ADMIRATION; IT IS
EARNED OR DESERVED (OR NOT) DEPENDING ON WHETHER AND TO THE DEGREE THAT THE



OBJECT IS JUDGED TO MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS. OBSTACLE RESPECT, IN (B), IS A MATTER
OF REGARDING THE OBJECT AS SOMETHING WHICH, IF NOT TAKEN PROPER ACCOUNT OF IN
ONE'S DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO ACT, COULD PREVENT ONE FROM ACHIEVING ONE'S ENDS.
THE OBJECTS OF (C) DIRECTIVE RESPECT ARE DIRECTIVES: THINGS SUCH AS REQUESTS,
RULES, ADVICE, LAWS, OR RIGHTS CLAIMS THAT MAY BE TAKEN AS GUIDES TO ACTION. ONE
RESPECTS A DIRECTIVE WHEN ONE'S BEHAVIOURS INTENTIONALLY COMPLY WITH IT. THE
OBJECTS OF (D) INSTITUTIONAL RESPECT ARE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS OR PRACTICES, THE
POSITIONS OR ROLES DEFINED WITHIN AN INSTITUTION OR PRACTICE, AND PERSONS OR
THINGS THAT OCCUPY THE POSITIONS OR REPRESENT THE INSTITUTION. INSTITUTIONAL
RESPECT IS SHOWN BY BEHAVIOUR THAT CONFORMS TO RULES THAT PRESCRIBE CERTAIN
CONDUCT AS RESPECTFUL. THESE FOUR FORMS OF RESPECT DIFFER IN SEVERAL WAYS. EACH
IDENTIFIES A QUITE DIFFERENT KIND OF FEATURE OF OBJECTS AS THE BASIS OF RESPECT.
EACH IS EXPRESSED IN ACTION IN QUITE DIFFERENT WAYS, ALTHOUGH EVALUATIVE RESPECT
NEED NOT BE EXPRESSED AT ALL, ONE CAN HAVE INSTITUTIONAL RESPECT FOR AN
INSTITUTION (E.G., THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM) WITHOUT SHOWING IT FOR A
PARTICULAR ELEMENT OF IT (THE JUDGE IN THIS TRIAL), AND DIRECTIVE RESPECT IS NOT AN
ATTITUDE THAT ONE MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT EXPRESS BUT A MODE OF CONDUCT MOTIVATED
BY A RECOGNITION OF THE DIRECTIVE'S AUTHORITY. EVALUATIVE RESPECT CENTRALLY
INVOLVES HAVING A FAVOURABLE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE OBJECT, WHILE THE OTHER FORMS
DO NOT.

DIRECTIVE RESPECT DOES NOT ADMIT OF DEGREES (ONE EITHER OBEYS THE RULE OR
DOESN'T), BUT THE OTHERS DO (WE CAN HAVE MORE EVALUATIVE RESPECT FOR ONE PERSON
THAN ANOTHER). THIS DISTINCTION TO ARGUE THAT RESPECT-FOR-PERSONS IS NOT A
UNIQUE KIND OF RESPECT BUT SHOULD BE CONCEIVED RATHER AS INVOLVING SOME
COMBINATION OR OTHER OF THESE FOUR.

THE FOUR-FOLD CLASSIFICATION, THE FIFTH FORM, CARE RESPECT, WHICH IS EXEMPLIFIED
IN AN ENVIRONMENTALIST'S DEEP RESPECT FOR NATURE. CARE RESPECT INVOLVES
REGARDING THE OBJECT AS HAVING PROFOUND AND PERHAPS UNIQUE VALUE AND SO
CHERISHING IT, AND PERCEIVING IT AS FRAGILE OR CALLING FOR SPECIAL CARE AND SO
ACTING OR FORBEARING TO ACT OUT OF FELT BENEVOLENT CONCERN FOR IT. THIS ANALYSIS
OF RESPECT DRAWS EXPLICITLY FROM A FEMINIST ETHICS OF CARE AND HAS BEEN
INFLUENTIAL IN FEMINIST AND NON-FEMINIST DISCUSSIONS OF RESPECTING PERSONS AS
UNIQUE, PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS.

THE OTHER TWO KINDS OF RESPECT: RECOGNITION RESPECT AND APPRAISAL RESPECT.
RECOGNITION RESPECT IS THE DISPOSITION TO GIVE APPROPRIATE WEIGHT OR
CONSIDERATION IN ONE'S PRACTICAL DELIBERATIONS TO SOME FACT ABOUT THE OBJECT
AND THEN TO ACT ACCORDINGLY. ALSO REFERRED AS “CONSIDERATION RESPECT.” A WIDE
VARIETY OF OBJECTS, INCLUDING LAWS, DANGEROUS THINGS, SOMEONE'S FEELINGS,
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, NATURE, THE INDIVIDUALS PRESENT IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, AND
PERSONS AS SUCH, CAN BE OBJECTS OF RECOGNITION RESPECT. APPRAISAL RESPECT, BY
CONTRAST, IS AN ATTITUDE OF POSITIVE APPRAISAL OF A PERSON OR THEIR MERITS, WHICH
ARE FEATURES OF PERSONS THAT MANIFEST EXCELLENCE OF CHARACTER. INDIVIDUALS CAN
BE THE OBJECTS OF APPRAISAL RESPECT EITHER AS PERSONS OR AS ENGAGED IN SOME
PURSUIT OR OCCUPYING SOME ROLE. EVALUATION IS ALWAYS DONE IN LIGHT OF SOME
QUALITATIVE STANDARDS, AND DIFFERENT STANDARDS CAN APPLY TO ONE AND THE SAME
INDIVIDUAL. THUS, APPRAISAL RESPECT IS A MATTER OF DEGREE, DEPENDING ON THE
EXTENT TO WHICH THE OBJECT MEETS THE STANDARDS (SO, WE CAN RESPECT SOMEONE
MORE OR LESS HIGHLY AND RESPECT ONE PERSON MORE HIGHLY THAN ANOTHER), AND IT



CAN CO-EXIST WITH (SOME) NEGATIVE ASSESSMENTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR HER TRAITS
(JUDGED IN LIGHT OF OTHER STANDARDS).

WE CAN HAVE APPRAISAL RESPECT FOR SOMEONE'S HONESTY EVEN WHILE THINKING HER
LAZY, AND WE CAN HIGHLY RESPECT SOMEONE ELSE AS ALTOGETHER A MORALLY FINE
PERSON; WE CAN RESPECT AN INDIVIDUAL AS AN EXCELLENT TEACHER OR CARPENTER YET
REGARD HER AS FAR FROM A MORAL EXEMPLAR. APPRAISAL RESPECT, WHICH IS BASED ON
ASSESSMENT OF CHARACTER TRAITS, FROM ESTEEM, ANOTHER ATTITUDE OF POSITIVE
ASSESSMENT WHOSE WIDER BASIS INCLUDE ANY FEATURES IN VIRTUE OF WHICH ONE CAN
THINK WELL OF SOMEONE. HOWEVER, OTHER PHILOSOPHERS TREAT “ESTEEM” AND
(APPRAISAL) “RESPECT” AS SYNONYMS.

THE RECOGNITION/APPRAISAL DISTINCTION HAS BEEN QUITE INFLUENTIAL AND IS WIDELY
REGARDED AS THE FUNDAMENTAL DISTINCTION. IF IT IS, THEN IT SHOULD ENCOMPASS THE
OTHER DISTINCTIONS (ALTHOUGH SOME FINE-TUNING MIGHT BE NECESSARY). AND INDEED,
EVALUATIVE RESPECT AND PERHAPS REVERENTIA FOR MORALLY GOOD PERSONS ARE
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS APPRAISAL RESPECT, WHILE RESPECT, OBSTACLE RESPECT,
OBSERVANTIA, DIRECTIVE RESPECT, INSTITUTIONAL RESPECT AND CARE RESPECT CAN BE
ANALYSED AS FORMS OF RECOGNITION RESPECT. SOME PHILOSOPHERS, HOWEVER, HAVE
FOUND THE RECOGNITION/APPRAISAL DISTINCTION TO BE INADEQUATE. NEITHER
REVERENTIA FOR THE MORAL LAW NOR THE FELT EXPERIENCE OF REVERENTIAL RESPECT FOR
THE SUBLIMITY OF PERSONS AS SUCH ARE FORMS OF APPRAISAL RESPECT, YET BECAUSE
RECOGNITION RESPECT IS ANALYSED, FIRST, AS HOLDING ONLY IN DELIBERATIVE CONTEXTS,
AND SECOND, AS NOT ESSENTIALLY INVOLVING FEELING. REVERENTIA SEEMS ALSO NOT TO
BE A FORM OF RECOGNITION RESPECT. MOREOVER, WHILE VALUING THE OBJECT IS NOT
ESSENTIAL TO SOME FORMS OF RECOGNITION RESPECT (E.G., DIRECTIVE RESPECT) AND IS
ONLY INDIRECTLY INVOLVED IN OTHER FORMS (IN OBSTACLE RESPECT. WE DON'T VALUE THE
OBSTACLE BUT DO VALUE THE GOAL IT BLOCKS US FROM REACHING), VALUING IS ESSENTIAL
TO SOME FORMS OF RESPECT. IN PARTICULAR, VALUING PERSONS INTRINSICALLY IS WIDELY
REGARDED AS THE CORE OF THE RESPECT THAT ALL PERSONS ARE THOUGHT TO BE OWED
SIMPLY AS PERSONS. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT SIMPLY TO GLOSS RECOGNITION
RESPECT AS RECOGNISING THE VALUE OF THE OBJECT, FOR ONE CAN RECOGNISE THE VALUE
OF SOMETHING AND YET NOT VALUE IT, AS AN INSURANCE APPRAISER DOES, OR TAKE THE
VALUE OF SOMETHING, SAY, A PERSON'S CHILD, INTO ACCOUNT IN DELIBERATING ABOUT
HOW BEST TO REVENGE ONESELF ON THAT PERSON.

RESPECT FOR SOME CATEGORIES OF OBJECTS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF TAKING THE
OBJECT'S VALUE INTO CONSIDERATION BUT OF VALUING THE OBJECT, AND VALUING IT
INTRINSICALLY. ANALYSING APPRAISAL RESPECT AS JUST THE POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF
SOMEONE'S CHARACTER TRAITS AS GOOD IS SIMILARLY PROBLEMATIC, FOR ONE CAN
EVALUATE SOMETHING HIGHLY AND YET NOT VALUE IT. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE CAN APPRAISE
SOMEONE'S MORAL PERFORMANCE AS STELLAR AND HATE OR ENVY HER FOR PRECISELY THAT
REASON. RESPECT IN THE APPRAISAL SENSE IS NOT JUST EVALUATING BUT ALSO VALUING
THE OBJECT POSITIVELY. THE RECOGNITION/APPRAISAL DISTINCTION THUS SEEMS TO
OBSCURE ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT WE MIGHT CALL VALUING
RESPECT AND NON-VALUING RESPECT. APPRAISAL RESPECT IS A FORM OF VALUING RESPECT,
BUT RECOGNITION RESPECT INCLUDES BOTH VALUING AND NON-VALUING FORMS. THERE
ARE, OF COURSE, DIFFERENT MODES OF VALUING, AND AT LEAST THREE SETS OF
DISTINCTIONS ARE RELEVANT TO RESPECT: (A) BETWEEN MORAL AND NON-MORAL VALUING
(OR, VALUING FROM A MORAL OR A NON-MORAL POINT OF VIEW), (B) BETWEEN
COMPARATIVE AND NON-COMPARATIVE VALUING, AND (C) BETWEEN VALUING INTRINSICALLY



(VALUING IT IN ITSELF, APART FROM VALUING ANYTHING ELSE) AND VALUING EXTRINSICALLY
(FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF ITS RELATION TO SOMETHING ELSE OF VALUE). A COMPLETE
ACCOUNT OF RESPECT WOULD NEED TO WORK OUT A TAXONOMY (THE CLASSIFICATION
OF ORGANISMS IN AN ORDERED SYSTEM THAT INDICATES NATURAL
RELATIONSHIPS) THAT INCORPORATES THESE VALUING DISTINCTIONS. IN WHAT FOLLOWS,
HOWEVER, WE'LL USE THE TERMS “RECOGNITION RESPECT,” “EVALUATIVE RESPECT,” AND
“REVERENTIAL RESPECT” (THE LAST FOR THE VALUING FEELING THAT IS MOTIVATIONAL
WITHOUT BEING DELIBERATIVE), SPECIFYING THE VALUING DIMENSIONS AS NECESSARY.

IN EVERYDAY DISCOURSE, THE VALUING SENSE OF RESPECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN USED ABOUT
PEOPLE, MOST COMMONLY MEANS THINKING HIGHLY OF SOMEONE, I.E., EVALUATIVE
RESPECT. HOWEVER, PHILOSOPHICAL ATTENTION TO RESPECT HAS TENDED TO FOCUS ON
RECOGNITION (OR, SOMETIMES, REVERENTIAL) RESPECT THAT ACKNOWLEDGES OR VALUES
THE OBJECT FROM A MORAL POINT OF VIEW. THESE DISCUSSIONS TEND TO RELATE SUCH
RESPECT TO THE CONCEPTS OF MORAL STANDING OR OF MORAL WORTH. MORAL STANDING,
OR MORAL CONSIDERABILITY, IS THE IDEA THAT CERTAIN THINGS MATTER MORALLY IN THEIR
OWN RIGHT AND SO ARE APPROPRIATE OBJECTS OF DIRECT FUNDAMENTAL MORAL
CONSIDERATION OR CONCERN. SOME FORM OF RECOGNITION RESPECT IS, ON SOME
ACCOUNTS, A PRIMARY MODE OF SUCH MORAL CONSIDERATION. ALTERNATIVELY, IT IS
ARGUED THAT CERTAIN THINGS HAVE A DISTINCTIVE KIND OF INTRINSIC AND
INCOMPARABLE MORAL WORTH OR VALUE, OFTEN CALLED “DIGNITY,” IN VIRTUE OF WHICH
THEY OUGHT TO BE ACCORDED SOME VALUING FORM OF MORAL RECOGNITION OR
REVERENTIAL RESPECT. DISCUSSIONS THAT FOCUS ON MORAL STANDING OR MORAL WORTH
ADDRESS QUESTIONS SUCH AS: WHAT THINGS FALL WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF BASIC MORAL
CONSIDERATION OR HAVE THIS DISTINCTIVE MORAL WORTH? WHAT CONFERS MORAL
STANDING ON OBJECTS, OR WHAT IS THE BASIS OF THEIR MORAL WORTH? ARE THERE
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MORAL STANDING AND, IF SO, DO OBJECTS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS
WARRANT DIFFERENT MODES OF MORAL RESPECT? AND WHAT SORTS OF TREATMENT ARE
CONSTITUTIVE OF, EXPRESS, OR ARE COMPATIBLE WITH SUCH MORAL RESPECT? IN MODERN
PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSIONS, HUMANS ARE UNIVERSALLY REGARDED AS THE PARADIGM
(A SET OF ASSUMPTIONS, CONCEPTS, VALUES, AND PRACTICES THAT CONSTITUTES A
WAY OF VIEWING REALITY FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT SHARES THEM, ESPECIALLY
IN AN INTELLECTUAL DISCIPLINE) OBJECTS OF MORAL RESPECT; IF ANYTHING HAS
MORAL STANDING OR DIGNITY AND SO WARRANTS RESPECT, IT IS THE INDIVIDUAL HUMAN
BEING. ALTHOUGH SOME THEORISTS ARGUE THAT NATURE (OR, ALL LIVING BEINGS, SPECIES,
ECOSYSTEMS) OR SOCIETIES (OR, CULTURES, TRADITIONS) ALSO WARRANT THE MORAL
CONSIDERATION AND VALUING OF RESPECT, MOST PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION OF RESPECT
HAS FOCUSED ON RESPECT FOR PERSONS.

