“What’s possible for me/you right now?” asked marketing guru Robert Middleton in his recent newsletter. He then went on to ask if we thought the following statements were true:
If you consistently ask, “What is possible?” you’ll discover possibilities.
If you consistently ask, “Who’s to blame?” you’ll find people to blame.
And, if that is true, can that change? From blame to possibility thinking?
And that is not exactly a small change. It’s a complete change of mind, right?
Think of all the time expended in blaming instead of pursuing possibilities.
And think of all the creative possibilities for conversation at this moment.
But back to that first question: “What’s possible for me/you right now?" And Robert’s statement, “If you consistently ask, “What is possible?” you’ll discover possibilities.”
I don’t know where you stand with that kind of thinking, but I choose to believe it. I have to believe it.
If I didn’t have hope that we could create a better world, I’d shrivel up and die. Or give up on creating a better life.
That doesn’t mean I don’t find people/politics/companies/countries (and more) to blame. It just means that I chose to focus on what we can do to right their wrongs or prevent them from doing more wrongs in the future.
Think about it! What do you believe? How does it impact your view of the world?
Robert concluded by asking ChatGPT about these opposing views of the world and got this insightful response:
The way we approach a situation can make a difference in the outcome, and our ability to ask ourselves the right questions can change our entire perspective.
One of the key questions we can ask ourselves to shift our mindset is, “What’s possible right now?”
This question encourages us to focus on the present moment and to consider the potential opportunities available to us in the current situation.
Instead of being limited by our thoughts and emotions, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and potential solutions. This can lead to more creative and positive outcomes, as we become more aware of our own agency and ability to create change.
On the other hand, when we focus on blame, hate, and hurt, we close ourselves off from possibilities. These emotions limit our ability to think clearly and creatively, as we become stuck in a negative cycle of thoughts and feelings.
Blaming others for our problems does not solve anything, and often leads to a sense of powerlessness and victimhood.
It can be difficult to shift out of this mindset. But asking ourselves “What is possible right now?” can help us break free from this negative cycle and move forward in a more positive and productive way.
Interesting wisdom from ChatGPT. And so true.