Whispering Change

Whatever there be of progress in life comes not through adaptation but through daring. - Henry Miller

Have you seen the movie The Horse Whisperer? In one scene, Annie, the mother of a severely traumatized daughter enlists the aid of a unique horse trainer named Tom Booker to help the girl's equally injured horse. Annie asks, "I've heard you help people with horse problems." To which Booker replied, "Truth is, I help horses with people problems."

Booker's character was fashioned after Monty Roberts, called the Man Who Listens to Horses. Monty grew up on a ranch in a family of horse traders. One of the time honored tasks on the ranch was catching, corralling and then breaking the mustangs. This could mean weeks of work. The wildest, most powerful animals could finally be broken only after much blood, sweat, and suffering.

Monty knew, even as a young boy, that there had to be a better way ... a way to break the mustangs without breaking their spirits so cruelly. Then he noticed something, whenever one was separated from the herd and left to wander, it could become sick, even to the point of death. Monty started thinking. If these were such herd animals with such a powerful, innate instinct for connection with other creatures, then maybe that instinct could be used for taming them. He began experimenting on a different way of "breaking" wild mustangs, until in his early adulthood he developed a whole new method.

He would enter the corral with the horse and stay as far away from the animal as possible. He made certain that he and the mustang never made eye contact. No matter how the animal acted, Monty stayed away and kept his eyes diverted. Soon, that horse was nuzzling Monty trying to get some attention. At the end of an hour, Monty could have the wildest mustang saddled with a rider. Now, he travels the world demonstrating this approach.

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. - George Bernard Shaw

What impact do you think this new method of "breaking" horses had on the rancher's traditions? It could save them time and money. It allowed the most spirited horses to be tamed without being broken. It was much more humane. I'm sure you can think of a dozen positive effects this new method of breaking horses had on the ranching community. But, you'd be wrong. The method never caught on. Ranchers still break their horses the old fashioned way, refusing to use the proven, superior method.

All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs. - Anthony Robbins

Isn't that just like human nature? We cling to our traditions and habits long after they have outlived their usefulness. For most people, the familiar is preferred, even if it is not the most efficient. For instance, most people solve problems essentially the same way no matter what the difficulty. However, research has proven that distinct problems require varied methods if the best solution is to emerge. The same is true when dealing with people, most have a "one-approach-fits-all" mentality which is sure to fail more than it succeeds because people are as diverse as diamonds. Sure there are some universal principles in dealing with people, but each one is an individual and should be treated that way.

Never solve a problem from its original perspective. - Charles Thompson

Maybe it's time you "whispered" some new life into your own soul. Look at things differently. Try a new perspective the next time you face a problem. Empathize with the people around you; see things from their point of view. Who knows, you may just discover a whole new way ... a better way ... of living and leading.