RESPECT FOR PERSONS.

PEOPLE CAN BE THE OBJECTS OR RECIPIENTS OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF RESPECT. WE CAN
(DIRECTIVE) RESPECT A PERSON'S LEGAL RIGHTS, SHOW (INSTITUTIONAL) RESPECT FOR THE
PRESIDENT BY CALLING HIM “MR. PRESIDENT,” HAVE A HEALTHY (OBSTACLE) RESPECT FOR AN
EASILY ANGERED PERSON, (CARE) RESPECT SOMEONE BY CHERISHING HER IN HER CONCRETE
PARTICULARITY, (EVALUATIVELY) RESPECT AN INDIVIDUAL FOR HER COMMITMENT TO A
WORTHY PROJECT, AND ACCORD ONE PERSON THE SAME BASIC MORAL RESPECT WE THINK
ANY PERSON DESERVES. THUS THE IDEA OF RESPECT FOR PERSONS IS AMBIGUOUS. BECAUSE
BOTH INSTITUTIONAL RESPECT AND EVALUATIVE RESPECT CAN BE FOR PERSONS IN ROLES
OR POSITION, THE PHRASE “RESPECTING SOMEONE AS A PERSON” MIGHT MEAN EITHER
HAVING HIGH REGARD FOR A PERSON'S EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN THE ROLE OR



BEHAVING IN WAYS THAT EXPRESS DUE CONSIDERATION OR DEFERENCE TO AN INDIVIDUAL
OF THAT POSITION. SIMILARLY, THE PHRASE “RESPECTING SOMEONE AS A PERSON” MIGHT
REFER TO APPRAISING HER AS OVERALL A MORALLY GOOD PERSON, OR TO ACKNOWLEDGING
HER STANDING AS AN EQUAL IN THE MORAL COMMUNITY, OR TO ATTENDING TO HER AS THE
PARTICULAR PERSON SHE IS AS OPPOSED TO TREATING HER LIKE JUST ANOTHER BODY.

IN THE LITERATURE OF MORAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, THE NOTION OF RESPECT FOR
PERSONS COMMONLY MEANS A KIND OF RESPECT THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE OWED MORALLY JUST
BECAUSE THEY ARE PERSONS, REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL POSITION, INDIVIDUAL
CHARACTERISTICS OR ACHIEVEMENTS, OR MORAL MERIT. THE IDEA IS THAT PERSONS AS
SUCH HAVE A DISTINCTIVE MORAL STATUS IN VIRTUE OF WHICH WE HAVE SPECIAL
CATEGORICAL OBLIGATIONS TO REGARD AND TREAT THEM IN WAYS THAT ARE CONSTRAINED
BY CERTAIN INVIOLABLE LIMITS. THIS IS SOMETIMES EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF RIGHTS:
PERSONS, IT IS SAID, HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL MORAL RIGHT TO RESPECT SIMPLY BECAUSE
THEY ARE PERSONS. AND IT IS A COMMONPLACE THAT PERSONS ARE OWED OR HAVE A RIGHT
TO EQUAL RESPECT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT WE COULD NOT OWE EVERY INDIVIDUAL
EVALUATIVE RESPECT, LET ALONE EQUAL EVALUATIVE RESPECT, SINCE NOT EVERYONE ACTS
MORALLY CORRECTLY OR HAS AN EQUALLY MORALLY GOOD CHARACTER. SO, IF IT IS TRUE
THAT ALL PERSONS ARE OWED OR HAVE A MORAL RIGHT TO RESPECT JUST AS PERSONS,
THEN THE CONCEPT OF RESPECT FOR PERSON HAS TO BE ANALYSED AS SOME FORM OR
COMBINATION OF FORMS OF RECOGNITION OR REVERENTIAL RESPECT. FOR A VARIETY OF
REASONS, HOWEVER, IT IS CONTROVERSIAL WHETHER WE DO INDEED HAVE A MORAL
OBLIGATION TO RESPECT ALL PERSONS, REGARDLESS OF MERIT, AND IF SO, WHY. THERE ARE
DISAGREEMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THIS CLAIM, THE GROUNDS FOR
RESPECT, AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE OBLIGATION. THERE IS ALSO A DIVERGENCE OF
VIEWS ABOUT THE KINDS OF TREATMENT THAT ARE RESPECTFUL OF PERSONS.

SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES.

ONE SOURCE OF CONTROVERSY CONCERNS THE SCOPE OF THE CONCEPT OF A PERSON.
ALTHOUGH IN EVERYDAY DISCOURSE THE WORD “PERSON” IS SYNONYMOUS WITH “HUMAN
BEING,” SOME PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSIONS TREAT IT AS A TECHNICAL TERM WHOSE RANGE
OF APPLICATION MIGHT BE WIDER THAN THE CLASS OF HUMAN BEINGS (JUST AS, FOR LEGAL
PURPOSES, BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ARE REGARDED AS PERSONS). THIS IS BECAUSE SOME
OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOR RESPECTING PERSONS HAVE THE LOGICAL
CONSEQUENCE THAT NON-HUMAN THINGS WARRANT THE SAME RESPECT ON THE VERY SAME
GROUNDS AS HUMANS. CONSEQUENTLY, ONE QUESTION AN ACCOUNT OF RESPECT FOR
PERSONS HAS TO ADDRESS IS WHO OR WHAT ARE PERSONS THAT ARE OWED RESPECT?
DIFFERENT ANSWERS HAVE BEEN OFFERED, INCLUDING ALL HUMAN BEINGS; ALL AND ONLY
THOSE HUMANS WHO ARE THEMSELVES CAPABLE OF RESPECTING PERSONS; ALL BEINGS
CAPABLE OF RATIONAL ACTIVITY, WHETHER HUMAN OR NOT; ALL BEINGS CAPABLE OF
FUNCTIONING AS MORAL AGENTS, WHETHER HUMAN OR NOT. THE SECOND, THIRD AND
FOURTH ANSWERS WOULD SEEM TO EXCLUDE DECEASED HUMANS AND HUMANS WHO LACK
SUFFICIENT MENTAL CAPACITY, SUCH AS THE PROFOUNDLY RETARDED, THE SEVERELY
MENTALLY ILL AND SENILE, THOSE IN PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATES, THE PRE-BORN, AND
PERHAPS VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. THE THIRD AND FOURTH ANSWERS MIGHT INCLUDE
ARTIFICIAL BEINGS (ANDROIDS, SOPHISTICATED ROBOTS) AND CERTAIN ANIMALS (APES,
DOLPHINS).

IN TRYING TO CLARIFY WHO OR WHAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO RESPECT, WE ARE NATURALLY
LED TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE GROUND OR BASIS OF RESPECT: WHAT IS IT ABOUT



PERSONS THAT MAKES THEM MATTER MORALLY AND MAKES THEM WORTHY OF RESPECT? ONE
COMMON WAY OF ANSWER THIS QUESTION IS TO LOOK FOR SOME MORALLY SIGNIFICANT
NATURAL QUALITY THAT IS COMMON TO ALL BEINGS THAT ARE NON-CONTROVERSIALLY OWED
RESPECT (FOR EXAMPLE, ALL NORMAL ADULT HUMANS). CANDIDATE QUALITIES INCLUDE THE
ABILITY TO BE MOVED BY CONSIDERATIONS OF MORAL OBLIGATION, THE ABILITY TO VALUE
APPROPRIATELY, THE ABILITY TO REASON, AND THE ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN RECIPROCAL
RELATIONSHIPS. SOME OF THESE APPLY ONLY TO HUMANS, OTHERS TO OTHER BEINGS AS
WELL. EVEN REGARDING HUMANS, THERE IS A QUESTION OF SCOPE: ARE ALL HUMANS OWED
RESPECT? IF RESPECT IS SOMETHING TO WHICH ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE AN EQUAL CLAIM,
THEN, IT HAS BEEN ARGUED, THE GROUND QUALITY HAS TO BE ONE THAT ALL HUMANS
POSSESS EQUALLY OR IN VIRTUE OF WHICH HUMANS ARE NATURALLY EQUAL, OR A
THRESHOLD QUALITY THAT ALL HUMANS POSSESS, WITH VARIATIONS ABOVE THE
THRESHOLD IGNORED.

SOME PHILOSOPHERS HAVE ARGUED THAT CERTAIN CAPACITIES FIT THE BILL; OTHERS ARGUE
THAT THERE IS NO QUALITY POSSESSED BY ALL HUMANS THAT COULD BE A PLAUSIBLE
GROUND FOR A MORAL OBLIGATION OF EQUAL RESPECT. SOME DRAW FROM THIS THE
CONCLUSION THAT RESPECT IS OWED NOT TO ALL BUT ONLY TO SOME HUMAN BEINGS;
OTHERS CONCLUDE THAT THE OBLIGATION TO RESPECT ALL HUMANS IS GROUNDLESS:
RATHER THAN BEING GROUNDED IN SOME FACT ABOUT HUMANS, RESPECT CONFERS MORAL
STANDING ON THEM. BUT THE LAST VIEW STILL LEAVES THE QUESTIONS: WHY SHOULD THIS
STANDING BE CONFERRED ON HUMANS? AND IS IT CONFERRED ON ALL HUMANS? YET
ANOTHER QUESTION OF SCOPE IS MUST PERSONS ALWAYS BE RESPECTED? ONE VIEW IS
THAT INDIVIDUALS FORFEIT THEIR CLAIM TO RESPECT BY, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMITTING
HEINOUS CRIMES OF DISRESPECT AGAINST OTHER PERSONS, SUCH AS MURDER IN THE
COURSE OF TERRORISM OR GENOCIDE. ANOTHER VIEW IS THAT THERE ARE NO
CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT IS MORALLY JUSTIFIABLE TO NOT RESPECT A PERSON,
AND THAT EVEN TORTURERS AND CHILD-RAPISTS, THOUGH THEY MAY DESERVE THE MOST
SEVERE CONDEMNATION AND PUNISHMENT AND MAY HAVE FORFEITED THEIR RIGHTS TO
FREEDOM AND PERHAPS TO LIFE, STILL REMAIN PERSONS TO WHOM WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS
OF RESPECT, SINCE THE GROUNDS OF RESPECT ARE INDEPENDENT OF MORAL MERIT OR
DEMERIT.

BEYOND THE QUESTION OF THE GROUND OR BASIS OF RESPECT FOR PERSONS, THERE IS A
FURTHER QUESTION OF JUSTIFICATION TO BE ADDRESSED, FOR IT IS ONE THING TO SAY
THAT PERSONS HAVE A CERTAIN VALUABLE QUALITY, BUT QUITE ANOTHER THING TO SAY
THAT THERE IS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO RESPECT PERSONS. SO WE MUST ASK: WHAT
REASONS DO WE HAVE FOR BELIEVING THAT THE FACT THAT PERSONS POSSESS QUALITY X
ENTAILS THAT WE ARE MORALLY OBLIGATED TO RESPECT PERSONS BY TREATING THEM IN
CERTAIN WAYS?. ANOTHER WAY OF ASKING A JUSTIFICATION QUESTION SEEKS NOT A
NORMATIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN QUALITIES OF PERSONS AND MORAL OBLIGATION, BUT
AN EXPLANATION FOR OUR BELIEF THAT HUMANS (AND PERHAPS OTHER BEINGS) ARE OWED
RESPECT, FOR EXAMPLE: WHAT IN OUR EXPERIENCE OF OTHER HUMANS OR IN OUR HISTORY
EXPLAINS THE DEVELOPMENT AND POWER OF THIS BELIEF? OUR ACTUAL FELT EXPERIENCES
OF REVERENTIAL RESPECT PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SOME OF THESE EXPLANATORY
ACCOUNTS; WHAT JUSTIFIES ACCEPTING OUR EXPERIENCE OF RESPECT FOR HUMANS (OR
OTHER BEINGS) AS GROUNDS FOR AN OBLIGATION IS ITS COHERENCE WITH OUR OTHER
MORAL BELIEFS.

