“How do I get their head out of the sand?” It’s a question I get asked about colleagues, team members, partners, friends and family, and it’s asked in relation to situations they believe could be improved if only the other person would accept there was a problem, and take appropriate action to resolve it. It’s also a question asked when they believe they know what the solution is. There’s a fundamental flaw in this perspective - the person, like me in the photo above, has to take their own head out of the sand. We might encourage them but, ultimately, the decision is theirs. Which means there’s only so much we can do. In some respects it’s what 'Can’t see the Wood for the Trees' was written for - to help people a little resistant to hearing advice from others, just like myself, to get out of a rut, stop treading water or going round in circles and to see the wood for the trees and get back on track. (Hint it’s available from all online stockists.) One word of warning, it’s certainly easier to notice that others have their head in the sand than ourselves - which means when we’re getting frustrated with others it might be a red flag of our own lack of awareness and need for action. hashtahashtag
Whilst metaphor is my go to coaching tool when wanting to help client's find a solution to their problems, I realise for many it's only something to be considered when everything else has failed.
I'm hoping that you will agree that, so far as Brexit is concerned, you might be willing to try even the most unconventional of tools?
Logic is great at finding a solution so long as you can agree on the evidence and find
a consensus on the best way forward. With Brexit, unfortunately, we’re getting very polarised views and,
there in lies the issue, never shall the North and South Pole meet.
Neither pole wishing nor able to move its position for fear of the world ending as a result.
Logic regarding Brexit means:
“I’m right and you’re most definitely wrong”
“That
won’t work”
“We can’t do that”
“This was never going to work”
"You must be mad"
and more.
In
other words, logic is being used to reinforce our own viewpoint not find a
solution to moving forward.
The more our own castle is attacked the more we
defend its walls forgetting that a castle under siege eventually runs out of
the ability to sustain those stuck within.
Which is where metaphor comes in – to allow time for
solutions to be found outside the castle rather than using all our resources defending
it.
In the book Can’t see the wood for the trees I use nature's landscapes as metaphors for our lives to help us turn a corner and get back on track. To leave the dark night of the soul behind, and as the sun rises walk forward with confidence into the new day. It's a process I've successfully used in personal and business contexts for over 20 years, and the process is called Landscaping Your Life.
Each chapter of the book invites us to explore the solution hidden within a saying we’re using when we're stuck. For example, if we
can’t see the wood for the trees what would we do in a real wood that we could
apply to the real life situation, or if it feels like we’re stuck in a rut how
can we apply what we’d do to get out of a real rut to the predicament we’ve
found ourselves in.
Which is where this post is headed – let’s explore what
solutions we can discover as we visit each of the chapters of the book in turn.
I'm not going to directly draw analogies with Brexit for the reader - not least because it's better done after we've a lovely list of solutions or alternate perspectives. Additionally metaphor isn't a logical process that we can explain to someone else - it's something that simply allows us to relate to a situation differently and as a result understand additional and new options that were hidden from us previously.
Which means those able to get the most from this exploration are the politicians - UK and European - who currently have us in the creek and rut, going round in circles whilst being lost in the wood!!
Without further ado let's get on with it.
Stuck in a rut
The only way to get out of a rut is to step out of it –
there’s no half way house – no sticking around hoping the rut will change or
morph into something more favourable. It won’t - it’s a rut and action is
required and it’s required by everyone.
Let’s commit to jointly taking action as we explore the other
chapter headings.
Can’t see the wood for the trees
Currently it’s as if we’re all in different woods shouting
across to other woods persuading those there of the bounty to be found if only
they would walk across the divide, and refusing to move from our own wood. The problem with shouting across those distances is that no one can hear anyone else!
What happens if we shifted this belief, and accepted we are
all in the same wood - what metaphorical solutions might we discover? After all, if we’re all in the same wood the level of energy required to persuade others to move has been significantly reduced. How much less stressful does that feel?
Perhaps we’d notice the different types of tree existing
side by side providing diversity or sustainability of the wood for those
relying upon it for their livelihood.
Or perhaps we’d be able to get the map out to understand
where each of us stands within the wood, allowing us to find some common ground
in between. Ground that connects with where we were, and where we all want to be in
the future.
Maybe the solution will be found by taking to higher ground
so that all can see the complex nature of the wood to truly understand how to
make the most of all the resources it has to offer.
