Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.
This week – Standards and Values.
Times change. Society alters. Life moves on and never stands still. But despite this somethings need to remain to hold us up or humanity will fall apart. We require strong foundations to build our world and futures on. One flag bearer that has served us well for many years are standards and values. Decent behaviours, attitudes, and personal actions that ensure we are civilised. Are these still present today? Or have they begun to disappear? SuperMind Saturday decides it’s time to get involved.
1. Are we paying a price?
NFL Head Coach Mike Tomlin said, ‘You can’t put a price on standards and legacy’. A noble quote and observation. This has held true for many many years in life. But, in today’s world it seems less so. The price a growing number of people are happy to pay to let go of previous high standards is money and/or recognition. Being a someone is more important than being a good one.
Do standards and values have a price and, if so, is it worth paying to lose them?
2. Do we even know what they are?
If you were to ask your family and friends what counts as good standards and values, would most of them agree? Or would they even know what that means. Overall we link morals and ethics and levels of behaviour and language to standards and values as the core definitions. But in the modern ‘go-get-what-you-can-for-yourself’ mentality society could well be divided what makes up S +V’s. Or that we even need most of them at all.
If standards and values became a key element of life again, how would we define what they should be?
3. It starts with you and me.
We can talk about standards and values of the world for a lifetime. How they have changed or disappeared and when we have seen or experienced it ourselves. And even cite examples of the type of people who typify the loss of manners and respect. Maybe though, that’s the start of the problem in the first place. We are fast to point the finger at everyone else, but we should look a little closer to home. Look at ourselves as individuals to ensure we aren’t being the same as the people we accuse.
How often do we ask ourselves whether we are personally living by the right standards and values?
4. Selfish or Self Promotion.
It’s a crowded world out there. From the streets to the roads. And from getting a job to keeping a job. Or from making it big to making enough to survive. From online to offline. The world is fuller than ever. This means there is always someone more skilful, popular, well informed, attractive, successful, wealthy, and powerful than you. If you don’t want to be left behind you have to stand out in some way. You can’t stand on ceremony. If you don’t push yourself forwards someone (or lots of others) certainly will. That used to be seen as selfish. Today that could be viewed as sensible self promotion.
Are we selfish to be first, best, or prominent or is self promotion the only way to act on this packed planet?
5. Who do we look up to?
Perhaps there is one area where the greatest shift has occurred. Historically we looked to our leaders and statesmen for our direction on standards and values. They led the way in how to operate at the best level as a human being. This has radically altered. Where we once completely trusted such people, today we feel the very opposite. Our parents also fit that bill as people to be examples to us. But with the advent of social media younger generations are less inclined to be parent and leader inspired and more celebrity so. Which begs the final, and potentially, most crucial question.
Who should we look up to for our standards and values today? Which of type of person, if any, is the perfect role model for most of us to follow?
Let me know your views or insights to these questions. Love to hear how you see and think it!
Ok, that’s another SuperMind Saturday done. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking about these. We need more minds thinking about this issue and the others issue on SuperMind Saturdays. Why? Because it’s needed. Because the world requires new thoughts and ideas. Ones from people like you!!
See you next time for more super thinking.
Photo attribution – free to use under Pixabay Content License by RingoStudio.
Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.
This week – Climate change.
Climate change is a hot topic on everyone’s lips these days. Opinions are highly divided. Some see the weather changes in recent decades as proof positive that it’s happening. Others see it as mere alterations in patterns over too small a period to truly declare a climate change. But, whatever the view, it’s a hugely important subject and that’s the type SuperMind Saturday likes. So, let the thoughts begin….
1. Climate Agreement.
Humankind is a race of people. A group, a clan, a tribe. We exist by agreeing to follow the consensus of the majority. This is how we survive, protect our numbers, and evolve. But, climate change has, well, changed all that. It’s not that the members of our group (you and me, everyday folks) can’t agree. It’s the authority figures – in this case the scientists, climatologists, and meteorologists that can’t agree on what defines climate change.