FINALLY, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE ARE SUPPOSED TO RESPECT PERSONS,
SUCH AS: WHAT STANDARDS FOR CONDUCT AND CHARACTER GIVE APPROPRIATE



EXPRESSION TO THE ATTITUDE OF RESPECT? SOME PHILOSOPHERS ARGUE THAT THE
OBLIGATION TO RESPECT PERSON FUNCTIONS AS A NEGATIVE CONSTRAINT: RESPECT
INVOLVES REFRAINING FROM REGARDING OR TREATING PERSONS IN CERTAIN WAYS. FOR
EXAMPLE, WE OUGHT NOT TO TREAT THEM AS IF THEY WERE WORTHLESS OR HAD VALUE
ONLY INSOFAR AS WE FIND THEM USEFUL OR INTERESTING, OR AS IF THEY WERE MERE
OBJECTS OR SPECIMENS, OR AS IF THEY WERE VERMIN OR DIRT; WE OUGHT NOT TO VIOLATE
THEIR BASIC MORAL RIGHTS, OR INTERFERE WITH THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN
DECISIONS AND GOVERN THEIR OWN CONDUCT, OR HUMILIATE THEM, OR TREAT THEM IN
WAYS THAT FLOUT THEIR NATURE AND WORTH AS PERSONS. OTHERS MAINTAIN THAT WE
ALSO HAVE POSITIVE DUTIES OF RESPECT: WE OUGHT, FOR EXAMPLE, TO TRY TO SEE EACH
OF THEM AND THE WORLD FROM THEIR OWN POINTS OF VIEW, OR HELP THEM TO PROMOTE
THEIR MORALLY ACCEPTABLE ENDS, OR PROTECT THEM FROM THEIR OWN SELF-HARMING
DECISIONS. AND SOME PHILOSOPHERS NOTE THAT IT MAY BE MORE RESPECTFUL TO JUDGE
SOMEONE'S ACTIONS OR CHARACTER NEGATIVELY OR TO PUNISH SOMEONE FOR
WRONGDOING THAN TO TREAT THEM AS IF THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY
DID, ALTHOUGH REQUIREMENTS OF RESPECT WOULD IMPOSE LIMITS ON HOW SUCH
JUDGEMENTS MAY BE EXPRESSED AND HOW PERSONS MAY BE PUNISHED. ANOTHER
QUESTION IS WHETHER TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT REQUIRES TREATING THEM
EQUALLY. ONE VIEW IS THAT THE EQUALITY OF PERSONS ENTAILS EQUAL TREATMENT;
ANOTHER VIEW IS THAT EQUAL TREATMENT WOULD INVOLVE FAILING TO RESPECT THE
IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES AMONG PERSONS. ON THE LATTER VIEW, IT IS RESPECTFUL TO
DEAL WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL IMPARTIALLY AND EXCLUSIVELY ON THE BASIS OF WHATEVER
ASPECTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE SITUATION ARE RELEVANT.


THE MOST INFLUENTIAL POSITION ON THESE ISSUES IS FOUND IN THE MORAL PHILOSOPHY.
INDEED, MOST CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSIONS OF RESPECT FOR PERSONS EXPLICITLY CLAIM
TO RELY ON, DEVELOP, OR CHALLENGE SOME ASPECT OF ETHICS. AT THE VERY CORE OF
ETHICAL THEORY IS THE CLAIM THAT HUMAN BEINGS MUST BE RESPECTED BECAUSE THEY
HAVE AN OBJECTIVE IN THEMSELVES. AN OBJECTIVE IN ITSELF IS SOMETHING THAT HAS
VALUE THAT IS INTRINSIC, ABSOLUTE, INCOMPARABLE, AND OBJECTIVE. HUMANS HAVE THIS
DISTINCTIVE WORTH, WHICH IS CALLED “DIGNITY.” THE MORAL RESPONSE THAT IS BOTH
APPROPRIATE TO AND CATEGORICALLY REQUIRED BY DIGNITY IS RESPECT. IN THEORY OF
VALUE, DIGNITY IS THE SUPREME VALUE AND ONLY PERSONS HAVE DIGNITY; THUS, OUR
MOST FUNDAMENTAL MORAL OBLIGATION IS TO RESPECT PERSONS IN VIRTUE OF THEIR
DIGNITY IN THEMSELVES. IN ARGUING FOR RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY OF PERSONS, IT
EXPLICITLY REJECTS OTHER CONCEPTIONS OF HUMAN VALUE: THE ARISTOCRATIC IDEA OF
HONOUR THAT INDIVIDUALS DIFFERENTIALLY DESERVE ACCORDING TO THEIR SOCIAL RANK,
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR MORAL VIRTUE AND THE VIEW, BLUNTLY EXPRESSED,
THAT “THE VALUE OR WORTH OF A MAN IS, AS OF ALL OTHER THINGS, HIS PRICE THAT IS TO
SAY, SO MUCH AS WOULD BE GIVEN FOR THE USE OF HIS POWER AND THEREFORE IS NOT
ABSOLUTE BUT A THING DEPENDENT ON THE NEED AND JUDGEMENT OF ANOTHER”. IT IS
ARGUED THAT THE WORTH THAT A PERSON HAS IS DIFFERENT IN KIND FROM THE VALUE OF
OTHER THINGS: OTHER THINGS HAVE A PRICE, BUT PERSONS HAVE DIGNITY; AND WHILE
SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY HAVE MERIT OR STATUS AND DESERVE HONOUR, ALL PERSONS HAVE
DIGNITY AND ARE OWED RESPECT. THE DIGNITY HUMANS HAVE IS UNCONDITIONAL AND
INDEPENDENT OF POSITION, MERIT, UTILITY AND THE ASSESSMENT OF OTHERS.

DIGNITY IS ALSO ABSOLUTE AND INCOMPARABLE WORTH: IT CAN'T BE COMPARED WITH,
EXCHANGED FOR, OR REPLACED BY ANY OTHER VALUE, WHEREAS THE VERY PURPOSE OF A



PRICE IS TO ESTABLISH COMPARATIVE VALUE. AND DIGNITY IS OBJECTIVE WORTH, WHICH
MEANS THAT IT IS A VALUE THAT EVERYONE HAS REASON TO ACKNOWLEDGE, REGARDLESS
OF THEIR PARTICULAR DESIRES, AND THAT SETS FIRM LIMITS ON HOW ONE MAY ACT IN
RELATION TO PERSONS. TO RESPECT PERSONS IS THUS TO REGARD THEM AS ABSOLUTELY,
UNCONDITIONALLY, AND INCOMPARABLY VALUABLE, TO VALUE THEM IN THEMSELVES AND NOT
IN COMPARISON TO OTHERS OR INSOFAR AS THEY ARE VALUABLE TO SOMEBODY ELSE OR
COULD BE USEFUL AS A MEANS FOR FURTHERING SOME PURPOSE, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE IN
A PRACTICAL WAY THAT THEIR DIGNITY IMPOSES ABSOLUTE CONSTRAINTS ON OUR
TREATMENT OF THEM. BECAUSE WE ARE ALL TOO OFTEN INCLINED NOT TO RESPECT
PERSONS, NOT TO VALUE THEM AS THEY OUGHT TO BE VALUED, ONE FORMULATION OF THE
CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE, (IN THE ETHICAL SYSTEM, AN UNCONDITIONAL MORAL
LAW THAT APPLIES TO ALL RATIONAL BEINGS AND IS INDEPENDENT OF ANY
PERSONAL MOTIVE OR DESIRE) WHICH IS THE SUPREME PRINCIPLE OF MORALITY,
COMMANDS THAT OUR ACTIONS EXPRESS DUE RESPECT FOR THE WORTH OF PERSONS: “ACT
IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU TREAT HUMANITY, WHETHER IN YOUR OWN PERSON OR THE
PERSON OF ANY OTHER, NEVER SIMPLY AS A MEANS BUT ALWAYS AT THE SAME TIME AS AN
END.”

MORALLY RIGHT ACTIONS ARE THUS THOSE THAT EXPRESS RESPECT FOR PERSONS IN
THEMSELVES, WHILE MORALLY WRONG ACTIONS ARE THOSE THAT EXPRESS DISRESPECT OR
CONTEMPT FOR PERSONS BY NOT VALUING THEM AS IN THEMSELVES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT IT IS NOT SIMPLY ACTIONS THAT MATTER FOR RESPECT; FOR, IT IS THE
ATTITUDES AND VALUE PRIORITIES THAT LIE BEHIND THE ACTIONS THAT ARE MORALLY MOST
SIGNIFICANT.

AS THE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE INDICATES, IT IS HUMANITY IN PERSONS, STRICTLY
SPEAKING, THAT HAS DIGNITY; THAT IS, IT IS IN VIRTUE OF THE HUMANITY IN THEM THAT
HUMANS ARE AND SO OUGHT TO BE TREATED AS IN THEMSELVES. COMMENTATORS
GENERALLY IDENTIFY HUMANITY WITH TWO CLOSELY RELATED ASPECTS OF RATIONALITY: THE
CAPACITY TO SET GOALS AND THE CAPACITY TO BE AUTONOMOUS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE
CAPACITIES TO BE A MORAL. THE CAPACITY TO SET GOALS, WHICH IS THE POWER OF
RATIONAL CHOICE, IS THE CAPACITY TO VALUE THINGS THROUGH RATIONAL JUDGEMENT: TO
DETERMINE, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF REASON INDEPENDENTLY OF ANTECEDENT INSTINCTS
OR DESIRES, THAT SOMETHING IS VALUABLE OR IMPORTANT, THAT IT IS WORTH SEEKING OR
VALUING. IT IS ALSO, THEREBY, THE CAPACITY TO VALUE IN THEMSELVES, AND SO IT
INCLUDES THE CAPACITY FOR RESPECT. THE CAPACITY TO BE AUTONOMOUS IS THE CAPACITY
TO BE SELF-LEGISLATING AND SELF-GOVERNING, THAT IS, (A) THE CAPACITY TO LEGISLATE
MORAL LAWS THAT ARE VALID FOR ALL RATIONAL BEINGS THROUGH ONE'S RATIONAL
WILLING BY RECOGNISING, USING REASON ALONE, WHAT COUNTS AS A MORAL OBLIGATION
AND (B) THE CAPACITY THEN TO FREELY RESOLVE TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH MORAL
LAWS BECAUSE THEY ARE SELF-IMPOSED BY ONE'S OWN REASON AND NOT BECAUSE ONE IS
COMPELLED TO ACT BY ANY FORCES EXTERNAL TO ONE'S REASON AND WILL, INCLUDING
ONE'S OWN DESIRES AND INCLINATIONS.

THE CAPACITY TO BE AUTONOMOUS IS THUS ALSO THE CAPACITY TO FREELY DIRECT, SHAPE,
AND DETERMINE THE MEANING OF ONE'S OWN LIFE, AND IT IS THE CONDITION FOR MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY. BUT WHY DOES THE POSSESSION OF THESE CAPACITIES MAKE PERSONS
ENDS IN THEMSELVES? THE MORAL PRINCIPLES MUST BE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVES, WHICH
IS TO SAY THAT THEY MUST BE RATIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO WHICH WE ARE
UNCONDITIONALLY SUBJECT, REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER INCLINATIONS, INTERESTS, GOALS,
OR PROJECTS WE MIGHT HAVE. BUT THERE COULD BE CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVES ONLY IF



THERE IS SOMETHING OF ABSOLUTE WORTH. ONLY PERSONS HAVE THIS KIND OF WORTH,
AND THEY HAVE IT BECAUSE THE CAPACITY TO SET GOALS, OR TO CONFER VALUE ON
THINGS, IS THE SOURCE OF ALL OBJECTIVE VALUE, AND THE CAPACITY FOR AUTONOMY IS
THE SOURCE, ON THE ONE HAND, BOTH OF THE OBLIGATORINESS OF MORAL LAW AND OF
RESPONSIBLE MORAL ACTIONS, AND ON THE OTHER, OF ALL REALISED HUMAN GOODNESS.
AS THE SOURCES OF ALL VALUE AND OF MORALITY ITSELF, THEN, THESE RATIONAL
CAPACITIES ARE THE BASIS OF THE ABSOLUTE WORTH OR DIGNITY OF RATIONAL BEINGS. ALL
RATIONAL BEINGS NECESSARILY ATTRIBUTE THIS VALUE TO THEMSELVES AND THAT THEY
MUST, ON REFLECTION, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVERY OTHER RATIONAL BEING HAS THE SAME
VALUE AND ON THE SAME GROUNDS: BECAUSE OF THE RATIONAL NATURE THAT IS COMMON
TO ALL PERSONS. IT IS THUS NOT AS MEMBERS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SPECIES HOMOSAPIENS
THAT HUMAN BEINGS HAVE DIGNITY AND SO ARE OWED RESPECT, BUT AS RATIONAL BEINGS
WHO ARE CAPABLE OF MORAL AGENCY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT CONSEQUENCES OF THIS VIEW REGARDING THE SCOPE OF

FIRST, WHILE ALL NORMALLY FUNCTIONING HUMAN BEINGS POSSESS THE RATIONAL
CAPACITIES THAT GROUND RESPECT, THERE CAN BE HUMANS IN WHOM THESE CAPACITIES
ARE ALTOGETHER ABSENT AND WHO THEREFORE ARE NOT PERSONS AND ARE NOT OWED
RESPECT.

SECOND, THESE CAPACITIES MAY BE POSSESSED BY BEINGS WHO ARE NOT BIOLOGICALLY
HUMAN AND SUCH BEINGS WOULD ALSO BE PERSONS WITH DIGNITY WHOM WE ARE
OBLIGATED TO RESPECT.

THIRD, DIGNITY IS AN ABSOLUTE WORTH GROUNDED IN THE RATIONAL CAPACITIES FOR
MORALITY, SO IT IS IN NO WAY CONDITIONAL ON HOW WELL OR BADLY THOSE CAPACITIES
ARE EXERCISED, ON WHETHER A PERSON ACTS MORALLY OR HAS A MORALLY GOOD
CHARACTER OR NOT. THUS, DIGNITY CANNOT BE DIMINISHED OR LOST THROUGH VICE OR
MORALLY BAD ACTION, NOR CAN IT BE INCREASED THROUGH VIRTUE OR MORALLY CORRECT
ACTION.

ONCE A PERSON, ALWAYS A PERSON AND SO INDIVIDUALS CANNOT FORFEIT DIGNITY OR THE
RIGHT TO RESPECT NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO. IT FOLLOWS THAT EVEN THE MORALLY WORST
INDIVIDUALS MUST BE TREATED WITH RESPECT. OF COURSE, WRONGDOING MAY CALL FOR
PUNISHMENT AND MAY BE GROUNDS FOR FORFEITING CERTAIN RIGHTS, BUT IT IS NOT
GROUNDS FOR LOSING DIGNITY OR FOR REGARDING THE WRONGDOER AS SCUM. RESPECT IS
NOT SOMETHING INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO EARN OR MIGHT FAIL TO EARN, BUT SOMETHING
THEY ARE OWED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE RATIONAL HUMAN BEINGS.

