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ADULT COGNITIVE PROCESSES by Vernon Richards THE BEGINNING OF GROWTH Our connected world and society is becoming more

engrossing, entertaining, and complicated every day. Choices of what to do, who to be, who to know, what to value and pursue, are continually expanding. So why turn from the passions surrounding these expanding external stimuli to step back and study our own mental, social, and emotional processes? What can possibly be gained through focused introspection? We all know that commercially, every product we can touch or buy comes from some refining raw materials through a manufacturing process of some sort. For gain and profit some individual or company mines or grows, then refines, assembles, packages, re-packages, then sells to those who demand it. In the process matter changes shape and form from something of little value into something sought after and prized. In the same way, internal and external forces over time will also change us into something else, so our interest, control, and participation in that refining process should be of great personal concern. We can only build upon a real base, our unique cognitive states (who we are in terms of personality and character) define the starting point. To insure progress vs. regression, we all need to correctly identify and control the process which influence the eventual product, so as to facilitate the creation of more valuable personas and to avoid failure? We should be intensely interested in controlling the processes that have made us who we are today, and which will determine who we will be tomorrow. The first choice is simple and clear, become aware and take personal responsibility for our own development and state of mind, or let the chips fall where they may, ...to lead and govern ourselves, or to be lead. The universal laws of entropy state that nothing in our physical universe naturally moves from a state of disorder to order. Nothing spontaneously assembles into an organized useful state by itself without a prior investment in energy and effort. In fact everything, left to itself, naturally degenerates into a less-ordered and more chaotic state over time. In our minds and hearts also, nothing positive will happen by itself. Osmosis has always been and will always be an inferior method of study for college exams. Although some opportunities can simply fall into place by serendipity, the hard fact is that by design or nature, most things are not so accommodating, and require effort to obtain, conquer, or refine. The reader must first accept and conclude that when it comes to personal growth, doing nothing is the worst of all choices, and can only result in diminished individual growth and progression. It is only when Congress is in session that the do-nothing approach is of some usefulness. In real life one must care enough to apply some effort and energy to expand ones opportunity for growth. Because every act is preceded by deliberation, the fact that you are reading this demonstrates that you have already started the early stages of preparation for growth. At the outset, even prior to the first stage in any effort at personal growth and victory, a plan must first be formed in the mind, followed by our will to execute that preconceived goal. So our mind and spirit are the first and most important tools of our quest for growth and increased happiness. Yet that very tool which is needed in order to begin to form a goal to grow, can sometimes get in the way if physical or environmental limitations exist, especially when the goal is to expand and improve the very tool needed for the beginnings of the task. This paper is designed to provide insight and inspiration to help enable or facilitate an attitude and environment that is conducive to emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and cognitive growth. The fact is that no matter who we are and what our opportunities are, life wears on all of us like a grinding wheel. Some become polished by the abrasion, some break from the stress. How we move in response to the wear defines our final shape, and prepares us for the next round of challenges. And there is always another round, isn't there? Our trials and challenges can serve as impetus for growth and learning, serving as milestones to our development. If there were no pain and sorrow, we wouldn't know joy. Joy does not come from the absence of sorrow, but in the knowledge of the absence of sorrow, along with the knowledge of what sorrow is as obtained from prior painful experience. To illustrate, isn't it wonderful and joyful to become well with strength and health springing back, after a serious illness? Does not a warm loving relationship or reunion feel so much better and satisfying, after a long period of loneliness or separation? Isn't it great to eat a warm full meal after an extended hunger or fast? Doesn't a kind word of praise warm the heart more poignantly, following a long dearth of recognition? How much sweeter is success in any area when following a long struggle, often with many failures. Would any success be as sweet, or bring tears to our eyes, were it not for our past which enables recognition of its value? But having experienced failure or loss is no guarantee of eventual joy, happiness, security, or success. Pain, sorrow, rejection or failure may make one person bitter, but a different person more determined and stronger. We are often left asking, Why? Certainly it's not the external physical facts of the sorrow or trial, which may be identical for both. It can be concluded that it is not only the physical experience that makes us what we are, but how our minds and spirits process, categorize, and internalize the experience and associated data. Some may not profit from their experiences, while others eventually find they are served by them and can even become grateful for past trials. The success with which we apply our mental processes and powers to interpret our experience, which in turn leads to a state of awareness (which we call cognition) varies from individual to individual. We all evolve from infancy into some form of adult thinking human being, and all carry with us the coping tools and talents we have developed along the way. Some of this baggage is very valuable and serves us, while some of it we drag along to our detriment and destruction, seemingly unable to let go. Imagine you see two men sitting on a bus reading the newspaper, both turning the page at about the same rate, both