We need a metric, a data point, everyone can largely agree on that sways the argument one way or the other.
2. Everyone or no-one.
The next driving issue is that if climate change is a real and expanding threat to life on Earth, we need everyone to help tackle it. Any huge problem for a group will never be solved if only a few are active in dealing with it. This precisely mirrors the issue today. Huge countries like USA and India, the main creators of the pollution said to fuel the acceleration of climate change, won’t support changes to their practices. What hope is there of reversing the climate trend if only small, very low polluters are working towards it?
How do we encourage the main powers said to influence climate change to alter the way they operate, manufacture, and live?
3. Population v Nature.
Life has become an almost fine line between human population growth and nature. Whether or not there is climate change, the recent increases in wild weather has impacted more people than ever. This is because of increased building of homes and communities, businesses, and infrastructures in areas prone to natural disaster effects. From floods to fires, earthquakes to tornadoes, an increasing percentage of people are caught in the full force of mother nature’s extremes.
Is it time to ban construction in such areas to save lives and their cost or even limit population growth to a managed level?
4. What else could it be?
Humanity seeks knowledge. It seeks understanding. And it seeks questions to do that. The prevailing thought about climate change is that our industrial activities over the last few hundred years has sparked this crisis. That and our creation and use of polluting cars, fossil fuels, air conditioning, and products like aerosols to name but a few. Our minds are set on this being the chief reason, if not the complete reason. But, could there be other reasons still adding to the problem we’ve not considered – increase in sun spot emissions, mass food production, even space dust or Universal gases flooding our atmosphere.
Have we asked enough questions to ensure we know what is behind climate change. And if not, which ones are missing?
5. Time to plan for pain?
For the last few decades we have been debating the issue. Much data and evidence has been shared, many gathering of top powers, huge coverage has been dedicated by the media. But….and it’s a big but……all of this has been about slowing down and trying to reverse climate change. To prevent it getting worse still. However, we have made few inroads into the problem. It appears to be escalating. And so this begs the biggest question of all.
Should we now be planning for a worse case scenario outcome and what it would be like rather than preventing the unpreventable?
PLEASE share your views or responses to these questions, we the people can solve when we come together!!
Ok, that’s another SuperMind Saturday done. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking about these. We need more minds thinking about this issue and the others issue on SuperMind Saturdays. Why? Because it’s needed. Because the world requires new thoughts and ideas. Ones from people like you!!
See you next time for more super thinking.
Photo attributions – free to use under Pixabay Content License by Fifaliana-joy. and Ri_Ya.
Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.
This week – Homelessness.
Owning our own home is a major aim when we start adult life. A place to call home, somewhere we can call ours. Safety. Security. And, in the past, it’s a goal most people achieved. Today, not so. Since the Century began we have had to face the credit crunch crash, ongoing recessions and inflation, COVID, and the current cost of living and energy crisis.
Meaning the dream of having a home has impacted millions and homelessness has begun to appear everywhere. This is a scary fact and so SuperMind Saturday has to take a look and ask some BIG questions.
1. Affected not Disaffected.
Traditionally, homeless people in the past were those who were disaffected. Those who through some trauma or affliction like drink or drugs or family troubles, especially young people who ran away from home, became homeless. People who lived on the fringe of things. Typically called the drop outs. This is increasingly NOT the reason in modern times. Homelessness is hitting people of every background. All are being affected.
How do we change our historical view of the homeless so that we can begin to deal with the issue?
2. Home Owners now Home Owers.
In the UK alone the FCA expect over 200,000 households to fall behind with their mortgage this year due to rising interest rates. That and the increase in re-mortgages in the last 2 years plus the soaring cost of living. Some 88,000 mortgage payers were 2.5% in arrears of their mortgage balance by the Summer of 2025. The risk of homelessness is a spiralling financial threat affecting the whole country.
How can we protect people from losing their homes who are trying to simply pay bills? Could it be time for homeless protection insurance to be included in mortgage premiums? Or what ideas do you have?
