Discussion Sheet #1

Empowering Your Choices
Audio-Visual Learning

The Living From Vision class uses an audio-visual method of learning. You read the words as you hear them spoken. Studies show that when the two senses of sight and hearing are combined, comprehension and retention increase by more than 50%. This is because the visual and auditory centers in the brain work synergistically to maximize understanding. This was a common teaching method earlier in this century, but has been lost in recent years. Initially it might seem strange, but you will rapidly become accustomed to it and experience its effectiveness first hand.

Working Hypothesis

A working hypothesis is an idea used as if it were true in order to see what happens. This class is based on a series of working hypotheses. The class doesn’t require you to hold any particular set of beliefs about how your mind works or what is possible for you to accomplish. The class presents models for you to consider. They are not “the truth”. They are merely the best models we have found for making real and lasting improvement in our lives.
You don’t have to believe the concepts. In fact, it is better to suspend judgement until you have experienced what the concepts can do for you personally. You can simply hold the concepts as working hypotheses. The more you can hold an experimental state of mind—a willingness to explore and simply observe—the more you will learn.
By experimenting with different approaches over the next month, you will learn a lot about yourself and life. You will find many of the concepts very valuable and you’ll be able to integrate them into your life in ways that make a tremendous difference.

Empowering Choice

Why aren't our lives more the way we want them to be? Most of us have some areas of our lives that work pretty well, and other areas that just don't seem to come together, despite our best efforts. In the areas of our lives that are working, we are using powerful ways of thinking, usually without even knowing it. We are not as successful in the other areas of our lives because we never learned how to think powerfully. Or, we learned some principles of empowered thinking, but didn't practice them enough to become proficient. Empowered thinking is a skill that takes practice to become proficient, like playing the piano, or swimming.

Whole Brain Thinking

Empowered thinking involves using your whole brain. There are actually three different modes of thinking: Intellect, imagery, and emotion. When we think about thinking, we usually think of logical, linear intellectual thinking. Imagery is what adds imagination, vision, and creativity to our thinking processes. Without the emotional mode of thinking, our thoughts are flat and lifeless. Most of us lean heavily on intellectual thinking and limit our use of the other modes. The most powerful thinking involves a synergy between the three modes.

Relying on intellect alone tends to reinforce beliefs and assumptions that perpetuate self-defeating life patterns. Your thoughts go around and around without any real progress. Adding imagery and emotion to your thinking empowers you to transform life-long patterns to bring about what is most important to you.

 

Questions:

1) What is the difference between believing something and using it as a working hypothesis?

2) Is it necessary to believe the ideas presented in this class in order to successfully use them? Why or why not?

3) What is whole brain thinking and how can it be used to empower your life choices?

 

_____________

 

_____________