Tag Archives: Barry Bemp

“Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.”

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“Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.”

—Dame J. Iris Murdoch, 20th Century British novelist

Image from Unsplash by Jayden Brand

In the book, Factfulness, I was introduced to the concept of Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 societies. The primary mode of transportation in a Level One society is walking. In many cases, the people may not even have shoes to wear out in their daily endeavors.

As members of a Level 4 society—given that you are reading this post by email or on social media—you are probably doing far less walking these days.

We may want to look for other signs of wear that demonstrate our propensity to take action.

EXERCISE:

What are some examples of things that wear out and need repair or replacement due to the significant level of action you take to better your world?

Please reply to this post to share the evidence and examples you discovered.

Feelings Are Like Waves

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“Feelings are much like waves. We can’t stop them from coming but we can choose which ones to surf.”

-Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by Alain Bachellier

Image from Flickr by Alain Bachellier

One of the greatest freedoms each of us has is the freedom to make choices on a daily basis. Examine your day closely. How many choices did you make intentionally, and how many by default, without thinking?

This examination along with its increased self-awareness will likely have you notice the accompanying feeling about what you are doing, and perhaps with whom you associate.

Today’s quote points us in the direction of actually choosing our perceptions, and thus our feelings, to catch only the waves we most desire.

EXERCISE:

Consider using a journal to capture your feelings as you surf through your day. How can you choose far more ideal waves that will give you the best rides of your life?