This Week's Inspiration
Input Equals Output
| Input: | Information fed into a data processing system, computer, or person; something that is put in; conversion in kind, or conversion of characteristics usually with the intent of some form of output; a component of production |
| Output: | The information produced by a computer or person; process or an instance of producing; something produced; mental or artistic production; the amount produced by a person in a given time; in kind or in characteristics from a conversion of input |
- Everything you allow into your life through all your senses—input—is processed as output that creates your results.
- What are you allowing as input? Are you even paying attention?
In my past few articles, we have discussed your beliefs that have created your mindset—some producing excuses, others generating results.
I suggest we have become desensitized to life's input. That is equivalent to having someone poison us, one drop at a time.
Before we delve into our input habits, here is some follow-up information on The Lost Art of Parenting—last month's topic—that links to the impact of input.
Just a few days ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP: www.aap.org) confirmed that a child's input reflects his or her output. Exposure to media violence through television, movies, music, and video games can contribute to a variety of physical and mental health problems for children and adolescents, including desensitization to violence, aggressive behavior, nightmares, fear, and depression.
Further, AAP expanded their press release with this statement on music.
"Music plays an important role in the socialization of children and adolescents. Popular music is present almost everywhere, and it is easily available through the radio, various recordings, the Internet, and new technologies, allowing adolescents to hear it in diverse settings and situations, alone or shared with friends. Parents often are unaware of the lyrics to which their children are listening because of the increasing use of downloaded music and headphones. Research on popular music has explored its effects on schoolwork, social interactions, mood, and effect, and particularly behavior. The effect popular music has on the behavior and emotions of children and adolescents is of paramount concern. Lyrics have become more explicit in their references to drugs, sex, and violence over the years, particularly in certain genres. A teenager's preference for certain types of music could be correlated or associated with certain behaviors. As with popular music, the perception and the effect of music-video messages are important, because research has reported that exposure to violence, sexual messages, sexual stereotypes, and use of substances of abuse in music videos might produce significant changes in behaviors and attitudes of young viewers. Pediatricians and parents should be aware of this information. Furthermore, with the evidence portrayed in these studies, it is essential for pediatricians and parents to take a stand regarding music lyrics."
American Academy of Pediatrics
Not that long ago, gaming advocates and music producers suggested that violent forms of media/lyrics did not influence children's behaviors. You would have to be an idiot to believe that statement. The AAP confirms what common sense and life principles have always known—input equals output.
So what are you allowing into your space (input) on a daily basis? Yes, even this ezine is input! Positive and building, of course! ☺
I want everyone reading this article to take a moment right now to look back over the past month.
What did you let into your life.
First, what was your primary input?
People (co-workers, family, friends), TV, radio, the Internet, movies, plays, concerts, lectures, seminars, books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, and so on.
Second, where do you invest your time?
Let's say I call you today to assess your input. In just a short 5-minute conversation, you outline where you spent your money and your time over the past couple of months. Based on that dialogue, I can, with a very high level of certainty, predict your output—characteristics, attitudes, beliefs, and results.
How?
Your Input Predicts Your Output!
Just like many people reading this, I needed a reminder of that message to spur me into action. A couple of months ago, I decided it was time to improve all my input levels—to increase what I wanted and decrease what I did not want. During my reflection, it was apparent that TV was taking up too much of my time—so much so, I cancelled our satellite TV. Yes, I am missing HGTV, Discovery, and The Learning Channel but the majority of the other TV content was not positive input.
When was the last time you felt inspired after you watched the news? Most talk shows are fringe at best, feeding on the more vile elements of human nature. Jerry Springer anyone?
I have become way more discerning about every input I allow into my life and our home. I discovered that input sources make an even bigger difference (positive or negative) than I suspected.
When I reviewed my input sources, I included everything. I considered the professional development I was attending. Some programs contained input that was incongruent with my values or my desired output, so I stopped participating. I had collected VHS movies over the past 20 years and many no longer reflected my desired input. Remember when R-rated movies meant R? This summer, I recycled over 100 movies without a single regret—I did not want the input. (I did keep my Star Wars collection, however.)
So how about you?
It's time to be brutally honest with yourself.
What are you allowing as input?
- What kind of books or magazines did you buy—if any—last month? Are they positive and building or frivolous like People magazine and the National Inquirer?
- If I looked at your library, what would I see?
- What about other media—TV, music, DVDs, and movies? What was the content and how much time did you spend in each of those media? North Americans watch 6 to 8 hours of TV a day. That's a lot of input.
- If you have children, what are you allowing them to input?
- What about family and friends? Can you educate them on the impact of their input?
CRG is in the business of providing input that is positive, inspiring, and enabling. Consider the following input to improve your results.
- To confirm your beliefs and purpose in all areas in your life, I recommend my 88-page workbook, My Source EXPERIENCE Journal™. It will take you on a personal discovery to help you confirm and affirm your passions in life.
- As additional building blocks, I also suggest CRG's Values Preference Indicator, Self-Worth Inventory, Stress Indicator and Health Planner, and the Personal Style Indicator to fully embrace positive input.
- To help you improve your results, follow these Action Steps and complete the recommended resources.
This Week's Action Steps
Input Equals Output
- Input always precedes output—and your results.
- Are you satisfied with your output and your results, including your beliefs and your mindset? Yes or No.
- Are you aware of what you are allowing into your input space?
- Take a moment to review all your input sources—including all types of media—over the past couple of months. Do your input choices really reflect your goals, dreams, desires, and values?
- What input do you need to decrease or omit in your life? List them now. How do you plan to reduce or delete that input?
- What input do you need to increase or improve in your life? List them now. How do you plan to boost or develop that input?
- If you have children or know someone who does, you are among those responsible for all media input. Remember that violent media content contributes to behaviors in children and teenagers that can include aggressive behavior, nightmares, desensitization to violence, fear, depression, substance abuse, and more. What type of parent are you?
- To contribute to positive input, I am recommending My Source EXPERIENCE Journal™ – A Personal Discovery Process for Those Who Want to Lead a Passionate and Fulfilling Life.
- Benchmark your gifts, talents, and preferences by using positive-input CRG assessments. Your results will assist you to establish your beliefs with confidence and clarity. As part of the clarification process, we recommend three specific assessments.
- To identify your natural preferences and strengths, complete the Personal Style Indicator (PSI).
- To clarify your core values, complete the Values Preference Indicator.
- To understand how your level of self-worth is affecting your success, complete the Self-Worth Inventory.
- The principle of cause and affect is exciting. If you desire improvements, better results, and different output, you simply have to change your input.
- If I can do it, so can you. Don't wait to improve your input. Start this very moment.
Until next time, keep Living On Purpose!
Ken Keis
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