The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University

Learning which thoughts and actions increase the probability of physical,cognitive, and emotional health is a task well worth tackling. It is a task that canbe part of every moment of our lives. But it is also a task that is best successfullytackled as a long-term project.Planning and the power of timeWhen we think about the things that are most valued, it is important to notethat they all took time to create. Whether it be a famous building, a classic book, awell known piece of music, or a venerable institution, all took a long time to cometo fruition. From the time the first bit of inspiration came to the architect, writer,composer, or leader, to the time when the creation was completed, several stepstook place. First, the concept had to become identifiable as something the personwanted to create. Then, its nature had to be specified. Much trial and error wentinto the development of each part or section of the whole. Moments ofdiscouragement had to be overcome. And much time had to be spent actuallyworking on the pieces that, together, make up the final product. The probabilitythat a wonderful building, a great book, an inspiring song, or a helpful organizationwill be created is dependent on each of these steps.Learning the healthy management of reality also takes a long time. First,one must embrace the idea of molding one’s life as something one wants toaccomplish. Then, one needs to decide what one values, and what one wants inone’s life. Practicing the ways one wants to think, act, and feel will lead tomoments of great fulfillment, and moments of disappointment or demoralization.The probability that one will learn to manage one’s reality depends on the processof noticing and repeating the things that worked and discarding those that wereuseless or harmful.HMOR.July2005.Muñoz.doc 68