Four Star Planet

There is much excitement among astronomers about the newly discovered planet, PH1, which exists in a system containing four stars, some 5000 light years from earth. In the words of one scientist “It simply shouldn’t exist”. Up to now it was believed that the gravitational forces exerted by the four suns would be such that it would not be possible for the planet’s material to bind together. Once again cosmologists have been presented with a challenge requiring them to think even bigger thoughts.

In our own lives we have daily choices to make about the world in which we live. Our daily routines are largely dictated by family or work arrangements but hopefully not too rigidly so that there is opportunity for exploration and development. Think for a moment about this flexibility. –

·          How readily do we let our habits define us?

·         How uncomfortable are we with change?

·         What does it take to modify our thinking?

·         Do we consider alternative perspectives as complementary or challenging to our own? Or more crudely, do we adjudicate others as right or wrong?

The ease with which we change is largely determined by how heavily we are invested in our existing beliefs.  Older practitioners from any sphere of activity will have acquired the know-how of their trade that equips them to work effectively for their clients. As their clients we are generally content to point them at the problem and let them get on with it. When it comes to our health however, I believe that we need to take a more proactive stance and become learning partners with the doctors, dentists and consultants who treat us. The belief that ‘doctor knows best’ is often an abdication of personal responsibility by the patient or a perspective of arrogance from the physician. As medical professionals dedicate so many years to their training they are not always open to thoughts that challenge their beliefs. And although individuals within the professions may be open minded, the institutions guarding their professional interests may be much less so

The pressing health problems of today require a new paradigm of education and involvement. It is not acceptable that society be bombarded with advertising for processed foods containing excess sugar without also equipping individuals with a basic understanding of the dangers. Nor is it acceptable that the pharmaceutical industries profit from the management rather than the cure of disease. Well established corporate players regard change as threatening. They exert powerful forces in an attempt to tear apart or denigrate alternative ideas as though they ‘simply shouldn’t exist’. But although the truth may be hidden, maybe even 5000 light years away, it cannot be destroyed. Let us embrace the ideas and evidence presented by the mavericks of whatever profession and think the bigger thoughts needed to save the four star planet on which we live.

Darwin Awards

Occasionally I have laughed at the antics on Rude Tube where silly people do silly things. In ‘Jackass’ the movie, these are taken to a different level and daft people do dangerous things.  Finally, anyone familiar with the Darwin Awards knows that they are awarded posthumously to people, who through their idiotic actions, have removed their genes from the human pool.  We marvel at the stupidity of our fellow man displaying varying levels of lunacy yet we don’t even think about the slow form suicidal actions of modern life such as being chronically overweight, drinking excessively or smoking. The outcomes are just as fatal but the extended timescale means the events cannot be captured on a two minute video. Also, since so many of us are in danger, it feels intrusive and uncomfortable to have someone expose us.

In my case it took a hospitalisation to help me change course.  I hadn’t made a connection between my own diet and my health believing that because I was very active I could eat anything I wanted. That I had developed bad habits may have been blindingly obvious to others. Some may even have tried to tell me, but until the student in me was ready, the teacher could not appear.

I’m reminded of my marketing studies where we learned that for an organisation to have a strategic perspective required that it regularly examined its operational effectiveness within the changing environment. It’s all too easy for organisations to maintain momentum in a direction that’s no longer helpful. Markets are opportunistic and unforgiving. If the organisation doesn’t change direction it will die.  Often the organisation’s principals either don’t know what’s coming or don’t believe it will affect them. Either way, ignorance is no more a defence for the business than it is for the individual with his damaging lifestyle. Change programmes in organisations are notoriously difficult. It is necessary, but not sufficient, for its leaders to enounce intention and give direction, because until staff engagement is achieved, true change cannot happen. Cultural inertia in organisations is akin to subconscious resistance in the individual.

By the time an individual’s health has degenerated to the point where they suffer a vascular event, or an organisation enters receivership, independent life may no longer be viable. Survival then depends on the swift and expert intervention of external bodies. Environmental change drives corporate product demise just as apoptosis (self destruction) is accelerated in tissue cells in response to physiological factors. But product evolution and cellular replication are natural processes that of themselves are not life threatening. Indeed, the action of upgrading products or replacing defective cells is what maintains corporate or physical health.  It is much more appropriate to proactively maintain health rather than attempt to regain it after the damage is done. Effective tracking of health performance, be it a personal physical profile or a corporate ‘dashboard’ of key performance indicators can provide warning that things are out of balance. Unfortunately there’s still no guarantee that the ‘patient’ will heed the warning. Evidence of Darwinian misadventure litters the corporate world.

There will always be richly deserved Darwin awards but there will also be daring and mould breaking performances as individuals and organisations expand frontiers.  We marvelled at the world’s athletes in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic festivals of sport, but for me, the truly out of the ordinary heroics belong to Jeb Corliss. Watch his wingsuit adventures in ‘Grinding the Crack’ on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfph3iNC-k . Maybe we need  ‘Freud Awards’?