Or perhaps it's just about all getting out of the wood first, and regrouping and deciding where to go from there once we can see the wood.
Or something else entirely.
No right or wrong just a metaphor allowing us to see the situation from a different perspective without the logic, facts and data that thus far have stopped us achieving agreement to the best way forward.
Let’s visit another saying, another landscape and another
metaphor. Allowing the insight already gained to be added as new insight
emerges.
Up a creek without a paddle
If we're up a creek without a paddle there are multiple options out of this predicament.
Perhaps that’s all the insight we need. A belief that there is a solution or even
solutions to get us back in the flow. Solutions that thankfully don’t necessitate
finding the old paddle, as I suspect that’s long gone off down the river and
away well out of reach.
In the book one strategy includes; stopping (no panic, no
flapping around), then putting our life jacket on so that we can
review our end destination from a position of health rather than life and death
fear of drowning, or fear of getting even more off course.
Once we've decided where we want to go we then gather guides and
fellow travellers to travel with us. Followed by getting the map out and using our
compass to plot a course away from the creek and back into the flow. More on this strategy in the post from the archives.
The insight being there’s a sequence of events that’s needed
– it’s no use pushing forward until we've taken the risk of drowning away, no use either gathering guides and travellers if we’ve not agreed where we’re
headed because guides have very specific skills and are best chosen when we
know what terrain they need to be experts in.
Each saying potentially adding to the abundance of solutions, or just one saying providing the precise insight you need at this time.
Like a fish out of water
Shouting at a fish telling it that it will feel better once
it’s got used to its new environment is not at all helpful. A fish will die if
left out of water for too long. The aim has to be to ensure the environment in
which we find ourselves allows for all of our survival.
Of course alternate water
courses are available but planning is required to move from one to the other.
We certainly shouldn’t be surprised if fish start dying if we push on
disregarding how long we’re expecting the fish to survive out of water.
Some sayings more or less appropriate for the situation we're facing - in the book we suggest picking just one saying that best reflects how you're feeling and just reading that chapter.
Out on a limb
We’re not out on a limb if we can go back to where we
started – we’re only out on a limb when the only option is to let go and drop
to the ground.
Yet we often hang on for dear life fearing what’s ahead and yet
knowing the only option is to let go. To trust we can survive the drop, to
trust in our ability to take the appropriate action once we can see what lies
ahead.
I suppose the key here is understanding whether we're really out on a limb, or if we have an option to come back from the edge and reevaluate the best means of getting where we want to go to.
Going round in circles
Of course we can get this far and circle back and revisit
the wood, rut, creek or limb wondering if we made the right decision.
Questioning the twists and turns that got us to where we are.
The key is to stop the circling – to try something different
– whether that’s to change direction, to circle wider or narrower or even
spiral or square in order to shift the impasse of the constant circling.
“Not this again” should be the battle cry to try something
different not the alarm to keep circling in the hope that something will
change.
A great strategy here is to try walking the circle you're going around in - physically on the ground - and noticing what you notice when you try making changes to the circle. More here.
Missed the tide
It’s never too late – never. There’s always another tide –
who knows perhaps the high high tide of tomorrow will be better than the low
high tide of yesterday.
The key is in recognising the patterns of the tide and
preparing for the next one not bemoaning the tide that has long since gone.
Headed for the ocean
In the book the antidote for any predicament is to to head
for the ocean - to not push against the tide but to go with the flow.
The key is in being able to recognise where the flow is, and to notice when we're pushing against it. To proactively make decisions to head for the ocean not to react and be at the influence of all the elements and other parties.
There’s two chapters I’ve not covered this far that may or may not provide additional insight - perhaps the insight that you needed was covered in another saying/chapter?
One chapter talks of making mountains out of molehills – it
usually speaks of situations we’re making bigger than they actually are.
I
suspect Brexit was always a mountain and we were lulled into believing it was a
molehill to be easily dealt with. Something to mull on perhaps for the future when facing a mountain without the appropriate map and gear to get to the top.
The other chapter is having our head in the sand and is self explanatory about what the solution is - even if often we don't realise that it's us who has the head in the sand rather than everyone else!
(Don't ask!)
You may of course have had other insights about the solutions contained within the very sayings we use when we're stuck. That's the beauty of metaphor - we're each able to see the patterns that make most sense for us personally.
