7 Words - A Personal Development System
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7 Wisdoms - Thanks

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Keywords for Thanks

Appreciation
In showing appreciation we are demonstrating first and foremost that we do not take for granted, that we are aware of what we ourselves gain and enjoy from a particular involvement. By its very nature, appreciation must make a distinction between this and that—the whole point being that the one appreciates the other specifically—and so it requires clear identification of the person being appreciated, and why. It is not only involvement itself that we are appreciating; it is the particularities of the involvement, and the qualities that we experience through it, which makes us feel good and true to ourselves.

Valuing
We can see that we offer our thanks differently according to the value we feel to express. Appreciation is generally acknowledging worth, whereas Valuing implies specific measurement of worth in relation to something else. It’s rather wonderful to notice that in the act of saying Thank You, both giver and receiver are raised in value. Each feels that something of importance has occurred in the connection made by the gesture.
What we choose to develop is a direct statement of what we value—in life and in ourselves, so we can choose to train ourselves to serve those ideals and goals that we find worthwhile. The cost for this course of training could not be higher—it is one’s life, whose purpose has much to do with the determination and expression of our value system..

Giving
Giving is entirely a natural healthy response to receiving—much more an expression of health than holding. A person who holds is said to be ‘tight’, so it is seen that there may be a link between tightness or rigidity of the body and a reluctance to give: a pliant material is said to ‘give’, that is to give way or bend rather than resist and compete. A person who does not give is called a miser and is expected to suffer misery and be miserable. There can be so much said in silence by the exact appropriateness of the gift, and the giver demonstrates an intimate knowledge by choosing exactly the right thing to give form to the gesture being made. The gift itself has magic because it can focus feelings to a point of a breakthrough to a new realization, an admission of mutuality, sharing, specialness, importance...love. We can reach a state where no cost is too high as long as the expression of the love felt has been truly communicated

Heart Essence
No amount of persuasive rhetoric, materiality or coercion can achieve as much influence as the power of heart. Love is not any the less strong because it is soft, nor is it impotent against gross forces; it has its own way and its own time, working on subtle planes unconsciously and gently. People who have opened this aspect of their being tend to be quite innocent and even childlike, often with a spontaneous readiness to play.

Yet the essence of the heart is both love and truth, each quality dependent for its exaltation upon the other, so love is incomplete unless it is married to Truth. When strong in our truth—in other words we are not fanciful about who we really are and what love really is—we are able to be tolerant, kind and caring, ready to accept what comes with an open heart. Without such centeredness in truth, we can be lost in a false world, deluded about life’s realities and somewhat insecure as a result, unable to reach the depth of heart or indeed real love.

Workbook notes

The wisdom of THANKS

Somewhere in our secret recesses we have kept alive an innocence that was most becoming when we were children. It is joyous and kind, it knows only of sharing, it accepts what is—for what it is, and is excited by each new day’s dawning in expectant anticipation for the pleasure of responding to the unknown.


As adults we may look back upon certain days with profound nostalgia. Perhaps a simple memory of a quiet family day out when a child made a daisy-chain, the rain that fell so suddenly upon the picnic that we needed to dash for cover to avoid a drenching. The simple things are often remembered because they can touch the heart. Thank You is innocent and warm-hearted; it can be so vulnerable and bring joyful tears because of that. It shows in what we value most, and in the atmosphere conveyed in the sincere act of giving. In any situation there can be found an aspect that is worth appreciating: if the positive qualities are not apparent then we can redefine seemingly negative things and learn to turn them around so they work for us—or better—for the greater good. Perhaps then we will come to appreciate all life for its own sake, including the challenges, because they make us stronger, including the suffering, because it promotes compassion and including the disappointments, because we trust they will always be eventually overtaken by a better opportunity. 

q21 - 3 questions 

Do friends & associates often thank you for your kindness?
We get out of life what we put into it, so a good way to find out how well we express appreciation is to notice how much we receive. It costs so little to show others how much they mean to us yet so often we forget to make those small gestures that let them know. Kindness is a powerful agency of the heart that can resolve problems, avoid obstructions, soften emotional pain and promote harmony and happiness. Ingratitude can leave a stain on the heart that poisons the mind and robs us of joy.

Do you often give gestures of appreciation?
How frequently should we be kind? Is twice a year appropriate at Christmas and on birthdays? Perhaps such institutionalized rituals of giving are important as a base line below which we do not fall – yet surely a smile, a word of thanks, a gentle touch or a grateful glance can be offered more often. It’s the thought that counts, not the monetary cost. A spontaneous bunch of flowers can mean more than an expensive ritual gift.
 
Do you easily win children’s confidence?
 Kids usually know whether an adult has a warm heart. It takes gentleness, sincerity and a soft tone to win the trust of a child, so if we can learn to feel in tune with children then probably we have learned the secret of heart-centredness. Simply focusing attention on our heart feelings is enough to develop a greater depth of rapport – which actually is appreciated by adults too. Healthy, mature adults are not afraid to play children’s games; from time to time it’s good to be vulnerable and let go of the serious grown-up image.

