My Philosophy IV - Mental

My Philosophy IV

I am going to use a source for my next philosophical statements.  I like Zig Ziglar, master motivator, and I’m going to use his “Wheel of Life”

https://www.ziglar.com/articles/the-wheel-of-life/

He gives these seven spokes to his wheel:

• Mental
• Spiritual
• Physical
• Family
• Financial
• Personal
• Career

So, let’s talk of my ‘mental’ philosophy today

Years ago, the United States Army had a slogan “Be all you can be”.  The United Negro College fund had a slogan “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”.  And, in a very different direction, GIGO - garbage in, garbage out.

Human beings have minds - brains - an organ that allows them to think.  Thinking (and having opposable thumbs) seem to be all that separates us (humans) from other animals.  

We can reason, do mathematics, and even creating almost anything.  Humans have created machines, cars, airplanes, televisions, computers, even spaceships.  We have studied the atom (and, unfortunately, created atomic bombs).  We have mapped the human genome - mapping our DNA.  This has promise to solve a lot of health issues.  We have made industrial robots.

What is the next great invention?  Who knows?

We are on the threshold of a myriad of things.  Scholars estimate that knowledge doubles every thirteen months.  “By the end of World War II knowledge was doubling every 25 years. Today things are not as simple as different types of knowledge have different rates of growth. For example, nanotechnology knowledge is doubling every two years and clinical knowledge every 18 months. But on average human knowledge is doubling every 13 months.  According to IBM, the build out of  the “internet of things” will lead to the doubling of knowledge every 12 hours.” (source: http://www.industrytap.com/knowledge-doubling-every-12-months-soon-to-be-every-12-hours/3950) 

[time for some humor.  Most of you know I have a doctorate from the University of Nebraska, where the “N” on the football helmets stands for Nowledge!!! ]

To me, I need to be growing mentally daily.  I need to learn something daily.  And, maybe in these blogs share a little of what I am learning daily.  

I also remember the adage “All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy”.  Yes, we need to relax and enjoy ourselves at times - but hour-upon-hour watching Gilligan’s Island reruns isn’t necessarily advancing our mental capacity - or benefiting the world.  

Historically, people gained knowledge by reading.  There are works of fiction that can build our knowledge as well as non-fiction.  As our minds read, we build pictures in our brains.  Words can grow into thoughts.  

We can use synergy - taking two (or more) ideas and building new ideas.  As an example, many food recipes have improved over the years as somebody took an existing recipe and modified it with other ingredients or with new technologies (slow-cooking, pressure cooking, grilling, microwaves) and making new food ideas.  Who would have thought you could put some kernels of corn in a microwave and get (almost) instant popcorn.  

How many newly minted PhDs are there in a year - writing dissertations on almost every subject under the sun?  

I do mental exercises daily to keep my brain working and not stagnating.  There is also an adage that is something like this: “The day I stop thinking is the day I die”.  

So, my philosophy - aligning with Zig Ziglar’s Wheel of life on the spoke of Mental - is that I MUST keep learning!!  

One additional statement, “Learning is intrinsic” - I get pleasure out of learning.  

How about you?  Do you have learning and mental activities in your life?  Do you challenge yourself mentally every day?  Share with us!!

Hugs!!

Karen

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