The aim of using metaphor in this way is to allow our unconscious to nudge us to notice something we hadn't noticed thus far. Something that enables us to understand alternate options that exist - alternate options that allow us to venture away from the cold inaccessible poles and meet all parties somewhere in-between.
Wishing all involved in Brexit the insight needed to get back on track, to understand what's needed to walk away from the creeks, and ruts, and finally be able to see the wood for the trees.
Alison Smith
Landscaping your life to get back on track Author of Can't see the wood for the trees - landscaping your life to get back on track available from all online stockists - more here.
Whilst thinking of a situation you’d like more clarity on or for it to be transformed consider which of these 6 images are you drawn to?
Once you’ve decided, see below for some coaching questions from nature - ie different questions from each image. Just answer the questions for the image you picked, or explore them all, or think about what insight or questions you imagine the image might be asking you.
Image 1: What can you do now to bring more joy and beauty into your life, to allow the mist to clear? Where are the green shoots of opportunity showing themselves?
Image 2: In what way have you isolated yourself from others, How can you become more connected with humanity and the planet? Where is your tribe? How can you spend more time with your tribe?
Image 3: What can you do today to be more grounded? Whether that’s via physical movement, the foods you eat, people you spend time with, books you read, programmes you watch or visualisation used in your daily meditation. What one action in the past has enabled you to take your head out of the clouds and ether, and to come back down to Earth and take part in daily human life?
Image 4: What one thing (however small) can you do today to move you towards your goal? No getting lost in the confusion - just one small action. No excuses. No delay nor further procrastination. No ifs buts cants. One action you can take now. Nothing more is needed until you’ve taken that one action.
Image 5: Do you need to zoom in or out - ie are you focusing too much on the detail and not enough on the big picture, or vice versa? How can you release the current perspective to shift to the other?
Image 6: What needs to be cut down? What is no longer serving you and your goal? How can that be chopped down and released from your life? As you reflect on your answers to these coaching questions from nature what action can you take today to get more clarity or to make progress on the situation? This is just one example of how Landscaping Your Life uses nature as your coach to get you back on track in your life. Explore this blog for more posts sharing many different tools using nature to get you back on track. Of course you could also buy the recently published Can't see the wood for the trees which shares many Landscaping Your Life tools and applies them to well known sayings we use when we're stuck e.g stuck in a rut, can't see the wood for the trees, up the creek without a paddle, going round in circles, missed the tide, out on a limb, treading water, like a fish out of water and so on.
One reader recently described it as a first aid kit for the mind after simply reading one chapter and following the process outlined there.
"It's like a first aid kit for your mind" said someone, who had picked up my book in the throws of panic about their forthcoming exams.
She'd bought the book because I was a client, not real expecting to read it as she's not one for reading self help nor coaching books.
As her exams loomed and panic set in her ability to cope rapidly reduced and she found herself thinking "I can't see the wood for the trees", and remembered I'd said you could dip into the book and just read the chapter whose title resonated*.
With nothing to lose, she just read the Can't see the wood for the trees chapter, and did the exercises outlined there. Within 30 minutes, and much to her surprise, she was feeling much calmer, able to see the wood for the trees, and even wrote herself a to-do list and revision timetable.
Since then she's continued to feel very calm and grounded about her revision, even as her exam loomed closer.
She also commented that with every dog walk it was if the woods she was walking in were reminding her that she could do it - ie could see the wood for the trees.
She even went on to list how many people she knew who might benefit from having this book as a reference guide for when they're stuck - most of whom would never pick up a 'self-help' book.
Like any book, of course it can be read from start to finish, it comes into its own though when we're stuck, and just like the reader above you can just go to the chapter that resonates with how you're feeling and read that chapter. As she said the book is "a first aid kit" for reference and to dip into when your mind is unable to find options and solutions to the problems you're facing.
When we're stuck it goes without saying we don't know what to do - or should I say, the logical part of your mind doesn't. What each chapter does, with a little coaching from nature, is help us tap into our inner wisdom that does know what to do. The inner wisdom that doesn't speak in words but in metaphors.
The Landscaping Your Life (LYL) process outlined in the book uses nature as our coach, and nature's landscapes as metaphors for our lives. Which means when we can't see the wood for the trees the trees will have the answer - more here on one example on how that might work.