3. Effects not Causes.
Modern day homelessness is clearly less an effect of some personal disfunction. It stems more so from the huge monetary pressures of life and the global issues. From the deregulation of banks to the soon to follow after credit lending collapse. From ongoing international conflicts to extensive crime and immigration costs. These events are the causes, one of the ultimate effects has been homelessness. Global scenarios creating national and even localised upheaval. We have become too global. We can no longer protect our own country or state area due to issues beyond our borders.
How do we stop this incessant march away from self contained sovereign control? Is the Terminator alive in this form???
4. Poverty for more people.
in 2024 over 320,000 people in the UK were pushed into poverty due to interest rises. This figure would rise sharply for larger countries. Multiple millions around the world have been added to the numbers classed as living in poverty. People who have full time jobs, sensible spending habits, and no previous historical record of being in debt. In other words – not from their own unwise behaviour. People who didn’t know poverty before, now know it well. More and more people being pulled into a life struggle every single day.
Is poverty something no longer cared about? Have we just become a world focussed on winning and success over standards of living for all? Are we losing our humanity?
5. Homelessness for All.
All of the above points and information point to two clear truths. People of all ages and types are being dragged into the risk of homelessness. From eight to eighty. The haves are becoming less, the have nots are becoming over subscribed. And the gap is also growing. To finish I’m just going to make a statement. One that is in plain sight and obvious if you take a look.
Governments (of any political party) don’t care about the growing homeless epidemic. They do their usual talking but seem to do less and less to help everyday people. They just seek to tax citizens in as many ways as possible. We need some Robin Hoods. The Sheriff of Nottingham has returned and wants more than before from the people.
** A rare personal point from me but this one had to be said. If you lead you have responsibility. Those that lead are not honouring theirs**
Go well all SuperMind friends.
Ok, that’s another SuperMind Saturday done. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking about these. We need more minds thinking about this issue and the others issue on SuperMind Saturdays. Why? Because it’s needed. Because the world requires new thoughts and ideas. Ones from people like you!!
Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.
This week – Obesity.
We need food to live. And add some on for fun and pleasure. But, just enough so that we balance the two nicely as our overall diet. We also have to ensure that we don’t overeat to keep our health in good shape. Well, that’s what we SHOULD do, but more and more people certainly are not. Human obesity is showing a sharp increase so this week at SMS we are going to consider this growing problem.
1. Easy Food, Easy Calories.
Worldwide obesity has doubled since 1990 and some 1 billion people are now classed as obese. This is a rapid rise in such a short span of time in human history. How come? Well, also in that time we have seen a massive increase in takeaways, food deliveries, and supermarkets open for long hours. Food is easily available and always nearby or on our plates without any effort. What comes easy too are the calories contained within this often not so healthy food option buying. Should we curb the ability for us to access food like this in some kind of regulation before it’s too late?
2. Consequence for Calories.
Health services everywhere are straining under the pressure from this obese epidemic. They have to deal with all the myriad of health conditions overeating causes in people from diabetes to poor mobility as examples. It seems the view is that somehow health providers will solve the issues that people have created themselves by their eating habits (I know some nurses who will confirm this). Trouble is the very same people come back again and again with more issues from not changing their behaviour. So, should their be a consequence for those that consume up appointments and treatments like they consume food? Should there be a limit of care for people who simply won’t help themselves?
3. Too Young to be Too Heavy.
Adolescent obesity has quadrupled since 1990 and in 2024 over 35 million children under 5 were already overweight. This is shocking and scary. The most shocking of all is children don’t get to choose what they eat, they require their parents to allow and pay for their meals. Children of the past were given the odd treat as part of a balanced, sensible diet. Not today. Again quick and easy seems parental preference too often. How do we encourage parents to cook better? Or is there another reason, such as adults are working longer and longer hours than ever and so have less time? How do we help children eat well again?
