‘Choosing Joy’ – an unforgettable meeting with an unforgettable man
15 April 2009 was a very special day for many Pathfinders, their friends, families and colleagues. Because this was the day when Kay Pollak, the Swedish film director and author, organised a Pathfinder workshop on the subject of ‘Choosing Joy’. About 80 expectant people had gathered in the production hall of the Danish Royal Theatre, a unique framework for this life-affirming meeting with a man who in himself demonstrates that it is possible to be a happy, giving, enthusiastic and inquisitive human being – simply by choosing to be!
All change starts in one placeAll change starts in one place: in ourselves. It may be that we cannot always change the premisses, situations or circumstances. But we can change our perception and attitude to things. We cannot change all ‘the others’ anyway. And there are also so many of them... “So use your energy on the things you can actually do something about: yourself. Start by changing your way of thinking!” This is what Kay Pollak, on top form and full of energy, started by saying. He also talked about how he himself was a mature man of 48 before he understood in earnest that it is all about your way of thinking.
The power of thoughtThoughts are creative. Thoughts create feelings and they create our reality. Do we go around convincing ourselves that we are not good enough, do we think condemnatory thoughts about others, do we believe that all our problems are caused by others or do we believe that life is hard? Well, if we do, we create a problem-filled, sorrowful and fearful reality where we become the victims. We lose our spontaneity and our freedom. Bu if we choose to think positively about ourselves, the things we experience and – in particular – about the people we meet, we will live a joyful, positive and enriching life. In the final analysis, it is our own responsibility whether we choose one thing or the other, says Kay Pollak. That he himself has chosen – very consciously – to set high standards for his life and relationships through positive and optimistic thought was not in doubt. That he lives out this ‘commitment’ every single day was also obvious. He sparkled with genuine energy and an infectious appetite for life.
Growing through meeting othersAn example of Kay Pollak’s way of thinking is that there are no chance encounters between people: “I believe that every single encounter with another human being presents us with an opportunity to learn something about ourselves. That all the thoughts we have when we look at others contain a message to us about ourselves. Every person we meet has been sent out for us to practise how to function with a wide variety of people and handle the situations we have to confront with precisely this or that person. Some of these meetings are harder than others. But we can choose to think that we will only meet people that we can handle meeting. We can imagine that there are no people out there who can irritate us, hurt us or upset our balance. This is a way of thinking which sets us free and gives us empowerment and opportunity.”
Hand in hand with the Pathfinder spiritIt is not a matter of chance that Kay Pollak’s philosophy of life finds resonance among Pathfinders. His message is closely aligned with the Pathfinder spirit where the focal point is personal leadership, taking responsibility for our own thoughts, attitudes and conduct and striving for warrior values – and not victim psychology.
In recent years, Kay Pollak has also been a source of inspiration for Head Coach Lasse Zäll in his continued development of the Pathfinder programme and other projects. This inspiration has emerged through personal, rewarding discussions and correspondence between the two men. Kay Pollak’s moving and warm film As It Is in Heaven and his equally heart-warming and earnest book No Chance Encounter have also achieved a high status on the Pathfinder programme and among Pathfinders, their colleagues, families and friends. There is an incredible amount of wisdom to be found in these very fine narratives – about being a human being, improving relationships with other people and building a richer life.
As It Is in Heaven was nominated for an Oscar and has been seen by more than 1.5 million Swedes. No Chance Encounter has become a bestseller with more than 200,000 copies sold.