Seagull

24/7/2019

You may remember the poster. Seagulls in flight and simple words: ‘They can because they think they can’ (Virgil). It’s a great cognitive-behavioural insight. Faith is to act on what we believe as if it were true. How far are we held back by limitations in our thinking? How can we discover and release potential for what is truly possible?

‘Argue for your limitations, and they are yours.’ (Richard Bach)

Jonathan Livingstone Seagull blew my mind. I was 17 at the time, working in a tedious, meaningless job, just to earn enough money to buy my dream motorcycle. I remember a tradesman called Steve handed me the book. He had travelled the world and had a perspective and outlook that seemed to transcend what we were doing. I opened the pages and started to read. I immediately felt gripped, challenged and inspired. I could see myself, my life, hopes and aspirations in a totally different light. It ignited something deep within me. I felt breathless with excitement. It set my imagination ablaze.

Around that time, pop group Supertramp released, Logical Song: ‘When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle, it was beautiful, magical. And all the birds in the trees, they'd be singing so happily, joyfully, playfully watching me. But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical. And then they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical…’ It was as if they were speaking my words, my voice. It resonated deeply with the profound existential restlessness I was now feeling. The lyrics went on:

‘There are times when all the world's asleep, the questions run too deep for such a simple man. Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned. I know it sounds absurd, please tell me who I am. Yet, watch what you say, they’ll be calling you a radical, a liberal, fanatical, criminal...’ These words rang out for me like a prophecy. I immersed myself in radical literature, in political activity and, in the midst of it, found Jesus. Now this was a truly explosive experience, catapulting me from Star Trek’s impulse to warp drive. It felt like my whole body and mind were filled with blazing light.

Family, friends and colleagues looked on, alarmed or bemused. I went into work, tore down demeaning pornographic material that covered the workshop walls, resigned from my job and studies, gave away my possessions and headed off to do full-time, voluntary, community development and human rights work instead. I was bursting with vision and energy and it completely changed the focus and trajectory of my life and relationships since. I’ve never looked back for a second. It taught me that so many limitations exist only in our minds. What limitations are you arguing for? Are they now yours?

How can I help you to discover and release potential? Get in touch! [email protected]

43 Comments

Sharon King Cert Coach

24/7/2019 06:17:04 pm

Loved this article Nick...... And I remember that song too!!

Nick Wright

24/7/2019 06:19:38 pm

Thanks Sharon. I’ve got it stuck in my head now! 🎵

Lilin

24/7/2019 06:29:07 pm

Inspiring article Nick. One should never search for their limitations or let limitations find them.

24/7/2019 06:38:59 pm

Thanks Lilin. Very profound. You may like this short related piece? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/the-edge-of-experience

Julie Bullen

24/7/2019 07:23:48 pm

Great song - never forgotten it - think a few of those 'old' songs could do some good - how do we get them re-released!

24/7/2019 07:25:19 pm

Hi Julie. Now there’s an idea! 💡 “Songs of Substance”. 🎶

Kathrin Hoffmann

24/7/2019 10:42:53 pm

Wenn du dieses Buch nicht gelesen hättest, wie wäre dann dein Leben geworden? Ganz anders oder genauso wie jetzt, nur mit einem anderen Start? So interessant, auch wenn es keine Antwort gibt.

25/7/2019 08:53:57 am

Danke Kathrin. Das ist eine interessante Frage! Jonathan Livingstone Seagull gab mir einen Sinn für das Leben. Jesus und seine Berufung erfüllten diesen Zweck auf tiefere und mächtigere Weise, als ich es mir jemals hätte vorstellen können. Wenn ich Jonathan Livingstone Seagull nie gelesen hätte - wer weiß, wie sich mein Leben entwickelt haben könnte.

[Thanks Kathrin. That's an interesting question! Jonathan Livingstone Seagull gave me a sense of purpose in life. Jesus and his calling fulfilled that purpose in deeper and more powerful ways than I could ever have imagined. If I had never read Jonathan Livingstone Seagull - who knows how my life might have turned out.]

Gwen Griffith

24/7/2019 10:56:06 pm

Nick!

Brilliant!!!!

Gwen

24/7/2019 10:57:02 pm

Thanks Gwen. You are a great encourager! 😀

Richard Simpson

25/7/2019 08:54:09 am

Hi Nick - A personal resonance here. The Logical Song is almost an anthem for me - in fact I have written a screenplay with that very title. I never had the courage to completely leave the material world behind - to borrow lyrics from another favourite song, I was always 'on the ship, tied to the mast' and still am, haunting the margins of two worlds. Thanks for the reminder.