well dressed and groomed. They may appear to have roughly the same level of intelligence, but in reality they may have completely different levels of cognitive abilities. If ones name is Ghandi and the other Osama, we might suspect they are on completely different plains of awareness. But without such prior knowledge, outward appearance and social standing can be false indicators of successful living and correct thinking. Appearance, titles, and credentials (particularly self-awarded accolades) can not be trusted, only words with deeds reveal the true nature of a man. Self praise is no recommendation. So, man/woman, ask yourself, What is your real state of awareness? How can we possibly measure our own state of mind, to know if we are doing OK? If each of us is limited to our own state of cognition, how can we possibly know if our state is inadequate, or how far it can or should be improved. You and I simply cannot know more than we know, nor be aware of more than our current limits of perception and understanding allow. So none of us can fairly measure our own level of cognitive achievement, because we are all unqualified by virtue of our own cognitive limits. How could we possibly know with certainty the limits of our own knowledge, and accurately judge the completeness or incompleteness of our knowledge base, if we don't know that which we have not yet learned or experienced? We simply cannot and do not know all those things of which we are not yet aware, or which we have incorrectly or incompletely assimilated and categorized. But do not be discouraged, if one understands the process of cognitive expansion, remaining aware that there is always more to learn, then we are not forever limited to our current state. Arrogance, vanity, and pride are the great limiters of personal growth and achievement. Due to inescapable ignorance at some level, we are all guilty of so limiting ourselves to some greater or lesser degree. FINDING A COMMON LANGUAGE: Before a meaningful discussion on cognitive human processes can begin, the deliverer and recipient of a communicative effort must have a common language. Not only do you and I need to speak the same language with approximately the same vocabulary, but we both must have reasonably similar interpretations as to the meaning of each and every word used in a communiqu. Otherwise what you think I mean may bear little or no resemblance to what I'm trying to communicate, whereas if you understand what I mean, things of great importance will not be lost in the translation. So if I have something valuable to present, and you have the opportunity to profit thereby, we simply must understand and agree on the definitions of each word being sent from me to you, so there is not just a superficial understanding. Many of the critical terms used in this paper can be considered somewhat abstract and are often subject to varied personal interpretation. Often (indeed more often than not) important terms relating to the heart, mind, and spirit are misused and abused by our culture, especially in advertising, politics, and religion, so the uncertainty many feel, if asked to offer a definition, is understandable. What follows is a summary of what is deemed to be the most critical concepts used in this discussion. Understanding their meanings as I do is the best guarantee that the messages will actually be conveyed to you as originally intended. This is especially true here because the ideas being conveyed in this paper are not simple in nature. The following terms are defined in the context with which they will be used in this paper. The concepts behind the terms herein cannot be described in common physical or material terms, nor can they through the five senses of touch, sight, hearing, smell or taste. Nor will understanding the ideas behind the words come by quickly glancing at their respective definitions. For the mind to be able to grasp the ideas and grow, time will have to be taken to contemplate their meanings and associations. So, find a nice quiet relaxing spot to study them. Take your time, mull over each word. A whole new world may be revealed to you simply by this process of quiet, reflective studying of these important words, the important ideas behind them, and relationships between them. So here we go INTELLIGENCE The ability to comprehend and learn new or expanded concepts from training or experience. Ones capacity for knowledge. The skill to use correct reasoning in interpreting and assimilating information. HUMILITY PERCEPTION AWARENESS COGNITION An awareness or sense of the limits of ones own knowledge, wisdom, or cognitive abilities. Characterized by the absence of arrogant assertiveness, vanity, and pretension. A mental image of the elements of an environment derived through physical sensation and interpreted in the light of experience. Having or demonstrating accurate perception, realization, or knowledge. Implies vigilance and alertness in drawing correct inferences from accurate perceptions. The act or process of knowing (in possession of accurate knowledge, a practical awareness of truth) including both Awareness and Judgment.