* There's over 13 different tools shared in the book - and they can all be applied to situations where we resonate with any of the following sayings:
Stuck in a rut
Can't see the wood for the trees
Up the creek without a paddle
Like a fish out of water
Out on a limb
In at the deep end
Treading water
Going round in Circles
Missed the tide
Whilst we don't normally self identify with the following sayings, there's also chapters on:
Making mountains out of molehills
Head in the sand
With the antidote to avoid going back up the creeks and into those ruts being:
To go with the flow (proactively and not passively)
Do you need a first aid kit for your mind? If so, let nature be your coach, nature's landscapes be metaphors for your life, and pick up a copy of Can't see the wood for the trees.
My favourite vlog is this one, although you will need to turn the sound down a little before playing it - it's about doing the same things and yet expecting a different result! And is a great example about how the LYL process can be applied to any situation you'd like more insight on
Next time you say you "can't" do anything you might want to remember that, since it confuses website search engines, it's no wonder it confuses your mind.
Let me explain - you'd think it would be easy enough to find the above book on online book sites?
Fuelled with the enthusiasm you'd expect from me as book launch got close, and the knowledge that Can't see the wood for the trees was being stocked by many a bookseller, I was disappointed I couldn't find it - just nil returns and being told there was no such book etc.
"How will anyone find it" I cried. Thankfully I eventually did find my book, with many successful searches being via other word searches, for example Alison Smith, Wood for the Trees, and Landscaping your Life. (Which means of course you can buy the book on all these sites Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, WHS, Waterstones, Deep Books, Inner Traditions, IndieBound, & Findhorn Press *) The searches just didn't understand nor accept can't!
You know me I love a good metaphor - and this is SUCH a great metaphor. When you say you can't do anything, just like a computer, we're going to get a big juicy nil return. And I'm not sure that's what we want when we use that word.
I can't swim fast
I can't market myself
I can't find the answer
I can't get unstuck
I can't get back on track
I can't etc
When I'm moaning about the weights my personal trainer has just increased, and I am saying "I can't do that", he often replies with "You mean you won't even try!"
He's right - like us when we use the word can't the website searches gave up and didn't even try! It's as if we get bored before we even get to the end of the sentence, and move onto another conversation!
The problem is, these are all statements where we're looking for an answer or alternative solution, and a nil return isn't going to give us that.
Which means, if we really do want to shift a situation we need to get clearer about what we do want.
I want to swim quicker
I want to learn how to market myself better, or find someone who can do that for me
I want to find the answer
I want to get unstuck
I want to get back on track
Which then instils within us a desire to develop an action plan to achieve the goal.
Even I can not is better than I can't as I support the belief that we can't compute not either - for example try not thinking about an elephant and let me know how you get on.
Without the not at least it means we've translated the words to:
I can swim fast
I can market myself
I can find the answer
I can get unstuck
I can get back on track
Which would have us finding ways of making it a reality.
As I say often in this blog WORDS HAVE POWER. You have a choice every day therefore whether the words you use help or hinder you achieving your objectives. **
Which of course that is what Can't see the wood for the treesis all about - using the words we're using to describe being stuck, and using the landscape contained within them to get unstuck.
Always happy to come and conduct a word audit for you or your teams to help you dispense with those unhelpful and downright barrier building words - coaching, speaking and training too. Alison Smith Landscaping Your Life Unlocking the patterns that are holding you back
You'll find our more about, the book here, and the book launch where we visited four Fife landscapes here.
* Amazon UK's search has now learnt it needs to accept the full title, and when you start typing Can't see the wood for the trees it comes up as an option (which the geek in me find very satisfying).
Can't see the wood for the trees uses nature as our coach, and nature's landscapes as metaphors for our lives.
The book chapters tackle sayings we use when stuck that also refer to nature as shown below:
In the book, I suggest that if you can relate to the saying then the saying will also have the potential to provide you with some insight to the situation. Which means, if you can't see the wood for the trees, the wood will have the answers - more below.
The book launch took place outside in nature four landscapes in Fife where the book was written. With engagement too from people in Australia, America, Wales, England and closer to home here in Scotland via LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
It was a very blustery day which means much of the insight gained was either about:
Finding safe harbour until the winds have settled
Connecting with our own wildness/power
That's how nature works - ever changing and yet with constant patterns we understand and can relate to. Patterns that help us make sense of the problems we encounter in our lives.
