#47: Perception

Mind's Eye
by: Neil Eskelin, Source Unknown

In his book, "Psycho-Cybernetics," Dr. Maxwell Maltz tells of an experiment that showed how mental practice can actually improve our skills. The test involved the ability to sink basketball free throws. Maltz says that "One group of students actually practiced throwing the ball every day for twenty days." Their efforts were recorded on the first and last day. A second group, that was also tested on the first and last day, engaged in no sort of practice between their tests. A third group was scored on the first day, then spent 20 minutes every day "imagining" that they were throwing the ball at the basket. When they missed, they would imagine that they corrected their aim accordingly. The final results showed that the first group (which practiced 20 minutes a day) improved their scoring ability by 24 percent. The second group (with no practice) showed no improvement. The third group (who practiced only in their mind) improved in scoring by 23 percent. Changing your mind's eye will have a positive effect on your physical eye.

 

Prejudice
by: Anthony de Mello, SJ, Source Unknown

"Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so," the Master said. When asked to explain he said, "A man cheerfully observed a religious fast seven days a week. His neighbour starved to death on the same diet."