About This Site. This site is the website of motivational speaker Craig
Harper. A constantly updated, one-stop
information, inspiration, education and motivation
station. Unlike many similar sites, it is a totally
free resource for anyone who is serious about moving
from mediocre to amazing in any area of their
personal or professional life. With hundreds of
articles covering a wide range of subject matter,
great interviews with cool people and inspirational
video posts, there's more than enough brain-food to
keep you busy for hours. Okay, days!!
Enjoy.
DVD
- Renovate Your Body
In this entertaining presentation, Craig discusses the
notion of Renovating Your Body - once and for all. (Also
available on CD).
Fattitude.
While many books focus on food,
Craig Harper teaches that creating life-long change is more about the
dieter, than the actual diet. This book is perfect for people who have a
history of 'almost' getting in shape.
Food
for thought.
In this book, Craig Harper walks the reader through his 21 rules to
Permanent Weight Loss.
So
you've decided you want to get in shape (again).
Imagine a pocket-sized fitness book that takes just twenty
minutes to read. Craig Harper addresses the REAL
getting-in-shape issues.
Craig
Harper - Food, Exercise, and Lifestyle Diary.
If you're serious about your training,
nutrition, and lifestyle - Craig Harper's training diary is an invaluable tool.
Craig Harper is a leading
motivational speaker
and educator. He is a highly
sought-after corporate coach and is considered to be
a leader and pioneer in the areas of personal and
professional development. Working with hundreds of
teams, companies and a wide variety of organisations
on numerous continents over the last twenty years
has given Craig a unique insight into, and
understanding of, human performance and all its
variables. Craig has an ability to educate, inspire,
challenge and make people laugh all at the same
time!
Yesterday I checked out a forum on another website (sorry). The discussion I took a peek at was basically a bunch of pro and anti Law-of-Attraction people taking swipes at each other; trading insults and running down each other's respective beliefs, opinions and philosophies. Overall, pretty uplifting stuff. Not. They got kind of nasty and pretty personal. Abusive even. It makes me laugh when people who are (supposedly) all about self-improvement and changing the world, stoop to name-calling and trading insults. Morons.
Just kidding.
It amazes me how closed-minded some open-minded people are. Reading the discussion (a.k.a. slanging match) on the forum, a few thoughts and questions occurred to me:
1.The truth about truth
At what point do we recognise that we've become arrogant and self-righteous in our beliefs and ideas? For example, if we believe that we're absolutely right about a certain issue (in a not-up-for-discussion kind of way), then don't we close ourselves off to the possibility of gaining some new insight or learning another truth? Or perhaps learning the real truth? After all, is there any chance that we could be wrong and someone else right? Crazy thought I know but apparently it can happen. If, for example, you strongly believe in evolution or creation (either one - doesn't really matter for this discussion) and you know that you're right (you won't consider another view - "talk to the hand"), doesn't that make you somewhat arrogant? With some things we can't really know (with absolute certainty), we can only know what we think we know. If you know what I mean. Perhaps we believe what we're comfortable to believe? Perhaps we believe what we've been told we should believe. Perhaps we believe what our parents believe - because it's easy and we tend to avoid hard. If we look at the various religions of the world, unless I'm mistaken, the whole basis of faith is believing in something that we can't prove. If we could prove it then we wouldn't need faith because we would have knowledge. With me? Then how can we be so arrogant, self-righteous and judgmental about something that we can't prove? Something we don't know for sure. We seem to find a way.
2.The (non)thinker
Something else occurred to me as I read the forum: many people don't really think for themselves or truly search for, or discover, their own truths, beliefs and values. They simply adopt the thoughts, ideas and beliefs of others, becoming parrots who memorise and recite the mantras of their friends, gurus, teachers, parents, preachers and idols. They mindlessly adopt someone else's thinking and language. "I'm not sure what I think, what do you think I should think?" While it's (mostly) wise to listen to, consider and respect other people, it's also good to think independently and to discover your own truth. To step away from the influences of others and explore for yourself. Or maybe, explore yourself. Away from the dominating and controlling parents or partner, away from the religious indoctrination and emotion, and away from the pressure placed upon you by so many different forces to think, believe and do things in a particular way. Imagine that you - yes the exact same you (same DNA) - grew up in a different culture, with different parents, different schooling, different friends and completely different influences. Would you have the same 'absolute' beliefs, ideas, values and knowledge that you do sitting in that chair right now? Absolutely not. It's possible that alternativeyou could be arguing with current you (the person you are now) on an Internet forum from the other side of the world about your erroneous and stupid beliefs!
