#141. Michael Gelb: Mind Mapping replied by birchhill @ Mon, 12 May 2008 17:14:24 -0000

birchhill — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:14:24 -0000

Mind mapping is awesome! There is a free mind mapping program that runs on Windows, Linux and OS X, called Freemind. You can get it at http://freemind.sourceforge.net

I use it all the time in my work, to take notes while interviewing clients. I find that even though I don’t type very fast, I can easily keep up with them as they talk.

I also use it to organize my thoughts about new projects and to take notes on topics I am researching.

You might also be interested in the wikipedia entry on mind mapping:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map

Best,

Bryce

#1. thinkAreté.theManifesto replied by pauldavidwalker @ Sun, 11 May 2008 15:22:01 -0000

pauldavidwalker — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:22:01 -0000

Inner Purpose, Genius and Business

In Eckhart Tolle’s book A New Earth, he talks about the importance of reconciliation between your inner and outer purpose. He says, “If you look within rather than only without, however, you discover that you have an inner and an outer purpose, and since you are a microcosmic reflection of the macrocosm, it follows that the universe too has an inner and outer purpose inseparable from yours.”

I have found that teams of leaders are attracted to each other, professions, and to particular businesses. Sometimes, this common outer purpose is a reflection of a deeper inner purpose. But often that deeper inner purpose, which can supercharge the outer purpose, is not always clear to each individual or the team. Once each leader begins to discover their inner purpose or genius, the level of “acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm,” which Eckhart Tolle feels is an indicator of this alignment, goes up dramatically. Each leader then begins to see the synergy within the team and creativity expands. The organizational culture becomes vibrant, people want to be part of it, and the marketplace finds that being connected to the business and its people is irresistible, because on some level they recognize the expression of genius.

It takes courage to take the first step toward this state of being. It seems we fear transcendence more than “the darkness.” Our egos, fears and the world tell us it is a crazy and dangerous dream, but it is not crazy, it is our purpose to lead enterprises of this kind. Imagine what our world would be like if every corporation, country, and community was an outward expression of true inner purpose and genius.

#139. Richard Koch: Eggs & Baskets replied by harryhorner @ Sat, 10 May 2008 19:35:23 -0000

harryhorner — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:35:23 -0000

Focus on “the important 20%”....so some activity in life is profitable and some is wasted? Umm…and we learn from….? The thing to do is focus on the client who provide most of your income and the friends who provide most of your pleasure…and concentrate on doing things…(e.g. the example re book reading) that is platable en face? You had me going there for a minute, Brian!!! :-)

#3. Feed Your RAS replied by eudemon @ Fri, 09 May 2008 10:01:56 -0000

eudemon — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:01:56 -0000

The PubMed abstract below indicates how the RAS may work. Our sensory organs (eyes, ears, etc.) take in information. The RAS then pulls information from our higher brain and compares it to incoming information. If there is a match we become aware of the information.

Food for thought for the group – in view of this mechanism being a good citizen might be detrimental to our best functioning. For example, if we worked to help the poor we would fill our brain with information about systemic oppression of the downtrodden. With this information in our brain wouldn’t we become more prone to see the potential for failure in situations we encounter rather than the potential for success?

Support for this idea comes from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24502967/ which points out that conservatives are happier than liberal-leaners. By not caring about the down trodden people the conservatives do not develop the brain mechanisms to be unhappy that liberals do.

Prog Neurobiol. 2001 Aug;64(6):555-73.
N-methyl-D-aspartate channel and consciousness: from signal coincidence detection to quantum computing.
Freitas da Rocha A, Pereira A Jr, Bezerra Coutinho FA.
NEAC-UNICID, LIM 01-HC-FMUSP and RANI, Research on Artificial and Natural Intelligence, Rua Maria Inez 26, 13201-813 Jundiai-SP, Brazil. eina@kyotec.com.br
Research on Blindsight, Neglect/Extinction and Phantom limb syndromes, as well as electrical measurements of mammalian brain activity, have suggested the dependence of vivid perception on both incoming sensory information at primary sensory cortex and reentrant information from associative cortex. Coherence between incoming and reentrant signals seems to be a necessary condition for (conscious) perception. General reticular activating system and local electrical synchronization are some of the tools used by the brain to establish coarse coherence at the sensory cortex, upon which biochemical processes are coordinated. Besides electrical synchrony and chemical modulation at the synapse, a central mechanism supporting such a coherence is the N-methyl-D-aspartate channel, working as a ‘coincidence detector’ for an incoming signal causing the depolarization necessary to remove Mg(2+), and reentrant information releasing the glutamate that finally prompts Ca(2+) entry. We propose that a signal transduction pathway activated by Ca(2+) entry into cortical neurons is in charge of triggering a quantum computational process that accelerates inter-neuronal communication, thus solving systemic conflict and supporting the unity of consciousness.
PMID: 11311462