FINALLY, BECAUSE DIGNITY IS ABSOLUTE AND INCOMPARABLE, THE WORTH OF ALL RATIONAL
BEINGS IS EQUAL. THUS THE MORALLY WORST PERSONS HAVE THE SAME DIGNITY AS THE
MORALLY BEST PERSONS, ALTHOUGH THE FORMER FAIL TO LIVE UP TO THEIR DIGNITY. WHAT
GROUNDS DIGNITY IS SOMETHING THAT ALL PERSONS HAVE IN COMMON, NOT SOMETHING
THAT DISTINGUISHES ONE INDIVIDUAL FROM ANOTHER. THUS EACH PERSON IS TO BE
RESPECTED AS AN EQUAL AMONG EQUALS, WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL
ACHIEVEMENTS, SOCIAL STATUS, MORAL MERIT OR DEMERIT, OR ANY FEATURE OTHER THAN
THEIR COMMON RATIONAL NATURE. HOWEVER, THE EQUALITY OF ALL RATIONAL BEINGS
DOES NOT ENTAIL THAT EACH PERSON MUST BE TREATED THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER
PERSONS, NOR DOES IT ENTAIL THAT PERSONS CANNOT ALSO BE DIFFERENTIALLY EVALUATED



AND VALUED IN OTHER WAYS FOR THEIR PARTICULAR QUALITIES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, MERIT,
OR USEFULNESS. BUT SUCH VALUING AND TREATMENT MUST ALWAYS BE CONSTRAINED BY
THE REQUIREMENT TO RESPECT PERSONS AS ENDS IN THEMSELVES.

IN THIS DOCTRINE OF JUSTICE WE CAN ARGUE THAT PERSONS, BY VIRTUE OF THEIR
RATIONAL NATURE, ARE BEARERS OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE INNATE RIGHT
TO FREEDOM, WHICH MUST BE RESPECTED BOTH BY OTHER PERSONS AND BY SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONS. THE DIGNITY OF PERSONS ALSO IMPOSES LIMITS ON PERMISSIBLE REASONS
FOR AND FORMS OF LEGAL PUNISHMENT. THE MORAL DUTIES WE HAVE TO RESPECT OTHER
PERSONS (AS WELL AS DUTIES OF SELF-RESPECT, TO WHICH WE'LL RETURN BELOW). HERE,
EXPLICITLY INVOKES THE NOTION OF RESPECT AS OBSERVANTIA. WE HAVE NO MORAL DUTY
TO FEEL RESPECT FOR OTHERS (FOR WE CANNOT HAVE A MORAL DUTY TO HAVE ANY FEELING,
SINCE FEELINGS ARE NOT DIRECTLY CONTROLLABLE BY OUR WILL), SO THE RESPECT WE OWE
OTHERS IS “TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS THE MAXIM OF LIMITING OUR SELF-ESTEEM BY THE
DIGNITY OF HUMANITY IN ANOTHER PERSON, AND SO AS RESPECT IN THE PRACTICAL SENSE”.
THIS DUTY TO RESPECT OTHERS REQUIRES TWO THINGS: FIRST, THAT WE ADOPT AS A
REGULATING POLICY, A COMMITMENT TO CONTROL OUR OWN DESIRE TO THINK WELL OF
OURSELVES (THIS DESIRE BEING THE MAIN CAUSE OF DISRESPECT) AND, SECOND, THAT WE
REFRAIN FROM TREATING OTHERS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: TREATING THEM MERELY AS
MEANS (VALUING THEM AS LESS THAN IN THEMSELVES), SHOWING CONTEMPT FOR THEM
(DENYING THAT THEY HAVE ANY WORTH), TREATING THEM ARROGANTLY (DEMANDING THAT
THEY VALUE US MORE HIGHLY THAN THEY VALUE THEMSELVES), DEFAMING THEM BY PUBLICLY
EXPOSING THEIR FAULTS, AND RIDICULING OR MOCKING THEM. WE ALSO HAVE DUTIES OF
LOVE TO OTHERS, AND THAT IN FRIENDSHIP RESPECT AND LOVE, WHICH NATURALLY PULL IN
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, ACHIEVE A PERFECT BALANCE.

SUBSEQUENT WORK ON THE DUTY OF RESPECT FOR OTHERS HAS EXPANDED THE LIST OF
WAYS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED BY RESPECT TO TREAT PERSONS. IN PARTICULAR, ALTHOUGH
THE DUTIES OF RESPECT ARE STRICTLY NEGATIVE, CONSISTING IN NOT ENGAGING IN
CERTAIN CONDUCT OR HAVING CERTAIN ATTITUDES, MANY PHILOSOPHERS HAVE ARGUED
THAT RESPECTING OTHERS INVOLVES POSITIVE ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES AS WELL. THE
IMPORTANCE OF AUTONOMY AND IN MORAL PHILOSOPHY HAS LED MANY PHILOSOPHERS TO
HIGHLIGHT RESPECT FOR AUTONOMY. THUS, WE RESPECT OTHERS AS PERSONS (NEGATIVELY)
BY DOING NOTHING TO IMPAIR OR DESTROY THEIR CAPACITY FOR AUTONOMY, BY NOT
INTERFERING WITH THEIR AUTONOMOUS DECISIONS AND THEIR PURSUIT OF (MORALLY
ACCEPTABLE) THE ENDS THEY VALUE, AND BY NOT COERCING OR DECEIVING THEM OR
TREATING THEM PATERNALISTICALLY. WE ALSO RESPECT THEM (POSITIVELY) BY PROTECTING
THEM FROM THREATS TO THEIR AUTONOMY (WHICH MAY REQUIRE INTERVENTION WHEN
SOMEONE'S CURRENT DECISIONS SEEM TO PUT THEIR OWN AUTONOMY AT RISK) AND BY
PROMOTING AUTONOMY AND THE CONDITIONS FOR IT (FOR EXAMPLE, BY ALLOWING AND
ENCOURAGING INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THEIR ACTIONS, AND CONTROL THEIR OWN LIVES). SOME PHILOSOPHERS HAVE CLAIMED
THAT RATIONALITY IS THE GROUND FOR RESPECT, ARGUING THAT TO RESPECT OTHERS IS TO
ENGAGE WITH THEM NOT AS INSTRUMENTS OR OBSTACLES BUT AS PERSONS WHO ARE TO BE
REASONED WITH. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE SHOULD EMPLOY CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE
ACCESSIBLE TO OTHER PERSONS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH GENUINE REASONS IN OUR
DEALINGS WITH THEM RATHER THAN TRYING TO MANIPULATE THEM THROUGH NON RATIONAL
TECHNIQUES SUCH AS THREAT OR BRIBERY, ACT TOWARD THEM ONLY IN WAYS TO WHICH
THEY COULD GIVE RATIONAL CONSENT, AND BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THEM AND TAKE
THEIR REASONS SERIOUSLY. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CAPACITY TO SET ENDS AND VALUE
THINGS HAS BEEN TAKEN BY SOME PHILOSOPHERS TO ENTAIL THAT RESPECT ALSO INVOLVES



CONSIDERATION FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS; SO, WE SHOULD HELP THEM TO PROMOTE
AND PROTECT WHAT THEY VALUE AND TO PURSUE THEIR ENDS, PROVIDED THESE ARE
COMPATIBLE WITH DUE RESPECT FOR OTHER PERSONS, AND WE SHOULD MAKE AN EFFORT TO
APPRECIATE VALUES THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN.

THE EMPHASIS IN THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTICE ON THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS THAT PERSONS
HAVE HAS LED STILL OTHERS TO VIEW THE DUTY TO RESPECT PERSONS AS THE DUTY TO
RESPECT THE MORAL RIGHTS THEY HAVE AS PERSONS; SOME HAVE CLAIMED THAT THE DUTY
TO RESPECT IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE DUTY TO REFRAIN FROM VIOLATING THESE
RIGHTS.

ONE FINAL DIMENSION OF RESPECT THAT IS WORTH MENTIONING IS THE ATTENTION TO THE
FEELING OF RESPECT FOR THE MORAL LAW AND FOR MORALLY GOOD PERSONS. RESPECT FOR
THE MORAL LAW IS A UNIQUE MORAL FEELING THAT INEVITABLY ARISES FROM OUR RATIONAL
RECOGNITION OF THE MORAL LAW AS SUPREMELY AUTHORITATIVE, AS PROVIDING REASONS
FOR ACTION THAT UNCONDITIONALLY CONSTRAIN BOTH OUR EFFORTS TO SATISFY OUR
DESIRES AND PURSUE OUR ENDS AND OUR ATTEMPTS TO ESTEEM OURSELVES
INDEPENDENTLY OF CONSIDERATIONS OF MORAL CONSIDERATIONS.

IT IS A PAINFUL, HUMBLING FEELING INSOFAR AS OUR SELF-INTEREST AND SELF-ESTEEM ARE
RESTRICTED. AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS A PLEASURABLY UPLIFTING FEELING INSOFAR AS WE
RECOGNISE OUR OWN REASON TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE MORAL LAW. THIS FEELING IS THE
WAY THE MORAL LAW BECOMES AN “INCENTIVE” THAT DETERMINES ONE'S WILL TO CHOOSE
MORALLY CORRECTLY. THE DUTY TO RESPECT PERSONS DERIVES FROM REVERENCE FOR THE
LAW. WE ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS SAME HUMBLING AND UPLIFTING FEELING FOR MORALLY
GOOD PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY EXEMPLIFY THE MORAL LAW. THIS REVERENCE FOR MORALLY
GOOD PEOPLE, WHICH IS RELATED TO EVALUATIVE RESPECT, CONTRASTS WITH THE DUTY TO
GIVE RECOGNITION RESPECT TO OTHER PERSONS IN OUR ATTITUDES AND CONDUCT, FOR
THE FORMER IS A SOMETHING WE CAN'T HELP FEELING FOR SOME PEOPLE, WHILE THE
LATTER IS A WAY WE ARE OBLIGATED TO COMPORT OURSELVES TOWARD ALL PERSONS
REGARDLESS OF OUR FEELINGS AND THEIR MORAL PERFORMANCE. WE MIGHT, HOWEVER,
REGARD THE TWO AS LINKED, BY REGARDING OUR RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF THE
DIGNITY OF OTHERS AS INVOLVING A FEELING THAT WE (PERHAPS ONLY OCCASIONALLY)
CAN'T HELP BUT EXPERIENCE, WHICH WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO LIVING UP TO IN
ACKNOWLEDGING THE MORAL DUTY TO RESPECT PERSONS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE
PERSONS.

FURTHER ISSUES, DEVELOPMENTS AND APPLICATIONS.

SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS ON RESPECT HAVE FOCUSED ON MORE THEORETICAL ISSUES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE NOTION OF RESPECT FOR PERSONS A CENTRAL AND VITAL ROLE IN MORAL
THEORY. ONE ISSUE THAT HAS SINCE CONCERNED PHILOSOPHERS IS WHETHER RESPECT FOR
PERSONS IS THE DEFINITIVE FOCUS OF MORALITY, EITHER IN THE SENSE THAT MORAL
RIGHTNESS AND GOODNESS AND HENCE ALL SPECIFIC MORAL DUTIES, RIGHTS, AND VIRTUES
ARE EXPLAINABLE IN TERMS OF RESPECT OR IN THE SENSE THAT THE SUPREME MORAL
PRINCIPLE FROM WHICH ALL OTHER PRINCIPLES ARE DERIVED IS A PRINCIPLE OF RESPECT
FOR PERSONS. SOME PHILOSOPHERS HAVE DEVELOPED ETHICAL THEORIES IN WHICH A
PRINCIPLE OF RESPECT FOR PERSONS IS IDENTIFIED AS THE FUNDAMENTAL AND
COMPREHENSIVE MORAL REQUIREMENT. OTHERS ARGUE THAT WHILE RESPECT FOR PERSON
IS SURELY A VERY IMPORTANT MORAL CONSIDERATION, IT CANNOT BE THE PRINCIPLE FROM
WHICH THE REST OF MORALITY IS DEDUCED. THEY MAINTAIN THAT THERE ARE MORAL



CONTEXTS IN WHICH RESPECT FOR PERSONS IS NOT AN ISSUE AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER
DIMENSIONS OF OUR MORAL RELATIONS WITH OTHERS THAT SEEM NOT TO REDUCE TO
RESPECT. MOREOVER, THEY ARGUE, SUCH A PRINCIPLE WOULD SEEM NOT TO PROVIDE MORAL
GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING THAT WE OUGHT TO TREAT MENTALLY INCAPACITATED HUMANS OR
NON HUMAN ANIMALS DECENTLY, OR WOULD MAKE A DUTY TO RESPECT SUCH BEINGS ONLY
AN INDIRECT DUTY ONE WE HAVE ONLY BECAUSE IT IS A WAY OR RESPECTING PERSONS WHO
VALUE SUCH BEINGS OR BECAUSE OUR DUTY TO RESPECT OURSELVES REQUIRES THAT WE
NOT ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD DULL OUR ABILITY TO TREAT PERSONS DECENTLY
RATHER THAN A DIRECT DUTY TO SUCH BEING.

SOME THEORISTS MAINTAIN THAT UTILITARIANISM, (THE ETHICAL THEORY THAT ALL
ACTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD ACHIEVING THE GREATEST HAPPINESS FOR
THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE) A MORAL THEORY GENERALLY THOUGHT TO BE A
RIVAL TO SOME OTHER'S THEORY IS SUPERIOR WITH REGARD TO THIS LAST POINT. A
UTILITARIAN MIGHT ARGUE THAT IT IS SENTIENCE RATHER THAN THE CAPACITY FOR
RATIONAL AUTONOMY THAT IS THE GROUND OF MORAL RECOGNITION RESPECT, AND SO
WOULD REGARD MENTALLY INCAPACITATED HUMANS AND NON-HUMAN ANIMALS AS HAVING
MORAL STANDING AND SO AS WORTHY OF AT LEAST SOME MORAL RESPECT IN THEMSELVES.
ANOTHER ISSUE, THEN, IS WHETHER UTILITARIANISM (OR MORE GENERALLY,
CONSEQUENTIALISM (THE VIEW THAT THE VALUE OF AN ACTION DERIVES SOLELY
FROM THE VALUE OF ITS CONSEQUENCES CAN INDEED ACCOMMODATE A PRINCIPLE
OF RESPECT FOR PERSONS). IN OPPOSITION TO THE UTILITARIAN CLAIM, SOME ARGUE
THAT ETHICS IS DISTINGUISHABLE FROM CONSEQUENTIALIST ETHICS PRECISELY IN
MAINTAINING THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL DEMAND OF MORALITY IS NOT THAT WE PROMOTE
SOME VALUE, SUCH AS THE HAPPINESS OF SENTIENT BEINGS, BUT THAT WE RESPECT THE
WORTH OF HUMANITY REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF DOING SO. THUS, SOME
PHILOSOPHERS ARGUE THAT UTILITARIANISM IS INCONSISTENT WITH RESPECT FOR
PERSONS, INASMUCH AS UTILITARIANISM, IN REQUIRING THAT ALL ACTIONS, PRINCIPLES, OR
MOTIVES PROMOTE THE GREATEST GOOD, REQUIRES TREATING PERSONS AS MERE MEANS ON
THOSE OCCASIONS WHEN DOING SO MAXIMISES UTILITY, WHEREAS THE VERY POINT OF A
PRINCIPLE OF RESPECT FOR PERSONS IS TO RULE OUT SUCH TRADING OF PERSON AND THEIR
DIGNITY FOR SOME OTHER VALUE. IN OPPOSITION, OTHER THEORISTS MAINTAIN NOT ONLY
THAT A CONSEQUENTIALIST THEORY CAN ACCOMMODATE THE IDEA OF RESPECT FOR PERSON,
BUT ALSO THAT UTILITARIANISM IS DERIVABLE FROM A PRINCIPLE OF RESPECT FOR PERSONS
AND THAT CONSEQUENTIALIST THEORIES PROVIDE A BETTER GROUNDING FOR DUTIES TO
RESPECT PERSONS.

