Posted on 17 Nov, 2011 -
2012: What can we expect?
Why 80% of your good work is produced by 20% of your actions
Why that means you can spend more time taking it easy or pursuing your true passions
Could crazy predictions for the end of the world in 2012 actually spell a welcome message of positive global change and renewal?
Dear Reader,
I don’t normally like to start thinking about the New Year to come until we’re at least in December. The way I see it, there’s still a month and a half left of this year and amazing things can be seen and experienced and achieved in that time.
According to the Pareto Principle, 80% of our most important work is done in just 20% of our time. 20% of our actions will cause 80% of the positive results. 20% of our characteristics will cause 80% of our problems. 20% of our talent will account for 80% of our successes… 80% of your income will be produced by 20% of your labour… and so on and so on.
In fact, as an aside (I’ll get to my real point in a minute), if you haven’t come across the 80/20 Rule before, it can have a lot of benefits in helping you focus your efforts and feel good about the way you act and live. For example:
Don’t beat yourself up over those times of the day or the year when you don’t think you’re working hard enough or getting enough ‘results’. 20% of your effort will get 80% of the results so don’t feel that you always need to be ‘on’.
20% of the people in your place of work or in your life will cause 80% of the problems.
20% of the people will be responsible for 80% of the positive results, kindness, satisfaction, support or other kinds of good stuff.
To solve an issue, think about whether you need to focus on the 20% or the 80%.
Of all the things you do in a day or a year, only 20% really matters. Make sure you’re concentrating enough of your time and energy on those things.
20% of what you do creates 80% of your happiness. Make sure you’re allowing enough time for those things.
Think twice about pushing yourself to work when you’re ill or tired. You may be using a lot of time and effort for poor results.
20% of the money you spend at Christmas will cause 80% of the pleasure…
And so on and so on.
But what I REALLY wanted to talk to you about today was: THE END OF THE WORLD… COMING TO A PLACE NEAR YOU… NEXT YEAR…
I’m probably the only person in the world who hasn’t heard about it before, but I did a search on Google this week about ‘How to Survive 2012’ and was amazed to discover my concerns about the state of the economy and the rising costs of living completely overshadowed by the coming end of the world on December 21st 2012.
For those of you like me who had not heard of this before, there are apparently a few reasons why the world is going to come to end.
Firstly, apparently, the Mayan calendar, created many centuries ago, comes mysteriously to an end on this date.
Secondly, other people believe that at some point in 2012, the earth and sun will align with the centre of the Milky Way causing a huge jolt to our plant causing massive earthquakes, floods, storms and volcanic eruptions.
There are also fears of solar storms ravaging the face of the earth. And of the earth being obliterated by a planet called ‘X’ or ‘Nibiru’ with which we are heading for a collision.
But are any of these predictions really true?
In America, at least, these predictions appear to be creating enormous fear in parts of the population. According to the scientists, however, there isn’t a shred of evidence for any of them. Indeed, I loved the response of NASA astrobiologist Morrison who, when questioned about the mystery planet, said: “There is no object out there. That’s probably the most straightforward thing to say.”
The only theory that does have some truth in it is the one about the Mayan calendar. The good news, however, is that even that doesn’t spell doom. In fact, it could be a good thing…
According to experts on the Mayan culture, the Mayans counted time in a very different way than any other culture. Known as the “Long Count’, the Mayan calendar was based on very lengthy phases of time that stretched back to creation itself. The longest cycle in the calendar was an incredible 1,872,000 days or 5,125.37 years long.
Now for the GOOD news: 2012 could be the beginning of a new era of renewal
Now here’s the really fascinating thing: In December 2012 the last lengthy era appearing on the Mayan calendars ends, the calendar will roll over again to Day Zero, and another enormous cycle will begin.
According to Mayan expert Anthony Aveni, professor of astronomy and anthropology and author of the new book, The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012:
“The idea is that time gets renewed, that the world gets renewed all over again - often after a period of stress - the same way we renew time on New Year’s Day or even on Monday morning,”
Please send me your thoughts for what this renewal may mean for you - or for us all
Now, as I said at the beginning, I’m not normally one who looks for some kind of salvation or hope in the coming year (because right now is where things can start happening). I did, however, feel quite positive about the idea that 2012 could be a year of renewal following a period of stress.
There is no doubt that the world as we know it has been under some stress of late. And while revolution and revolt are nothing new to history, there is certainly a feeling of anticipation in the air… but of what we do not know.
Which way will it go? The future is in our hands. It is the acts, and thoughts and beliefs of individuals that will build the future.
So what, I am wondering, does this all mean for you?
If you have any ideas for what ‘an era of renewal’ may mean for you personally or for us all, I would love to hear from you.
Simply click here to send me an email: Email your thoughts to Wendy
We all, after all, love the idea of another chance… of starting anew… and of newness itself.
Best wishes and I look forward to hearing from you.
