“It’s WiFi Poisoning …”
For a blogger focusing on topics around work and life ,the hardest thing about lockdowns and social distancing is where to find inspiration for articles. There are very few people out and about, and even when there are some around, you can’t get close enough to eavesdrop on conversations! Okay, I jest about eavesdropping and generally I’m a mind my own business kinda guy, but still inspiration has to come from somewhere.
Thankfully, COVID-19 hasn’t stopped certain individuals from shouting into their mobile phones when out in public. On the bus home from work yesterday there were two people siting downstairs: myself, and a lady about four rows up. She was talking so loudly to the person at the other end of the line that passengers on the bus behind could have heard her, never mind me. So, listening in wasn’t so much a decision taken as an action forced upon me. Having said that, if you heard someone say “It’s WiFi poisoning,” you’d definitely listen in too, right? That’s exactly what I did and here’s what I overheard.
“It’s WiFi poisoning … COVID-19 doesn’t really exist. That’s just what the government is telling us … they don’t want us to know the truth…”
I’m guessing that the other person on the call responded to this by saying something like, “are you completely insane?” because the shouter then continued.
“No, no, seriously, listen to me. The reason everyone’s getting sick is because of 5g, not COVID-19. Did you know that more people are getting sick where there’s 5g than where there isn’t? That’s why there’s hardly any infections in Africa because they don’t have 5g yet.”
Now I couldn’t really see this lady but from behind she looked normal enough to me. Clearly she wasn’t. At one point the bus did a sudden swerve on an otherwise empty road so I guess the driver too got side-tracked listening to her rant. Anyway, after a few minutes of this nonsense I sort of lost interest and was staring blankly out the window. But then I heard her mention David Icke at one point.
This explains a lot.
For those of you not in the know, David Icke was a respected sports broadcaster in the UK. Way back in 1991 on the Wogan chat show he claimed to be the Son of God (well what he really said was Son of Godhead, but it would take too long to explain. There’s plenty of videos of it online if you want to view it). This interview turned Icke into a public laughing stock with The Guardian Newspaper later calling it a ‘media crucifixion’. To be fair to him, if you watch the interview, Icke spent more time taking about good versus evil in the world and balancing positive/negative energy, but the focus became his claim to greatness. Since that time Icke has evolved into a well-known conspiracy theorist, with a not insignificant following worldwide.
Anyway, back to the bus. By the time our shouty friend got up to leave, she had moved onto the topic of vaccination and she was saying that there was no way in hell she’d be taking it when one was developed because it would “only be a way for the government to secretly micro-chip us like pets”.
I’m not joking.
I could still hear her shouting, “I’ll call you later when I’m walking the dog,” as the bus pulled off. I bet her friend couldn’t wait.
Having heard David Icke’s name mentioned, last night I did a bit of searching online and he has indeed claimed that 5g is the real cause of the global pandemic and that any vaccine when introduced would be a way for governments to covertly micro-chip the population for greater control. And these views do have an impact on some people – the lady on the bus for example – but there have been reports recently of 5G masts being set on fire in England and Northern Ireland. (See here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52164358). And have a look at your own social media threads and I’m sure you’ll find one or two contacts that are buying into this stuff.
Anyway, the point of this article is not to ridicule David Icke - each to their own, free speech and all that - nor is it to spark a debate about conspiracy theories and fake news. But the bus incident did get me thinking about mindsets in general and how some people react to various situations in life, especially during troubled times such as these.
For example, at one extreme some people view this COVID-19 pandemic as further evidence of the approaching ‘end of days’, whilst at the opposite end of the scale you have those who can pinpoint brighter short term outcomes like the measurable impact that the global lockdown has had on pollution levels. I think most of us sit somewhere in the middle: we’re definitely concerned at what’s happening, and view it as a major wake up call for sure, but we also believe that we’ll get through it and that it might ultimately change life for the better if we learn the right lessons. And in the process we want to do the right things to help, but also to protect our fragile personal freedoms.
