How To Discover And Use The Power Of You!

HOW TO DISCOVER AND USE THE POWER OF "YOU!"
(©Lee Wise 2002)

I've mentioned it time and time again in class.

"You have incredible potential. Potential you don't
even know about. I believe in your potential. Do
you?"

And I say it more than once. Why? Because we all
need to hear it. Students need to hear it. I need
to hear it. And you need to hear it!

I trust that after reading this short article you will
begin to see once again, or even in a new way, the
incredible power of "You!"

I will share with you a simple "formula" for discovering
your potential. I'm absolutely convinced that most of us
have a "hidden" wealth of information at our finger tips.

And where is this hidden wealth of information?
It is inside.

THREE PRINCIPLES

My "formula" is based on three simple principles.

*Principle Number One: The power of a good question.

*Principle Number Two: The power of "grids."

*Principle Number Three: The power of compressed time.

THE POWER OF A GOOD QUESTION

Asking *yourself* a simple question to answer can be a
very powerful tool in terms of uncovering the insights
you already have within.

Hold on! I will explain in just a moment. Why?
Because I need to share the next two points first.
Then we will bring everything together in a way that
*will* help you discover the power of "You!"

THE POWER OF "GRIDS"

I tell my students that a "grid" is a "way of seeing."
With the use of a "grid" I can focus on any number of
things in my world.

For instance, let's suppose I decide I want to gain
insights for an article I plan to write in the future.
And, let's suppose my article will deal with the subject
of how fathers relate to their children.

To gain information for my article I could do any amount
standard research. Books, other articles, newspapers --
you name it!

That's one way -- and a good one I might add!

But I also could do something else. I could set up a
"grid" -- a life filter if you please -- and say to
myself, "For the next three days I'm going to observe
how fathers relate to their children. I'll note the good,
the bad and the ugly."

What have I done? Answer: I've created my own "grid"
to view life through. I have defined exactly what I
want to "see."

Here's the point: simply creating this mental "grid"
helps me to gain insights regarding specific, isolated
information I want to discover. My mind enters the
"search mode" and looks at life just a bit different.
It goes on its own disovery quest!!

You're getting the picture now, aren't you?

This is extremely simple, and I would love to "carry on"
for a while about this principle, but I can't do that
now. Maybe another time!

Now on to principle number three.

THE POWER OF COMPRESSED TIME

Did you catch it? I snuck something very important into
my last example. A small ... but VERY important ...
little phrase.

"For the next three days."

A specific time frame. It could have been for the next
hour, day or even a week. The idea is viewing life a
certain way within the context of a very defined period
of time. "Compressing" time if you please.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

So how does this relate to discovering the power of "Me?"

It's simple.

I pretend someone walks up to me and says: "Lee, if you
had to give me the top three things to remember about
raising children, what would they be? And, I don't want
a seminar! I've only got five minutes and I want you to
give me your best shot!"

What would I do?

I'll tell you what I'd do. My mind would go into a very
fast "search and filter mode." I would be thinking of
things like crazy! And you know what? During this mental
process I would be filtering out those things that have been
most valuable to me as I've tried to be a good dad!

I'd be tapping into my own life wisdom.
I'd be using the power of "Me!" to help another person!

Are you getting it? I'm sure you are!!

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS LAST EXAMPLE?
(Or, how the three principles work together!)

1. I responded to a question. It was a very specific
question. Ah hah! The power of a good question!

2. The question I responded to prompted my mind to
begin its own journey to discover specific
information *which I had!*

Did you get that last point? My mind went on
it's own discovery mission -- and the "source"
of that wisdom was ...?

You got it -- ME!

Ah hah! The power of a "grid." My mind went on
a search for very specific information. Other
"material" was filtered out. My "grid" saw to
that!!

3. I was "forced" to respond to a question in a
very limited period of time.

Ah hah! The power of a compressed time frame!

HERE'S THE POINT!

YOU can use this process to tap into your own
wealth of informtion.

Just ...

1. Ask yourself a specific question to answer about a
defined topic.
2. Give yourself a VERY SHORT period of time to answer
the question you ask.
3. Then, think and write like crazy! "Drive" yourself
to do it within the time frame you set for yourself.

TRY IT. RIGHT NOW!
(Hint. This is a "how to" article!")

I'll set you up. Ready to write?

The question: "What would you say are the most important
things to remember when talking to a teenager?"

The time frame: You've got three minutes. Tops!

Okay ... now write!!

*The Most Important Things To Remember When Talking To
A Teenager Are ..."