KNOWLEDGE The fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience, association, or training. A condition of having accepted and assimilated truth or fact correctly. TRUTH Accurate and complete knowledge of things as they are, as they were, and as they are to come. The body of real things, events, and facts and the correct understanding of how they relate to all other truths.

WISDOM

Accumulated learning lending insight, judgment and the ability to correctly discern reality and relationships. The capacity or ability to apply or disseminate knowledge in timely, correct dosages to resolve or reduce difficulties or differences and/or improve the living conditions of humanity. The correct application of knowledge and power to serve others.

CONFIDENCE Faith or belief in oneself and ones ability to act in a right, proper, or effective way. A state of self-awareness and self-trust without any suggestion of conceit or arrogance. LOVE Strong unselfish affection or attraction to another arising out of respect, kinship, admiration, or benevolence, and sometimes (due to inescapable human nature and physical attraction) accompanied by sexual desire. A warm, tender attachment and devotion felt for another characterized by the absence of fear and mistrust.

PEACE A state of tranquility, security and order. Freedom from civil or emotional disturbances and oppression. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ INSECURITY ANXIETY PREJUDICE FEAR CONFUSION A feeling of being inadequately equipped or sustained, beset by fear and anxiety. Not confident or sure, deficient in assurance. A mental state of painful or apprehensive uneasiness and fear, of long duration, arising out of the perception of a threat and by self-doubt about ones capacity to cope with said perceived threat. An opinion or judgment formed without just grounds or before acquiring sufficient knowledge. A judgment or action made without proper examination often causing injury or damage. An unpleasant and strong reactionary emotion caused by anticipation or awareness (real or imagined) of imminent threat or danger. The state or condition of being perplexed, disconcerted, disordered or mixed-up. A state of disorder derived from the inability to draw inferences due to a restricted or incorrect pool of knowledge.

FRUSTRATION A deep chronic sense of dissatisfaction arising from confusion, unresolved problems, or unfulfilled needs, coupled with a lack of knowledge of any solution, the nonexistence of a solution, or the inability to execute a solution. STRESS The physiological state or effect of continued bodily or mental tension felt. Possibly destructive to mental cognition and may be a factor in disease causation. Caused by forces or factors that tend to apply pressure and strain on 'mental or physical equilibrium'. A psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, feelings of dejection and hopelessness. An incapacitating and sometimes self-destructive emotional state. An unstable state of violent disorder and anger. An intense uncontrolled fit of wrath, sometimes in reaction to frustration. THE CYCLIC NATURE OF LIFE AS A DYNAMIC PROCESS At the risk of oversimplifying, our basic life cycle can be described as a series of sequential learning and relearning experiences. We are all exposed to different and unique sets of experiences, and this in part contributes to the extremely varied nature of all individuals. Our environment, our response to that environment, as well as our genetic predisposition, have led us to become who and what we are. The personalities and skills we have formed in response to the challenges and pressures on us, define who we are. We either engage in a progressive cycle and expand/improve ourselves, or we engage in a self-destructive cycle that leads to self-delusion and eventual disappointment and sorrow. It is quite impossible to simply arrive and remain at a certain state of cognitive awareness or achievement, neither growing nor shrinking. Every individual is compelled to operate within his or hers culture and environment to survive, and so will be driven by the forces at play within the local social economic religious, and family constructs. PERCEPTIONS/REALITIES ARE VERY PERSONAL THINGS, NO TWO ALIKE The variety of people and life make our differences inevitable. Perceptions are always unique. Your universe and reality is only what you create within your own mind, your interpretation lives within you and no one else. Our worlds are truly confined to the neural networks of our own minds. We all live in a state of 'virtual reality', with varying perceptions and interpretations of our own mental universe based on our unique histories and varied collections of truths, and experience. The further two individuals are divided in language, culture, and religion, the more difficult it is to share knowledge and enlightenment. But even when differences appear to be minimal, due to incomplete knowledge and errors within both you and I, the intellectual and spiritual picture you paint and the meaning you take from these words is assuredly not exactly what the