OTHER PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED WITH CLARIFYING THE
NATURE OF THE RESPECT THAT IS OWED TO PERSONS AND OF THE PERSONS THAT ARE OWED
RESPECT. SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AIM TO REFINE AND DEVELOP, WHILE OTHERS
CRITICISE IT AND OFFER ALTERNATIVES. ONE AREA OF INTEREST HAS BEEN THE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN RESPECT AND OTHER ATTITUDES AND EMOTIONS, ESPECIALLY LOVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE HAVE DUTIES OF LOVE TO OTHERS JUST AS WE HAVE DUTIES OF
RESPECT. HOWEVER, NEITHER THE LOVE NOR THE RESPECT WE OWE IS A MATTER OF FEELING
(OR, IS PATHOLOGICAL), BUT IS, RATHER, A DUTY TO ADOPT A CERTAIN KIND OF MAXIM, OR
POLICY OF ACTION: THE DUTY OF LOVE IS THE DUTY TO MAKE THE OBJECTIVE OF OTHERS MY
OWN, THE DUTY OF RESPECT IS THE DUTY TO NOT DEGRADE OTHERS TO THE STATUS OF
MERE MEANS TO MY OBJECTIVES. LOVE AND RESPECT, ARE INTIMATELY UNITED IN
FRIENDSHIP; NEVERTHELESS, THEY SEEM TO BE IN TENSION WITH ONE ANOTHER AND
RESPECT SEEMS TO BE THE MORALLY MORE IMPORTANT OF THE TWO, IN THAT THE DUTIES OF
RESPECT ARE STRICTER AND RESPECT CONSTRAINS AND LIMITS LOVE WITHIN FRIENDSHIP.



CRITICS OBJECT TO WHAT THEY SEE HERE AS DEVALUING OF EMOTIONS, MAINTAINING THAT
EMOTIONS ARE MORALLY SIGNIFICANT DIMENSIONS OF PERSONS BOTH AS SUBJECTS AND AS
OBJECTS OF BOTH RESPECT AND LOVE. IN RESPONSE, SOME PHILOSOPHERS CONTEND THAT
RESPECT AND LOVE ARE MORE SIMILAR AND CLOSELY CONNECTED IN THEORY THAN IN
GENERALLY RECOGNISED. OTHERS HAVE DEVELOPED ACCOUNTS OF RESPECT THAT IS OR
INCORPORATES A FORM OF LOVE (AGAPE) OR CARE AND SOME HAVE ARGUED THAT
EMOTIONS ARE INCLUDED AMONG THE BASES OF DIGNITY AND THAT A COMPLEX EMOTIONAL
REPERTOIRE IS NECESSARY FOR RESPECT. IN A RELATED VEIN, SOME PHILOSOPHERS
MAINTAIN THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANOTHER BEING IS A PERSON, I.E.,
A RATIONAL MORAL AGENT, AND YET NOT HAVE OR GIVE RESPECT TO THAT BEING. WHAT IS
REQUIRED FOR RESPECTING A PERSON IS NOT SIMPLY RECOGNISING WHAT THEY ARE BUT
EMOTIONALLY EXPERIENCING THEIR VALUE AS A PERSON.

ANOTHER SOURCE OF DISSATISFACTION HAS BEEN WITH HIS CHARACTERISATION OF
PERSONS AND THE QUALITY IN VIRTUE OF WHICH THEY MUST BE RESPECTED. IN
PARTICULAR, THAT THE RATIONAL WILL WHICH IS COMMON TO ALL PERSONS IS THE GROUND
OF RESPECT IS THOUGHT TO IGNORE THE MORAL IMPORTANCE OF THE CONCRETE
PARTICULARITY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, AND HIS EMPHASIS ON AUTONOMY, WHICH IS OFTEN
UNDERSTOOD TO INVOLVE THE INDEPENDENCE OF ONE PERSON FROM ALL OTHERS, IS
THOUGHT TO IGNORE THE ESSENTIAL RELATIONALITY OF HUMAN BEINGS PERSON. RATHER
THAN IGNORING WHAT DISTINGUISHES ONE PERSON FROM ANOTHER, IT IS ARGUED,
RESPECT SHOULD INVOLVE ATTENDING TO EACH PERSON AS A DISTINCTIVE INDIVIDUAL AND
TO THE CONCRETE REALITIES OF HUMAN LIVES, AND IT SHOULD INVOLVE VALUING
DIFFERENCE AS WELL AS SAMENESS AND INTERDEPENDENCE AS WELL AS INDEPENDENCE.

THE IDEA OF RESPECT FOR PARTICULARITY AND RELATIONALITY HAS ALSO BECOME AN
IMPORTANT TOPIC RECENTLY IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. ONE ISSUE IS HOW PERSONS OUGHT
TO BE RESPECTED IN MULTICULTURAL LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES. RESPECT FOR
PERSONS IS ONE OF THE BASIC TENETS OF LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES, WHICH ARE
FOUNDED ON THE IDEAL OF THE EQUAL DIGNITY OF ALL CITIZENS AND WHICH REALISE THIS
IDEAL IN THE EQUALISATION OF RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS AMONG ALL CITIZENS AND SO
THE REJECTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT. SOME WRITERS ARGUE
THAT RESPECTING PERSONS REQUIRES RESPECTING THE TRADITIONS AND CULTURES THAT
PERMEATE AND SHAPE THEIR INDIVIDUAL IDENTITIES. BUT AS THE CITIZENRY OF SUCH
SOCIETIES BECOMES INCREASINGLY MORE DIVERSE AND AS MANY GROUPS COME TO REGARD
THEIR IDENTITIES OR VERY EXISTENCE AS THREATENED BY A HOMOGENISING EQUALITY,
LIBERAL SOCIETIES FACE THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY SHOULD OR COULD RESPOND TO
DEMANDS TO RESPECT THE UNIQUE IDENTITY OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS BY DIFFERENTIAL
TREATMENT, SUCH AS EXTENDING POLITICAL RIGHTS OR OPPORTUNITIES TO SOME CULTURAL
GROUPS (FOR EXAMPLE, NATIVE AMERICANS, FRENCH CANADIANS, WOMEN, AFRICAN-
AMERICANS) AND NOT OTHERS.

THE IDEA THAT ALL PERSONS ARE OWED RESPECT HAS BEEN APPLIED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF
CONTEXTS. FOR INSTANCE, SOME PHILOSOPHERS EMPLOY IT TO JUSTIFY VARIOUS POSITIONS
IN NORMATIVE ETHICS, SUCH AS THE CLAIM THAT PERSONS HAVE MORAL RIGHTS OR DUTIES
OR TO ARGUE FOR PRINCIPLES OF EQUALITY JUSTICE, AND EDUCATION. OTHERS APPEAL TO
RESPECT FOR PERSONS IN ADDRESSING A WIDE VARIETY OF PRACTICAL ISSUES SUCH AS
ABORTION, RACISM AND SEXISM, RAPE, PUNISHMENT, PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE,
PORNOGRAPHY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, FORGIVENESS, TERRORISM, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, CO-
OPERATION WITH INJUSTICE AND MANY OTHERS. ONE VERY IMPORTANT APPLICATION



CONTEXT IS BIOMEDICAL ETHICS, WHERE THE PRINCIPLE OF RESPECT FOR AUTONOMY IS ONE
OF FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE BECOME “THE BACKBONE OF CONTEMPORARY
WESTERN HEALTH CARE ETHICS” THE IDEA OF RESPECT FOR PATIENT AUTONOMY HAS
TRANSFORMED HEALTH CARE PRACTICE, WHICH HAD TRADITIONALLY WORKED ON
PHYSICIAN-BASED PATERNALISM, AND THE PRINCIPLE ENTERS INTO ISSUES SUCH AS
INFORMED CONSENT, TRUTH TELLING, CONFIDENTIALITY, RESPECTING REFUSALS OF LIFE-
SAVING TREATMENT, THE USE OF PATIENTS AS SUBJECTS IN MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION,
AND SO ON.

RESPECT FOR NATURE AND OTHER NON PERSONS

ALTHOUGH PERSONS ARE THE PARADIGM OBJECTS OF MORAL RECOGNITION RESPECT, IT IS A
MATTER OF SOME DEBATE WHETHER THEY ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE OUGHT MORALLY
TO RESPECT. ONE SERIOUS OBJECTION RAISED AGAINST ETHICAL THEORY IS THAT IN
CLAIMING THAT ONLY RATIONAL BEINGS ARE DESERVING OF RESPECT, IT REQUIRES
TREATING ALL THINGS WHICH AREN'T PERSONS AS MERE MEANS TO THE ENDS OF RATIONAL
BEINGS, AND SO IT SUPPORTS MORALLY ABHORRENT ATTITUDES OF DOMINATION AND
EXPLOITATION TOWARD ALL NON PERSONS AND TOWARD OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
TAKING ISSUE THAT ONLY PERSONS ARE RESPECT WORTHY, MANY PHILOSOPHERS HAVE
ARGUED THAT SUCH NON PERSONS AS HUMANS WHO ARE NOT AGENTS OR NOT YET AGENTS,
HUMAN EMBRYOS, SENTIENT CREATURES, PLANTS, SPECIES, ALL LIVING THINGS, BIOTIC
COMMUNITIES, THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEM OF OUR PLANET, EVEN MOUNTAINS, ROCKS, AND
THE AIDS VIRUS HAVE MORAL STANDING OR WORTH AND SO ARE APPROPRIATE OBJECTS OF
OR ARE OWED MORAL RESPECT. OF COURSE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO VALUE SUCH THINGS
INSTRUMENTALLY INSOFAR AS THEY SERVE HUMAN INTERESTS, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT SUCH
THINGS MATTER MORALLY AND HAVE A CLAIM TO RESPECT IN THEIR OWN RIGHT,
INDEPENDENTLY OF THEIR USEFULNESS TO HUMANS. A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT STRATEGIES
HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED IN ARGUING FOR SUCH RESPECT CLAIMS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CONCEPT
OF MORAL RESPECT IS SOMETIMES STRIPPED DOWN TO ITS BARE ESSENTIALS, OMITTING
MUCH OF THE CONTENT OF THE CONCEPT AS IT APPEARS IN RESPECT FOR PERSONS
CONTEXTS. THE RESPECT THAT IS OWED TO ALL THINGS, IT CAN BE ARGUED, IS A VERY
BASIC FORM OF ATTENTIVE CONTEMPLATION OF THE OBJECT COMBINED WITH AN
ASSUMPTION THAT THE OBJECT MIGHT HAVE INTRINSIC VALUE. THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE THE
VALUING COMMITMENTS THAT RESPECT FOR PERSONS DOES, SINCE RESPECTFUL
CONSIDERATION MIGHT REVEAL THAT THE OBJECT DOES NOT HAVE ANY POSITIVE VALUE.
WHAT WE OWE EVERYTHING IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVEAL ANY VALUE IT MIGHT HAVE,
RATHER THAN ASSUMING THAT ONLY PERSONS HAVE THE KIND OF VALUE THAT MORALLY
WARRANTS ATTENTION. ANOTHER STRATEGY IS TO ARGUE THAT THE TRUE GROUNDS FOR
MORAL WORTH AND RESPECT ARE OTHER THAN OR WIDER THAN RATIONALITY. ONE VERSION
OF THIS STRATEGY IS TO ARGUE THAT ALL LIVING THINGS, PERSONS AND NON PERSONS,
HAVE EQUAL INHERENT WORTH AND SO EQUALLY DESERVE THE SAME KIND OF MORAL
RESPECT, BECAUSE THE GROUND OF THE WORTH OF LIVING THINGS THAT ARE NON PERSONS
IS CONTINUOUS WITH THE GROUND OF THE WORTH FOR PERSONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE
REGARD PERSONS AS RESPECT-WORTHY INASMUCH AS THEY ARE INSTRUMENTS, CENTRES OF
AUTONOMOUS CHOICE AND VALUATION, AND WE CAN SIMILARLY REGARD ALL LIVING THINGS
AS RESPECT-WORTHY IN VIRTUE OF BEING QUASI-INSTRUMENTS, CENTRES OF ORGANISED
ACTIVITY THAT PURSUE THEIR OWN GOOD IN THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY. IT FOLLOWS FROM
THIS VIEW THAT HUMANS MUST NOT BE REGARDED AS HAVING A MORAL STATUS SUPERIOR
TO OTHER LIVING BEINGS AND SO HUMAN INTERESTS MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS ALWAYS
TRUMPING CLAIMS OF NON-HUMANS. RESPECT FOR ALL LIVING THINGS WOULD REQUIRE
SETTLING CONFLICTS BETWEEN PERSONS AND NON-PERSONS IN WAYS THAT ARE FAIR TO