25/7/2019 09:19:52 am

Hi Richard and thank you for such an honest personal reflection. I'm intrigued by your screenplay! Those are great words from the Stranglers. I woke this morning with words from Rush in my head: 'Innocence gave me confidence to go up against reality.' This short related piece says a bit more about the reality - and sometimes not - of my own life of faith: http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/whatever9279513

Maria Varallo

25/7/2019 11:47:12 am

Ahh your story totally resonates with me starting with Jonathon Livingston Seagull, then Jupiter’s Travels and then I was off. Interesting our paths lead to the jobs we do (if we are lucky to be able to explore). No real surprises on reflection but travel and being alone in the Sinai is highly recommended.

25/7/2019 11:50:38 am

Hi Maria. I never read Jupiter's Travels but I remember reading Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's, The Little Prince (in French, German and English!) and Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet at around the same time. I would love to hear more about your experience alone in the Sinai. Have you ever read Carlo Carretto's, Letters from the Desert?

26/7/2019 05:09:59 pm

Kahil Gibran wonderful and no never read Letters from the Desert, are you recommending it?

26/7/2019 05:10:43 pm

Hi Maria. I read it a long time ago now...and remember finding parts of it inspiring...

Gunilla Molin

25/7/2019 12:02:36 pm

👏👍

25/7/2019 12:03:52 pm

Thanks Gunilla! 😀

John Varney

25/7/2019 03:02:11 pm

Nice story Nick. Missed out on those songs - too busy learning to fly!
The clues are there when you are ready to respond.
But yes, some of us are fortunate to have such influences and rise to the challenge - then it is incumbent on us to do the same for others.
Good luck with the quest.
If you come by this way call in!
Bring your client groups.
Regards
John

25/7/2019 03:08:54 pm

Hi John. Was Tom Petty involved in your flying lessons? :) Yes, it is a privilege to have these influences in our lives. What a difference that can make...and what a difference we can make for others too. Your work and centre look interesting. What a beautiful location...and not a million miles from the North East of England where I live.

26/7/2019 11:34:23 am

Hi Nick, The name Tom Petty seems to ring a bell but I am not sure why. Tell me more.

My own inspirations was John G Bennett and hence indirectly G I Gurdjieff. I set up High Trenhouse in 1976 as an experiment in group dynamics and sustainable living and am still here. The project morphed into Centre for Management creativity in 1990. The place is ideal for working with developmental groups. Bring a client group and find out for yourself! It works well for all sorts of reasons. As you say its not far away and it is the perfect venue.

But my response to you was not a sales pitch. I liked your piece. We are fellow travellers.

Warm regards, John

26/7/2019 11:34:53 am

Hi John. On Tom Petty, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5BJXwNeKsQ :)

27/7/2019 10:33:22 pm

Hi Nick, Your story is of a Damascene experience but many of us have no such events to refer to. Perhaps we fail to see the signs or respond to the stimuli.

I tried an exercise the other day where I asked people to think of half a dozen "nudge points" in their lives - points that felt like turning points where something prompted a change of direction (we all do have such points if we sift our memories). Having identified some of these I asked people to write down what each had taught them (we were looking for "deeper learning" - Bateson's Learning 2 that changes what people become.

Having surfaced these experiences we shared and integrated them to gain insights.

This brought us some profound observations and surfaced material we would not normally have touched upon. It was cathartic! In effect these formatory experiences add up to the Damascene, if we pay attention to them. Taking the time to reflect on them and then sharing the process was very valuable to us all.

I recommend you try it and further, that those of you who work with groups.

27/7/2019 10:38:06 pm

Hi John. I like what you describe as ‘nudge points’. There are some resonances here: http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/narrative

Lisa Hawkins

25/7/2019 05:39:43 pm

I love Richard Bach! <3 I'm asking myself what limitations am I arguing for.

25/7/2019 05:40:45 pm

Hi Lisa. Me too! I remember reading Illusions and There's No Such Place as Far Away. Richard Bach has a great way of stretching the imagination.

Derek Rowe

25/7/2019 10:03:51 pm

To be honest I have come to believe not all of us possess the drive for self-actualisation, discovery, etc in the same way. To answer your question, I become aware of, and realise, my potential via others. Others have always seemed to know what I am capable of, and even what I should be focusing on, more than I.

This has led me to achieve valuable things, and learn even more valuable lessons. It's also allowed me to find myself in situations, rather than put myself in them - to be truly surprised by life.

Others can often see what I can't. Thank God they occasionally take an interest!😄

25/7/2019 10:09:50 pm

Hi Derek and thank you for such an honest response. Yes, we’re all different and, often, we discover what we aspire to and are capable of in the context of relationship to others. Sometimes I find myself surprised by what others have experienced of me and found most valuable. I thank God, too, for others who have nurtured, challenged and inspired me. 👍

Ian Henderson

26/7/2019 11:09:18 am

Oh boy Nick.......such an insightful piece. Self-limitations through limiting beliefs are arguably the biggest blocker that I see in my work and, if I'm honest, in my younger self; fed by the limiting beliefs of important people around me - "Oh, don't start your own business, it's hard work and you'll probably fail" kind of thing. I've lost count of the number of things I haven't done because of my my parents and family said to me in my impressionable years. Then I discovered the power of acting as if and things changed for me and the rest as they say............Please can I use your piece as the basis for my weekly tips? Oh, and it would be great to catch up as a lot has happened here in the last couple of weeks mate. God bless.