DEPRESSION

RAGE

author visualized and intended to convey. All communication is subject to this type of personality dependent error. Hopefully this effort invokes an understanding within your mind which is reasonably close to intent, but perhaps your experience and wisdom expands these words far beyond what I am capable of contemplating. Verbal communication is subject to even more interpretive error as it is typically less formatted and the listener usually has less time to ponder upon and fully digest the information. The cognitive skills, and the particular approach we each use to process all the information and experiences we're exposed to are unique to each individual. The amount of success with which we, as individuals, correctly interpret, analyze, categorize and draw inferences from our experience and then remember and accurately extrapolate that knowledge base to assist our present and future lives, describes our wisdom, intelligence, and character. Our ability to correctly see and know our world with all the forces and people acting on ourselves, and the true relationship of each new knowledge 'byte' to the total base of our experience, varies widely from individual to individual. One thing that is certain is that we will all perceive and interpret a given set of physical and social circumstances differently, in part because we've all come down a different path and have been exposed to a unique set of people, places and experiences. It's also true that our future paths will be as varied and different. Our environment (physical and mental) and the information and skills available to us now will also change with time, so that what we have learned yesterday, last month, or five years ago may be forgotten or even become obsolete. Our world and environment is unavoidably in flux, as is the energy, knowledge, and skills available to us to cope. Thus, all individuals state of awareness and cognitive powers are always in a state of motion or change. Its possible to reduce change but impossible to significantly escape it. Due to a perceived threat to the comfort of status-quo, the thought of change is often accompanied with fear and apprehension, and so resisted or ignored. Sometimes resistance to change can be advantageous and is proper, other times it can be counterproductive and anti-progressive, as history has shown as one individual or group after another has been left behind to languish with their obsolete methods, ideas, or skills. We are speaking in very general yet encompassing terms here, The reader is left to his memory and experience to verify these ideas and to apply whatever he/she may learn. The message trying to break out through these words is that change is inevitable, often good and progressive, and that it is human nature to be afraid of the unknown. We should try not to fear change, but to recognize, accept, and cultivate progressive change as we would a new friend. The sooner we bend and conform to the new realities of our environment and our new cognitive level of awareness, the more power we have to succeed in our goals and the quicker we can apply the new rules to our benefit. Remember that even the most stubborn recluse who attempts to abandon new or different experiences, and to subsist on old ideas and memories of the 'good old days' has already failed. His cognitive powers have already shrunk to the size of a peanut, and his mental processes will deteriorate from the lack of experiences and challenge as his memory fades. Time will go on, time waits for no one. This paper is dedicated to describing a best, most advantageous mental state of readiness and resolve, an attitude if you will. A healthy mind and correct attitude are not happiness in and of themselves, but are always precursors to personal peace and prosperity. A life of Joy is a process, not a final condition arrived at by following a step by step recipe. Realize up front that there are many many ways to get 'hung up', to get lost down dead end paths, or to hit brick walls and to have our goals frustrated. The easiest (and most common) way to stunt personal/spiritual growth is to accept and assimilate erroneous information as fact. Purging the mind from falsehoods then becomes necessary, but both recognizing the error and replacing the false ideas is difficult and can be very traumatic. It is much easier to avoid assimilating error in the first place, but cultural realities do not always allow that. Everyone wants to feel good, to be happy, and all are in active pursuit, misguided or not, of that elusive prize. The most common mistake people make is in searching for an end state of happiness, and in failing to recognize that joy comes within the journey itself, rather than in the moment of arriving at some destination point. No matter how noble or important the intention, sitting on your laurels and failing to grow and learn can only result in eventual frustration and unhappiness. This paper can only help inspire you to move into the mainstream of self-awareness and truth. The knowledge of a process can help you live within that process with some success, but only if you exert yourself.. Realize first that, although sometimes others can motivate us to get us going, no-one can sustain your effort but you, and that the will and energy to work and succeed is available somewhere within you. Each individual must ultimately on their own find, marshal, and cultivate that determination to choose learning and growth. Freedom comes after the acquisition of truth, not before.