Mindset Matters
Yes indeed, mindset matters at times like these: A lot. Okay, the idea that mindset matters is certainly not new, and especially in the past decade it has become a lot clearer as to how much it actually does matter in terms of performance and achievement. Mindset is proven to be a major determinant of how happy we are day to day. As managers, or just people in general, our mindset is therefore something we should all take heed of.
One of the approaches to this area that I really like is the work done by Carol Dweck, a leading psychologist at Stanford University, which I think summarises very well how the differences in mindset matter. When discussing her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, in an interview on Forbes.com she explained:
“For 20 years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life. It can determine whether you become the person you want to be and whether you accomplish the things you value.’
She went on to highlight that there are essentially two types of mindsets, Fixed and Growth. A person with a Fixed mindset:
“… believes we are all born with a certain set of skills and competencies. We either have a talent for something or we don’t. It’s all binary. You have artistic ability or not; you have language skills or not; you are a great natural leader or not. There is nothing in between, nor is there the possibility for serious personal development and growth. Why put a lot of effort into learning something you’ll never be able to master anyway? Time and energy are better spent further honing your existing skills.’
On the other hand, with regard to the Growth mindset Dweck says,
“If you have a full-on growth mindset, anything and everything is possible. If there is something you have an interest in yet don’t know how to do, you do whatever it takes to learn it. By stretching your comfort zone you are able to continually develop yourself and define your own levels of success. With this mindset, even failure and criticism become opportunities to learn and grow.’
Although her Fixed-Growth mindsets relate to how each individual views their potential for personal development and advancement I think it’s a great description of the divide you see in people’s attitudes right now – even amongst managers. I speak to many people who are upbeat – wide awake to the challenges that lie ahead, for certain, but upbeat nonetheless; and then there are others like our bus friend for whom the end is nigh.
Which mindset best describes you most of the time?
Principles for building a positive mindset
The next question frequently asked is how to develop a growth mindset? If you search online you’ll see any amount of tips or guides for doing so, and an infinite number of experts to tell you how to become more successful. I’m sure all of these have value. Now, before moving on, lets’ be very clear on something: I do not hold myself out to be a model of success, or any sort of guru to be followed. However, I do have 10 key principles that guide everything I do, and I think they’re worth sharing in this context as they can contribute to a more positive mindset.
1. Put family first, always
One thing that COVID-19 is doing for everyone is reminding us of what’s really important at the end of the day. First of all, stepping off the treadmill, or being pushed off it more like, has had a positive impact for many in that they recognise how other facets of life have taken over to the detriment of family. And not being able to personally interact with some family members has reminded us just how much they mean to us.
I have learned to my cost – often too late – that the times when I lost focus on family the outcomes were never good. Ultimately, nothing matters more than family, no matter how yours is currently constructed. And when they are at the top of your list in terms off all your decisions and actions, you feel good about that.
2. Stay in the driving seat
In essence, what I mean here is who or what controls your life? It is the nature of the modern world that factors such as work or finance have become the primary drivers of our lives. And the reality is that this won’t change unless you completely unplug from the matrix which may be an option for some but not for most. However, wrestling back control of your life, over time, is infinitely possible and the more control you do have over your own destiny the better you feel, and the easier it is to stay positive. Obviously, the opposite applies.
3. Reach for the stars
Okay, this may sound a bit like Mr Motivator BS but what I mean here is having some personal goals in life. Everyone’s stars (goals) are different of course, some are loftier than others, but having personal ambitions in life that you work towards is hugely uplifting, even if it takes decades to realise them. I spoke to someone recently who works in finance and he told me that the break over the past few weeks has reminded him that his real aim in life is to run a small business around his passion, mountain biking. What are yours?
4. Keep fit, eat well
All research shows that there is a strong correlation between the levels of exercise and your mental well-being. That doesn’t mean becoming a gym bunny, but it’s about pinpointing an activity you enjoy that gets you up and moving on a regular basis. On the eating side, I’m probably the last one to talk about diet but I do consciously try to minimise the crap I eat and keep weight down. I feel better for it.
