Many years ago, when my kids were not driving cars and working full time jobs, I decided to have a little fun. When I was growing up, for the longest time I believed that my grandfather fought in the French and Indian War and still had a piece of arrow stuck in this chest from that conflict. Many years later when I was older and wiser, I realized it was a part of his rib that was protruding not an arrow and that the war took place in the 1700’s, long before he was born. Come to think about it, according to him, he fought in the British in the Revolutionary War, the trenches of World War One and sailed on battleships in the Second World War. The man always had a story, most of which were not true. He was just being a grandfather and telling tall tales to amaze me.
So, what did this older and wiser me decide to do once I had kids? I decided to pay it forward.
At this time, my family and I lived in a townhouse apartment in Midwest. My wife and I made a challenging decision to homeschool our children, which was not an easy feat, but we feel it was the best decision and, as a result, our children have grown into amazing adults. While teaching, we would also record educational programs to help with their studies. On one of these programs, the mystery of Bigfoot was the topic. My boys were fascinated! An eight- or nine-foot hairy man playing hide and seek in the woods. It was absolutely astonishing to them especially when some of these “sightings” were reported in Kentucky, one state south of us!
A few days following this program, we had a day of rain which made everything muddy outside. This apartment had a small fenced-in patio out back with a sliding glass door. Suddenly, I was struck with a great idea. I went out back that evening after the kids were in bed and dipped my hand in the mud. Carefully pressing it on the outside glass of the sliding door, I slowly moved it around to create a large handprint. Bigfoot was making a visit to our townhouse here in the city. It was a masterpiece! I cleaned up and went to bed anticipating the following morning.
The next day, the handprint was discovered, and the house was a bustle. Bigfoot must have come to Indiana and made it to our backyard! The kids analyzed the print with the wildest look of amazement in their eyes. Next came all the questions and I did my best to answer them in with as much ridiculous information as I could. When the dust settled, the question of what Bigfoot eats led to the next phase of this plan. I told them that he ate twigs, rocks and dirt. I know, ridiculous answer. That day, though, they gathered all these things up and placed them in a frisbee that was repurposed as a plate.
I tell this story to show that things are not always as they seem. Many of us still think with our minds like a child and trust that people in authority positions are telling us truth. We may be grown adults, but a lot of times we think like children. We look for answers and direction from others, but when we do that, we run the risk of being misled. Why is it we want someone to tell us how to behave and what to believe? We desire to have someone tell us that bigfoot is real and all the time telling ourselves that we are free thinkers. We want answers that are buried deep, but we don’t want to take a shovel and dig it up.
One needs to break out of this child-like mindset and realize that things may not be what they seem to be.
Pick things apart.
Question everything.
Years ago, when I went to college, I entered with a very weak mindset that had been shaped my entire life by those around me. Confidence shrouded me like a cloak of the finest material. Suddenly, I realized that I lacked a foundation to stand on. I only believed those things because others told me to. They left me the muddy handprints on the sliding glass door.
The process began as I cast everything aside and began building a new mindset by starting with a new, strong foundation and investigated where I stood in this world. It was a harrowing task, but I left behind of my child mindset and formed beliefs that have been weighted, vetted and tested.
This is the first step: Toss it all out and start with the clean slate. Don’t take anything as true and let yourself feel lost. This is the beginning, but one of the most challenging things you will ever do. Don’t take the child’s mind and rebuild it, instead break it down and replace it.
Don’t be a follower or a leader. Be the individual!
Insurrection Of The Mind 