The Most Powerful Instrument
by blogrdoc
it’s not this thing
One of my favorite authors is Dr. Scott Peck, whose most famous book is ‘The Road Less Traveled’. It’s through his writing that I first became enchanted with the power of paradox. He basically had written that only once we constrain our freedom through discipline can we experience freedom most abundantly. (read that sentence again.)
In another book, ‘A World Waiting to be Born: Civility Rediscovered’, he describes a revelation he had while in medical school. Every component of the system has a very critical and specific task to execute, all in support of the greater system. The possibility then occurred to the author that each of us might play a similar role as part of an even greater system of society.
This point brings me to the heart and soul of my whole message. I’ve blogged now about a number of various tools. But consider now that the most powerful, useful instrument, in fact, is you. Let me ask you this: what happens to a tool when it’s not being used for the right job, or if its not well maintained or taken care of?
You can be an instrument for change. We will all die some day. This, by the way, is the meaning of ‘life of (f)utility’. Shall we live in vein looking out only for ourselves? or will we realize the bigger picture and have an impact on this world? To ignore the question is to passively choose the former.
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4 Responses to “The Most Powerful Instrument”
By Alik Levin | Practice This on Apr 28, 2008 | Reply
OMG!
I love this one too much:
“once we constrain our freedom through discipline can we experience freedom most abundantly”
Too cool. Too true.
Fool with a tool is still a fool.
The most powerful tool is between your ears.
http://blogs.msdn.com/jmeier/archive/2007/02/07/it-s-between-your-ears.aspx
By blogrdoc on Apr 28, 2008 | Reply
It was definitely a real eye-opener when I read ‘The Road Less Traveled’. He not only goes into discipline but the nature of human relationship and a bunch of other stuff. Very deep book.
Thanks for the link. I read the post from JD and can definitely relate.
By Chris on May 2, 2008 | Reply
“will we realize the bigger picture and have an impact on this world?”
I guess this is why I teach. I may not have a lot of money in my pocket but at least I know at the end of the day, I’ve touched somebody’s life.
This is some heavy stuff dude.
By blogrdoc on May 2, 2008 | Reply
@Chris:
When I consider the people who have shaped my career, I’d have to say teachers is #1.
Why couldn’t I have had better economics teachers? (just kidding)
It’s a terrible societal oversight that teachers (and engineers like me) aren’t paid more