Here's a few thoughts about the insight gained on the day, and a few of the live videos posted on Facebook and LinkedIn on the day to engage with those unable to be there.
Let's start with a reminder of why nature is such a great coach.
One of the tools in the book asks us to consider what we'd do if we were in the situation described by the saying. Which means solutions when we can't see the wood for the trees would include those shown below.
The action then is to take these potential solutions and translate them into options in the situation you're wanting more clarity on. See more here on this saying.
Another LYL tool described in the book involves going for a walk. This video is the culmination of a 30 minute walk as we moved from a landscape that depicted the current situation, through a midway stopping point, to this very very very blustery headland which provided huge shifts in everyone's thinking - you'll find more about the process here on the Facebook post.
The final chapter in the book, the antidote if you will, is going with the flow. Not a reactive going wherever the flow takes you but a proactive type. (I've written a little more about this over on my Purchasing Coach site)
Whilst it is supposed to be a metaphorical flow I couldn't help but get my wetsuit on and do it in reality to round off a great day ;-).
I love this image of headed for the ocean which is the question I suggest you need to ask yourself if you're ever unsure which direction to go in life ie "Am I headed for the ocean?"
If you're interested in learning more about Landscaping Your Life coaching or workshops, or even a facilitated strategy day such as this team do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.eu.
Anyone wanting to participate in the book launch raffle, with a prize of a free coaching session with me, have until Monday the 8th October to get over to my JustGiving page for the RNLI - 1 raffle ticket for every £1 donated. Because just like the RNLI I support people who are stuck to get back on track.
Alison Smith Speaker, coach, trainer, author - more on services offered here Landscaping your life to get back on track
Yipeeeee Can't see the wood for the trees is now available, and explores a variety of ways of using nature as our coach, when we're using her name in vain such as: stuck in a rut; up a creek without a paddle; or any of the sayings shown below:
If you'd like to join me in person or via Facebook or YouTube on Saturday 29th September for my launch event have a look at what I have planned here - I'm visiting four locations in Fife: 0930 Dalgety Bay, 1130 Aberdour, 1330 Burntisland and 1530 Kirkcaldy.
There's over 10 different coaching tools shared in the book to help you get on track if any of these sayings are curtailing or dampening progress you're making in your life. Here's an overview of the book and process I published when the US edition was published last month. For the more logically minded readers I also wrote a post over on my Purchasing Coach blog at that time exploring the molehills we're actually making a mountain of.
Today I'd like to explore one of these tools as it relates to the title of the book.
To get the most from this exploration it would be useful to choose a situation you'd like more clarity or insight about. A situation where the saying I can't see the wood for the trees rings true for you. A situation that you might be feeling a little stuck about. For those not familiar with the saying you may recognise can't see the woods for the trees, or even can't see the forest for the trees.
This tool involves putting the current situation to the back of your mind and considering what you would do in reality if you were in a wood/woods/forest and couldn't see it for the trees.
Imagine for a moment that you have gone for a walk and found yourself surrounded by trees and are unsure where to go next - what would you do?
For example, you might get a map out, climb a tree, or just follow a path out as show in this short video blog.
Or as happened when I took one senior leadership team out for a Landscaping Your Life strategy day, you could ask a warden for assistance.
The aim is to write down as many different options that we could do when in the wood - no right or wrong just a lovely long list of options.
No jumping back to consider what they might mean in reality - not yet anyway.
A long list of every option you can think of. A long list others in the team can think of. You could even consider what role models, anti role models, your favourite character from a book or movie would do.
Just aim for as long a list as possible.
Writing the list may have already loosened the feeling of being stuck, and solutions of what to do in the current real life situation may already have come to mind.
Here's a few options I came up with for when we can't see the wood for the trees - do leave your own suggestions in comments below. That way we can have an ever expanding list we can call upon when stuck at some point in the future.
On Ben Fogle's New Lives in the Wild last night on the TV another option became apparent - stay in the woods and live in harmony with it.
Once we've got the list it's then about relating it to the current situation ie what would each suggestion for seeing the wood for the trees look like in the real life situation.
