Accessing and Evoking Our Potential

I think the underlying root problem is one of natural instinct itself, survival of the fittest (me verses you). It’s in our instinct to heed to the needs of our own individual existence, first and foremost. It's hard wired in our survival code just like the body mechanisms that shut down the blood supply from the extremities for survival of the brain and heart when traumatized.

The real deal lies in our capacity to learn how to develop compassion and empathy for all of our fellow creatures, and it is a LEARNING process. It is the most important human potential trait there is and it should be taught to all children, from grade school on up. It’s in this capacity that we grow and develop into either sociopaths or caring and loving human beings.

The person who gives freely of their own time and resources to help a child learn good study habits for school is a good teacher. And that selfless generosity of compassion generates empathetic belief systems in both parties involved, and that kind of magic grows stronger and stronger as it’s used more and more. And, further more, if we don't use it, we lose it.

The person who puts off his/her own pressing priorities to take the old dog out for a short slow walk, to exercise the joints and muscles of arthritis, experiences the simple pleasures of empathetic exercise (It’s a Reality Check). And it all comes down to how we perceive ourselves in this world, are we givers, or are we takers? And then we tend to group-up with like minded people for team support and validation (me vs. you, or we vs. them).

The Inside Track

The Horse Whisperer- I watched one of the original horse whisperers work their magic a few years ago in Ocala, Fla. Monty Roberts was his name and he understood horses very well. He knew what horses thought and how they perceived reality, and he communicated with them on that level.

With any and all of the troubled horses he had to correct (gentle) he first had to gain their respect, as their leader. To do this he first let them run away, their most basic and primal defense mechanism, and he kept up with them as they ran just as fast as they could. Then he passed them up, and jumped in front of them causing them to startle, shift direction and run back in the same direction they had just come from, and he still kept pace with them the whole time, right their at their flank. Over and over again he did this, boy could this Monty guy could run fast.

The horses became exhausted yet this puny guy that ran on only two legs just kept out-running them, and jumping in front no less, face on!!! And when the horse become tired and slowed down a bit, Monty would toss a rope at their hind quarters (panic) and they would shoot off again, and always, Monty would be right there, running along side of them. And when they finally did give in to him, convinced by now that he meant them no harm, but totally certain that Monty could run faster and further then they ever could, they submitted (ear and head position)to his leadership and guidance.

Of course the whole race was in a 50' round pen and all Monty had to do was turn in circles while the horse had to run the full circumference, but the horses never knew that. Perception of reality is not always reality. It’s all about having the inside track, LOL.