On the topic of positive thinking

Recently, I have thrown quite some energy into the topic of positive thinking.
I am not oblivious to the fact that there may be those who think that positive thinking may be all very good, but it is as if it requires you to have a certain positive foundation to start from.
Indeed, I'm probably blind to my privileges when I even allow myself to neglect it (and I admit that I'm privileged to even have the possibility to sit here and write something that basically must be termed as unproductive, as I am writing it just because I'd like to). For how should all the many who aren't as privileged as I have the opportunity to think positively, when they do not have the same positive foundation?
To that I can only reply: yes, as mentioned above, I acknowledge that there are many who are not as privileged as I. But similarly, it must be acknowledged that there are quite many who are even more privileged than I, and not having their privileges does not prevent me from thinking positive thoughts. It is simply difficult for me to think of a situation where it isn't beneficial to replace the thought "why is this happening to me?" by "how do I get the best out of this situation?"
And I will promise that I will do my best to spread the positive mindset and urge people to share the good that comes out of it. Because that's the way forward towards a more positive world for all.
(Translated from Noget om at tænke positivt, originally published March 12, 2018)

On the topic of higher aspirations

A very frequently asked question is: "What is good leadership?" It is a difficult question to answer. But you are in no doubt what good leadership is when you are face to face with a good leader - and that may actually be just getting a glimpse of the good leader.
To me the most obvious case I have been faced with in recent times was when I was part of an event where a CEO gave a presentation. He did not say it in words, but yet, with all the desirable clarity, he conveyed the message to me: that I was created for bigger things than those I did for him. But on the other hand, he did it in such a way that I did not doubt for a moment that I should not venture out to find the bigger things - because it was best for me to just keep doing the things I did for him.
I do not know how he did it, but I do not doubt that at that time I experienced good leadership. A person who is able to instill that feeling in people will be able to do anything with anyone. The difficulty is to figure out how to convey the message in a way that hits a broader audience - as it does not create a horde of enthusiastic followers just to touch something deep in this individual.
(Translated from Noget om lyst til større ting, originally published December 2, 2012)

On the topic of (never) failing inspiration

It happens so often that one sits staring at the flashing cursor - or, for us who are a little old-fashioned, the blank page - and blame oneself for the failing inspiration. Or even worse: blame the inspiration itself for its absence.
There is no reason for it - because we are very able to influence whether or not inspiration comes knocking. We can reasonably be sure that if we just sit and look at what we have not done - then inspiration will not come. But if instead we go out to seek new impressions; find something we can wonder about; and let go of our minds - then inspiration has a chance to find us. It does not have to be moving further than to social media to seek other people's input - an act that can suddenly move from procrastination and waste of time to be an excellent instrument to launch creativity with.
It may happen that we end up with quite a lot of effort needed to put the inspiration into words - but I would venture to insist that we never need to be at a loss for inspiration.
(Translated from Noget om (aldrig) at savne inspiration, originally published January 9, 2018)

On the topic of listening genuinely

It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said that

There is a difference between truly listening and waiting for your turn to talk.

- and I'm afraid that if we think it over, many of us will discover that we actually aren't listening genuinely to what other people say to us. All too often, we have planned what to say when we have the next opportunity in what should rightfully have been a conversation, but most of all, ressembles two monologues synchronized with each other to ensure that only one person speaks at a time.
The interesting part is: if you do not genuinely listen to what your conversation partner has to say, it will be hard to expect the conversation partner to listen sincerely to what you have to say.
So the sensible start would be to abandon your urge to be heard at all costs and start engaging in conversations rather than simply doing monologues. It may be that you will initially have a conversation with a person who still leads a monologue on her part. But ultimately, one should start with the person in the mirror, who in this way will take a first step for better conversations with conversation partners.

(Translated from Noget om at lytte rigtigt, originally published October 11, 2017) 

Can I show you my hallucination?

