The world's greatest get rich bible

Chapter 51 Proactive: The essence of human nature is active not passive 1
Volume [-] "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"

This is a wonderful book that can change your destiny!

——Tom Peters, "Business Pope" and "Father of Postmodern Enterprise"

Chapter 1 Proactive: The essence of human nature is active rather than passive1
Freedom of choice determines the nature of initiative

People have "freedom of choice", which comes from the four unique talents of human beings.In addition to self-awareness, we also have "imagination", which can go beyond reality; "conscience", which can distinguish right from wrong, good and evil; and "independent will", which can act on its own without being influenced by external forces.

-- "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"

In 1905, a baby boy was born in a Jewish family in Vienna who were not wealthy, and his parents named him Frankel.Frankel's ideal in his youth was to become a doctor, but after entering university, he gradually shifted his interest to psychology, and got acquainted with famous psychology masters such as Freud and Adler.

After graduating from college, Frankel became an excellent psychiatrist.But just when he was full of ambition, World War II broke out, and the Jews were persecuted by the Nazis.Friends advised him to leave Austria as soon as possible, but for the sake of his relatives and patients under treatment, he finally gave up his visa to immigrate to the United States and stayed in his home country.

In 1942, Frankel and his family were arrested by the Nazis and imprisoned in a concentration camp in Bohemia.He suffered a lot, tortured both physically and mentally.His father, mother, brother, and wife were persecuted to death one after another, and Frankel fell into despair.

One day, a German officer took Frankel to a small room, stripped him of his clothes, beat and insulted him continuously, and then imprisoned him alone in the dark room.After experiencing the loss of dignity, the death of his relatives, and the loss of his family and country, the painful Frankel suddenly realized that he had not completely lost his freedom, because although the Nazis could restrict his personal freedom, the independence of thought and spirit It's something they can't change.He realized that "anything that a person possesses can be taken away, but the last freedom of human nature-that is, the freedom to choose one's own attitude and way of life in any situation-cannot be taken away".

From this day on, hope was rekindled in Frankel's heart.He continued to exercise his will until one day he firmly believed that the freedom of the mind finally surpassed the imprisonment of his body by the Nazis.Frankel was one of the few people who survived the concentration camp.But in the worst environment, Frankel discovered the most valuable aspect of human nature, that is, people have "freedom to choose".

According to Mr. Stephen Covey, the concept of "freedom of choice" proposed by Frankel is one of the essential differences between humans and animals. Animals can only passively accept the constraints of the environment or seek changes within a limited range.Human beings are different. Under extremely harsh conditions, even if the human body is restricted or destroyed, they can still maintain a high degree of spiritual freedom, and even rely on the energy of the spirit and thought to change the environment.

Therefore, the freedom of choice means that the independent consciousness of human beings comes from the inner man, rather than the constraints of nature or society.This huge power from the heart determines that human nature is to actively seek change or improvement, rather than passively bear it.Although sometimes people will show a negative state, but this is often a conscious or unintentional choice of a person. They are subject to the "ups and downs" of the social environment, and refuse to change or think that they have no ability to change.But human nature is positive, so these people in a state of passive avoidance often feel unfree and depressed because of it.

The nature of initiative prompts most people to "think carefully and choose their own principles and values ​​as the driving force for action" when they encounter difficulties. They will "completely control the material, spirit and stimulation of the outside world in their own hands."Therefore, Stephen Covey proposed: If a human being is born like an animal, he only obeys the instinct and the influence of the acquired environment, and can only achieve limited development.

(End of this chapter)