How To Effect Real Change in 2025...

In my experience real change comes from the ability to utilize a dual perspective. We need to be able to look within ourselves, see the mechanics of our behavior, and then focus outward to visualize how that behavior manifests itself in our day-to-day lives.

For instance, I know I’m shy around candy. Put me in a room with a lollipop or small handful of marshmallows and I’m going to be very uncomfortable, struggling to make awkward small talk with a confection that I’m convinced is uninterested in who I am as a person, what makes me tick.

So, that being established, how do I go about getting my necessary glucose intake?

I guess when it comes down to it it’s as simple as tricking myself. Wait, that sounds trite. Let me rephrase. Because I’ve practiced dual perspective, I’m now able to concretely understand cause and effect and avoid this obstacle. Here, I’ll illustrate with a simple equation:

Me + Shy Around Candy + Candy + Alone in Room = Bad

Now you’d think that subtracting from that equation would be the path to solving it, and you’re right, but I’m going to stop you right here and tell you it’s not subtracting what you think.

Here’s our new equation with a different and better outcome:

Me + Shy Around Candy + Candy + Alone in Room – Any Discernable Trace of Light = Palatable

Do you see what I did there? Put me in a dark room and hand me a Kit Kat or three or four Hot Tamales and all trace of awkwardness is gone. It’s just gobble, gobble, gobble. Yum yum yum.

This is just one example of utilizing what I’ve coined Dual Entry Radical Perspective© or DERP™.

I’ll give you one more example. This one is bound to be relatable to everyone.

You know Tim who works at the Apple Genius Bar in Towne Center, right? Remember the time he sneezed on Rhonda Shads who was there because she didn’t know how to use the dial function on her iPhone? I was three back in line from her when this happened.

Let’s employ DERP©.

I waved at Tim in the parking lot once because I thought he was my buddy Gantry. They both own a hat with that Brisk Iced Tea Snowman melting in a hot tub on it. So simple mistake. Point is, Tim didn’t wave back. We don’t really know each other, at least not like Gantry and I know each other (I was best man at Gantry’s mock wedding at Windy Gap Bible Camp). So yeah, you get it. I’ve always disliked Tim since that day. Petty? Maybe. Doesn’t matter, what matters is I see it. The mechanics are working. Cause and effect. Dual perspective.

Another equation:

Me + Tim – Gantry + Not Wave Back = Dislike Tim

At this point you might be asking yourself, “Is this guy from the moon or something?” Just bear with me.

There were two people working at the Genius Bar in Towne Center that Thursday. Tim and Gail Burke. Gail and I shared a joke once when we saw this dog sniffing at an old shirt in the road (you had to be there) so we were familiar and friendly. When I got in line at the Genius Bar, I was originally in front of Rhonda Shads. Yes, you’re reading that correctly. IN FRONT. But because I knew that I was bound to have a visceral reaction if I had to speak to Tim, let alone officially recognize him as a “Genius” (he’s not, he got a 67 on an Algebra test according to Mark Simmons who was in his class in junior high). So, I let several people, including Rhonda Shads, ahead of me in line, as I patiently waited to be helped by Gail Burke.

I did this because DERP© gave me the insight to know that Tim is bad news, and I’m bad news around Tim (see equation above). And because I used DERP© I avoided getting sneezed on!

PROOF THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE IN THE NEW YEAR.

Happy New Year. Every day is a gift. Even the bad ones. Peace be with you.