Outside the Box...

Sometimes it's the only way to think...

Take a few moments to do this exercise. You'll see why when you get to the bottom. Add the following items in your head. Do not use a calculator (yet).

Take 1000
add 40
add 1000
add 30
add 1000
add 20
add 1000
add 10

What answer do you come up with? 5000?

Now, get out your calculator. Add the numbers.

I promise you the calculator is correct. You did not add wrong.

Now, get a piece of paper and do long addition. You will catch your error.

4090 plus 10 is 4100. Your brain automatically goes to the highest digit.

This happens in life. Often times when we second guess ourselves, our original answer is correct. It is when we know that we know that the answer is right the first time, that we need to slow down and verify that answer.

How often do you have those "knee jerk" reactions? How often do you give an answer or piece of advice knowing that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are right?

Ask yourself honestly how you feel when someone tells you that you are wrong. Do you stop and think about it, or do you become offended that this person doesn't trust YOUR instincts?

As writers, we write what we know, whether it is mechanically technical, or soulfully insightful. That piece that you authored is a part of you.

Was every i dotted, every T crossed? Did you use the commas and semi-colons correctly? Did you spell that uncommon word correctly? Did your opening statement make sense?

Usually we don't think about these things because they become automatic. We check and double check before giving that piece to someone we respect...but often before we post it, we trust that we know everything about that piece.

Now, take this concept one step further. When you encounter an uncomfortable situation, generally you rely upon your instincts to guide you through it, and most often those instincts get you through.

Until someone comes along and says "I would have handled that differently".

This is just an exercise in examination. We are not always right, and when someone comes along that has the right answer, how do we react?

An honest answer is the only one that works.

Just so you know, it took me no less than 20 minutes to realize why the calculator was correct. I argued with it for a long moment before I did the long addition. At that moment, when I realized where my error lay...I was given a rare and valueable look into myself.

I'm a stubborn jerk sometimes.

Hope you enjoy this exercise. It's really a very valueable tool when you see it as such.

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Well first off I did get the math answer correct but that has always been my strong suit... you really make some strong points in here bout human nature... I rely heavily on instincts and when someone questions them I still trust them and try to understand why others don't, but when someone questions my knowledge of something then I question it even when I am sure of the answer. As for writing how many times I look at a common word and think is that right though I have spelled it a hundred times... damn the human psyche is a marvelous thing.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

I came up with 5000 ... for about 3 seconds. Then I said ... "Oh wait, it's 4100." But your point is not lost on me. People often refuse to believe that they might be wrong ... I mean people who are wrong of course. Huh? .... Me? .... You're saying .....

Very nice bit of holding the mirror to our faces.

[Fran Marie]

Take 1000
add 40
add 1000
add 30
add 1000
add 20
add 1000
add 10


Who would have thought it~ Yes, I came up with 5000~ my mind
did go to the thousanth's place ,I think because of the tens being
listed in the Thosandth's place instead of 10 the tens place

Thanks Suzi for sharing such an interesting write/exercise and as for spelling
I don't even want to go there lol~Fran