Book review and summary
29-5-2011
Invincible thinking, a book I am reading, is written by the founder of Happy Science – Master Ryuho Okawa from Japan, who has written over 500 books and broken the Genies record by publishing more than 50 books in last single year.
I went to his talk last Sunday. Well, it might be the most enigmatic presentation I have ever attended. If only he had used his mother tongue that night to give more inspiring talk. I just felt he could express himself much better in Japanese. Despite the confusion from his typical Japanese English and very limited English vocabulary through the s talk, what surprised me was his followers and most of the audience gave him huge applause no matter what he was saying.
Another thing astonished me is he has turned Unconditionally Happy into a religion called Happy Science with followers all over the world, even extending to Africa.
That is the reason for me to have to buy his books to find why he is so charismatic globally and his theories are so popular although it was my first time to listen to his talk.
There were hundreds of books in the exhibition. Among them, I chose this invincible thinking.
What does Invincible Thinking (长胜思考- Chinese edition) mean?
Invincible think is an attitude:
“No matter what happens in your life, you can always find something positive, and turn any situation to your advantage. If you practice this philosophy, you will become convinced that there are no such things as a crisis or headship, only a continuous series of opportunities.”
In the beginning of the talk, he shocked us by speaking with a lost voice – husky but loud, a bit repulsive indeed. How could he speak in next one hour? I was completely puzzled and worried for him.
He smiled at his voice and amused his audience: “You are so luck to hear my speech in a lost voice the first time in my life. I was too excited and ‘shouted ‘too much yesterday in the Philippine. “
Instantly, the startling audience burst into laughter and the uptight mood was eased in a long applause.
This is the best example and practice of invincible thinking. I believe he has integrate invincible thinking into his subconscious mind.
He showed us how to turn his disadvantage into an advantage so as to get people’s understanding and tolerance. People’s forgiveness encouraged him to talk as normal as possible and many people were moved by his billed voice – an unusual talk at an unfit condition.
Another example is his view to infirmity: he applies reframing theory in NLP and multi-angles thinking system to enlighten people to be relaxed and enjoy the moment in the nature conditions: Illness is a blessing - the nature’s way of telling something is wrong and it is time to stop and rest. Without the recuperation, you will not able to live out the full span of your days and carry out your missions. As a result of illness, your life is in fact lengthened.
Most impotently, it is a self introspective period and time to look calmly at the inner self. “When you become absorbed with outward events and concerned only about outcomes, you tend to forget to look within.”
Master Ryuho Okawa has found that a man without self- reflection will never become successful until a serious setback in career or in health pushes them to search for their soul and become intensely introspective on why they fall and how to stand up from the falls. He believes that to go through some kind of ordeal is the consequence what they have done without self- reflection and self analysis. But it is not a backward step but an experience, which is essential for them if they are to develop greater stature. This is another example of reframing and positive thinking – turn negative to positive and an adjustment of mindset to the right track. This is a continuous process for spiritual growth at any age and phrase of life.
What to learn from a setback?
1
Are you a person seeking for “love that gives” or “love that takes?”
Is question reminds me X and Y types of people we learn in “Money and You”:
People who crave praise and recognition are taking love. They usually try so hard to win appreciation but the result is just opposite because they tend to under illusion others’ effort and support. People will start to keep their distance as those only put people off . Only a person who will bring recognition and appreciation and happiness to others can gain appreciation and recognition.
I couldn’t agree more his advice that “You can demonstrate your abilities because of the efforts of others. This is something that you must never forget.
2
See difficulty as opportunity: if you see difficulty is awful, it will be even more awful. So there is no point in seeing it in negative way if you don’t want to see more adversity.
Difficulties mean opportunity that shape your ability: he says: “People who have triumphed over hardship and have been able to turn it into strength will shine from within. “
It all depends on how you see difficulty: For the Master, “ No matter what the difficulty you face, it will not last for long, so it is important to take advantage of the opportunity it presents and lean all he lessons it offers.
Do not live a life of excuse
This is one of the most important steps to move forward instead of getting stuck or being trapped in vicious cycle
1
When facing with any misfortunate, make sure you do not allow yourself to feel you are the only person in such circumstances. Finding such excuse only drive you to wallow in self –pity and your soul is giving in to defeat.
Successful people must gone through misfortune and use them as the springboard for success.
President Franklin D Roosevelt was confined to a wheelchair. Despite his disability he was able to carry out t his presidential duties. He didn’t not live a life of excuses but rather did whatever he felt had to be done.
2
The four discoveries from great people
First, they never attribute their hardships to others. Never put blame onto other people or bemoan/complain about their fate, because they understand clearly that this would do no good whatsoever. Do not blame fate of other people for any personal hardship.
Second, they accept what fate has given them; they have courage to and determination to accept misfortune as a reality of life.
3
Always find some lessons in adversity, setbacks, mistakes or misfortune. What are the teachings in the lessons and that teachings will be priceless treasures and experience remaining in their hearts for their future.
4
Forth, never try to rely on the support of others. Instead accept bravely whatever fate throws at you especially diseases and nature disasters, and be determined to overcome it.
How to become invincible:
1
Try to devise ways to achieve more – transcending individual limitation, entrust others and delegating responsibility to others, don’t work on your own, and build a net work.
Spot potential, find demand, create demand and there is need, there is work worth doing and there must be profit to earn.
2
Development: People who trapped by the confines of their earlier success are not tapping into further potential.
3
You are what you think. This is an eternal truth.
And it is always important to believe that you have the potential to do better than you are now.
Believe in self: discover the invincible self
An inferiority complex is human weakness: how to overcome it? If you think you are inferior to others, then other will think the same because your attitude makes your performance inferior to others.
If this is an excuse for you to fail, then you cannot complain you have been like this because it is yourself to confine your potential.
How to overcome this self conscience: try to make an effort to learn to adopt a wider perspective from others’ lessons, experiences and wisdom, and to achieve some understanding of a wide range of knowledge and you will find there is no longer any need to suffer this inferiority complex.
Only when you have conviction on yourself potential and put effort to show you are capable, you will cast off inferiority complex.
Complaint and trying to think your present difficulties as insurmountable only makes things worse than the reality should be – you should not let yourself be swept away be the tides of adversity ( imaginary difficulties and problems are the main reason of adversity ).
There are no unsolved problems but unresourceful state of mind.
Remember: success does no come from where you are but from your confidence in yourself and the effort you want to put. (From speech of the present First Lady of the USA in Oxford U this week)