BOTH. A THIRD STRATEGY, WHICH IS EMPLOYED WITHIN ETHICS, IS TO ARGUE THAT RESPECT
FOR PERSONS LOGICALLY ENTAILS RESPECT FOR NON-PERSONS. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE CAN
ARGUE THAT RATIONAL NATURE IS TO BE RESPECTED NOT ONLY BY RESPECTING HUMANITY IN
SOMEONE'S PERSON BUT ALSO BY RESPECTING THINGS THAT BEAR CERTAIN RELATIONS TO
RATIONAL NATURE, FOR EXAMPLE, BY BEING FRAGMENTS OF IT OR NECESSARY CONDITIONS
OF IT. RESPECT WOULD THUS BE OWED TO HUMANS WHO ARE NOT PERSONS AND TO
ANIMALS AND OTHER SENTIENT BEINGS. ALTERNATIVELY, ONE CAN ARGUE THAT RESPECT FOR
PERSONS REQUIRES RESPECTING THEIR VALUES, AND SINCE MANY PEOPLE VALUE NATURE OR
OTHER CATEGORIES OF NON PERSONS INTRINSICALLY AND NOT JUST INSTRUMENTALLY,
RESPECT FOR PERSONS REQUIRES (UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS) ALSO RESPECTING WHAT
THEY RESPECT. YET ANOTHER STRATEGY IS TO REJECT THE NOTION THAT THERE IS BUT ONE
KIND OR LEVEL OF MORAL STATUS OR WORTH THAT WARRANTS BUT ONE KIND OR LEVEL OF
RESPECT. INSTEAD, ONE MIGHT ARGUE, WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT RATIONAL MORAL
INSTRUMENTS HAVE THE HIGHEST MORAL STANDING AND WORTH AND ARE OWED MAXIMAL
RESPECT, AND ALSO MAINTAIN THAT OTHER BEINGS HAVE LESSER BUT STILL MORALLY
SIGNIFICANT STANDING OR WORTH AND SO DESERVE LESS BUT STILL SOME RESPECT. SO,
ALTHOUGH IT IS ALWAYS WRONG TO USE MORAL INSTRUMENTS MERELY AS MEANS, IT MAY BE
JUSTIFIABLE TO USE NON PERSONS AS MEANS (FOR EXAMPLE, TO DO RESEARCH ON HUMAN
EMBRYOS OR HUMAN CADAVERS, DESTROYING THEM IN THE PROCESS, OR TO KILL ANIMALS
FOR FOOD) PROVIDED THEIR MORAL WORTH IS ALSO RESPECTFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED (FOR
EXAMPLE, BY NOT USING THEM FOR TRIVIAL PURPOSES, BY DESTROYING THEM ONLY IN
CERTAIN WAYS, OR BY HAVING AN ATTITUDE OF REGRET OR LOSS BECAUSE SOMETHING OF
GENUINE MORAL VALUE IS SACRIFICED). MUCH PHILOSOPHICAL WORK HAS BEEN DONE,
PARTICULARLY IN ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, TO DETERMINE THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF
THE CLAIM THAT THINGS OTHER THAN PERSONS ARE OWED RESPECT. CERTAINLY A WIDE
VARIETY OF HUMAN PRACTICES, RANGING FROM AGRICULTURE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO
RECREATION AND ENERGY USE TO TECHNOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH, MIGHT
HAVE TO BE PROFOUNDLY ALTERED BY A RECOGNITION OF MORAL DUTIES OF RESPECT TO
NON PERSONS.

SELF-RESPECT

WHILE THERE IS MUCH CONTROVERSY ABOUT RESPECT FOR PERSONS AND OTHER THINGS,
THERE IS SURPRISING AGREEMENT AMONG MORAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHERS ABOUT AT
LEAST THIS MUCH CONCERNING RESPECT FOR ONESELF: SELF-RESPECT IS SOMETHING OF
GREAT IMPORTANCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE. INDEED, IT IS REGARDED BOTH AS MORALLY
REQUIRED AND AS ESSENTIAL TO THE ABILITY TO LIVE A SATISFYING, MEANINGFUL,
FLOURISHING LIFE, A LIFE WORTH LIVING AND JUST AS VITAL TO THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES
TOGETHER. SAYING THAT A PERSON HAS NO SELF-RESPECT OR ACTS IN A WAY NO SELF-
RESPECTING PERSON WOULD ACT, OR THAT A SOCIAL INSTITUTION UNDERMINES THE SELF-
RESPECT OF SOME PEOPLE, IS GENERALLY A STRONG MORAL CRITICISM. NEVERTHELESS, AS
WITH RESPECT ITSELF, THERE IS PHILOSOPHICAL DISAGREEMENT, BOTH REAL AND MERELY
APPARENT, ABOUT THE NATURE, SCOPE, GROUNDS, AND REQUIREMENTS OF SELF-RESPECT.

SELF-RESPECT IS OFTEN DEFINED AS A SENSE OF WORTH OR AS DUE RESPECT FOR ONESELF;
IT IS FREQUENTLY (BUT NOT ALWAYS CORRECTLY) IDENTIFIED WITH OR COMPARED TO SELF-
ESTEEM, SELF-CONFIDENCE, DIGNITY, SELF-LOVE, A SENSE OF HONOUR, SELF-RELIANCE,
PRIDE, AND IT IS CONTRASTED (BUT NOT ALWAYS CORRECTLY) WITH SERVILITY, SHAME,
HUMILITY, SELF-ABNEGATION, ARROGANCE, SELF-IMPORTANCE. IN ADDITION TO THE
QUESTIONS PHILOSOPHERS HAVE ADDRESSED ABOUT RESPECT IN GENERAL, A NUMBER OF



OTHER QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO THOSE INTERESTED IN SELF-
RESPECT, SUCH AS:

(1) WHAT IS SELF-RESPECT, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM RELATED NOTIONS SUCH AS
SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-CONFIDENCE, PRIDE, AND SO ON?

(2) ARE THERE OBJECTIVE CONDITIONS FOR EXAMPLE, MORAL STANDARDS OR CORRECT
JUDGEMENTS THAT A PERSON MUST MEET IN ORDER TO HAVE SELF-RESPECT, OR IS SELF-
RESPECT A SUBJECTIVE PHENOMENON THAT GAINS SUPPORT FROM ANY SORT OF SELF-
VALUING WITHOUT REGARD TO CORRECTNESS OR MORAL ACCEPTABILITY?
(3) DOES RESPECTING ONESELF CONCEPTUALLY OR CAUSALLY REQUIRE OR LEAD TO
RESPECTING OTHER PERSONS (OR ANYTHING ELSE)? AND HOW ARE RESPECT FOR OTHER
PERSONS AND RESPECT FOR ONESELF ALIKE AND UNLIKE?

(4) HOW IS SELF-RESPECT RELATED TO SUCH THINGS AS MORAL RIGHTS, VIRTUE,
AUTONOMY, INTEGRITY, AND IDENTITY?

(5) IS THERE A MORAL DUTY TO RESPECT OURSELVES AS THERE IS A DUTY TO RESPECT
OTHERS?

(6) WHAT FEATURES OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S PSYCHOLOGY AND EXPERIENCE, WHAT ASPECTS OF
THE SOCIAL CONTEXT, AND WHAT MODES OF INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS SUPPORT OR
UNDERMINE SELF-RESPECT?

(7) ARE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PRACTICES TO BE JUDGED JUST OR UNJUST (AT LEAST IN
PART) BY HOW THEY AFFECT SELF-RESPECT? CAN CONSIDERATIONS OF SELF-RESPECT HELP
US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND WRONGNESS OF INJUSTICES SUCH AS
OPPRESSION AND TO DETERMINE EFFECTIVE AND MORALLY APPROPRIATE WAYS TO RESIST OR
END THEM?

THE CONCEPT OF SELF-RESPECT.

MOST GENERALLY, SELF-RESPECT IS A MORAL RELATION OF PERSONS (AND ONLY PERSONS)
TO THEMSELVES THAT CONCERNS THEIR OWN INTRINSIC WORTH. SELF-RESPECT IS THUS
ESSENTIALLY A VALUING FORM OF RESPECT. LIKE RESPECT FOR OTHERS, SELF-RESPECT IS A
COMPLEX OF MULTI LAYERED AND INTERPENETRATING PHENOMENA; IT INVOLVES ALL THOSE
ASPECTS OF COGNITION, VALUATION, AFFECT, EXPECTATION, MOTIVATION, ACTION, AND
REACTION THAT COMPOSE A MODE OF BEING IN THE WORLD AT THE HEART OF WHICH IS AN
APPRECIATION OF ONESELF AS HAVING MORALLY SIGNIFICANT WORTH. UNLIKE SOME FORMS
OF RESPECT, SELF-RESPECT IS NOT SOMETHING ONE HAS ONLY NOW AND AGAIN OR THAT
MIGHT HAVE NO EFFECT ON ITS OBJECT. RATHER, SELF-RESPECT HAS TO DO WITH THE
STRUCTURE AND ATTAINMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S IDENTITY AND OF HER LIFE, AND IT
REVERBERATES THROUGHOUT THE SELF, AFFECTING THE CONFIGURATION AND
CONSTITUTION OF THE PERSON'S THOUGHTS, DESIRES, VALUES, EMOTIONS, COMMITMENTS,
DISPOSITIONS, AND ACTIONS. AS EXPRESSING OR CONSTITUTING ONE'S SENSE OF WORTH,
IT INCLUDES AN ENGAGED UNDERSTANDING OF ONE'S WORTH, AS WELL AS A DESIRE AND
DISPOSITION TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE IT. ACCOUNTS OF SELF-RESPECT DIFFER IN THEIR
CHARACTERISATIONS OF THE BELIEFS, DESIRES, AFFECTS, AND BEHAVIOURS THAT ARE
CONSTITUTIVE OF IT, CHIEFLY BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES CONCERNING THE ASPECTS OR
CONCEPTION OF THE SELF INSOFAR AS IT IS THE OBJECT OF ONE'S RESPECT AND THE
NATURE AND GROUNDS OF THE WORTH OF THE SELF OR ASPECTS OF THE SELF.



MOST THEORISTS AGREE THAT THERE AS THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RESPECT, SO
THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SELF-RESPECT. HOWEVER, WE CLEARLY CANNOT APPLY ALL
KINDS OF RESPECT TO OURSELVES: IT MAKES NO SENSE TO TALK OF DIRECTIVE RESPECT
FOR ONESELF, FOR INSTANCE, AND ALTHOUGH ONE MIGHT REGARD ONESELF OR SOME OF
ONE'S CHARACTERISTICS AS OBSTACLES (“I'M MY OWN WORST ENEMY”), THIS WOULD NOT
GENERALLY BE CONSIDERED A FORM OF SELF-RESPECT. BECAUSE THE NOTION OF SELF-
WORTH IS THE ORGANISING MOTIF FOR SELF-RESPECT, AND BECAUSE IN THE DOMINANT
WESTERN TRADITION TWO KINDS OF WORTH ARE ASCRIBED TO PERSONS, TWO KINDS OF
SELF-RESPECT CAN BE DISTINGUISHED.

THE FIRST, RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT, CENTRES ON WHAT WE CAN CALL STATUS WORTH,
WHICH IS UNEARNED WORTH THAT DERIVES FROM SUCH THINGS AS ONE'S ESSENTIAL
NATURE AS A PERSON, MEMBERSHIP IN A CERTAIN CLASS, GROUP, OR PEOPLE, SOCIAL ROLE,
OR PLACE IN A SOCIAL HIERARCHY. DIGNITY IS ONE FORM, BUT NOT THE ONLY FORM, OF
STATUS WORTH. EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT, IN CONTRAST, HAS TO DO WITH MERIT THAT IS
BASED ON THE QUALITY OF ONE'S CHARACTER AND CONDUCT. WE EARN OR LOSE MORAL
MERIT, AND SO DESERVE OR DON'T DESERVE EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT, THROUGH WHAT WE
DO OR BECOME. DIFFERENT SOURCES OF STATUS WORTH YIELD DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS
OF RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT, BUT MOST CONTEMPORARY DISCUSSIONS, HEAVILY
INFLUENCED BY, FOCUS ON DIGNITY-BASED RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT. RECOGNITION
RESPECT FOR ONESELF AS A PERSON, THEN, INVOLVES LIVING IN LIGHT OF AN
UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF ONESELF AS HAVING DIGNITY AND MORAL STATUS
JUST IN VIRTUE OF BEING A PERSON, AND OF THE MORAL CONSTRAINTS THAT ARISE FROM
THAT DIGNITY AND STATUS. ALL PERSONS ARE MORALLY OBLIGATED OR ENTITLED TO HAVE
THIS KIND OF SELF-RESPECT. BECAUSE THE DOMINANT CONCEPTION OF PERSONS GROUNDS
DIGNITY IN EQUALITY AND INDIVIDUALITY WE CAN FURTHER DISTINGUISH THREE KINDS OF
RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT. THE FIRST IS RESPECT FOR ONESELF AS A PERSON AMONG
PERSONS, AS A MEMBER OF THE MORAL COMMUNITY WITH A STATUS AND DIGNITY EQUAL TO
EVERY OTHER PERSON. THIS INVOLVES HAVING SOME CONCEPTION THE KINDS OF
TREATMENT FROM OTHERS THAT WOULD COUNT AS ONE'S DUE AS A PERSON AND TREATMENT
THAT WOULD BE DEGRADING OR BENEATH ONE'S DIGNITY, DESIRING TO BE REGARDED AND
TREATED APPROPRIATELY, AND RESENTING AND BEING DISPOSED TO PROTEST DISREGARD
AND DISRESPECTFUL TREATMENT. THINKING OF ONESELF AS HAVING CERTAIN MORAL RIGHTS
THAT OTHERS OUGHT NOT TO VIOLATE IS PART OF THIS KIND OF SELF-RESPECT; SERVILITY
(REGARDING ONESELF AS THE INFERIOR OF OTHERS) AND ARROGANCE (THINKING ONESELF
SUPERIOR TO OTHERS) ARE AMONG ITS OPPOSITES.

THE SECOND KIND OF RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT INVOLVES AN APPRECIATION OF ONESELF
AS AN INSTRUMENT, A BEING WITH THE ABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT
AUTONOMOUSLY AND VALUE APPROPRIATELY. PERSONS WHO RESPECT THEMSELVES AS
INSTRUMENTS TAKE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO LIVE IN ACCORD WITH THEIR DIGNITY AS PERSONS, TO GOVERN
THEMSELVES FITTINGLY, AND TO MAKE OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR LIVES SOMETHING THEY
BELIEVE TO BE GOOD. SO, SELF-RESPECTING PERSONS REGARD CERTAIN FORMS OF ACTING,
THINKING, DESIRING, AND FEELING AS BEFITTING THEM AS PERSONS AND OTHER FORMS AS
SELF-DEBASING OR SHAMEFUL, AND THEY EXPECT THEMSELVES TO ADHERE TO THE FORMER
AND AVOID THE LATTER. THEY TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND SEEK TO DEVELOP AND USE
THEIR TALENTS AND ABILITIES IN PURSUIT OF THEIR PLANS, PROJECTS AND GOALS. THOSE
WHO ARE SHAMELESS, UNCONTROLLED, WEAK-WILLED, SELF-CONSCIOUSLY SYCOPHANTIC,
CHRONICALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, SLOTHFULLY DEPENDENT, SELF-DESTRUCTIVE, OR



UNCONCERNED WITH THE SHAPE AND DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES MAY BE SAID TO NOT
RESPECT THEMSELVES AS INSTRUMENTS.