3.Cost-effective cloning
Simply adopting someone else's ideas and beliefs isn't learning; it's laziness, apathy, indifference and perhaps even weakness. A cheap version of human cloning. Real learning and understanding comes from personal exploration and revelation. Agreeing with someone else is fine but not just because you like or respect them. Agree with them because you've considered and explored their thoughts and beliefs and you've learned the same truth for yourself. I have many friends and colleagues whom I respect immensely but disagree with often. I like them but I don't necessarily like all of their ideas or agree with all of their beliefs. And that's fine. I like it that we disagree. I like it that they challenge and teach me. Part of the human experience is to be comfortable being different, being wrong and making mistakes. I'm happy to have people challenge me (and they do often) as long as those people come from a good place; a place of logical thinking, humility and honesty. A place of mutual respect and integrity. I won't discuss an issue with someone who is clearly emotional, irrational, defensive or reactive; someone who wants to ram their opinion down my throat at any cost. I am wrong often, I have made many mistakes and will undoubtedly make many more. I'm fine with that. It's a pretty fundamental part of the human experience. When I stop making mistakes then I'm really in trouble because I'm dead. I choose to take risks, choose to seek my own truth, choose to share my ideas and thoughts (with willing readers) and am infinitely aware of my fallibility, my humanity and my numerous flaws. To me it's tragic that so many people feel compelled to 'believe what they're told' rather than being comfortable to learn and express their own truth. Blindly following someone doesn't make you a student or a free-thinker, it makes you a cult-member or a sheep. "Baaah". Explore the definition of a cult and you'll realise that I'm not being facetious or provocative when I say that many programs, organisations, churches and even businesses are thinly disguised cults. They want compliance, obedience, commitment and of course, your money. And not too much independent thought.
But then again... I could be wrong
Even with what I write, don't believe me because you like or respect me as a teacher or writer. Perhaps my truth is not yours. Maybe I'm wrong. But if you do agree with me, then do so because you have considered, explored and tested my thoughts and ideas and discovered them to be true for you. Think for yourself. Learn for yourself. Respect and listen to others but be you, not some nasty-ass replica.
And just think, all of that came from five minutes of reading a forum - good thing I wasn't on there for an hour. Jeeez it's busy in my head. Love your thoughts on this post and this topic.
Ciao.
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42 comments
Click play above
to
see motivational speaker Craig Harper in action.
Motivational
Speaker - Craig Harper Craig Harper is one of Australia's most respected
motivational speakers and educators. Some of Craig's recent clients include:
"We had our annual
conference over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th Feb, 2008 and we had
Craig Harper as one of our presenters. He was wonderful, funny and
professional, and he got our message through to the staff in a positive
and fun way. He was loved by all!"
DVD
- Renovate Your Body - Craig Harper
In this entertaining presentation, Craig discusses the
notion of Renovating Your Body - once and for all. (Also
available on CD).
Fattitude
- Craig Harper
While many books focus on food,
Craig Harper teaches that creating life long change is more about the
dieter than the actual diet.
Food for thought
- Craig Harper
In this book, Craig Harper
walks the reader through his 21 rules to Permanent Weight Loss.
So you've decided you want to get in shape (again)
- Craig Harper
Imagine a pocket-sized fitness book that takes just twenty minutes to
read. Craig Harper addresses the REAL getting-in-shape issues.
Alinta
Telstra
ANZ Bank
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
National Australia Bank
Corporate Express
Pricewaterhouse Coopers
Department of Infrastructure
Department Planning and Community Development
Simplot Australia
Porter Davis Homes
Rothschild Merchant Bank
Royal Children's Hospital
Fernwood Fitness Centres
Flour Daniel
Brivis
Sensis
Western Water
South East Water
For more information on booking Craig click
here.Some nice words about Craig:
"We had our annual conference over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th Feb, 2008 and we had Craig Harper as one of our presenters. He was wonderful, funny and professional, and he got our message through to the staff in a positive and fun way. He was loved by all!"
Ally Memic, IMCD, Australia