It’s Not Just What you Think but How!
XXX
By Steve Clabaugh, CLU, ChFC Almost every morning, for the 50 years we’ve been married, Gretchen and I have started the day with what we like to call our “Morning Mugs.” In the quiet of the early morning hour, we enjoy our coffee and conversation about everything under the sun. It’s my favorite time of day even though our approach to the time is very different. Here’s an example from an actual recent morning together: Gretchen’s thoughts and comments between 6:00 – 7:30am (abbreviated version). “Don’t forget, I have quartet practice at 10:30 this morning; I got tickets to go to the Christmas Show at the Carolina Opry with the kids at Thanksgiving rather than New Year’s Eve; On the Wednesday of our trip to Montana next July we have a choice between a hike or a cruise on the lake – I’m thinking the cruise will be more relaxing after 3 days of hiking; we’re meeting the kids at church this Sunday rather than picking them up at their house; we’re meeting the Musselwhites for lunch at 11:30 this morning; instead of the Christmas show on New Year’s Eve, I found a Strauss concert that afternoon we can attend; we need to spend some time with Nancy this week – she's really missing Harry and can use the fellowship and encouragement; I saw Beth yesterday afternoon and she is feeling much better now. “
Steve’s thoughts and comments between 6:00 – 7:30am (full version). “Get the coffee started; try to follow Gretchen’s thoughts; work on article for Voluntary Advantage this morning; volunteer at stables this afternoon; maybe I can fit in a little fishing before going to the stables.” At first glance, you might determine that the difference in our thought process is because Gretchen is clearly much smarter than I am – and you would be correct that she is. But the real difference is not in what we are thinking but in how each of our brains work. In 1951, Dr. Roger W. Birkman created The Birkman Method to measure personality characteristics that influence behaviors, motivations, and perceptions. Among the issues he studied was the phenomenon of why some people can hold multiple random thoughts and ideas in their brain at the same time; process them without confusion; arrive at practical decisions and implement those decisions in a positive manner. Other people identify and process thoughts and ideas on a straight line from point to point until arriving at a conclusion and logical implementation.
