This post is not going to be a review of the book, but I intend to include the important excerpts from the book so that it serves as a reminder. ______________________________________________________________________________________ The Element Every person's intelligence is as unique as fingerprint. It is very possible that our children will have multiple careers over the course of their working lives, not simply multiple jobs. Many of them will certainly have jobs we haven’t conceived yet. Isn't it therefore our obligation to encourage them to explore as many avenues as possible with an eye toward discovering their true talents and their true passions. (p.21) High achievers often share similar attitudes, such as perseverance, self-belief, optimism, ambition and frustration. How we perceive our circumstances and how we create and take opportunities depends largely on what we expect of ourselves. Being in your Element often means being connected with other people who share the passions and have a common sense of commitment. In practice, this means actively seeking opportunities to explore your aptitude in different field (p.50, 25) Beyond imagining Creativity and intelligence are blood relatives. You can't be creative without thinking intelligently. Similarly, the highest form of intelligence is thinking creatively. Everyone is born with tremendous capacities for creativity, the trick is to develop these capacities. (p.56) In the zone The Zone is one of the cornerstone of being in Element. Different people find the zone in different ways. For some it comes through intense physical activity, for others it may come through activities that seem physically passive – like writing, painting, math meditation and other modes of intense contemplation. One of the strongest signs of being in the zone is a sense of freedom and authenticity. The other sign of being in zone is when a person experiences a meta-state – where ideas come out more quickly. Mental energy and attitude seems to resonate when we are in the zone. (p.90) Finding tribe: Another cornerstone of being in Element, is connecting with people who share their passion and desire to make the most of themselves through it. Tribe members can be collaborators or competitors. Connecting with people who share the same passions affirms that you are not alone; that there are others like you. Interaction with the field, in person or through their work is as vital to our development as time alone with our thoughts. When tribes gather in the same place, the opportunities for mutual inspiration can be intense (p.117). Good and bad things happen to all of us. It’s not what happens to us makes the difference in our lives. What makes the difference is our attitude towards what has happened. Lucky people tend to maximize chance opportunities. They are especially adept at creating, noticing and acting upon these opportunities when they arise. Second, they tend to be very effective at listening to their intuition and do work that is designed to boost their intuitive abilities. The third principle is that lucky people tend to expect to be lucky, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy because they go into the world anticipating a positive outcome. Lucky people don’t allow ill fortune to overwhelm them and they move quickly to take control of the situation when it isn’t going well for them. The role of mentor Mentors connect with us in a variety of ways and remain with us for a varying length of time. Some are with us for decades in an evolving role that might start as teacher/student and ultimately evolve into close friendship. Others enter our lives at a critical moment, stay with us long enough to make a pivotal difference and then move on. A mentor can could be a source of encouragement, may serve as a facilitator and may also help to stretch beyond the perceived limits. Mentorship is often a two-way street. As important as it is to have a mentor in your life, it is equally important to fulfill these roles for other people. It often possible that you’ll find your real Element is as a mentor to other people (p.185) Is it too late? 70 % of American aging is not real aging. It’s just decay. Diabetes, obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer are all decay. Nature doesn’t have that in store for us. We go and buy it off the rack. One of the fundamental precepts of the Element is that we need to reconnect with ourselves and to see ourselves holistically. Our physical health affects our intellectual and emotional vitality. Just as physical exercise can revitalize our muscles, mental exercise can revitalize our creative capabilities. Is it too late for me to find the Element? The answer is No, of course not. Even in the cases where the physical degradation that come with age make certain achievements impossible, the Element is still within reach. O(p.198, 201) Ken emphasizes that our own ideas and ways of thinking could imprison or liberate us. Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind. And there is an apt reference of the poem by Richard Lovelace, on this topic: Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage: Minds innocent and quiet take That for an hermitage. If I have freedom in my love, And in my soul am free, Angels alone, that soar above, Enjoy such liberty.
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