Same Old, Same Old

Albert Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." In daily life and especially in politics, however, we see this maxim repeated over and over again. Why do people keep doing things even though it never works?

Well, the first answer is that people convince themselves that they have the correct formula, but that they have not yet executed it properly. Like in a football game where you want to run the ball, but only gain 5 yards in the first half. Does that mean you should abandon the run for the rest of the game? Maybe not! Maybe you'll do better in the second half.

"I'll do better next time" is probably the most compelling reason why we keep doing things the same way even though they aren't working. No one wants to believe that what they have decided is wrong!

In Iraq, for example, President Bush keeps telling us that we have to continue the same failed policies that have already cost us almost 700 billion dollars, hundreds of American lives and around 100,000 Iraqi casualties. Does any sane person seriously think that keeping US troops in Iraq will establish democracy there?

Eventually, you get to the point where you are pretty sure you can't make it work, but you're committed to a certain method of action. You know that feeling: anxiety accompanied by a feeling of desperation AND a very strong NEED to make things go right! But from that orientation, they never do. Even when you do things differently, you still don't get the results you want! Your life becomes self-similar, in a bad way! We summarize this by saying "same old, same old."

What happens is that you get trapped in your own emotional / vibrational resonance. You are "inside the box" and you can't get out. The thing to do is try a new approach. What this means to most people is: devise a new plan of action. However, that new plan won't go anywhere unless you change your emotional/ vibrational resonance.

You can always do something better when you are happy and inspired than when you are just grinding it out. That's the difference between a master and a mere workman; a genius and a technician. "That's crazy!" you say. "What difference does it make whether you fail with a frown or with a goofy smile on your face? You are still going to fail."

Will you?

Take another look at the scale of emotion / vibration (you can see this in an article entitled "Emotion" on my website. listed below). Genius, inspiration and happiness are at the top. Failure, apathy and stupidity are at the bottom.

It's a gradient scale of intelligence and ability.

If you are smart, you take some time off and get yourself up that scale before you try again. Take a vacation. Go to the beach. Get laid. Get your mind off the current vibrational resonance, however you can. In other words, get yourself up that scale by thinking and or doing something else. People object to this because they say, "But I need to be DOING SOMETHING about it!" Not right now you don't!

First you need to change your state of being, because thought guides action. But just changing your thoughts won't work if you don't also change your emotional resonance! Have you ever noticed that when you are inspired you have a lot of great ideas? Ideas that might lead to a really effective, "out of the box" solution. By staying in the same vibrational box that has led to previous failure, you will fail again; it's as simple as that.

To get out of the box you need thought, action, AND a change in your emotional resonance. The term Emotional Intelligence just means being smart enough to get yourself up the emotional scale before you begin another cycle of action and expenditure. When you raise your tone, you connect with the inspirational, creative energy of the universe. This is the same energy that keeps the planet rotating and the stars aligned. It is immensely powerful and it is available to you at any time!

When you are in that box, realize that you CAN get yourself out, but that an important part of the solution involves your emotions. Emotions aren't just illogical and irrelevant. They are an important component in any creative endeavor.