A THIRD KIND OF RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT INVOLVES THE APPRECIATION OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF BEING AUTONOMOUSLY SELF-DEFINING, OF HAVING AND LIVING BY A
CONCEPTION OF A LIFE THAT GIVES EXPRESSION TO THE IDEALS AND COMMITMENTS AND IS
EXPRESSED IN THE PURSUITS AND PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S
IDENTITY. SELF-RESPECTING PEOPLE HOLD THEMSELVES TO PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS AND
STANDARDS THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF WHICH THEY WOULD REGARD AS UNWORTHY OF THEM,
SHAMEFUL, EVEN CONTEMPTIBLE (ALTHOUGH THEY MAY NOT APPLY THESE STANDARDS TO
OTHERS). PEOPLE WHO SELL OUT, BETRAY THEIR OWN VALUES, LIVE INAUTHENTIC LIVES, LET
THEMSELVES BE DEFINED BY OTHERS, OR ARE COMPLACENTLY SELF-ACCEPTING LACK THIS
KIND OF RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT.

EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT, WHICH EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE IN ONE'S MERIT AS A PERSON,
RESTS ON AN APPRAISAL OF ONESELF IN LIGHT OF THE NORMATIVE SELF-CONCEPTION THAT
STRUCTURES RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT. RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECTING PERSONS ARE
CONCERNED TO BE THE KIND OF PERSON THEY THINK IT IS GOOD AND APPROPRIATE FOR
THEM TO BE AND THEY TRY TO LIVE THE KIND OF LIFE SUCH A PERSON SHOULD LIVE. THUS
THEY HAVE AND TRY TO LIVE BY CERTAIN STANDARDS OF WORTHINESS BY WHICH THEY ARE
COMMITTED TO JUDGE THEMSELVES. INDEED, THEY STAKE THEMSELVES, THEIR VALUE AND
THEIR IDENTITIES, ON LIVING IN ACCORD WITH THESE STANDARDS. BECAUSE THEY WANT TO
KNOW WHERE THEY STAND, MORALLY, THEY ARE DISPOSED TO REFLECTIVELY EXAMINE AND
EVALUATE THEIR CHARACTER AND CONDUCT IN LIGHT OF THEIR NORMATIVE VISION OF
THEMSELVES. AND IT MATTERS TO THEM THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO “BEAR THEIR OWN SURVEY”.
EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT CONTAINS THE JUDGEMENT THAT ONE IS OR IS BECOMING THE
WORTHY KIND OF PERSON ONE SEEKS TO BE, AND, MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, THAT ONE IS NOT
IN DANGER OF BECOMING AN UNWORTHY KIND OF PERSON. EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT
HOLDS, AT THE LEAST, THE JUDGEMENT THAT ONE “COMES UP TO SCRATCH”. THOSE WHOSE
CONDUCT IS UNWORTHY OR WHOSE CHARACTER IS SHAMEFUL BY THEIR OWN STANDARDS
DO NOT DESERVE THEIR OWN EVALUATIVE RESPECT. HOWEVER, PEOPLE CAN BE POOR SELF-
APPRAISERS AND THEIR STANDARDS CAN BE QUITE INAPPROPRIATE TO THEM OR TO ANY
PERSON, AND SO THEIR EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT, THOUGH STILL SUBJECTIVELY
SATISFYING, CAN BE UNWARRANTED, AS CAN THE LOSS OR LACK OF IT. INTERESTINGLY,
ALTHOUGH PHILOSOPHERS HAVE PAID SCANT ATTENTION TO EVALUATIVE RESPECT FOR
OTHERS, SIGNIFICANT WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT. THIS MAY
REFLECT AN ASYMMETRY BETWEEN THE TWO: ALTHOUGH OUR EVALUATIVE RESPECT FOR
OTHERS MAY HAVE NO EFFECT ON THEM, PERHAPS BECAUSE WE DON'T EXPRESS IT OR THEY
DON'T VALUE OUR APPRAISAL, OUR OWN SELF-EVALUATION MATTERS INTENSELY TO US AND
CAN POWERFULLY AFFECT OUR SELF-IDENTITY AND THE SHAPE AND STRUCTURE OF OUR
LIVES. INDEED, AN INDIVIDUAL'S INABILITY TO STOMACH HERSELF CAN PROFOUNDLY
DIMINISH THE QUALITY OF HER LIFE, EVEN HER DESIRE TO CONTINUE LIVING.

SOME PHILOSOPHERS HAVE CONTENDED THAT A THIRD KIND OF SELF-VALUING UNDERLIES
BOTH RECOGNITION AND EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT. IT IS A MORE BASIC SENSE OF WORTH
THAT ENABLES AN INDIVIDUAL TO DEVELOP THE INTELLECTUALLY MORE SOPHISTICATED
FORMS, A PRECONDITION FOR BEING ABLE TO TAKE ONE'S QUALITIES OR THE FACT THAT ONE
IS A PERSON AS GROUNDS OF POSITIVE SELF-WORTH. IT HAS BEEN CALLED “BASIC
PSYCHOLOGICAL SECURITY” , “SELF-LOVE” AND “BASAL SELF-RESPECT”. BASAL SELF-VALUING
IS OUR MOST FUNDAMENTAL SENSE OF OURSELVES AS MATTERING AND OUR PRIMORDIAL
INTERPRETATION OF SELF AND SELF-WORTH. STRONG AND SECURE BASAL SELF-RESPECT CAN



IMMUNISE AN INDIVIDUAL AGAINST PERSONAL FAILING OR SOCIAL DENIGRATION, BUT
DAMAGE TO BASAL SELF-RESPECT, WHICH CAN OCCUR WHEN PEOPLE GROW UP IN SOCIAL,
POLITICAL, OR CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT DEVALUE THEM OR “THEIR KIND,” CAN MAKE
IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO PROPERLY INTERPRET THEMSELVES AND THEIR SELF-WORTH,
BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE WAY IN WHICH THEY ASSESS REALITY AND WEIGH REASONS.
BASAL SELF-RESPECT IS THUS THE GROUND OF THE POSSIBILITY OF RECOGNITION AND
EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT.

IT IS COMMON IN EVERYDAY DISCOURSE AND PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSION TO TREAT SELF-
RESPECT AND SELF-ESTEEM AS SYNONYMS. IT IS TRUE THAT EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT AND
SELF-ESTEEM BOTH INVOLVE APPRAISING ONESELF FAVOURABLY IN VIRTUE OF ONE'S
BEHAVIOUR AND PERSONAL TRAITS, AND THAT A PERSON CAN HAVE OR LACK EITHER ONE
UNDESERVEDLY. HOWEVER, MANY PHILOSOPHERS HAVE ARGUED THAT THE TWO ATTITUDES
ARE IMPORTANTLY DIFFERENT. ONE WAY OF DISTINGUISHING THEM IS BY THEIR GROUNDS
AND THE POINTS OF VIEW FROM WHICH THEY ARE APPRAISED. EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT
INVOLVES AN ASSESSMENT FROM A MORAL POINT OF VIEW OF ONE'S CHARACTER AND
CONDUCT, WHILE SELF-ESTEEM CAN BE BASED ON PERSONAL FEATURES THAT ARE
UNRELATED TO CHARACTER, AND THE ASSESSMENT IT INVOLVES NEED NOT BE FROM A
MORAL POINT OF VIEW: ONE CAN HAVE A GOOD OPINION OF ONESELF IN VIRTUE OF BEING A
GOOD JOKE-TELLER OR HAVING WON AN IMPORTANT SPORTS COMPETITION AND YET NOT
THINK ONE IS A GOOD PERSON BECAUSE OF IT. ANOTHER WAY OF DISTINGUISHING THEM
FOCUSES ON WHAT IT IS TO LOSE THEM: ONE WOULD LOSE EVALUATIVE RESPECT FOR
ONESELF IF ONE JUDGED ONESELF TO BE SHAMEFUL, CONTEMPTIBLE, OR INTOLERABLE, BUT
SELF-ESTEEM CAN BE DIMINISHED BY THE BELIEF THAT ONE LACKS HIGHLY PRIZED
QUALITIES THAT WOULD ADD TO ONE'S MERIT. SELF-RESPECT IS ALSO OFTEN IDENTIFIED
WITH PRIDE. IN ONE SENSE, PRIDE IS THE PLEASURE OR SATISFACTION TAKEN IN ONE'S
ACHIEVEMENTS, POSSESSIONS, OR ASSOCIATIONS, AND IN THIS SENSE PRIDE CAN BE AN
AFFECTIVE ELEMENT OF EITHER EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT OR SELF-ESTEEM. IN ANOTHER
SENSE, PRIDE IS INORDINATE SELF-ESTEEM OR VANITY, AN EXCESSIVELY HIGH OPINION OF
ONE'S QUALITIES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR STATUS THAT CAN MAKE ONE ARROGANT AND
CONTEMPTUOUS OF OTHERS. IN THIS SENSE, PRIDE CONTRAST WITH BOTH WELL-GROUNDED
EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT AND THE INTERPERSONAL KIND OF RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT.
BUT PRIDE CAN ALSO BE A CLAIM TO AND CELEBRATION OF A STATUS WORTH OR TO
EQUALITY WITH OTHERS, ESPECIALLY OTHER GROUPS (FOR EXAMPLE, BLACK PRIDE), WHICH
IS INTERPERSONAL RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT; AND PRIDE CAN BE “PROPER PRIDE,” A
SENSE OF ONE'S DIGNITY THAT PREVENTS ONE FROM DOING WHAT IS UNWORTHY, AND IN
THIS SENSE IT IS THE DIMENSION OF RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT. PRIDE'S OPPOSITES,
SHAME AND HUMILITY, ARE ALSO CLOSELY RELATED TO SELF-RESPECT. A LOSS OF
EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT MAY BE EXPRESSED IN SHAME, BUT SHAMELESS PEOPLE
MANIFEST A LACK OF RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT; AND ALTHOUGH HUMILIATION CAN
DIMINISH OR UNDERMINE RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT, HUMILITY IS AN APPROPRIATE
DIMENSION OF THE EVALUATIVE RESPECT OF ANY IMPERFECT PERSON.

ONE ISSUE WITH WHICH CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHERS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED IS
WHETHER SELF-RESPECT IS AN OBJECTIVE CONCEPT OR A SUBJECTIVE ONE. IF IT IS THE
FORMER, THEN THERE ARE CERTAIN BELIEFS, ATTITUDES, AND DISPOSITIONS A PERSON
MUST HAVE TO BE SELF-RESPECTING. A PERSON WHO THOUGHT OF HERSELF AS A LESSER
SORT OF BEING WHOSE INTERESTS AND WELL-BEING ARE LESS IMPORTANT THAN THOSE OF
OTHERS WOULD NOT COUNT AS HAVING RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT, NO MATTER HOW
APPROPRIATE SHE REGARDS HER STANCE. IF SELF-RESPECT IS A SUBJECTIVE CONCEPT, THEN
A PERSON COUNTS AS HAVING SELF-RESPECT SO LONG AS SHE BELIEVES SHE IS NOT



TOLERATING TREATMENT SHE REGARDS AS UNWORTHY OR BEHAVING IN WAYS SHE THINKS
IS BENEATH HER, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HER JUDGEMENTS ABOUT HERSELF ARE
ACCURATE OR HER STANDARDS OR SENSE OF WHAT SHE IS DUE ARE JUDGED BY OTHERS TO
BE REASONABLE OR WORTHY.

PSYCHOLOGISTS, FOR WHOM “SELF-ESTEEM” IS THE TERM OF PRACTICE, TEND TO REGARD
THE VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF A PERSON'S SENSE OF WORTH AS SUBJECTIVE. MANY
PHILOSOPHERS TREAT THE INTERPERSONAL DIMENSION OF RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT
OBJECTIVELY, AND IS IT GENERALLY THOUGHT THAT HAVING MANIFESTLY INACCURATE
BELIEFS ABOUT ONESELF IS GOOD GROUNDS FOR AT LEAST CALLING AN INDIVIDUAL'S SENSE
OF WORTH UNJUSTIFIED OR COMPROMISED. BUT THERE IS NO CONSENSUS REGARDING THE
STANDARDS TO WHICH INDIVIDUALS HOLD THEMSELVES AND BY WHICH THEY JUDGE
THEMSELVES, AND CERTAINLY THE STANDARDS OF THE SELF-DEFINING DIMENSION OF
RECOGNITION SELF-RESPECT ARE INESCAPABLY, THOUGH PERHAPS NOT EXCLUSIVELY,
SUBJECTIVE. COMPLICATING THE OBJECTIVE/SUBJECTIVE DISTINCTION, HOWEVER, IS THE
FACT OF THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-RESPECT. WHAT IT IS TO BE A PERSON OR TO
HAVE A STATUS WORTHY OF RESPECT, WHAT TREATMENT AND CONDUCT ARE APPROPRIATE TO
A PERSON OR ONE WITH SUCH A STATUS, WHAT FORMS OF LIFE AND CHARACTER HAVE MERIT
ALL OF THESE ARE GIVEN DIFFERENT CONTENT IN DIFFERENT SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXTS.
INDIVIDUALS NECESSARILY, THOUGH PERHAPS NOT INALTERABLY, LEARN TO ENGAGE WITH
THEMSELVES AND WITH ISSUES OF SELF-WORTH IN THE TERMS AND MODES OF THE
SOCIOCULTURAL CONCEPTIONS IN WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN IMMERSED. AND DIFFERENT
KINDS OF INDIVIDUALS MAY BE GIVEN DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IN DIFFERENT
SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXTS TO ACQUIRE OR DEVELOP THE GROUNDS OF THE DIFFERENT
KINDS OF SELF-RESPECT. EVEN FULLY JUSTIFIED SELF-RESPECT MAY THUS BE LESS THAN
STRONGLY OBJECTIVE AND MORE THAN SIMPLY SUBJECTIVE.

TREATMENT OF SELF-RESPECT IN MORAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY.