At the risk of oversimplifying, we will attempt to identify two basic processes or cycles with which we may be involved. These cycles are represented graphically. Consider where you are now, and where you want to be. Remember that our participation and motion within these cycles is unavoidable. Consider, as you view the charts, the forces that tend to keep us within one or the other processes. The nature of all men is to be biased towards his own method of living, to be a creature of habit. Once we are operating within one of these cycles, lets call them cycle #1 and cycle #2, there seem to be human emotional and intellectual forces that tend to lock us in. Motion between the cycles is very difficult when going from cycle #2 to #1, but relatively easy from cycle #1 toward cycle #2. Consider each term within the cycles, hardly any can be defined without using other terms within a circle. As you contemplate the cycles, consider what percentage of your time you spend in each. Do not shrink from seeing yourself as you are, but do not condemn yourself for being as we all are, imperfect. To know yourself with any appreciable accuracy is an achievement in itself. I suspect that a significant percentage of people are seldom able to exist comfortably and securely within their own mental universe. Even for those individuals who find some degree of security, few are able to acquire the insight, tolerance, empathy and understanding towards others differences necessary for peace and tranquility. Whereas knowledge or expertise (real or imagined) in some field is somewhat common, true wisdom is much harder to find. This is because humility and honest self awareness seems so difficult for people to acquire and hold. Our cultural emphasis on material accumulation and personal satisfaction, or duty to ideologies in conflict with universal truths, does not help the dilemma. PREPARING FOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES To prepare to learn implies an active knowledge of the learning process. Obviously adequate rest and sufficient nutrition provide us with the strength needed to strive for progress, improvement, and excellence. We also need to place ourselves in new situations or otherwise become exposed to new information. The attitudes that are best suited to learning are less well known. The desire we have to grow and excel and the resulting goals we set in response to those desires will determine the breadth and height of our individual achievements. This desire to achieve a specific goal or to realize a particular dream, and the degree to which it inspires and motivates us to perform the required tasks, is the force behind all useful change. The vision of what we want to accomplish, combined with our belief in our abilities to meet the challenge, do nothing for us until we act. The combination of vision with belief, followed by action that confirms our aspirations, requires faith, and is in fact the definition of faith. The first step in exercising faith is to acquire a reasonable and correct vision, and to know ourselves sufficiently to accurately believe in our ability to make the vision come to fruition. The result of combining realizable aspirations with proper belief in our abilities, is that we can obtain and retain the drive and desire necessary to engage and continue in our efforts to realize our dreams. However, the strength and continuity of this desire, and the way in which we respond, seems to be very individualized. Our health (mental and physical) plays a roll in the individuals response, as do expectations, distractions, and pressures from our environment. The degree to which some people acquire and maintain the driving force behind their achievements, and the degree of success wherein they use it defies understanding, and we can only attribute these effects to individual uniqueness and human nature, but each of us is capable of great achievement. Other elements of our 'desire to excel' are learned by the way we interpret and respond to our past success and failures, and as such, they are subject to our control. Next to desire, the attribute of most importance in preparation for learning is HUMILITY. Humility, as an attribute, is one of the most poorly understood and under appreciated concepts in our culture. Our society emphasizes ambition and assertiveness as being necessary for successful achievement. Often, the distinction between ambition and selfish-ambition, or