26/7/2019 11:19:16 am

Thanks, Ian, for such a personal and encouraging response. I wish I could say that I was only influenced by limiting beliefs in my younger years. I experience it now too, sometimes without realising what beliefs are at play until on-reflection or in supervision afterwards.

On the theme of limiting beliefs, you may find this short article interesting? I wrote it with Richard Marshall, an occupational psychologist, some years ago now: http://www.nick-wright.com/fresh-thinking.html

Yes, feel free to use this piece in your weekly tips! I would be interested to hear if you get any responses. And yes, it would be great to catch up. It has been a while!

26/7/2019 11:29:55 am

Hi Nick, Thanks for giving me access to what is a great article. I can do any day next week except Monday. So, whenever is good for you good sir. HAGW in the meantime.

26/7/2019 11:30:36 am

Thanks Ian. You're welcome. I'll send you some dates!

John Haran

26/7/2019 07:12:35 pm

As a Christian, Jesus is the epitome of Servant Leadership. As a historian, I can think of only three other people who came close to his example (Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi). They were close because as humans they fell short in "falling on their swords." This is not to diminish their Servant Leadership contributions to human beings. Their contributions are second to none.
When one is realistic in a leadership role, one can't be all things. Serving a higher purpose in leadership takes a Servant mindset. A leader with this mindset understands that it's not about them or a system, but people and developing followers to become servant leaders with all of the ups and downs of life is more important than numbers on a spreadsheet. This said, even if numbers on spreadsheet are the "bottom line," developing Servant Leaders is the ticket to success because it takes people living purposeful lives to balance the system with the needs of people.

26/7/2019 07:15:06 pm

Hi John. I think I would want to add Martin Luther King to the list...and an amazing girl I have worked with closely in the Philippines...among others. This short related article may be of interest: http://www.nick-wright.com/a-radical-heart.html

James Rowe

26/7/2019 10:29:32 pm

I love this piece Nick! Ian is right, limiting belief is everywhere, and from experience is nationally cultural as well as learned. I work a lot in the US, and there aren't many people here with an "I can't, I won't, I'll fail" mindset. Somehow the US teaches its children that anything is possible with hard work. "I can, I will" is the mantra here. Derren Brown talks about the 'suitcase of bricks' that we drag along behind us through life. Each brick, a negative experience that we seem unable to shake, impacting on our future. Unpack the suitcase, leave the bricks behind and believe in yourself. Great post, thank you! :)

26/7/2019 10:37:50 pm

Thanks James! That’s a really interesting reflection on cultural differences. Interesting too that, in the USA, the emphasis is on the ‘I’ whereas in many cultures I’ve worked with the emphasis is on the ‘we’. I wonder what difference that makes in this respect. I like the suitcase and bricks metaphor. I guess one of the tricky parts can be knowing when we’re dragging a suitcase and, if so, what bricks are in it. Perhaps that’s where therapy, coaching and supervision can make a significant contribution. Enjoy your time in the States! 😎

Maria Manuela Martins

27/7/2019 10:25:19 am

Thanks for sharing.

27/7/2019 10:25:55 am

Hi Maria. You’re welcome. 😀

Rhondre Giscombe

27/7/2019 04:48:23 pm

The belief within ourselves is crucial... without it nothing can be achieved.

27/7/2019 04:49:04 pm

Hi Rhondre. Yes, it certainly makes a difference!

Peter Callender

29/7/2019 02:21:03 pm

Thanks colleagues for a very inspiring train of thought. I also like John’s nudge points.

Maybe another part of the jigsaw is how open to feedback each of us is? And our mindset to listen and act upon helpful feedback?

29/7/2019 02:23:28 pm

Thanks Peter. Yes, I'm sure that's true...and I guess feedback could be an example of a nudge...and sometimes a revelation, a motivator, a source of guidance. I can certainly think of numerous occasions in my life where feedback has influenced my sense of direction and decision-making. Do you have examples from your own experience that you could share here?

https://uk.eliteassignmenthelp.com/ link

26/11/2022 03:44:49 am

Seagull is a better way to write comments and replies. You can improve your business communication by using the Seagull features and the Seagull button in Outlook, Google Docs, Gmail, Slack, Twitter, Facebook and other webmail clients.

Seagull

Leave a Reply.

Nick Wright

Archives

Categories

Seagull

Leave a Reply.

​Nick Wright

​Archives

Categories

Nick Wright

Archives