4. Bad Food Not Bad People.
People have lapsed into bad food choices. Yes, one is because it saves time and effort, but also, it can’t be denied, some of it tastes good. Food companies have created dishes that have an addictive quality. No wonder then that the average person keeps coming back for more, especially as they can get it almost everywhere. As a world, we are hooked on this. We don’t mean it, we’re not bad people. Addicts for the taste and favour. And there’s the problem. How can we remove or quell the addictive nature of foods that are causing the obesity issue?
5. Benefits for Better.
Right now our minds clearly don’t see the benefit in not being obese – better health, feeling more energetic, not needing medication etc. Our taste buds override this. The benefit is attached to the enjoyment not the ongoing improvements. Quick hits are far more inspiring that longer term positives. Maybe it’s time for other benefits as an encouragement to change diet. What benefits or mini reward can be given to those currently obese so that they improve their eating AND stay that way?How do we change behaviours with a benefit, especially for the young?
Ok, that’s another SuperMind Saturday done. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking about these through the week to open up more of your mind and to solve some of the issues mentioned. Consider more, generate ideas more, think on bigger possibilities more, activate your connection to your personal higher mind. Employ your SuperMInd and Super Think. You have more answers and ideas than you ever previously thought possible!!
See you next time for more super thinking.
References – World Health Organisation – Obesity and Overweight.
Photo attribution – Free to use under the Pixabay Content Licence by paulinapuchalska88.
Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.
This week – Cost of Living.
Many things typify current life on Earth. Some have been around for a while, some are only recent. And the prime one among the recent is the cost of living. Not a week goes by without some product, service, or bill going up….and continuing to do so. It’s been a very long time since so many people at all levels are experiencing such financial challenge like this.
As such, SuperMind Saturday thinks we should get our minds round this contemporary concern.
1. World Worries.
Most countries have experienced periods of heightened inflation. Times when costs rose sharply far beyond incomes. Most of these were individual national cycles of expansion and reduction in the economy. One nation struggling, others more prosperous. Those days are in the rear view mirror nowadays. Due to bad management (or greed) by financiers, they have made it a cross world problem. Everyone gets the squeeze.
Is it time to return to national economic management? Should sharing debts and investments internationally by banks be banned or highly limited to protect vulnerable economies?
2. Living Beyond our Means?
The cost of purchasing every items like bread, butter, and milk have increased. So too the price of our energy and utility bills. But, look a little deeper and there is other spending people are making other than household outlays. In previous downturns that lifted inflation people cut their coat according to their cloth i.e. living within their means. No spending on what they really didn’t need. Not today. People still expect new clothes, meals out, holidays, social trips. What used to be luxuries are now classed as the norm.
Are we living beyond our reasonable means? Has the costs of living been replaced by the costs of pleasure and fun?
3. No Shrinkflation Profits.
Shirinkflation. A term that never existed ever until that last few years. It refers to how companies shrink the size of the product but still charge the same money (and even more in some examples). The price has effectively risen for the consumer while the producer gains in revenue and less production expense. It often makes the news especially in relation to big brand firms and supermarkets. During the last few years profits for some of these has increased through this practice. But they never tell us, they slip it onto the shelves all hush hush.
How do we protect the consumer from this underhand behaviour? Could we force companies to declare their shrinkflation items in advance so shoppers can make an informed choice?
4. Who is Paying For All This?
The world isn’t built on credit anymore. It’s built and held up by debt. Millions upon millions of citizens owe money on mortgages, credit cards, and other bills. Desperate to try and survive they have had to roll up debt to keep a house over the head and live there sufficiently. Debt used to be viewed as a bad thing. It appears it’s the very opposite in 2025. Debt is a normal function of economic behaviour. That’s a dangerous 180 flip.
Because if everyone owes, who is really paying for it? And what if they can never cash in? Is it all one big massive financial black hole that no-one wants to actually admit exists?
5. The True Cost of Living.
Poverty used to be a thing of the past. A historical social issue overall. That has begun fast reversing. Hard working people and families are being drawn into poverty because everything increases in prices but wages fall further behind. People who would never experience financial hardship in days gone by, find themselves in that predicament. So, some simple but profound questions….