assertion and arrogant-assertion, is not considered. Also, many associate humility with timidity and/or self-degradation, an association that is simply not the case. Humility implies strength not weakness, self-actualization not insecurity. And it should be sought after, not shunned. A truly wise person in the course of their learning, will discover much about the limits and punity of their knowledge and become more humble and grateful for that widened perspective. No person can rise so far that they cannot continue to learn from every other person. We must have a sense of the incompleteness and limits of our knowledge base in order to be ready to build upon it. When we become preoccupied with maintaining our feeling or position of false superiority, we are erecting a wall preventing further growth and progression. When Socrates said "know thyself" he was suggesting that we strip ourselves of vanity, false pride, and pretence and become acquainted with what we really know. Another consideration in preparing for learning opportunities is to insure that internal and external factors do not distract. Reducing environmental clutter (the barrage of external stimulus) to a minimum will free the mind to more clearly focus on a specific item. Eliminating internal turmoil and confusion is also needed to concentrate clearly. The effects of stress will be discussed later. FILTERING INFORMATION The futility of accepting everything presented to us as fact or of importance is best characterized by the quote; "If you believe everything you hear, you might as well eat everything you see". The most important factor that will determine the limits of our cognitive potential is the degree with which we are successful in rejecting erroneous and incorrect information, and in recognizing incomplete data. An important attribute of true intelligence is to have our personal perceptions tied as closely as possible, and as often as possible, to the true, universal realities and interrelationships of our universe. If we accept any false premise, then we are corrupting our foundation and limiting our future learning potential in any related area. A certain degree of skepticism is always advantageous, and is usually healthy and justified (especially true when watching TV). Beware of popular experts, sometimes masquerading as scholars, politicians, men of religion, lawyers and judges... who often take themselves too seriously and are too anxious to bend others to conform to their personal realities, which are often distorted or incomplete. Throughout history, nearly every important social or scientific step forward was vigorously resisted, opposed by many of the recognized experts and leaders of the day. As previously discussed, we need to be open to new information and experiences, but we also need to accept responsibility for our own mental state and be careful and selective in accepting information as fact. Baring a direct link to a source of all truth and knowledge, we can only rely on our own knowledge and cognitive skills to filter data. Our world, including its moving value system, can be very confusing at times making this task very difficult. The decisions we make on what information to accept as a true basis often describes a persons moral state, if not his/her potential to be successful and at peace with himself and any absolute truths that may exist in the universe. It should be noted here that, if there is a Creator or God who has at his command a full and complete knowledge of all truth and knows the value and interrelationships of all things, then a communicative link with Him (which could verify what is true or right) would be an invaluable tool to assist the individual in his learning process. I am not talking about anyone who claims to be speaking for Him, but the actual big-guy Himself. This author has some knowledge and personal testimony as to the existence and nature of God, but recognizes this is not readily transferable to others. Of course here too, a high degree of skepticism is healthy as there are too many evangelists over anxious to accept donations. Ultimately, we are all personally responsible for our own body of accepted truths. As such, if assistance in the filtering process is sought from above, confirmation/direction from deity should only be based on personal revelation, where trust can be absolute, versus from selfprofessed and self-appointed holy men. STRESS, THE MIND KILLER We've all felt the uncomfortable strain that comes from a difficult, frustrating situation. Deadlines and pressures are common in our complex society. Their source can be self-inflicted (elective schooling or personal health goals), personal (family or interpersonal obligations), financially induced obligations, or work related deadlines. But when these kinds of pressures become prolonged and the sources behind then seem impossible to resolve, then we may be experiencing a negative and possibly harmful form of stress. External factors relating to personal/family safety induced by national or religious conflict and violence, or threat of violence, are always harmful (and usually prolonged). It is common knowledge that excessive stress can cause or contribute to a variety of physical and mental ailments. What is not obvious is the actual mechanism by which excessive stress can make life so difficult for us mentally and physically. Our minds are essentially an organized collection of neural networks. These networks comprise collections of many neurons (nodes) interconnected in various ways to other nodes and networks. Each neuron plays a small part in our thinking process by reacting to stimulus from connecting nodes, and perform either a dedicated or varying learning or memory function. Each and every node in the networks are physically dependant on a variety of chemicals for proper functioning. The method with which these nodes communicate to each other is electrical, brought about by a chemical and biological process. Our entire

