Institutions, Power, and the Ego

An institution’s sole existence is power. All functions of an institution aim at providing more power to the adhering individuals. Institutions serve no other purpose. While the benefits might seem obvious the disadvantages of institutions are not. One clear and apparent result of the information age is true power created by the lack of structure and institution.

Old institutions warp your mind. it plagues one with the perception of comfort and stability. Time tested results with statistically proven methods. An institution can take the creative mind and lock it to an eternity of structure and repetition.  Yet there are always new methods being developed by those who play outside the boundaries of institution. More efficient methods that do not adhere to the previously proven laws. The natural transfer of power and evolution of thought. The structure of nature.

The ego repels the natural progression of change. Change implies lack of control, uncertainty, doubt, and fear. One must ask: fear of what?! The irrational extent in which the ego will manipulate situations in order to keep power is worrisome at best. Distressful. In the face of a truly superior model turn cheek and return to the safety of certainty. Risk is solely for those worthy of reward. Institutions will fall.

To truly unlock the potential of human development and ability we must remove our institution and rely on a more concrete idea: constant change.

A quote from Circles by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

There are no fixtures in nature. The universe is fluid and volatile. Permanence is but a word of degrees. Our globe seen by God is a transparent law, not a mass of facts. The law dissolves the fact and holds it fluid. Our culture is the predominance of an idea which draws after it this train of cities and institutions. Let us rise into another idea: they will disappear. The Greek sculpture is all melted away, as if it had been statues of ice; here and there a solitary figure or fragment remaining, as we see flecks and scraps of snow left in cold dells and mountain clefts, in June and July. For the genius that created it creates now somewhat else. The Greek letters last a little longer, but are already passing under the same sentence, and tumbling into the inevitable pit which the creation of new thought opens for all that is old. The new continents are built out of the ruins of an old planet; the new races fed out of the decomposition of the foregoing. New arts destroy the old. See the investment of capital in aqueducts made useless by hydraulics; fortifications, by gunpowder; roads and canals, by railways; sails, by steam; steam by electricity.

 Courtesyhttp://omnivorousego.tumblr.com/

Red and White Hat Thinking

    

  The activity we had for this concept requires decision on what kind of thinking we are going to apply. In this particular activity, I chose red hat thinking because I’m doing a decision based on my gut reaction, intuition, and emotion. 

     For me, it’s really important to use my intuition and feelings in making any kind of decision especially in choosing my food. If I use white hat thinking, although the entire nutrition facts label declares all the positive side of the food I’m going to take, it’s not a guarantee that I am going to like it. Sometimes, we eat the food we want according to our emotions or gut reaction, so it’s really important for me to use red hat thinking. 

      Additionally, there are decisions where we can use white hat thinking especially if it concerns our safety or health. Distinguishing between what you want or what you need is also an exception. If you want to discern what you need, you have to apply white hat thinking. 

      On the other hand, red hat thinking is for your personal "want", since your full mind,  perception, attention and body decide what you really want. Because food choices are involved in this activity, red hat thinking is applicable and very appropriate for me to apply.

       The situation I want to share happened couple of years back. I was in a dilemma and  personal crossroad. The decision I want to make was whether to continue my schooling or grab the opportunity to work in a multi-national company. That situation left me indecisive, stagnant and depressed. I really want to do both but I need to decide which one I’m going to prioritize. The first thing I did was consult my parents and relative. They gave opinions on what to do and what to prioritize that really entangled my mind totally. I was totally lost but I find my way to decide. 

        I chose to study. That time I think that if I finished my nursing school. I knew there will be more opportunities await for me, even multi-national companies will open their door and windows. My studies will also guard my future by giving me enough knowledge and fruitful skills that I can use in the real world situations, I really thought that way. I applied white hat thinking to decide what I need to choose. On the other hand, I also used red hat thinking to assess my emotion. 

       Since I decided to be objective and realistic, without resorting to my emotions. I chose white hot thinking. I’m satisfied with my decision and that time, I’m learning and enjoying at the same time. Moreover, I also had an opportunity to work while studying. I just think I made the right decision. :-)

    For more learning about this concept, the following questions were very useful for me specifically in assessing the situations I experienced.

White hat:

1. Do I have enough knowledge to fulfil the task of working for this company?

         2. Is the offer rally good and practical?

         3. Do I have enough information regarding the job description?

         4. Is there enough skills and information available for me?

 Red hat:

        1. How do I feel about the situation and what I want to do about it?

        2. Is this an important decision to satisfy my emotions?

        3. Do I feel relieved if I chose one of these?

        Both thinking is helpful but carry out different result. Since I want to be realistic and don’t want to base my decisions on my emotions, I prefer white hat.

       

There are also different kinds of thinking hat we may use to effectively decide on things:     

       White Hat focuses on the available information and analyzing past trends, and try to delve from historical data.

     Red Hat uses intuition, emotion and gut reaction and reacting to the situation emotionally, through intuitive responses to find out the best reasoning.

     Black Hat uses pessimistic approach, cautious and defensive reactions. It makes your plans and decisions tougher and more resilient.

     Yellow Hat use positive thinking with a viewpoint that facilitates the appearance of helpful benefits and lighter side of the situation.

      Green Hat is for creativity in solving you problems. It is used in generating creative and useful ideas to solve the problem or to make decisions.