Flex_ Do Something Different - Ben [61]
Second, people are not very good at considering issues dispassionately: we easily and naturally become emotionally involved in what we do and say. At an individual level this makes us more restricted and inflexible, as we have discussed. We develop habits and other automatic patterns to defend ourselves against having to consider the way things really are. Incoherence develops as a defence and people become less tolerant of ambiguity. Such tolerance is necessary for personal and organisational growth and it is our view that a lack of this can have negative consequences socially and politically too. This is because it creates an increasingly intolerant and divisive society where differences of view are demonised, instead of being embraced. Through learning to flex, the individual becomes more innovative, less prejudiced and narrow-minded, and the society becomes more open and tolerant
The third dimension concerns honesty. Certain things that are known to people are not said and done in public despite the good it would do and the appropriateness and relevance. This is possibly because we lack coherence as individuals and that is reflected in the wider society. For example, politicians often put a spin on their messages because the truth might be hard to swallow. Sometimes the media provides only partial truths (and sometimes untruths) instead of being informative. This partiality and lack of honesty means that the political parties, the media and the large corporates have the power to manipulate outcomes instead of being bound by true public interest.
Imagine a world in which individuals, organisations and government were more flexible and coherent. That’s the world in which we would like to live.
flex in action – challenge
Here’s a challenge we’d like to leave you with
What part of your life isn’t bringing you the rewards you’d like? What would you like to change?
Now think about how you behave or act in all aspects of that part of your life.
Next, think about how you could behave differently. Think about how to do the opposite of what you’ve been doing.
Resolve to put that into action. You are going to do something different.
Try it today.
You won’t look back.
Appendix
Score your answers on the habit-rater here. Add up your total.
Other books by Professor Ben (C) Fletcher and Professor Karen J Pine
Love Not Smoking: Do Something Different
Our successful Do Something Different approach to quitting smoking
Professor Karen J Pine and Professor Ben (C) Fletcher
Haye House (2011)
ISBN: 978-1-8485-0325-0
Do Something Different: The Journal 100 Ways to Shake Up Your Life
A journal with daily ways to Do Something Different
Professor Ben (C) Fletcher and Professor Karen J Pine
b-Flex Publishing (2010)
ISBN: 978-1-9073-7100-4
Sheconomics
The Do Something Different approach to personal finance for women
Professor Karen J Pine and Simonne Gnessen
Headline (2009)
ISBN: 978-0-7553-1827-8
The No Diet Diet: Do Something Different
The Do Something Different approach to weight loss
Professor Ben (C) Fletcher, Dr Karen Pine and
Danny Penmane
Orion (2005)
ISBN: 978-0-7528-7400-5
(Inner) FITness and the FIT Corporation
How the Do Something Different approach works in organisations
Professor Ben (C) Fletcher and Bob Stead
Thomson Learning (2000)
ISBN: 978-1-8615-2644-1
The authors
Ben Fletcher and Karen Pine both work at the University of Hertfordshire where Ben has held several posts including Head of the School of Psychology and Dean of the Business School, and Karen is Professor of Developmental Psychology. Ben and Karen are also Professors of Fashion at Istanbul Bilgi University.
Find out more about the authors and their work at these websites:
www.karenpine.com
www.professorbenfletcher.com
www.DSD.me