nervous system works in this manner throughout our body. A node is stimulated by one or more adjacent nodes which starts a chemical process which results in the node 'igniting' and stimulating other adjacent nodes in response. At least some of the chemical agents involved in this process have been isolated and are referred to collectively by the term 'neurotransmitter'. Some of these neurotransmitters are not created within the neuron cell itself but instead are fabricated elsewhere in the body and carried to the nervous system via the circulatory system. The inherent potential problem with this biological system that stress may trigger, is based in the fact that everyone has a different limit as to how much and how fast these neurotransmitters can be created and delivered. An extended crisis can deplete the bodys reserves of these important chemicals and then mandatory tradeoffs may take place. Physical survival dictates that the essential biological processes (breathing, digestion, heart beat, etc) take precedent, and so extended cognitive abilities may suffer or are sacrificed in a process known by system control experts as graceful degradation. If these tradeoffs continue due to prolonged crisis, it may result in mental disorders such as depression, paranoia, and may also be a factor in disease causation, possibly by a loss of immune system functioning. Whatever the causes and consequences, for the purposes of our discussion, it should be clear that there is a direct relationship between our cognitive potential (i.e. the learning process), and the availability of adequate neurotransmitter chemicals. A physically healthy, fully functioning brain is necessary to grow cognitively. As such, any person interested in expanding his cognitive potential should be extremely concerned with the level of stress he lives within. There are many good books on identifying and eliminating the factors in our lives that may cause unhealthy 'bad' stress, and the reader should search them out if need be. It should be noted here that all forms of stress are not harmful. Often 'good' stress serves a positive function to motivate individuals to better themselves or their environment (usually in the effort to reduce or eliminate the factors that are causing the stress). Periodic or infrequent stress is not dangerous, it's prolonged stress and anxiety that can incapacitate our higher thinking processes, making us more susceptible to error and bad judgment. The worst kind of stress is that kind which is accompanied with physical and psychological trauma. War, with its attendant hate and fear, can cause all kinds of disorders. Paranoia, addiction, sadism, depression, and any one of a number of other potentially permanent spiritual/emotional disorders come from participation in mayhem and war. As peace is the opposite of war, so hate is the opposite of personal growth. EXTENDING AND BALANCING THE SCOPE OF OUR KNOWLEDGE Balancing the scope of our knowledge and skills means distributing our available time and mental attention in an optimal manner in order to achieve our goals, needs, and desires. No one has the time or energy to do and learn everything that is worthy. Compromising and sometimes difficult decisions need to be made. No one knows this better than the second year college student still undecided on a major. It is vital for the individual to recognize that he/she has the right and privilege to decide how to spend their allotment of time and energy. The danger here is not in our power and freedom which this right affords, but rather in the loss of potential, and the accompanying despair, that results from the 'do nothing' approach. If we fail to decide, someone else or something else will decide for us, and we will have surrendered an important personal freedom. If we procrastinate, eventually time will expire, the alarm clock will go off, our windows of opportunity will close, and we will be left behind to deal with all the failures which are guaranteed to follow inaction. Another pitfall to be avoided when making our choices is the potential to spend our limited allotment of time unwisely in unworthy pursuits, or to exclude valuable knowledge and experience because of a preoccupation with another area. We have all heard of the intellectual who is socially dysfunctional and the socialite who is good for nothing else. Although economic necessity or personal preference prompts us toward expertise and excellence in a given field, it should not prevent us from being interested and knowledgeable in other worthy areas. To become obsessed with a single hobby, intellectual or otherwise, to the exclusion of all else is not healthy. In such a process, the individual learns more and more about less and less, until they finally know practically everything about nothing. Optimally a person should be conversant and knowledgeable in all areas, skillful in many areas, and expert in some fields. The balance or distribution of fields within that 'best' recipe is totally up to the individual. There is no 'correct' mix, once basic physical, mental, social, and spiritual requirements have been met, but diversity and depth in our knowledge and experience can only serve us well. WAITING AND WORKING IN PATIENCE Now comes the hard part. It's easy to feel inspired for short periods by someone else and to feel temporarily motivated to change and improve ourselves, but much more difficult to remember the feelings, to act on the resulting desires, and then to sustain that effort. The environmental factors and barrage of data that led to the decision to act eventually end, and we must find within ourselves the power to sustain the resolve. So barring 'in your face' type external motivation, how do we remember to act? Where do we continue to find the motivation and energy needed to persevere? In most cases, good intentions are not good enough, nor even a brief, even if impassioned, effort to expand our knowledge and skills.

