The term is used widely in discussion on major shifts, political, cultural, technological, social or economical. Tipping points occur in all sorts of situations and contexts, like when an artist, having invested many years in their craft suddenly get the big break - ‘overnight success’. The years spent persevering generates an accumulative store of energy, experience, skill, connections, etc. That triggers a quantum leap forward. A tipping point is reached and change is inevitable. A Tipping Point is like an invisible marker in time and space, an ‘x marks the spot’ of significant change, the emergence of something great and positive or it could also mark the decline/destruction of a system, institution or political ideology. The emergence of the ‘new’ in many instances is derived from a combination or construction and destruction / out with the old in with the new. Whatever it is or how ever it is brought about Gladwell has researched it well and identified the multiple elements and conditions that bring about this real phenomenon – The Tipping Point.
I like this book for the quirky way the author treats the subject matter and for the term ‘Tipping Point’. I am interested in the environment and ecosystem of the mind. Part of what I do is exploring the elements and mechanics of mind that bring about personal change, minor or major shifts in direction. I also want to know what will help me, you or just about anyone that is up for change. I don’t accept that a fulfilling, rewarding life is the reserve of the few; I think it should be spread about more. One way I approach change, internal change is by viewing the mind/brain as an information processor. This helps me to avoid identifying with terms like, intelligent, talented, happy, sad, positive/negative etc. I think of these as symptoms and products of information processing. Memory and experience form the database of content. When engaged in the things of life, social, professional or recreational, it is all staged, produced and directed by your very own processor. The external environment, circumstances and events that we encounter serve as influencing factors and further input. Malcolm Gladwell does an excellent job of threading together the multitude of elements, events and circumstances that give rise to a Tipping Point and cites examples of the sudden rise or fall of companies, rock bands and empires. So I wonder about the elements that conspire to bring us down or set us free to realise new levels of personal success. What are the forces that covertly work away to eventually give rise to a Personal Tipping Point, your very own shift in fortunes? It is my opinion that one’s personal Tipping Point is brought about by a natural process that unfolds according to the laws of nature. As this idea is based around what is unfolding in ones brain and the content there-in which is a variety of formal/informal learning, family, relationships, career, cultural and religious influences etc. Etc.
I must try and explain something. We out here in the ‘real’ world have organised and categorised knowledge by subject, learning by module/certification, relationships by good/bad/romantic, friend or foe and society is chopped up into all sorts of categories. How the brain organises all this input is unique and quite different to what one would expect. It’s too long a story to expand on here so this is the condensed version. The brain is impartial, like your personal computer, you don’t get a pop-up because the hard drive won’t accept downloading your particular choice of music. Whatever your choices are and the experiences you have are recorded and stored. The brain regards all input as resource. Information utilised to make decisions, carry out actions and know what to avoid. This is why I consider how natural laws operate. What does an animal in the wild know? It knows what serves its continued survival and it knows what to avoid. We may be more sophisticated, but if you think about it we attempt to maintain our lives by the things we engage in, education, career, relationships, accumulating resources (nuts)(joke) and things to avoid, - whatever threatens your health and wellbeing. Through continued exposure to what life throws at you, you continue to develop an ever expanding database of knowledge and experience.
Now for the Tipping Point bit;
I need another analogy to assist here! Think of the pop-ups that ask you to update programmes on your PC. Your brain is perpetually updating as new experiences intermingle with existing data, incrementally altering self-perception, beliefs, outlook, world-view and so on. Progression towards the tipping point is further facilitated by any activities or practises designed to expand awareness/wellbeing, it could be meditation, a new hobby or availing of some life coaching. Nurturing the mind is like maintaining good anti virus software, clearing the mind speeds up the process and the potential for a big shift event in your life. The constant accumulation of input, fermenting like a good wine is making you wiser, you don’t just know more, you understand more (most of this is going on in the unconscious mind) . The Tipping Point is when your unconscious puts it all together and has the mother of all ah – ha moments, a whole new level of awareness pops into your conscious awareness. This is The Personal Tipping Point. You are on your way from dial up to a broadband state of mind, open source thinking and creative fluency.
What Then?
Well I’m not quite sure what happens, maybe this ‘upgrade’ causes decisions and choices to be more on target, possibly more closely aligned with authentic self. One might be drawn to new interests or have a desire to expand current interests. One might be drawn to explore new friendships. I think inner barriers are shattered, intuition sharpens, imagination gets a new job – redesigning a life. Baggage gets unpacked to make way for the makeover. I’ll update when I figure it out. Malcolm Gladwell, in his book gave examples that includes references to falling empires and collapsing corporations as well as major success stories. Personal transformation does sometimes involve pain. Some systems and empires need to go. People we like to hold on to.