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Transcending Thought

I searched through rebellion, drugs, diets, mysticism, religions, intellectualism and much more, only to begin to find...that truth is basically simple - and feels good, clean and right.

— Chick Corea

The Seven Steps to Stagnation

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You may recall that for centuries people believed Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. The philosopher was regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of all time, and so it follows that he must be right!

But nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death someone actually tested the theory. In 1589 Galileo Galilei summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He pushed two weights from the top of the tower -- one light and one heavy. They landed at the same instant. But the power of belief was so strong that the professors denied their eyesight! They continued to teach that Aristotle was correct.

Galileo and others also tried to convince the educators of his day that the earth revolves around the sun. But they would not believe anything so radical and eventually forced him to recant his support of the Copernican theory. He lived the last years of his life under house arrest.

Erwin M. Soukup compiled a list he calls "The Seven Steps to Stagnation." You have no doubt heard these statements before. Most of us have said them! They are:

  1. We've never done it that way before.
  2. We're not ready for that.
  3. We are doing all right without trying that.
  4. We tried it once before.
  5. We don't have money for that.
  6. That's not our job.
  7. Something like that can't work.

There is tremendous power in belief. Our beliefs shape our future; what we believe to be true quite literally becomes true for us!

And there is a bold and exciting tomorrow awaiting anyone with the courage to believe something new CAN HAPPEN -- things CAN BE DIFFERENT! Your life -- your organization -- can be stagnant or things can change. Tomorrow can look very different than today for those who believe.

Will you stagnate or will you believe in tomorrow?

-- Steve Goodier


Steve Goodier holds a B.A. in anthropology and sociology (New Mexico State University) and an M.Div. degree from Emory University. He is the author of numerous books about personal development, motivation, inspiration, and making needed life changes. For more on his books please go to http://www.lifesupportsystem.com/books.html

He is the founder and publisher of Your Life Support System, an e-zine with 75,000 subscribers since 1999. Through this daily e-mail newsletter, he sends out hope and encouragement to a worldwide community of readers. To sign up FREE, please go to http://www.lifesupportsystem.com