Once upon a time there was a fly, which, along with a few other flies, flew and hovered in a hotel room, while the maid was tidying up, with the window open to air out.

The day was sunny and as it usually happens, every now and then a fly came out, another one came in, while our fly continued to explore the room.

Once she had finished her work, the maid closed the window and left the room.

After a while, our fly felt the need to get some fresh air: sensing the spring-like atmosphere outside, it headed resolutely into the blue space and ..BONK!

Something came between her and her goal.

“Dumb ass, can’t you see the window? Now the window is closed”, one of the other flies in the room shouts at her.

Our fly was not deaf; she had simply attended all possible PTL, QTP, RSC, YYY courses, had all the diplomas, certifications, and kept a very positive outlook on life.

Consequently, though a little dazed, she replied in a voice full of conviction, “You are nothing but a swarm of poor, failed flies, full of limiting beliefs, and your so-called window is just one of them. Leave me alone!”

Therefore, she made a quick analysis of the situation: she knew where she was (in the room) and had a clear objective (to get out), well formulated and expressed in positive terms; it was as SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based) as possible, she was highly motivated (so much so that she could not stand such pessimistic company), she was absolutely convinced that she could get beyond the window (hadn’t she seen with her own eyes other flies coming in and out a little earlier?) and she decided to take massive action, getting totally and resolutely involved.

Therefore, it started with full energy, and…BONK! “You asshole, didn’t you hear what I said?”

“No! Stop your negative thinking! Everyone… BONK! creates their own reality…BONK!”
“But don’t you think it’s to your advantage to consider other alternatives?”
“You’re kidding! BONK! Listening to the opinions of others BONK! is a sure source of confusion BONK! gives rise to doubts BONK! and removes the winning convictions BONK! BONK! BONK!
“Are you crazy or are you faking it?”
“Leave me alone BONK! I will not allow your negativity BONK! to prevent me BONK! from achieving my goals BONK!
In the meantime, one of the flies has signaled that there’s a very nice way out through a crack in the door …
“Hey, this way!” and one by one they’ll come out into the sun!

From inside the room, of course, there is still: BONK! BONK! Bonk! Bonk! Bonk! b…o…n…n…k!

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I don’t think I can be accused of negativistic thinking or limiting beliefs: my entire activity, and not only as a trainer or coach, but whenever the opportunity presents itself, is nothing but a constant effort to push myself and others towards the greatest realizations, towards discovering untapped possibilities, towards accessing inner resources of which we are unaware.

However, when I see that the main message that characterizes my work is distorted, I feel the need to fight against it: the mentality that insists on statements like “believe & achieve”, like “we are gods who create the world”, like “limits exist only in our minds”, like “if I think intensely about something the law of attraction will bring it to me”, makes me believe that – instead of successful people – it will only create disappointed and frustrated people.

It would take too long to make a serious speech on this topic, but I believe that in every moment there should be a sense of reality. And it should be understood that to keep an open and creative view of reality, to find a positive meaning from an emotional point of view, does not mean a denial of it.

Much of the information that is taught in some very fashionable “motivational” courses, even if hidden under a seemingly scientific jargon, is nothing more than a return to the magical thinking of a child who sends letters to Santa Claus following and waiting for his presents.

So I invite you to focus on the possibilities and not on the obstacles, but this does not imply denying their existence, but finding a creative solution to overcome them.

And while the possibilities are always endless, that doesn’t mean that anything is possible: we live on Earth, not in Walt Disney movies.

This is why I advise you to use all motivational techniques with full confidence, but never let the desire to believe in something blind you to reality.

Or, in the words of a genius like Isaac Asimov, “We must have an open mind; but not so open that the brain falls down…”

Greetings

Bruno

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PS Some would like to know what happened to our fly…well, something very interesting…

Our fly, in a moment of pause between one BONK! and another, tired and annoyed by so many blows did not realize that once back in the room, the maid reopened the window.

When, after a new attempt, she found herself free outside, she started to shout at the top of her voice: “It works! It works! I was sure I would win in the end!”

Since then, every time our fly finds itself trapped somewhere, it continues to strike against the window, until a kind soul is found to open the window. We don’t know exactly how long the longest period of hitting lasted, but we do know that our fly isn’t doing too badly, apart from a mild analgesic intoxication. So when she’s not busy banging her head against windows, she holds seminars in KIR-FT – a revolutionary new technique – for which she charges exorbitant sums and where she brings her dramatic but exhilarating experience as proof of the effectiveness of the courses she teaches.

And since no fly is so stupid that it can’t find at least thirty others more stupid than itself willing to believe it, and pay for its certificates and diplomas, it’s doing a golden business!