Focus on Life™

The economy is based on the productivity of us, the people. If we are taken off the equitation, nothing gets done either. We live by our efforts and abilities. Everything in our society is based on the efforts of someone, and his or her capabilities. If you need bread you get it from someone who has produced it. Nothing is created out of thin air. We are dependent on each other, and our intellectual capabilities. Some are having more brainpower than others but nevertheless we all are in the same boat. All the work is needed; otherwise the system would not function. If there is no bread how to get the rest done?

There are only two basic ways to work: voluntarily or by force. The first is based on freedom and the second on fear and threat of violence. You can enslave people to work manually (i.e. mechanically) but it seldom works for tasks requiring innovation and creativity. Intellect cannot be forced—it is an act based on voluntary free choice. Therefore any society will first lose the efforts of its most capable and able, its prime motor—the future potential. This minority does not make much noise about itself. It acts like any individual who knows one’s worth and value. They merely walk away and find a place where they are appreciated or simply just stop creating altogether. Why bother and for what?

Most of us are like TV sets. We receive information and repro-
duce it as it has been sent to us. Often, we just store things to
our memory and retract them when they are needed. The
reproduction, from the content perspective, is more or less the
same, but the quality may have been lowered in the process.

Watching and criticizing movies is easy. Coming up with a
creative script and vision is another case entirely. The same
applies to our thinking as well. We read and absorb vast
amounts of data that we do not analyze. Most of our so-called
education is based on recycling of information. One is taught
to find, memorize, and rephrase information. Individual
thinking and consideration are not highly appreciated or
encouraged. Still, everyone has the capabilities of developing
his or her own thinking.

Creative functions require concentration, will, and vision.
First one needs to be able to formulate a vision or goal and
then be able to materialize it into a physical form. Thinking is
like making a movie. It all starts from will and desire to
express yourself (e.g., a great storyline). This then has to be
formulated somehow into a structure that consists of the logic
and systematic setting (a script). Finally, one needs to be able
to realize the concept into a production where the final prod-
uct is a visible movie. All these stages take energy and persist-
ence: one gets better with practice.

Thinking is considered to be hard and nonnatural for
humans; therefore, it is a scarce resource. We are too lazy to
use our brain. It requires effort. Nevertheless, we appreciate
writers, composers, directors, painters, scientists, and all those
great minds who are able to create something beautiful and
innovative. All of us have different skills and talents. Creative
thinking can lead us to amazing discoveries. How about try-
ing? You may be surprised of the results: Cogito ergo sum.