#49. The Moment of Commitment replied by mysticjewell @ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:05:48 -0000

mysticjewell — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:05:48 -0000

This was a beautiful thought Brian. Upon reflection of this same principle many years ago, it dawned on me that we have at our disposal the same capability to create our life on earth that GOD did in heaven. We are his mini creations aren’t we? We have the ablility for thought, the ability to voice intent with words, and the ability to enact a deed or action. Think of Genesis. In identifying this process and making the commitment to extend action we do create or change or reality. This is exactly what David did. The statue caught him poised at the second he commited to his intent. This moment of commitment however, has to be backed with the follow through of action. Yes, this powerful moment of commitment gives me the shivers also. It is the consolation of thought into a dense energy of action. Bringing ether to earth is very powerful indeed.

#41. Breath Sex replied by mysticjewell @ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:48:50 -0000

mysticjewell — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:48:50 -0000

Since there was not a lot of posts to this idea I thought I would share a Kabbalistic approach to Brian’s Breath Sex that might complement it. Remember it is in the recoginization of the intent of words and actions that are nvolved that can take one to bliss with a union. Kabbalah arose from oral traditions extant in medieval Judaism, or perhaps if the myth is to be believed from God’s word to Adam and then to the ancient Hebrew prophets who received the enlightenment that was passed down from oral traditions. In Kabbalah God exists in its highest form as a totally ineffable unity called Ein Sof or the unknowable. To become knowable it manifests into or emanates downward into a great number of Divine forms or aspects of itself. Thus, there is a plurality of Gods or emanations called Sefiroth which are the many faces of God-~~-if you will. In this process it becomes a supernal Father and Mother. The Divine becomes in otherwor taking on a dulastic form~~--becoming Father (Hokhmah) and Mother (Binah). These two forces combine to give birth to other emnations. Thus you can envision a divine creative intercourse or sexual conjunction between Hokhmah and Binah. This sacred wedding of God’s masculine energy penetrating into the feminine aspect. Marital sexual union on earth then can mirror the Divine in the heavens—as the mystics say “as above, so below. Envisoning yourself falling into the splendor of God’s creation is a most wonderful way to ponder this. In order to achieve estacy or bliss whether it be with the union or absorption into God in heaven, or into the union or absorption on earth with your love requires the same surrendering into sensation of nothingnes yet totality. So, everyone enjoy becoming God and Goddesses, and just for the fun of it since every soul has two aspects within try the role of Hokmah and Binah on for size each one taking turns. How is that for role playing? Have fun penetrating into matter from the Cosmos!

#121. Michael Gelb: Think Like da Vinci! replied by TravisE @ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:21:40 -0000

TravisE — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:21:40 -0000

That’s one hell of a list, Brian! Thanks for sharing!

#54. Eat Your Projections replied by tc @ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:10:44 -0000

tc — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:10:44 -0000

It’s funny you bring this up. I’ve noticed a by-product of my attempt to get better mileage on the way to work in the morning has actually cut down on my tendency towards road-rage toward the other drivers.

1. My focus is on my own driving – less agressively.
2. Since I’m driving a bit slower, people are less likely to be going slower than I am when they cut me off! I don’t have to slam on the breaks.
3. It’s also easier to maintain a safe distance between my front bumper and the cars ahead of me.
4. The result – increased my average gas mileage from 22 MPG to 25 MPG – a small victory, sure, but a good one. Better yet, I seem to arrive at work in much better spirits and ready to give cheerful attention to my job.
5. So by changing my driving habits (regardless of the reason) I’ve stumbled onto a solution to a more stressful problem I’ve lived with for a long, my reaction to others on the highway. Happy motoring!

#113. Morihei Ueshiba: Summit of Love replied by TravisE @ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:00:50 -0000

TravisE — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:00:50 -0000

So true! One of the teachers I really admire is John Sherman. He offers self-inquiry as given by Ramana Maharshi. One of John’s practices is to not discuss way-points, markers, or stages of the path as much as possible. He feels that the way you get to the truth of what you are is not important, and that sharing revelations from along the way can be distracting as it causes others to strive for the same markers as proof of the authenticity of their experience. That is, of course, preposterous. We are all already what we are looking for. We have been told that for thousands of years. Veering my path to try and make it match someone else’s is a useless activity, and nothing but postponement. As long as we look at ourselves we will find this summit. How we get there is immaterial.