SELF-RESPECT IS FREQUENTLY APPEALED TO AS A MEANS OF JUSTIFYING A WIDE VARIETY OF
PHILOSOPHICAL CLAIMS OR POSITIONS, GENERALLY IN ARGUMENTS OF THE FORM: X
PROMOTES (OR UNDERMINES) SELF-RESPECT; THEREFORE, X IS TO THAT EXTENT TO BE
MORALLY APPROVED (OR OBJECTED TO). FOR EXAMPLE, APPEALS TO SELF-RESPECT HAVE
BEEN USED TO ARGUE FOR, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS, THE VALUE OF MORAL RIGHTS AND
BOTH THE RIGHTNESS AND WRONGNESS OF PRACTICES SUCH AS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.
SUCH ARGUMENTS RELY ON RATHER THAN ESTABLISH THE MORAL IMPORTANCE OF SELF-
RESPECT. MOST PHILOSOPHERS WHO ATTEND TO SELF-RESPECT TEND TO TREAT IT AS
IMPORTANT IN ONE OF TWO WAYS, WHICH ARE EXEMPLIFIED IN THE VERY INFLUENTIAL
WORK. JUST AS WE HAVE A MORAL DUTY TO RESPECT OTHERS AS PERSONS, SO WE HAVE A
MORAL DUTY TO RESPECT OURSELVES AS PERSONS, A DUTY THAT DERIVES FROM OUR
DIGNITY AS RATIONAL BEINGS. THIS DUTY REQUIRES US TO ACT ALWAYS IN AN AWARENESS
OF OUR DIGNITY AND SO TO ACT ONLY IN WAYS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR STATUS AS
END IN OURSELVES AND TO REFRAIN FROM ACTING IN WAYS THAT ABASE, DEGRADE, DEFILE,
OR DISAVOW OUR RATIONAL NATURE. THAT IS, WE HAVE A DUTY OF RECOGNITION SELF-
RESPECT. FOR SPECIFIC DUTIES TO ONESELF GENERATED BY THE GENERAL DUTY TO RESPECT
HUMANITY IN OUR PERSONS, INCLUDING DUTIES TO NOT ENGAGE IN SUICIDE, MISUSE OF
OUR SEXUAL POWERS, DRUNKENNESS AND OTHER UNRESTRAINED INDULGENCE OF
INCLINATION, LYING, SELF-DECEPTION, AVARICE, AND SERVILITY. THE DUTY OF SELF-
RESPECT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MORAL DUTY, FOR UNLESS THERE WERE DUTIES TO
RESPECT ONESELF, THERE COULD BE NO MORAL DUTIES AT ALL. MOREOVER, FULFILLING OUR
DUTY TO RESPECT OURSELVES IS A NECESSARY CONDITION OF FULFILLING OUR DUTIES TO



RESPECT OTHER PERSONS. WE ARE ALWAYS AWARE OF OUR DIGNITY AS PERSONS AND SO OF
OUR MORAL OBLIGATION TO RESPECT OURSELVES, AND IDENTIFY THIS AWARENESS AS A
FEELING OF REVERENTIAL RESPECT FOR OURSELVES. THIS IS ONE OF THE NATURAL
CAPACITIES OF FEELING WHICH WE COULD HAVE NO DUTY TO ACQUIRE BUT THAT MAKE IT
POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE MOTIVATED BY THE THOUGHT OF DUTY. REVERENCE FOR SELF IS,
ALONG WITH “MORAL FEELING,” CONSCIENCE, AND LOVE OF OTHERS, A SUBJECTIVE SOURCE
OF MORALITY, AND IT IS THE MOTIVATIONAL GROUND OF THE DUTY OF SELF-RESPECT. THE
AWARENESS THAT WE HAVE HONOURED AND PRESERVED OUR DIGNITY BY ACTING IN
MORALLY WORTHY WAYS, AND A HEALTHY DOSE OF HUMILITY, THE AWARENESS THAT WE
INEVITABLY FALL SHORT OF THE LOFTY REQUIREMENTS OF THE MORAL LAW. WELL-GROUNDED
EVALUATIVE SELF-RESPECT AS A SUBJECTIVE MOTIVATION TO CONTINUE STRIVING TO DO
RIGHT AND BE GOOD.

SELF-RESPECT NEITHER AS SOMETHING WE ARE MORALLY REQUIRED TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN
NOR AS A FEELING WE NECESSARILY HAVE, BUT AS AN ENTITLEMENT THAT SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONS ARE REQUIRED BY JUSTICE TO SUPPORT AND NOT UNDERMINE. SELF-RESPECT
IS A “PRIMARY GOOD,” SOMETHING THAT RATIONAL BEINGS WANT WHATEVER ELSE THEY
WANT, BECAUSE IT IS VITAL TO THE EXPERIENCED QUALITY OF INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND TO
THE ABILITY TO CARRY OUT OR ACHIEVE WHATEVER PROJECTS OR AIMS AN INDIVIDUAL
MIGHT HAVE. IT IS, MOREOVER, A SOCIAL GOOD, ONE THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO
ACQUIRE ONLY UNDER CERTAIN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS. SELF-RESPECT DEFINES
AS “A PERSON'S SENSE OF HIS OWN VALUE, HIS SECURE CONVICTION THAT HIS CONCEPTION
OF THE GOOD, HIS PLAN OF LIFE, IS WORTH CARRYING OUT,” AND IT IMPLIES “A CONFIDENCE
IN ONE'S ABILITY, SO FAR AS IT IS WITHIN ONE'S POWER, TO FULFIL ONE'S INTENTIONS”.
INDIVIDUALS' ACCESS TO SELF-RESPECT IS TO A LARGE DEGREE A FUNCTION OF HOW THE
BASIC INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE OF A SOCIETY DEFINES AND DISTRIBUTES THE SOCIAL
BASES OF SELF-RESPECT, WHICH INCLUDE THE MESSAGES ABOUT THE RELATIVE WORTH OF
CITIZENS THAT ARE CONVEYED IN THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF INSTITUTIONS,
THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDAMENTAL POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES, ACCESS TO
THE RESOURCES INDIVIDUALS NEED TO PURSUE THEIR PLANS OF LIFE, THE AVAILABILITY OF
DIVERSE ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITIES WITHIN WHICH INDIVIDUALS CAN SEEK
AFFIRMATION OF THEIR WORTH AND THEIR PLANS OF LIFE FROM OTHERS, AND THE NORMS
GOVERNING PUBLIC INTERACTION AMONG CITIZENS. SINCE SELF-RESPECT IS VITAL TO
INDIVIDUAL WELL BEING, JUSTICE REQUIRES THAT SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES BE
DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND NOT UNDERMINE SELF-RESPECT. THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AS
FAIRNESS ARE SUPERIOR TO UTILITARIAN PRINCIPLES INSOFAR AS THEY BETTER AFFIRM AND
PROMOTE SELF-RESPECT FOR ALL CITIZENS.

THE ABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO RESPECT THEMSELVES IS HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON THEIR
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES HAS BEEN ECHOED BY A NUMBER OF THEORISTS
WORKING IN MORAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY. A DECENT SOCIETY IS ONE
WHOSE INSTITUTIONS DO NOT HUMILIATE PEOPLE, THAT IS, GIVE PEOPLE GOOD REASON TO
CONSIDER THEIR SELF-RESPECT TO BE INJURED. THE THEORY OF SOCIAL CRITICISM
FOCUSES ON THE WAY PEOPLE'S SELF-RESPECT AND SELF-IDENTITY NECESSARILY DEPEND ON
THE RECOGNITION OF OTHERS AND SO ARE VULNERABLE TO BEING MISRECOGNISED OR
IGNORED BOTH BY SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND IN INTERPERSONAL INTERACTIONS. A NUMBER
OF THEORISTS HAVE USED THE CONCEPT OF SELF-RESPECT TO EXAMINE THE OPPRESSION OF
WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOUR, AND OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE MARGINALISED, STIGMATISED,
OR EXPLOITED BY THE DOMINANT CULTURE, IDENTIFYING THE PLETHORA OF WAYS IN WHICH
OPPRESSIVE INSTITUTIONS, IMAGES, AND ACTIONS CAN DAMAGE TO THE SELF-RESPECT OF
MEMBERS OF THESE GROUPS. OTHER WRITERS DISCUSS WAYS THAT INDIVIDUALS AND



GROUPS MIGHT TO PRESERVE OR RESTORE SELF-RESPECT IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE OR
OPPRESSION, AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-RESPECT IN
INDIVIDUALS LIVING UNDER OPPRESSION OR INJUSTICE EMPOWERS THEM TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE MONUMENTAL STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE AND LIBERATION SOME THEORISTS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WORKING WITHIN A FEMINIST FRAMEWORK, HAVE ARGUED THAT THE
PREVAILING CONCEPTIONS OF SELF-RESPECT IN CONTEMPORARY LIBERAL SOCIETIES
THEMSELVES CONTAIN FEATURES THAT REFLECT OBJECTIONABLE ASPECTS OF THE
DOMINATING CULTURE, AND THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO RECONCEIVED SELF-RESPECT IN
WAYS THAT ARE MORE CONDUCIVE TO EMPOWERMENT AND EMANCIPATION.

CONCLUSION

EVERYDAY DISCOURSE AND PRACTICES INSIST THAT RESPECT AND SELF-RESPECT ARE
PERSONALLY, SOCIALLY, POLITICALLY, AND MORALLY IMPORTANT AND PHILOSOPHICAL
DISCUSSIONS OF THE CONCEPTS BEAR THIS OUT. THEIR ROLES IN OUR LIVES AS
INDIVIDUALS, AS PEOPLE LIVING IN COMPLEX RELATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND
SURROUNDED BY A PLETHORA OF OTHER BEINGS AND THINGS ON WHICH OUR ATTITUDES
AND ACTIONS HAVE TREMENDOUS EFFECTS, CANNOT, AS THESE DISCUSSIONS REVEAL, BE
TAKEN LIGHTLY. THE DISCUSSIONS THUS FAR SHED LIGHT ON THE NATURE AND
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VARIOUS FORMS OF RESPECT AND SELF-RESPECT AND THEIR
POSITIONS IN A NEXUS OF PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT BUT PHILOSOPHICALLY CHALLENGING
AND CONTESTABLE CONCEPTS. THESE DISCUSSIONS ALSO REVEAL THAT MUCH MORE WORK
REMAINS TO BE DONE IN CLARIFYING THESE ATTITUDES AND THEIR PLACES AMONG AND
IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR CONCEPTS AND OUR LIVES.

DISCIPLINE IS A CHOICE NOT A LEGACY...

DISCIPLINE IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE PROCESS OF FOCUSING ON ANY CHOSEN ACTIVITY
WITHOUT INTERRUPTION UNTIL THAT ACTIVITY IS COMPLETE.

DISCIPLINE IS SOMETHING YOU DO AND NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE. YOU THEREFORE HAVE
THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE TO ACT WITH DISCIPLINE AND DECISIVENESS.

TO BECOME WHAT OTHERS REFER TO AS A DISCIPLINED PERSON REQUIRES ONLY THAT YOU
"DO DISCIPLINE" OVER AND OVER AS A CONSCIOUS ACT UNTIL REPETITION MAKES
DISCIPLINE A SUBCONSCIOUS HABIT.

DOING DISCIPLINE MEANS THAT YOU CHOOSE NOT TO ALLOW FATIGUE OR INTERRUPTIONS
TO BECOME AN EXCUSE FOR INACTION OR A CHANGE OF PLAN.

DISCIPLINE IS THE ABILITY TO STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR CHOSEN ACTION PATH WITHOUT
DETOUR, DISTRACTION, OR INTERRUPTION

DISCIPLINE IS THE ABILITY TO KEEP ALL AGREEMENTS WITH YOURSELF AND WITH OTHERS,
WITHOUT BLAME, EXCUSES OR CAVING INTO OBSTACLES.

DISCIPLINE IS THE ABILITY TO SHOW UP ON TIME, EVERYTIME.

DISCIPLINE IS THE ABILITY TO COMPLETE IMPORTANT PERSONAL OR BUSINESS PROJECTS ON
SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.



DISCIPLINE IS THE POWER TO KEEP GOING FORWARD, WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND YOU
SEEMS TO BE PULLING YOU BACK.

THE RESULT? DISCIPLINE GENERATES TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF, AND ATTRACTS
TRUST AND CONFIDENCE FROM OTHERS. THE CONSTANT ACT OF DISCIPLINE MAGNIFIES
YOUR POWER TO ACCOMPLISH AT LEAST 10 TIMES OVER.

"THE CHALLENGE IS TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON A GREAT IDEA. I THINK IF YOU'VE GOT A
GREAT IDEA, YOU NEED TO JUST GIVE IT A TRY. AND IF YOU FALL FLAT ON YOUR FACE, PICK
YOURSELF UP AND TRY AGAIN. LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES. AND, REMEMBER, YOU'VE GOT
TO GO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL."

"THE COLOSSAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF OUR TIME IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT INSIGHT WILL
WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE UNMOTIVATED TO CHANGE. COMMUNICATION DOES NOT
DEPEND ON SYNTAX, OR ELOQUENCE, OR RHETORIC, OR ARTICULATION BUT ON THE
EMOTIONAL CONTEXT IN WHICH THE MESSAGE IS BEING HEARD. PEOPLE CAN ONLY HEAR YOU
WHEN THEY ARE MOVING TOWARDS YOU, AND THEY ARE NOT LIKELY TO WHEN YOUR WORDS
ARE PURSUING THEM. EVEN THE CHOICEST WORDS LOSE THEIR POWER WHEN THEY ARE
USED TO OVERPOWER. EMOTIONS ARE THE REAL FIGURES OF SPEECH."

"ANY MEANINGFUL CONSENSUS COMES OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL RESPECT. WE
FIND EQUALITY WITH OTHERS BY RECOGNISING THAT THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF LOOKING AT
ANY SITUATION AND WE HAVE ONLY ONE OF THEM. LISTENING TO OTHERS, RESPECTING
THEIR IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES, HELPS TO OPEN US TO A WIDER SPECTRUM OF REALITY. IT
ENABLES US TO OPEN UP THE DOORS OF OUR CONCEPTUAL PRISON AND SEE THINGS FROM A
NEW PERSPECTIVE."

THE RICHEST PERSON IS NOT THE ONE WHO HAS THE MOST, BUT THE ONE WHO NEEDS THE
LEAST.

"THE GREATEST GIFT THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO OTHERS IS THE GIFT OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE,
RESPECT AND ACCEPTANCE."

IT IS IN VAIN TO EXPECT OUR PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED, IF WE DO NOT STRIVE TO
CORRECT OUR KNOWLEDGE, BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
NOBLE QUR'AN AND THE SUNNAH OF PROPHET MUHAMMED (PBUH)


Read2Reap

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Similar to Read2Reap

More from Hussain Fahmy

Recently uploaded

Read2Reap