Whilst I can provide my own examples for you, it is likely that you will take different meaning from the metaphorical solutions. That's why metaphors are so powerful - they're simply patterns, patterns we make sense of. Our patterns may be similar to others' interpretations, and sometimes not.
For example,
What could getting a map out mean in a real life situation?
A mission statement
A vision
Clarity on the goal
An action plan
Progress reporting
Taking the first step
Documenting the plan to give to others
Last week the Purchasing Coach's post on the benefits of coaching uses maps and journeys as a metaphor for coaching. So you may find additional suggestions there.
Keep working your way through the metaphorical solutions - either the ones you've come up with or mine:
What could following a path way out of the wood mean?
Following the route others have already taken (no need to try to cut a new path just yet!)
Doing the most obvious thing to do - don't over think it
Getting to a safe place from which to determine next steps
Any other suggestions?
What could climbing a tree mean?
How can you get more perspective?
Don't get distracted by what others are doing
Perhaps it's about taking time out in a safe place
What could waiting for winter, and the leaves to fall, mean?
Do you have to make a decision or take action now?
Can you wait for a better time?
What would the perfect conditions be to take action?
What could cutting some of the wood back mean?
Can you simplify your work?
Can you simplify the situation?
Can you concentrate on some of the smaller tasks first to get them out of the way
As I said earlier these are my suggestions today. On another day, when thinking about another situation, I may have noticed other opportunities. As I am sure you did as you read my thoughts.
As you reflect on your original situation what solutions or insights have you obtained? What action can you take today to help cement those insights? Can you tell anyone of your commitment to this action?
The book has many more suggestions on how to get back on track when any of the above sayings ring true for a situation you're in. They can be used time and time again as every situation is unique, and so too the patterns we take notice of. Which means on one occasion it's obvious we need to cut back some of the branches, and yet on another occasion we realise we need to plant some more trees!
I'd love to know how you get on.
If you're interested in Landscaping Your Life coaching, facilitation, workshops or keynote speaking do drop me an email at alison@alisonsmith.eu, or follow me on LinkedIn,Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram. #LandscapingYourLife will find me too.
If you buy the book - firstly thank you - and I'd really appreciate a review / comment once you'd read it. Thank you very much.
As I write this ahead of Saturday I have no way of knowing if the weather will get the better of my plans.
I'm due to take part in the Forth Swim - which is 1.4 miles from South to North Queensferry in Fife, Scotland. (Anyone wishing to make donations to RNLI are most welcome to do so on my JustGiving page or simply text 70070 with RBCM47 £x where x is the amount you wish to donate)
Having taken open water swimming up in June last year I've been in the water over 90 times since then. I love it - who knew I could cope with the cold and enjoy it!
My book, Can't see the wood for the trees, was finally published here in the UK this week (It's been available elsewhere since August), and I am however a little worried that the chapters of my book are a premonition.
The book provides insight from nature about what to do when using some very well known sayings that refer to nature - here in the UK anyway.
Which means I'm hoping not to:
End
Feel
Keep
End up with my
Or headed for the ocean
I'll let you know how I get on.
Alison Smith Author of Can't see the wood for the trees Coach, facilitator, trainer and speaker
"Alison you're introducing us to a way of thinking we've not considered before" said one interviewer.
For over 20 years I've used nature as our coach and, since nature has no words, I've used her landscapes as metaphors for our lives. I called the process Landscaping Your Life.
This blog is awash with examples of how I've used the process myself, with coaching clients, and even with leadership teams. So too my YouTube channel and more recently Instagram.
Clients that know me expect the unexpected and unconventional - they also trust that I only introduce these tools because they're effective. Whether that's to solve problems, develop a vision, or simply obtain a different perspective to a situation.
As with any process people haven't used before, it can feel weird.
Recent interviews about my book Can't see the wood for the trees have led me to discuss the book with people who have never met me, never used the process and it's opened my eyes to a how insightful and different a process it is.
I've brought the very practical, logical and analysis skills that are me at my core. I've added the behavioural and language skills that I developed a little later in life to this, and then the final ingredient is the magic of metaphor and nature. That special ingredient indigenous cultures have known for millennia.
I'm so very excited that tomorrow, those in the UK, join those in America and Australia in being able to buy the book. I hope that the logic, language and magic contained within it helps you to achieve what you want in life.
