Power Cords

No, I’m not talking about a technique of rock guitarists!

I have a nice stereo system from my days as a composer and pianist.  I hadn’t done any upgrades to it for about 7 or 8 years.  But the other day I began contemplating a new power cord for the amplifier—an amp that I’ve been happy with, though it just never seemed to quite live up to my expectations.

Believe it or not, changing a power cord can indeed make significant sonic improvements in any audio component’s performance.  But rather than just going ahead and purchasing one, I had an intuition to first check the manufacturer’s website to see what they recommended.

I’m glad I did.  Because their advice was to not feed the amplifier from a line filter, but directly from the AC outlet as the way of getting the full potential of the device—contrary to the generally accepted wisdom of those “in the know” around the globe. 

I quickly made the change and the positive effect was so immediate and noticeable that my wife, Carolyn, remarked on how much better it was.  We’re not talking subtleties here.  It was like getting a new system at no cost! 

We had a great time listening for several hours to favorite LPs, CDs, and FM stations.  It was—as we used to say in the ‘60’s—mind-blowing!

This got me thinking today.  How often do we look for upgrades to our life—upgrades that are costly, time-consuming, and often unsatisfying—when just a simple shift, a different connection, is all it takes?  How often do we just accept the current popular wisdom about every aspect of our lives?

I think the answer may be far too much.

Take health care for example.  Anywhere you go, you’ll hear folks talking about their health and the various prescriptions and procedures they take and have had.  They may not be happy with the outcomes, but many don’t seem to be aware that there are other options available to them—options that are right around the proverbial corner.  Often they just accept the status quo—or what they perceive to be the status quo—as the best that’s available.

Yet the supposed status quo isn’t really immobile as is evidenced by more and more medical research indicating the possibility of a different approach—an approach that shows how spiritual thought can and does have a positive affect on our health and wellness outcomes. 

It all comes down to stopping for a moment and asking ourselves: Which outlet should we be plugging into? 

You may have your mind “blown” in the process!