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Mind In Time | John Furey | TEDxGroningen


[Music]

[Music] that guy seemed like he was in a bit of

that guy seemed like he was in a bit of

that guy seemed like he was in a bit of a hurry hmm time I would want to talk to

a hurry hmm time I would want to talk to

a hurry hmm time I would want to talk to you about time it’s an extraordinary

you about time it’s an extraordinary

you about time it’s an extraordinary thing far more extraordinary than we can

thing far more extraordinary than we can

thing far more extraordinary than we can really ever imagine but let me start at

really ever imagine but let me start at

really ever imagine but let me start at the beginning

the beginning

the beginning 23 years ago I had an extraordinary

23 years ago I had an extraordinary

23 years ago I had an extraordinary moment of insight that completely

moment of insight that completely

moment of insight that completely changed my life I’d like to share it

changed my life I’d like to share it

changed my life I’d like to share it with you what I suddenly understood was

with you what I suddenly understood was

with you what I suddenly understood was why and how we seem to be so very

why and how we seem to be so very

why and how we seem to be so very different from each other and how it is

different from each other and how it is

different from each other and how it is that these differences are at the root

that these differences are at the root

that these differences are at the root of so many of our misunderstandings

of so many of our misunderstandings

of so many of our misunderstandings these differences are reflected in how

these differences are reflected in how

these differences are reflected in how we communicate with each other in the

we communicate with each other in the

we communicate with each other in the words that we use they are a part of our

words that we use they are a part of our

words that we use they are a part of our choices that we make our preferences

choices that we make our preferences

choices that we make our preferences there are the root of how we work and

there are the root of how we work and

there are the root of how we work and how we engage with people I don’t know

how we engage with people I don’t know

how we engage with people I don’t know about you but when I was growing up I

about you but when I was growing up I

about you but when I was growing up I was always being told to use my head to

was always being told to use my head to

was always being told to use my head to think before I spoke now you might think

think before I spoke now you might think

think before I spoke now you might think I’m about to start talking about

I’m about to start talking about

I’m about to start talking about personality I’m not what I’d like to do

personality I’m not what I’d like to do

personality I’m not what I’d like to do is to share with you how it is that I

is to share with you how it is that I

is to share with you how it is that I believe that we think because these are

believe that we think because these are

believe that we think because these are thinking that is at the root of our

thinking that is at the root of our

thinking that is at the root of our differences not our personalities our

differences not our personalities our

differences not our personalities our personalities now behaviors are the

personalities now behaviors are the

personalities now behaviors are the products of our thinking decart wrote I

products of our thinking decart wrote I

products of our thinking decart wrote I think therefore I am

personality is like this shiny gift

personality is like this shiny gift wrapping that we wrap around and it

wrapping that we wrap around and it

wrapping that we wrap around and it hides the true gift our thinking now I

hides the true gift our thinking now I

hides the true gift our thinking now I don’t know about you but I keep

don’t know about you but I keep

don’t know about you but I keep wondering how it is that we can send a

wondering how it is that we can send a

wondering how it is that we can send a spacecraft with extraordinary accuracy

spacecraft with extraordinary accuracy

spacecraft with extraordinary accuracy eight billion kilometres to Saturn and

eight billion kilometres to Saturn and

eight billion kilometres to Saturn and we can dive to the deepest depths of our

we can dive to the deepest depths of our

we can dive to the deepest depths of our oceans

oceans

oceans and yet we still do not understand how

and yet we still do not understand how

and yet we still do not understand how it is that we are different from each

it is that we are different from each

it is that we are different from each other and how it is that we can use

other and how it is that we can use

other and how it is that we can use these differences to be a more effective

these differences to be a more effective

these differences to be a more effective in the world to collaborate more

in the world to collaborate more

in the world to collaborate more effectively in my mid-20s like so many

effectively in my mid-20s like so many

effectively in my mid-20s like so many young people do I started reading books

young people do I started reading books

young people do I started reading books on psychology I was trying to understand

on psychology I was trying to understand

on psychology I was trying to understand myself and I quickly learned that we are