5. Banish negativity
Everyone feels down from time to time and it goes without saying that some people genuinely struggle with mental health issues and need all the support available to them. So, when I say ‘banish negativity’ I don’t mean it in a trite or uncaring way. But for most of us that are lucky enough not to suffer from depression and other mental health problems, it can still be easy to allow negativity to cloud our view of life at times – worse still we can allow the negativity of others to impinge on us. Again, I’m certainly no expert in this area but I follow a simple rule to guide me here: when your inner voice speaks, is it positive most of the time? Does it speak to you in uplifting ways, or constantly berate you? Too much inner negativity is extremely damaging, and you need to find ways to address it before it causes permanent damage.
If you are hearing more than one inner voice, then that’s probably not too healthy!
6. Do the right thing
The journey through life is really a series of choices we make, and through them we move in one direction or another. Along the way we are often faced with decisions that have a right/wrong element to them, whereby following the right path might be harder, or more costly, or less satisfying in the short term. Doing the right thing in all circumstances is never easy – and perhaps not always possible – but having a moral compass and living by it does fuel positive mental health and is synonymous with a growth mindset. Acting contrary to your principles may bring quicker rewards, or an easier life in the near term, but straying too far from the right path will, over time, eat away at most people.
7. Never idolize, nor despise.
Maybe I’m just getting old but there’s a lot people these days who seem to have become obsessed by others, to the point that they seek to model their lives on them. I’m not getting into the Kardashians and all that rubbish. Sure, take and apply positives you see in others but idolising another individual, no matter who it is, is never healthy: live your own life first, not someone else’s. A major contributor to having a positive mindset is feeling comfortable in your own skin - being self-aware and constantly improving for sure - but fundamentally happy with who you are. Warts and all.
At the other end of the scale, there are people we encounter in life who cause us tremendous hurt and pain and we can be consumed by anger and hatred towards them. But if that currently applies for you, you need to find a way to let go of that resentment no matter how hard it may seem. Allowing anger against another person to fester is corrosive to your mental well-being and prevents you moving forward in life.
8. Own it, then mould it
Wherever you are at this point in your life is down to you. Maybe you’re in a good place, then well done, enjoy it. Maybe you’re not. Perhaps others have caused you great wrongs and altered the course of your life to the extent that you’ve ended up in a rough spot. This happens of course, but none of that matters. You are where you are because of commissions or omissions on your behalf. Accept the reality of your situation, recognise that only you can change it, then set about moving in a better direction. Blaming others for your current situation is a mental straight-jacket.
9. Look forward not back
Linked to the above is the fact that we all have a tendency to dwell on the past, and at times even to wallow in it. But no matter how long we ponder it, how deeply we regret past actions or decisions, we simply cannot change any of it. Overfocusing on the past is soul destroying. Sure, we must analyse and learn from our history – and strive to be better as a result - but we only have control over the future direction we take based on successfully applying those lessons.
10. Succeed and share
Everyone’s measure of success in life is different and that’s as it should be. The pursuit of whatever you define as success for you is a good thing, and you should go for it with all you have. But seeking success should not be a selfish pursuit. Achievements of any kind should be shared with others, and that doesn’t always mean in a financial way - although where possible that’s welcome. Any successeful outcome has the imprint of others on it, so sharing recognition is important too. The goal of bettering yourself should always be to help better others.
Well, that’s it. Lecture over.
Before getting off the bus yesterday, I moved towards the front door and stood near the driver. When the bus came to a stop, he turned and made eye contact.
“It takes all sorts,” he laughed throwing his eyes to heaven.
“It sure does.” I replied as I started to get off.. “See ya, thanks,”
“Yea, take it easy,” he added, “Thank God only the virus is contagious!”
I smiled back through the closing doors.
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