LINKS:  

Module 1    Module 2    Module 3    Module 4    Module 5    Module 6    Module 7

7 Words Concepts

A group needs clear definition to operate effectively.

Management mastery using 7 Words is about the journey from No to Yes being a delightful expression of wisdom and pragmatism.
The 7 Words System is a new method of management.
Masterful management requires us to expect the unexpected and manage it masterfully.
7 Words is a fluid and a neutral framework that can uncover the underlying dynamic in any situation so that a complete appraisal is made possible and nothing is overlooked.
The way I am needs to change from being a problem to being the solution.
7 Words can uncover a deeper understanding of exactly what’s going on, and what action it is most appropriate to take.
To change your circumstances, you’ll need to change yourself.
Our recognition of what we call a problem is simply a springboard towards finding imaginative and creative solutions to express our purposes and principles.
The answer to any question is contained within the question, as long as the question is properly stated.
7 Words can unlock any situation’s hidden logic and avoid the pitfalls of omission, confusion and deceit.
There is an underlying order of 7 that informs everything.
It is a rare and powerful gift to be able to see under the surface and identify the truth of a situation. Those who can have the edge.
There are 7 interactive elements to all situations.
Errors of omission are almost certain without the awareness that 7 Words creates.
This system sets out seven fundamental life aspects, which are necessary and sufficient to describe anything that goes on.
Our civilization, our very humanity depends upon accountability.
With words people can be persuaded of anything.
Words have power.
Words, thoughts, language, beliefs and ideas are inter-connected.
How we speak, how we think and how we act are all bound up together.
Is it our purpose to deceive—or to develop a true and deeper mutual understanding?
If language is corrupted then thinking cannot be otherwise.
It is both physically and psychologically healthy for us to speak clearly and truthfully.
To move towards a more peaceful society, we need to become clearer and more straightforward in our speech and thoughts.
We mostly do not say literally what we mean.
Let the problem direct us towards the solution.
As soon as we put our hearts into it something special unfolds.
If we want changes in our circumstances, then we need to make some changes inwardly too.
What was, is no more.
The work we are engaging with has to begin with ourselves.
7 Words can be applied at any level whether this is personal, corporate or global.
The main task is not really to affirm what we want; it is to clearly define what we don’t want.
The failure to define a problem correctly is the overwhelmingly most frequent reason for not finding a solution.
It’s so important to step back and consider things as they really are.
The absence of a quality is an aspect of that quality.
What appears to be a sloppy or meaningless use of words may well be a completely correct use of words to express sloppy or meaningless ideas.
If humanity would only release guilt and blame, what a joyful day that would be!
In business only two types of significant personal activity exist—individual activity and meetings.
Whatever category a meeting falls into, in every case there are seven quite different things going on—and a truly aware manager will be able to address all of them.
A group needs clear definition to operate effectively.
Images notwithstanding—who, actually, are we?
There’s no defending a false position.
Our attitude to service is the quintessence of our identity.
Energy follows attention.
The immediate circumstances speak truly of who and what we are right now.
Focus, focus, focus!
There are only two basic attitudes of perception—trust or suspicion.
Attention has attitude.
We reap what we sow.
The best feedback is our mistakes.
What makes the world a better place are qualities like warmth, gentleness, understanding, clarity and honesty.
Let people know they are appreciated.
Giving is an aspect of abundance. It attracts abundance.
‘I’ll scratch your back even if you don’t scratch mine’.
A decision cuts.
A detailed proposal is critical to the realization of an idea.
Clear intention is stated in specific terms.
Reward imagination—it’s very precious stuff.
Let us be moved towards vast possibilities!
Mistakes can be seen as useful information inputs, rather than as opportunities to blame.
‘I choose it, therefore it is!’
We call contracts agreements but they’re not, they’re acceptances.
Agreement occurs when two parties want the same thing; no negotiation or compromise is needed.
We have to find strategies to deal with Climate Change.
By reframing the problems we can try other ways to find solutions.
We say No! whenever our birthright of uniqueness is threatened.
We have learned how to produce things without learning how to dispose of them.
Vision is an horizon of the imagination.
We really do need to wake up now; the writing is on the wall.
If we continue to do what we’ve always done, then we will continue to get what we’ve always got.
‘Do I accept this 7 Words System? If so what do I do about it?’
Are you a sheep or are you a goat?
Give up what no longer challenges you to grow.
Without changing how we think, how can we expect to get different results?
There is evidence that thinking has an effect upon matter.
Without exercise, muscles atrophy—and so does will.
The ability to read the signs of change and respond immediately is a survival requirement.
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Consider This

"Among all my patients in the second half of life ... there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life."

Carl Jung

7 Words Guides

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