At some point I read a quote - by some people attributed to Thomas Edison, while other people doubt it - and I admit, it might be stated in a fashion more contemporary than what Edison might have done it.
But still, it is a good quote, so I want to share it anyway:

Vision without execution is hallucination

Actually Edison - or whoever is responsible - has a point. All our grandiose ideas are worth nothing, if they are not realised. But still, I do not think that we should abandon all hope, just because we cannot execute our visions on our own.
That's where our networks become handy - and where we should be demanding towards ourselves. Because: if I have a vision so exceptional that I realise that I will never ever execute it myself, then I cannot help but think that I have a responsibility to consider, whether I know anyone present it to - even if to me, it is a hallucination, it might be that they know how to execute it. The quote does not demand that all parts of the process must be carried out by the same individual.
And every time we doubt whether our visions can be executed, we can consider another quote (which is generally agreed to be by William Blake):

What is now proved was once only imagined.

(Translated from Må jeg vise dig min hallucination?, originally published December 5th, 2011)

Precious time well spent

Recently, I involved myself in a small project for a good friend. It was a time-limited task - I had a couple of weeks to come as far as I could, giving my immediate comments to a book draft. A task with which I could spend more or less time.
Why? some people will say.
And true - I could have said no. I could have done a superficial effort. Found a place here and there and written a comment, but otherwise it will be relatively quickly done. Time is valuable, as we know.
At this point, let us briefly stray out at a tangent.
Most people know the old anecdote about the philosophy professor who presents his students with a transparent container, which he first fills up with stones until the students say it's full - then he pours gravel in until the students say that now, it is really full - after which he eventually fills it up with sand until the students for the third time claim that there is room for no more in the container. Then the professor takes the exact same amount of sand, pours it into a similar container. Then there is room for the gravel, but not all of the stones - especially not the big ones - can be placed in the container.
The point is (and let us refrain from venturing too far into what I think is a particular Danish devaluation of the anecdote - that the professor in both cases ends the session by empty a full beer mug into the container, after which he, while the beer seeps through the sand, point out: "but remember: there's always room for a pint"): we should make room for the big, important things in our lives first - if we take the small indifferent things first, there will be no room for the big, meaningful things.
In this case, the comments I have written to the book draft (comments that I would describe as a piece of gravel greater than the average, or one of the smaller stones in my container) had no influence on the more significant things. I have had my sleep every night, done my duty at work and as a family man. I have had time for all the other things in the gravel category: my presence on social media (which I choose not to call procrastination) has been unchanged, I have written my daily blog posts and I even had time for my #7ThingsIReadThisWeek. I may have translated a blog post less, maybe skipped watching a TV broadcast - but that's about it. It has actually only been sand that I have not had room for.
I am writing this halfway through the time I have available for the purpose. And I'm sure I'll make it. Because I've actually seen it as a pleasure. I like it, I get this fabulous sense of flow, and I do not notice that time passes around me - and then it even serves a purpose.
So if I'm actually able to make a positive difference that way - well, I would say yes again - any time!
(Translated from Kostbar tid, vel anvendt)

Anxiety at arm's length

A couple of years ago, I attended some lectures - including a lecture by a psychologist, who uses some time telling about, how he during his work life had done quite a lot of things due to chance; things that might not have been the obvious, and for sure not the secure, choice. But as he said:

If we can just keep anxiety at arm's length, we can move.

Even though I heard a lot of interesting stuff during a week of lectures at the time, it might be the above sentence that I have brought with me clearest in memory. Because if we make a habit of thinking like that, when we conjure up wild plans - and make certain to reassure ourselves, when there's nothing to be afraid of (and in most cases, there is nothing to be afraid of) - then it becomes so much easier to have a plan B at hand. And a plan C. And maybe actually work a bit on all of these plans while we are busy with whatever we are doing. Because there's nothing to be afraid of.
(Translated from Angst og armslængder, originally published October 2, 2012)