Where are we going as a world when people can’t support themselves or family despite working flat out and to the bone? What direction do those in power really think we are going???
PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS BELOW!
Ok, that wraps up another SuperMind Saturday. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking about these through the week to open up more of your mind and its potential. Consider more, generate ideas more, think on bigger possibilities more, activate your connection to your personal higher mind. Employ your SuperMInd and Super Think. You have more answers and ideas than you ever previously thought possible!!
See you next time for more super thinking.
Photo attribution – Free to use under Pixabay Content License by Peggy_Marco.
Five thoughts, ideas, insights, or quotes to power up your mind to think differently and creatively about life and who we are. Put all previous thinking away and open up a brand new world of the Supermind. YOUR SuperMind.
This week – Aging Population.
The world is getting increasingly populated. Notably, every year more people are born than die putting pressure on resources, especially our social health ones. Greatest of all those pressures are how to deal with an aging population. Secondly, those that live longer and longer also no longer work and contribute to the economy in the same way, i.e taxes on earnings, work spending etc. This strains our social systems and that’s only going to get worse. SuperMind Saturday triggers new thoughts about this challenge.
1. Home or Hospital?
Modern hospitals aren’t just for treatment and health care anymore. They also tend to be where many older people end up stuck as there is nowhere for them to go after their surgery. Social services are severely stretched and have few placements for them.. One solution would be to offer tax breaks or payments to people who have spare rooms where they could be housed or stay. A form of home recuperation that unclogs the bottlenecks?
2. Brain Gyms.
One of the chief medical concerns with an aging population is declining minds. Alzheimer’s disease is on a rapid rising curve. Over the years since the inception of the internet, minds no longer work hard like they used to. Lack of use leads to a gradual decaying of mental faculties. Older people are highly vulnerable. It’s time for brain work to ensure the brain still works. The mind is as much as muscle as the others in the body. Governments should develop a programme of brain gyms for those over 50. Regular classes (just like Pilates or Zumba) to test, strengthen, and push the mind (puzzles, lateral thinking etc)and slow the degeneration.
3. Maturing Capital.
The cost of managing an aging population is spiralling. Instead, an alternative funding source to ease the burden is required. A possible suggestion to lessen fiscal pressure on Governments, health providers, and social care systems, – a specific set of future care investments can be created for people over 40. Part of the maturity of the investment/bonds can then be utilised to pay for future care or improved personal support. What other capital ideas could be set up to assist countries in paying for older person’s care?
4. Making Use of the Mature.
Growing old is no longer a death sentence. Retirees now a) retire younger and b) live far longer after retiring than ever before. That means there is plenty of life in older people. That’s why it’s called the Golden Age. They have a huge range of skills and abilities on tap and oodles of enthusiasm to go with it. They still want to be involved and part of the world. So why not put them to use? How can we find ways for them to fill in the gaps in the community where needed? How can we make use of the mature locally so it keeps them on the move and mentally and physically active?
5.Growing Old Disgracefully.
A lesser know fact is that aging people are most likely to be daily spenders on goods and services than other age ranges. They also travel more, access public spaces, and contribute to charities more than other age groups. This makes them pivotal members of society. Older people want to have fun and enjoy life. Perhaps it’s time then that we change OUR attitude to them? How many companies near you tailor specific activities for this growing force of people? Activities younger people also enjoy? And why not add twining session? Pilates for over 50’s and under 20’s TOGETHER! What ideas do you have to help older people live disgracefully (but very happily)?
Ok, that’s it for another SuperMind Saturday. Thank you for being here for the SuperMind time. Keep thinking your best thoughts and having lots of ideas. Consider more, imagine bigger, think about untapped possibilities ‘out there’, activate your connection to your personal higher mind. Employ your SuperMInd and Super Think!
See you next time for more super thinking.
Photo attribution – Free to use under the Pixaby Content License by JetalProducoes.
