In our effort to seek truth, we have to put our thoughts and ideas into action. It’s not enough to just believe something and not incorporate it, is it? Spirituality is about walking a path . . . YOUR path.
In the book, The Secret, it is argued that the secret to happiness is (and I’m paraphrasing) positive thinking. Having a dynamite attitude but with no way to express it is akin to having your car filled with rocket fuel. You CAN run like a bat out of hell but not with the vehicle you currently own. You have to realize you’re a rocket ready to blast off. If you continue to think like you’re a Pinto and constrained by those limits, that positive fuel will just sit there and that car can’t really go anywhere. And you end up . . . frustrated. You’re burdened with knowledge but have no way to put it into practice.
Case in point:
I recently had a discussion with someone who was lamenting her recent (and not so recent) bad luck with men. She wanted advice on how she could improve herself as seekers are want to do. She wrote:
“What was your honest, straight-up impression of me after spending time with me? Tell the truth and I promise I won’t get my feelings hurt. Even tell me the “not so positive” stuff. If my feelings get hurt, they’ll mend. Some have said that I tend to come off a little “uppity”. Did you feel that? As far as my looks go….did you think I was too heavy? Tell the truth. I’ll do the same for you if you want.”
I wrote back the following:
”Ok.
You have 3 missions to do first.
1. All day tomorrow you need to walk around like you are a 10. I mean a perfect 10. This world has been your dream and it is now your reality. You add value to the world by your very existence. If the world is a contest, you are the prize.
2. When you walk down the street, compliment three people on what they are wearing or on something about them. It could be a waiter/waitress or a complete stranger. It should be no one you know previously. Don’t wait for any acknowledgement. Just ninja compliment and walk the fuck on.
3. Call someone in your family and just ask how they are doing.
Just like the lil green jedi says, “Do or do not. There is no try.” Email me back sunday night and:
1. Give me impressions on what it felt like to be the perfect 10.
2. What were the three compliments.
3. How was the family member?
You can’t email me back until you do these three things. If you try I’ll just ignore it. You think I’m kidding? Try me.
Hugs,
V.”
I didn’t hear from her until a week and a half later and this was her response:
”O.K. Mister.
Mission accomplished. Finally. It wasn’t easy walking around feeling like at “10″ so it took several attempts. Yesterday, I finally felt it. I got dressed up, walked around the Plaza and had lunch alone at an outside cafe. I loved the entire day. I had a variety of emotions…including gratitude for just being alive. I felt like I was good enough for anyone and could accomplish anything I wanted. I complimented more than 3 people. I complimented the waitress for being so attentive, I complimented a lady I passed on the street about her beautiful long hair, the clerk at the bookstore for having a nice smile, a man about his shirt, the receptionist at my heating and air conditioning place, a friend of mine for being such a wonderful cook (she sent her husband over with a loaf of freshly baked bread) and several other people. “
So here’s the challenge. Go be a 10 and post your experiences here. Remember:
1. All day tomorrow you need to walk around like you are a 10. I mean a perfect 10. This world has been your dream and it is now your reality. You add value to the world by your very existence. If the world is a contest, you are the prize.
2. When you walk down the street, compliment three people on what they are wearing or on something about them. It could be a waiter/waitress or a complete stranger. It should be no one you know previously. Don’t wait for any acknowledgement. Just ninja compliment and walk the fuck on.
3. Call someone in your family and just ask how they are doing.
Now go be a “10!”
July 24th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Hey, just wanted to say that this is a great idea! I only wish that everyone could do all of these things on a daily basis. Yesterday, I ninja paid for someone’s lunch and got the heck out before he realized what had happened. I try to compliment as many people as I can and it’s amazing how people react: they are always so surprised anyone would randomly say something to them. I talk to someone in my family nearly every day. Acting like a 10 is the hardest part of the challenge, IMHO. We are taught that we are never good enough, that we constantly need to improve and change ourselves so we can be absolutely perfect on the outside. Society doesn’t really address the inside except to offer medication for those who can’t get there. It’s a struggle not to buy into that and it’s really easy to get caught up. We worship beauty but then we criticize those who strive to achieve it. What kind of message is that? At any rate, this is cool and I hope you get lots of good feedback and stories. Banky for Prez!
July 24th, 2008 at 9:14 am
That’s a great little mind-experiment you’ve got going. In honor of Spinal Tap, I’m going to walk down like I’m an 11.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Love the post
I might just have to do the assignment… however, I kind of already do most of that 
July 24th, 2008 at 11:06 am
HMMMMM
I think I do that every day. I am so lucky to be here, to have good genes, a wonderful family.
I genuinely love all people and compliment people habitually to spread good cheer. It is so nice to live in my hood and be able to give to those so less fortunate who everyone ignores.
As for family-I talk to them daily!
Thanks-GREAT ADVICE Banky.
July 24th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Hiya Banky, great to meet you the other night (if rather briefly). This is a great exercise! I dunno if I am ready for it, but would you mind if I link to this? I’ll give you credit and post to this page rather than copy and paste.
Thanks,
N }:-
July 28th, 2008 at 7:48 am
1. I’m only a 10 when I have a GREAT CLIPS cut or is from SCOTT’S Barbershop….so…..
2. Does commenting on someone’s elite Boots and Helm count?
3. I talk to my dad every other day, he’s usually depressed but I think my calling helps…..
July 29th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I love your answers wook. It all counts brotha.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:01 am
[…] posted a little challenge that I believe is one of the most useful things I have seen in the Internet in a long time. If you […]
August 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Wow, interesting. I got sent here from Logtar’s recommendation, and I’m not sure I can any of the three, for a variety of reasons.
1) I don’t think it’s possible to view myself as a “10″. Especially being a guy. It just isn’t possible even to pretend that way. How is a guy supposed to do it if you aren’t close to a 10, and actually not come off looking kind of pathetic? For women it’s easy - eye contact with the guys, smile at them, be confident… With men if you try to do that and you’re not actually a 10 or close to it, you’re branded “that creepy guy over there…”
2) I would love to compliment people, and do when I can (take generous time to thank them for things they do for me) but again, to compliment someone out of the blue would brand me as some kind of weird creep trying to hit on someone.
3) I don’t really have any relatives I’m close to that I don’t see regularly anyway….
I’m curious what your answers were to your friend’s questions, now that she followed your instructions…
August 4th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Yo Barry,
Thanks for stopping by and digging on this thread.
What I said to the friend after that? I never answered her questions directly, because I really didn’t have to. We still correspond. If you feel like a “10″ it doesnt matter if someone thinks your fat or “uppity.” By whose standards is anyone fat? We’re more than able to determine what improvements we need to make in life. And feeling great about yourself isn’t “creepy.”
Also, complimenting people out of the blue is only weird and creepy if you stand there and wait for acknowledgement or follow them around giving them compliments. The bottom line is that you don’t care if you ever see them again. Hell you probably won’t. The beauty of it is that you are adding value to a person’s life. How does that feel?
Just like Spidey’s uncle rapped, “With great power comes great repsonsibility.” Is a 10 to be admired for what they look like or for the type of person they really are? And if you are a 10, not because you were born with great genes, but because you just realize you’re special, you can help others realize they are a 10 too.
Maybe we can re-define what a 10 really is.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Amen Banky! Well said.