Beliefs And Your Human Equation

Picture a tall mountain with a thick forest around its base. Stand at the bottom and the trees block almost everything. Climb halfway and you can see over the treetops and catch the sunrise. Reach the summit and the whole landscape opens up, along with the sunset, the moon and the stars. Sensei Kirk Ellis says each of us has a mental position on that mountain, and where we stand decides what we're able to see, hear and understand.

Belief is the second half of the human equation, and this tape explores it through one of the most memorable stories in the series. Imagine going back in time to live with cave men who have never learned to share. For your own safety, you try to teach them. They sit in a circle and pass food around, and it feels like a fun game. But the first time someone hungry walks in, he grabs the shared food and leaves. Soon the cave men decide that sharing doesn't work and that you are the problem. They ask you to leave.

So you start a new cave with the people willing to listen: young children, those who have lost everything, and anyone open to new ideas. In time that second cave becomes a calmer, healthier place to live. Arrogance and sarcasm stand out there as obvious mistakes, and problems get noticed early, before they grow.

The lesson is gentle but powerful. Many of our troubles come from belief systems we've built without noticing, and the last thing most people think to do is question their own beliefs. Sensei Ellis also draws a clear line between knowledge and wisdom. He closes with thoughts on leadership that any parent, teacher or manager will appreciate: every task has two goals, getting the job done and helping everyone grow along the way.