myself and I quickly learned that we are

myself and I quickly learned that we are taught in the West to understand

taught in the West to understand

taught in the West to understand ourselves other people and our world

ourselves other people and our world

ourselves other people and our world around us by the differences between

around us by the differences between

around us by the differences between things in fact the science of

things in fact the science of

things in fact the science of personality in the science of psychology

personality in the science of psychology

personality in the science of psychology is for the most part a study of

is for the most part a study of

is for the most part a study of individual differences and how each of

individual differences and how each of

individual differences and how each of us is different from some so-called

us is different from some so-called

us is different from some so-called established norm but I would put it to

established norm but I would put it to

established norm but I would put it to you that with this point of view that

you that with this point of view that

you that with this point of view that we’ve developed without some overarching

we’ve developed without some overarching

we’ve developed without some overarching principle some framework that gives us

principle some framework that gives us

principle some framework that gives us some sense of how we belong without a

some sense of how we belong without a

some sense of how we belong without a theory that actually unifies us where we

theory that actually unifies us where we

theory that actually unifies us where we can understand what these differences

can understand what these differences

can understand what these differences are about and how it is that we can use

are about and how it is that we can use

are about and how it is that we can use them to help each other that we are left

them to help each other that we are left

them to help each other that we are left well alone we’re left feeling different

well alone we’re left feeling different

well alone we’re left feeling different we’re left in a place where we’re I

we’re left in a place where we’re I

we’re left in a place where we’re I selected from each other in our thoughts

my insight was that all of these

my insight was that all of these different points of view

different points of view

different points of view all of these differences that we

all of these differences that we

all of these differences that we supposedly have are all actually aspects

supposedly have are all actually aspects

supposedly have are all actually aspects of one thing and that is time past

of one thing and that is time past

of one thing and that is time past present and future one unifying

present and future one unifying

present and future one unifying phenomena that gives rise to all of our

phenomena that gives rise to all of our

phenomena that gives rise to all of our thinking and within which actually we

thinking and within which actually we

thinking and within which actually we all play

this idea this insight was not new

this idea this insight was not new I found out in fact it is actually at

I found out in fact it is actually at

I found out in fact it is actually at the root of some of the greatest

the root of some of the greatest

the root of some of the greatest teachings in both the Western and

teachings in both the Western and

teachings in both the Western and Eastern cultures I probably picked it up

Eastern cultures I probably picked it up

Eastern cultures I probably picked it up somewhere along the way but at the

somewhere along the way but at the

somewhere along the way but at the moment that I got this 23 years ago I

moment that I got this 23 years ago I

moment that I got this 23 years ago I grasped absolutely the significance and

grasped absolutely the significance and

grasped absolutely the significance and the implications of what this truly

the implications of what this truly

the implications of what this truly meant so this is my take on that

meant so this is my take on that

meant so this is my take on that ancient wisdom maybe it’s a version for

ancient wisdom maybe it’s a version for

ancient wisdom maybe it’s a version for our modern times each of our brains is

our modern times each of our brains is

our modern times each of our brains is wired differently but all of them all of

wired differently but all of them all of

wired differently but all of them all of them are motivated by three simple

them are motivated by three simple

them are motivated by three simple priorities certainty probability and

priorities certainty probability and

priorities certainty probability and possibility certainty is what we get

possibility certainty is what we get

possibility certainty is what we get from the past it is the only thing that

from the past it is the only thing that

from the past it is the only thing that we can be certain of we have shared

we can be certain of we have shared

we can be certain of we have shared experiences we learn we look we measure

experiences we learn we look we measure

experiences we learn we look we measure we establish ideas it is from the past

we establish ideas it is from the past

we establish ideas it is from the past that we create some sense of security of

that we create some sense of security of

that we create some sense of security of what is and how it works without that

what is and how it works without that

what is and how it works without that security we would be lost we would be

security we would be lost we would be

security we would be lost we would be literally locked in fear like animals

literally locked in fear like animals

literally locked in fear like animals constantly awake and we have possibility

constantly awake and we have possibility

constantly awake and we have possibility that comes to us from the future

that comes to us from the future

that comes to us from the future the very word possible seems infinite

the very word possible seems infinite

the very word possible seems infinite and it’s to the future we look for our

