Many people associate philosophy with academia. Or, put another way, that it involves people talking away, expressing their thoughts or ideas about life and that’s as far as it goes.
However, it doesn’t just have to be this way. How about using the principle of applied philosophy? Instead of just mere talk, how about using philosophical principles, ideas you have about life and practically applying them, like this?
-In relation to this approach, here are 7 golden philosophical principles you can use to apply for personal effectiveness in your life!
1.The greatest investment in life
At this point you may be considering investments that could give you good returns. Investments, for example, in gold or silver, or cryptocurrencies, alt coins, tech stocks, tax-free incentive buys… etc. But, the greatest investment is not one of a financial kind!
Punchline: The greatest investment in life is in your health!
I’ve seen so many people accumulate wealth through investments of sorts, but they either have debilitating ill-health or have died through illnesses. -These illnesses could have been avoided if they had truly invested in their health. They could have lived to ripe old ages and reaped the benefits of their financial investments…
-Like I said, the greatest investment you could make in life is in your health.
2.Identifying the difference between root-cause from symptoms
When you can identify the difference between root-cause from symptoms your life could be transformed through applying related philosophical principles.
To explain with an analogy: Imagine arriving at your kitchen only to find that someone has left the taps on full. As the taps blast out their water, the sink overflows…
What do you do to fix the overflowing water from the sink? Do you take care of the problem by merely dealing with the symptoms: Your forever use your mop and bucket to get rid of the overflowing water? Or do you deal with the root- cause, simply turn off the taps?
Of cause you turn off the taps to fix the problem!
This analogy may sound quite absurd, but this is how many people go about their lives in a number of ways. Instead of fixing the problem once and for all by dealing with the root-cause, they get forever involved in handling the problem by only dealing with its symptoms.
-Indeed, this approach means that the problem will always return as the symptoms recur.
Applying philosophical principles means to always distinguish a problem in your life by identifying the root-cause to deal with the problem; fix it once and for all.
Can you think of any examples?
3.Finding ‘the edge’ to succeed
Consider 2 shops on the high street. One shop doesn’t have a location advantage over the other. Ever wondered why these 2 same-sized shops on the high street selling identical products have vast differences in popularity?
It’s because the shop that is much more popular has ‘the edge’ over the other, due to few minor differences. These minor differences were made by the owners running the shop, having paid attention to details.
Customers like to justify choosing one thing over the other, as in the case of shops, because of a few minor differences.
In other words, sometimes, your personal success can be achieved through finding ‘the edge’ to competitively succeed through manifesting a few differences…
-Another gem to add to list of philosophical principles!
4.Distinguishing the present from the past
Most people, having gone through the ‘same old same old’ things in life no longer become really present to what they’re doing. On an unconscious level they say to themselves, I’ve done or seen this all before.
As a result they are not truly present in life. This could come with a cost. If you were truly present in life you’d notice things not seen before. Really living in the present allows you to distinguish new things. And with this, a realization that can be brought into existence, into being, to use for your own practical, personal effectiveness.
Consider 3 (above) as an example.
5.Look for the patterns
In my student days, someone I knew had quite the ability in chemistry, having a gift for problem solving in this subject.
One day I put forward the question to him: How are you able to solve chemistry related problems so easily and well?
His reply was simple: He said just ‘look for the patterns.’
-That amazed me and I have never got over this reply.
Philosophical principles don’t come any better than this for Personal effectiveness!
This principle could be applied for so many different things. How about looking for the patterns in your life? Looking for patterns can provide you with insights, solutions… ways of seeing life that you’ve never seen before…
Patterns solidify your understanding of how things operate and how you can then use the related philosophical principles.
6.Be responsible
Apply responsibility, as you are responsible for everything that comes your way in life. When this principle is applied you see a bigger picture. A bigger pattern, allowing you to take greater control.
It allows you to avoid playing the ‘victim’ role. -Instead of blaming others, accusing them of doing things to you, you realize that life manifests itself as a consequence of where you are at. Knowing this, if something comes your way that you don’t like, instead of externalizing, blaming others, you resolve to make a behavioral shift that transforms you; from victim to victor.
-Accountability, truth, honesty and integrity is of paramount importance along the way.
7.Know who you are
This one is a variation on the psychoanalytic bible statement “Know thy self.”
Ask yourself. Who am I?
Who are you as a commitment?
What are you committed to? Are you genuinely committed to your achievements? Remember, real magic, great achievements come as a consequent of unwavering commitment.
Who are you as a resource? Consider, for example, the Einstein statement: “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
Finally
That concludes just 7 golden philosophical principles for personal effectiveness in life. Indeed, the list could go on.