The advantages that can be achieved from a sustained, continued effort in our search for truth and knowledge are tremendous. Growth and increase in material, spiritual, and emotional ways is in the offering. The reader hopefully has deduced the personal advantages in terms of increased personal power to live in a positive, contributing way. The personal peace that comes from living in harmony with truths of the universe is beyond price, but can only be obtained by knowledge of the laws, the facts, and absolute truths within our universe, and also by self discipline. Freedom from fear, as well as freedom from ignorance, frustration, confusion and insecurity are in the offering. Such an achievement does not occur overnight, however, but follows a long, dedicated effort and resolve. Nothing worthwhile can be obtained without paying the price and doing the necessary work. Every journey starts with a decision made in response to some desire felt, followed by a first step. Follow your heart and your intellect. Act correctly, and you will find that there are many unexpected rewards in both the journey and in arriving, for success breeds success. If it's worth having, then it's going to cost in terms of sweat, vigilance, work, and time. No one becomes wise, respected or powerful overnight, patience and persistence is the key. Know yourself, have patience and compassion for your own limits and shortcomings, want to become bigger, to expand your world, and then act on that desire. Forgive yourself your past errors, and don't expect too much too fast, but neither expect anything from nothing. Endure the uncertainty that comes with new situations, places, ideas, and people, and pursue that discomfort until it starts to become familiar. Fear, indifference, complacency, laziness and depression are the real enemies here. Assimilate and remember the saying; "Only standing water grows stagnant... rolling waters eventually purify". What are we waiting for? If we sincerely try, we will eventually succeed. So let's all get out there to greet, participate, and experience our world. Move! Know that failure is a part of success, and use that knowledge to bury old fears very deep. If the fears keep resurfacing, beat them back down with your faith and hope. Understand that all fears will eventually subside with your continued cognitive growth and eventual successes. The opportunities for growth are endless, well beyond our capacity to become bored within the short amount of time we are alive, even if your I.Q. is 200. If you think you are bored, then probably you've simply lost your humility, or failed to learn and value the benefits that can be enjoyed by helping and serving others less fortunate, and there are always so many, just lift your eyes and look around a little. So take a class from an institution of higher learning, travel, meet new people, volunteer for worthy causes, read good books and periodicals, become involved with your church group or other club, start a new hobby, exercise, take that new job or move to that new location. Seek out new and different people, cultures, experiences and challenges. Build-up, create, or improve your home, force yourself to open up and visit family and friends. Be creative, follow your best instincts, ignore any lack of response. Believe in yourself, if you persist ... you will prevail. If you make a mistake, LEARN, pick up the pieces, and go on. The only thing to truly fear is the 'do nothing' default decision or one that will be made for you by someone else (with probably a selfish agenda) if you fail or delay to decide and act for yourself. Do anything, chose it deliberately using all your current cognitive skills. Whatever you do, dont choose inaction, nor capitulate to the desires of another, as those are the only sure paths to guaranteed failure and despair.

Watch what you see and hear your mind will record all like a sponge. Watch what you assimilate from such will come your thoughts. Watch your thoughts they will become your words. Watch your words they will be followed by your actions. Watch your actions they eventually become your habits. Watch your habits they define your character. Watch your character it becomes your legacy.

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