and it’s to the future we look for our

and it’s to the future we look for our solutions to problems we look here to

solutions to problems we look here to

solutions to problems we look here to get new ideas and to combine all one’s

get new ideas and to combine all one’s

get new ideas and to combine all one’s to create new solutions it’s from the

to create new solutions it’s from the

to create new solutions it’s from the future that we get hope hope to try hope

future that we get hope hope to try hope

future that we get hope hope to try hope to overcome what is to become something

to overcome what is to become something

to overcome what is to become something better in the future

better in the future

better in the future and it is the present where we take

and it is the present where we take

and it is the present where we take action it is the only place that we can

action it is the only place that we can

action it is the only place that we can actually have an effect on our lives and

actually have an effect on our lives and

actually have an effect on our lives and in this present we plan for the future

in this present we plan for the future

in this present we plan for the future we structure we organize we create

we structure we organize we create

we structure we organize we create processes rules norms regulations all of

processes rules norms regulations all of

processes rules norms regulations all of these servers to create community

these servers to create community

these servers to create community harmony stability balance because

harmony stability balance because

harmony stability balance because without stability there is nothing that

without stability there is nothing that

without stability there is nothing that we can do we are lost

we can do we are lost

we can do we are lost just as we are lost without certainty

just as we are lost without certainty

just as we are lost without certainty and we are lost without hope now what is

and we are lost without hope now what is

and we are lost without hope now what is amazing is that every single person in

amazing is that every single person in

amazing is that every single person in the world uses past present and future

the world uses past present and future

the world uses past present and future certainty probability and possibility in

certainty probability and possibility in

certainty probability and possibility in their force we blend these three

their force we blend these three

their force we blend these three different perspectives of time in order

different perspectives of time in order

different perspectives of time in order to create our perceptions some people

to create our perceptions some people

to create our perceptions some people have an equal measure of all three some

have an equal measure of all three some

have an equal measure of all three some people blend two and have less of the

people blend two and have less of the

people blend two and have less of the third and others still have only one of

third and others still have only one of

third and others still have only one of these in dominance and the other two

these in dominance and the other two

these in dominance and the other two much less now I am a future thinker I

much less now I am a future thinker I

much less now I am a future thinker I use a lot of future thinking in my

use a lot of future thinking in my

use a lot of future thinking in my thinking I don’t have a lot of access to

thinking I don’t have a lot of access to

thinking I don’t have a lot of access to the present or past dimensions so when I

the present or past dimensions so when I

the present or past dimensions so when I had my insight and I wanted to do

had my insight and I wanted to do

had my insight and I wanted to do something with it

something with it

something with it I knew I had to turn to past thinking

I knew I had to turn to past thinking

I knew I had to turn to past thinking the scientists the experts the

the scientists the experts the

the scientists the experts the psychologist to help them help me

psychologist to help them help me

psychologist to help them help me understand what it is I had found out it

understand what it is I had found out it

understand what it is I had found out it wasn’t easy

wasn’t easy

wasn’t easy from my perspective they took my great

from my perspective they took my great

from my perspective they took my great big shiny beautiful insight and they

big shiny beautiful insight and they

big shiny beautiful insight and they reduced it down to a series of

reduced it down to a series of

reduced it down to a series of experiments they took it to pieces and

experiments they took it to pieces and

experiments they took it to pieces and not only did they take it to pieces but

not only did they take it to pieces but

not only did they take it to pieces but they wanted to fit it in to their

they wanted to fit it in to their

they wanted to fit it in to their existing taxonomy x’ their existing

existing taxonomy x’ their existing

existing taxonomy x’ their existing structures their existing language it

structures their existing language it

structures their existing language it was horrible

was horrible

was horrible and then I dealt with the present think

and then I dealt with the present think

and then I dealt with the present think is because in order to actually make

is because in order to actually make

is because in order to actually make this work I actually had to go to them

this work I actually had to go to them

this work I actually had to go to them and say how can I apply it and once

and say how can I apply it and once

and say how can I apply it and once again this wasn’t easy because what they

again this wasn’t easy because what they

again this wasn’t easy because what they did is they took this idea of mine and

did is they took this idea of mine and

did is they took this idea of mine and all they wanted to do was to apply it to

all they wanted to do was to apply it to

all they wanted to do was to apply it to one specific or another specific problem

