You call that a System?

I am reading about systems thinking mindset in a book written by Orrin Woodward. The book is entitled "Resolved, 13 Resolutions for Life". In his book, Mr. Woodward says that the simple action of filling a glass of water is an example of a system. This system involves a person's mind, the faucet, and the glass. One decides to get a glass of water and follows through until he turns the faucet off when the desired level of water has been reached. Wow, just filling your glass with water is a system? How many other systems have I been missing?

Mr Woodward goes on to say that if one were to observe a mountain climbing team scaling a cliff, he could recognize the systematic interdependence of all the parts. The climbers are attached to each other by ropes and pulleys and they understand that their individual actions will affect the group, both positively and negatively. A leader will orchestrate the climbers in this system. Each climber in the system must realize there is both personal responsibility and responsibility to the team to ensure the objective is achieved.

Sometimes we are so busy living our life's that we may not even recognize the various systems within which we each operate. We might think that our perspective is the correct way without realizing the whole system, with other perspectives as well.

Throughout the book of Devarim(Deuteronomy), Moshe is encouraging and telling B'nei Yisrael the things they will need to do to be successful once they enter the Promised Land. After a long forty-year journey thru the desert, they are about to build a society in their country, united under the laws of the Torah. B'nei Yisrael will be doing this without their servant leader, Moshe.

The Torah is the manual that guides our lives. Moshe is teaching B'nei Yisrael the importance of setting up systems to help individuals and the community constantly strive to help one another and care for one another. One of the first things the Torah tells the people to do is to select leaders who are wise, and understanding and won't take bribes or be influenced.

The Torah tells B'nei Yisrael that a judicial system is one of the first systems that they should establish once they come into the Promised Land. As humans, we will have disputes and disagreements with each other. What is the system to resolve these issues? As part of the system that animals live in, they may resolve disputes by fighting. This system may not be the best to employ for humans however, Humans use a different system as stated earlier, a judicial system to resolve disputes.

Just as in the example of the climbers scaling a cliff, each person's action can have either a positive or negative effect on other individuals in the system (community). Furthermore, the actions of individuals have the potential to upset the whole system. I think this is a lesson that we can learn from the Torah. There are certain things that a society can not allow or permit if it is to be a good society.

Sometimes we may not fully understand the system and are so focused only on what we personally experience. Mr. Woodward relates a story in his book about a village with six blind men. One day an elephant was brought to the village. Each of the men touched a different part of the elephant such as the trunk, the next man touched its tusk, and another touched its skin. When asked, the six men described the elephant differently based on what each one felt and experienced. They became agitated and began to argue. A wise man pointed out to them that each man was right and also wrong. Each man did not experience the whole elephant, therefore they did not experience the whole picture.

This can also happen in our lives. If we are so stuck on seeing things from one perspective and not willing to see the whole system we may not recognize ways to improve ourselves. It is a good idea to examine the various systems so that we can best contribute and enjoy this system called life.

Most states and countries require a regular inspection of your vehicle to ensure that it is operating at a certain standard. Generally, an inspection is done of the various systems of the vehicle to ensure they are operating at their best levels.

Most people do this for their vehicles and the vehicle's systems. You can use this idea of systems review on yourself. It is a good practice to examine the systems. A good system to start with is ourselves. Many cultures have times on their calendar that are useful for self-examination leading to self-improvement. Just as your vehicle has many systems interacting and working together, so there is with us. Your body, mind, and soul are part of your system of you. each one of those systems has systems within them.

What are some things that we can do for optimum results and benefits? What are the top five priorities in your life? Your faith may be one, and perhaps family. Examine those areas, see where you want to improve, and start doing the habits for improvement. Some of those habits could be: setting a goal of reading at least one book per month, walking three or four times a week for a mile or more, or sharing more time with your loved ones. Maybe you might want to set a goal of more inner reflection and meditation. Explore to see what works best for you to optimize your system(s).