What do you do when the world has gone mad? I could talk about all of the terrible things that make me ask this, but even thinking about them is disturbing and depressing. Is it me, or has the influence of Donald Trump rubbed off in people we know in our own circles of friends? People who I previously thought of as calm, sane and rational, seem to have developed Trumpesque personality traits, that I had previously not noticed. When you've known someone for 50 years and suddenly they start spouting complete rubbish, it is shocking. When you watch the news and it's horrible, go to the pub for some solace and you get a mini Trump spouting nonsense, what do you do? This is how I was feeling today. I had a really important business meeting for a very exciting project which my business is getting involved in, I can't say too much at this stage, but it could be brilliant. However, I was approaching the meeting in a foul mood, which is not helpful.
Many years ago, I did a positive thinking course. I was too cynical to really appreciate the whole thing. However, I did learn some useful techniques. One was that if you are approaching things in the wrong state of mind, there were some exercises to reset your mindset. Of course, your mindset has to be stable enough to remember to do the exercise. So I set off in the wrong frame of mind. As I boarded a crowded Thameslink train, I was not cheered. As I usually set off ridiculously early when things are important, I had time. I arrived to find it raining in Camden Town. As I had a free voucher for a coffee at Cafe Nero, I made my way there. I sat down, realising I had half an hour to spare. I then thought "I am not in the right frame of mind for any of this". So I sat down in the corner with my double espresso (I rarely drink coffee but I felt I needed a caffeine boost). I shut my eyes and started to visualise something I like, that is a guilty pleasure. What did I choose? I visualised myself eating a nice tin of pineapple chunks with custard. When I was single, I'd always keep a tin of pineapple chunks and a tin of custard in the cupboard for just such moments. As my missus is not a fan, I have got out of the habit. But it is a mental exercise I do and it works. One of the interesting things that I learned on the course was that the most successful visualisation exercises involve all of the senses. In this one, you mentally feel the tins, sniff them when opened, smell the custard when heated, then taste them, as well as looking at them. What is a really good thing to do, is to actually do the real thing and memorise every step of it. As I finished, I thought to myself "Can you still get Libbys pineapple chunks?". The exercise had worked, I'd mentally moved on.
This may all seem remarkably trivial in a world of madness and chaos. But getting your thought processes in line for important business and shifting yourself on from negative thoughts is a super power. You can't wish away all of the problems in the world, but you can change your mood and build your defences against the stresses of life. The human brain is an incredibly powerful thing. I have long despaired that our schools don't teach us how to use it properly. Being dyslexic, I grew up thinking my brain was seriously defective. I struggled with reading, writing, long division, balancing and speaking. Certain things are still difficult, I particularly struggle with people's name. At times, when I was in my early teens, I really struggled to cope with the stress this caused. I didn't realise it at the time, but these things started to improve when I started playing guitar. I didn't realise it, but playing and instrument opened up pathways in my brain, and a lot of things that had been impossible became quite easy.
On several occasions, I've done other courses and as I've got older, I've realised the benefits. When I worked for TSB Bank in the late 1980's, they paid for me to do a 'relaxation course'. They also had a wine tasting club and this had guided tastings. Such things taught me different aspects of the brain's immense power. There has been a lot of talk about AI (not least on my blog). On the way back from my meeting, which went well, I was thinking about writing this blog. It got me thinking about AI. I got to thinking about wine tasting and AI. I asked Google AI what Vinha Do Fava tasted of. The answer
Vinha do Fava wine typically tastes of rich, dark fruits like black cherry, plum, and cassis, often accompanied by spicy notes of clove and sweet pepper, with a long and dense finish. It has a velvety texture and firm but well-controlled tannins, offering intense flavor and richness.
A pretty good description. But to the AI it is just words. Even if an AI could actually be developed to taste, it would not appreciate it. An AI cannot chill out by imagining pineapple chunks. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that maybe we are looking on the wrong place for the answers.
Have a great weekend. Here's a song to cheer you up.
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