one specific or another specific problem

one specific or another specific problem it felt so a lien and yet over time

it felt so a lien and yet over time

it felt so a lien and yet over time using this very insight we managed to

using this very insight we managed to

using this very insight we managed to learn how to work together we managed to

learn how to work together we managed to

learn how to work together we managed to learn how to deeply respect each other’s

learn how to deeply respect each other’s

learn how to deeply respect each other’s differences right here on this stage

differences right here on this stage

differences right here on this stage we’ve been hearing amazing ideas and I

we’ve been hearing amazing ideas and I

we’ve been hearing amazing ideas and I put it to you that if we could

put it to you that if we could

put it to you that if we could understand our differences we can

understand our differences we can

understand our differences we can understand how we think then we could

understand how we think then we could

understand how we think then we could actually change the way that we work in

actually change the way that we work in

actually change the way that we work in the world we could actually change the

the world we could actually change the

the world we could actually change the way we take these ideas from the Ted

way we take these ideas from the Ted

way we take these ideas from the Ted talks around the world and we could do

talks around the world and we could do

talks around the world and we could do something more material more

something more material more

something more material more collaborative with them I’m reminded of

collaborative with them I’m reminded of

collaborative with them I’m reminded of an old saying it’s a very powerful

an old saying it’s a very powerful

an old saying it’s a very powerful saying that’s been used many times

saying that’s been used many times

saying that’s been used many times before most recently was in Margaret

before most recently was in Margaret

before most recently was in Margaret Thatcher’s memoir film Iron Lady but in

Thatcher’s memoir film Iron Lady but in

Thatcher’s memoir film Iron Lady but in that particular case it was used as an

that particular case it was used as an

that particular case it was used as an admonishment a warning and I don’t think

admonishment a warning and I don’t think

admonishment a warning and I don’t think that was the original intention this

that was the original intention this

that was the original intention this originally came from about two and a

originally came from about two and a

originally came from about two and a half thousand years ago it’s the oldest

half thousand years ago it’s the oldest

half thousand years ago it’s the oldest reference I can find from Gautama Buddha

reference I can find from Gautama Buddha

reference I can find from Gautama Buddha and I’m going to paraphrase it because I

and I’m going to paraphrase it because I

and I’m going to paraphrase it because I want to hold that original intention

want to hold that original intention

want to hold that original intention watch your thoughts for your thoughts

watch your thoughts for your thoughts

watch your thoughts for your thoughts will become your words and what she’ll

will become your words and what she’ll

will become your words and what she’ll worse because they will shape your

worse because they will shape your

worse because they will shape your actual behavior and what’s your behavior

actual behavior and what’s your behavior

actual behavior and what’s your behavior because that behavior will become your

because that behavior will become your

because that behavior will become your character and then observe that

character and then observe that

character and then observe that character because it is creating your

character because it is creating your

character because it is creating your destiny if we could adjust agree on this

destiny if we could adjust agree on this

destiny if we could adjust agree on this one thing that it is to our thinking

one thing that it is to our thinking

one thing that it is to our thinking that we must look to better understand

that we must look to better understand

that we must look to better understand ourselves in each other we would be so

ourselves in each other we would be so

ourselves in each other we would be so much more understanding so much more

much more understanding so much more

much more understanding so much more compassionate so much more collaborative

compassionate so much more collaborative

compassionate so much more collaborative in the world I believe that everybody

in the world I believe that everybody

in the world I believe that everybody here has value to bring and it is

here has value to bring and it is

here has value to bring and it is through our thinking that we do that

through our thinking that we do that

through our thinking that we do that thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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