#116. Morihei Ueshiba: The Divine Within Us replied by TravisE @ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:49:09 -0000

TravisE — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:49:09 -0000

Thanks for this reminder. The Art of Peace is one of the few books I have read more than once. In fact, I destroyed my first copy through frequent reading, and am onto my second.

I recently got a big reminder of the divinity in each of us. http://www.traviseneix.com/letting-mom-die/

#25. Dan Siegel: Parenting from the Inside Out. replied by brian @ Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:58:43 -0000

brian — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:58:43 -0000

Love it!!!

#25. Dan Siegel: Parenting from the Inside Out. replied by zurbers @ Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:02:22 -0000

zurbers — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:02:22 -0000

Beautiful post Brian….I am a parent of an amazingly enlightend yound man of 7 years. I am daily on the quest to become the best parent for my son. Having an open mind and heart is key in this quest and as I open up my heart things begin to flow in assisting me to raise him into the amazing little person he is today…this book is definately a helpful mapbook :o)

#4. Richard Koch: 80/20, Baby. 80/20 replied by anna @ Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:37:39 -0000

anna — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:37:39 -0000

Hello from Athens Greece

Do you think we can apply this rule to every case possible ?

#4. Richard Koch: 80/20, Baby. 80/20 replied by anna @ Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:37:23 -0000

anna — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:37:23 -0000

Hello from Athens Greece

Do you think we can apply this rule to every case possible ?

#100. Know What You Want replied by Alexandra @ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:45:09 -0000

Alexandra — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:45:09 -0000

WOW! Right on Mr. B!! :) This is just what I was thinking this morning! What do I want?

Thanks for the morning inspiration! I am going to go and journal!! :)

#101. Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers replied by divinitydancer @ Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:26:44 -0000

divinitydancer — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:26:44 -0000

“We don’t even have lions or other predators chasing us any more…”

I think someone living in Iraq or the Sudan may not feel the same way. Hell, someone in inner city America living below the poverty line would probably disagree, too.

But good point nonetheless. :) Isn’t it silly that we let a deadline for work build us up into the same state we experience when running for our lives?

#1. thinkAreté.theManifesto replied by brian @ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:59:45 -0000

brian — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:59:45 -0000

welcome, apple!!! :)

#1. thinkAreté.theManifesto replied by claudiuswey @ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:01:45 -0000

claudiuswey — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:01:45 -0000

Hello, everyone..
I guess I’m the newest in this forum.
Brian, such a cool quotes you have..great job!
Oh yeah..You too, jeepdog.
I think I need to take my time reading the quotes in this site. Coz there’s a lot!

And hmm..I hope I’m welcomed here.. xD

Cheers :)

#95. Quit Comparing Yourself to Others replied by brian @ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:06:40 -0000

brian — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:06:40 -0000

hehehehheeh

love it! :)

#95. Quit Comparing Yourself to Others replied by WilyWalnut @ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:50:16 -0000

WilyWalnut — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:50:16 -0000

Hey Brian,

I had just got an email in from someone else that I subscribe too and started negatively comparing myself to that person. Then I dropped down a couple of spaces in my email inbox and found this tip….

Oops! You got me!

Thanks for the forehead smack!
Wily

#92. Make Your Bedroom Your Cave replied by brian @ Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:20:31 -0000

brian — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:20:31 -0000

fair enough! :)

#92. Make Your Bedroom Your Cave replied by divinitydancer @ Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:27:01 -0000

divinitydancer — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:27:01 -0000

That seems to be the consensus, but I can’t say I’m smitten with the idea. Then again, we have four kids. :) Relaxing in bed with a good book, or even the laptop when we have some work to do, works well for us, and gives us a modicum of space from the household hustle and bustle.

Plus, I’d add that declaring certain areas of the home “off-limits” to activities like reading etc. runs contrary to sustainability. Why not get maximum use out of each room??

#89. Aristotle: Be Consistent. replied by brian @ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:37:06 -0000

brian — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:37:06 -0000

yep! I agree. and well said.

I said something along those lines here

to consistently pushing ourselves! :)

-bri

#5. John Eliot: Bill Russell & Barfing replied by zurbers @ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:51:19 -0000

zurbers — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:51:19 -0000

ahhhhh…..this came just in time. I have to start teaching a yoga class today…..and its going to be full of experienced yogi and my teacher….yikes. A bit nervous. Nice to hear I’m in good company with these butterflies :o) Thankyou Brian for the post and thankyou mother earth for inspiration

#89. Aristotle: Be Consistent. replied by rsinghal2000 @ Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:16:37 -0000

rsinghal2000 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:16:37 -0000

An increase in intensity is required after the body adapts to the physical demands of a workout. The adaptation could occur over a week or a few days. I do agree, that consistently going to the gym along with increasing intensity leads to greater vigor.

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