Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You get what you expect.

POINT TO PONDER

What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are. 

                                                                                     ~Epictetus

 

STORYLINE (Sources for this article are books “A whack on the side of the head” by Roger Von Oech and “Fifth Discipline” by Peter Senge)

Several years ago, Johnny Carson made a joke on his television show that there was a toilet paper shortage in this country. He then went on to describe what some of the consequences of this shortage might be.  The implication of this joke was that the viewers had better go out and stock up on toilet paper right away or they would have to face the consequences. The subject made for a good laugh, since there was, in fact, no toilet paper shortage at all. Within days, however, a real shortage did develop. Because people thought there was a shortage, they went out and bought up all of the toilet paper they could find, and, as a result, they disrupted the normal flow of toilet paper distribution.

 

REFLECTION

This serves as an example of the self-fulfilling prophecy. This is the phenomenon where by a person believes something to be true which may or may not be so, acts on that belief, and by his actions causes the belief to become true. The self fulfilling prophecy is a case where the world of thought overlaps with the world of action. And it happens in all avenues of life. It is also known as the ”Pygmalion effect” after the famous George Bernard Shaw play (later to become My Fair Lady). Shaw in turn had taken his title from Pygmalion, a character in Greek and Roman mythology, who believed so strongly in the beauty of the stature he had carved that it came to life.

 

Business people are quite familiar with self-fulfilling prophecies. In fact, the whole notion of business confidence is based on them. If a business person thinks that the market is healthy (even though it may not be), he will invest money in it. This raises people’s confidence and pretty soon market will be healthy.

 

Pygmalion effects have been shown to operate in countless other situations. An example occurs in schools, where a teacher’s opinion of a student influences the behavior and performance of the student. Managers frequently fail to appreciate the extent to which their own expectations influences subordinate performance.

 

In reinforcing process such as this, a small change builds up on itself. Whatever movement occurs is amplified, producing more movement in the same direction.  Thinking a particular thought has tremendous impact on the world of action.  When you look in the mirror in the morning, see the face of the person who is going to accomplish wonderful things in personal and professional life. Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You get what you expect.

 

 

 

Comments

[a note from Brett (Posted by FR team)]

Ah… very good lesson… especially for parents.

Thanks for sharing!

[Bobby]

Great concept.

[Sam]

When we look at things we are NOT good at, we will invariably find some limiting factors causing the problem. It is very liberating to find them out and then change our beliefs to help develop new skills. Agree, it is easier said than done, but this is also something which a well wisher can help you with!