Why Think Globally Act Internally?

Do you remember the bumper sticker that said "think globally act locally"?

I came up with my version a few years ago: Think Globally Act Internally

How I did that in a moment, but for now a spelling lesson.

Back in 1997 (seems so long ago now) I began studying acupuncture. Included in the program was something called Qi Gong. Pronounced 'chi' gong and sometimes spelled as one word. You'll even see it spelled chi kung.

The problem being trying to spell something in English when it comes from a language that doesn't use our writing system, as well as using slightly different sounds than we do. So you'll see spelling variations, which are all correct.

A good example is "tao" and "dao". Both are correct. In Chinese they speak a sound that is sort of like an English 'd' and sort of like a 't'. So the spelling just depended on which sound the translator heard.

But then you ask...why the "q" if it's a "ch"??

Q is used because the sound in Chinese aint quite like our 'ch'. Sorta but not. So the linguists decided to use a letter that's not used a lot in English to represent this sound. Yes, a vague answer indeed.

I digress, but very happy to use my degree in linguistics for something!

Anyway....

Qi can be translated as your vital energy. Gong is the working to achieve something.
The words used together simply imply the cultivation of one's vital energy.

Qigong is used for healing the body, increasing energy, calming yourself, balance, personal cultivation and so on. It is the basis of martial arts and Tai Chi (note the spelling).


So now you may be asking yourself what does all this have to do with a bumper sticker?

My qigong instructor taught us these concepts:

• the Dao is the Source of all things
• it is everywhere in different forms that we experience as qi
• qi follows the mind

The last one could also be saying your energy flows where your mind goes. In other words, your intent determines the outcome. You could even say waves become particles when they are observed.

Sound familiar?

This was actually back before I heard of Law of Attraction so I didn't have a really good conceptual framework to put it into.

However it did get me thinking that you can't get any more local than yourself.

So to 'act local' was in my mind to 'act internally'.

And if I wanted to change the world I would need to change myself from the inside.

Hence: Think Globally Act Internally

Be the change you wish to see in the World.