Overlooking the Sierra Nevadas (Capileira, Andalucia, Spain) after a long hike. Taken June 26, 2004.
I'm reading two outstanding books right now that are really re-shaping my outlook on life. I figure I better jot down some thoughts about them before I do my usual smart move and march on to yet another busy week! This particular post is more of a personal diary entry and time capsule for the future, but anyone who comes across this post is welcome to read along...
One is the The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. The other is the much-celebrated Carnegie Mellon lecture/phenomena turned book, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I like mixing in these types of books every once and a while, but these in particular have been the best in recent memory.
Starting off with the Zanders for this post, I first came across a speech that Ben gave that I found on YouTube a few months back. The guy is an incredible force of energy and enthusiasm. As conductor for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, he brings a fresh and fascinating perspective to the already crowded table of motivational gurus. Ben is like no other person I've ever learned from.
While most people look into the future and see wars and recessions and doom and gloom, Ben confidently states that he thinks the upcoming decades will be among the most exciting times in human history. When his apprentices make embarrassing mistakes during orchestra practices, he encourages them to not shrivel up but JUMP up and proudly exclaim, "How fascinating!"
When I learned that Ben and his wife had this book, I just had to buy it. Here are some key takeaways from the book so far (which I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone and everyone):
It's all invented. We all create these paradigms in which we view and act with the world around us. In a sense, we "invent" the lens in which we see things. For example, the Zanders start off with this situation:
A shoe factory sends two marketing scouts to a region of Africa to study the prospects for expanding business. One sends back a telegram saying,
SITUATION HOPELESS STOP NO ONE WEARS SHOES.
The other writes back triumphantly,
GLORIOUS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY STOP THEY HAVE NO SHOES.
The Zanders say that if "it's all invented" anyway, therefore, we might as well invent stories and frameworks of meaning that enhance our quality of life and the lives of those around us. Brilliant.
Step into the universe of possibility. We're trained to think that our universe is one driven by calculation, survival and scarcity. And in many cases, it is. But the Zanders challenge us (invite us, rather) to live instead in a universe of possibility. This is where true creation and magic and great moments happen in our otherwise calculating world: Mandela emerging from prison after 27 years, the euphoria of the Berlin Wall falling, and the birth of a child into the world... moments that truly transcend our old paradigms and expand our world.
Give everyone an A. This might be the toughest part of the book for me so far. The Zanders essentially say to flip around our custom of judging people after their performance. This means "giving people an A" grade first, and empowering and inspiring them to live up to their potential. Put another way, follow Michelangelo's words of wisdom to see a beautiful statue inside every rough block of stone or marble. In the Zanders' words, "The A is not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live into."
Be a contribution. Relax the urge to "accomplish" and "succeed" all the time. Live in the moment, and invent yourself merely as a contribution... someone who merely tries to be fully present in all that they do, and to do so with all their mind and heart. Just try to make a meaningful difference.
Lead from any chair. Strive to understand what makes each person tick, genuinely recognize their important contributions, and empower them to lead. From Ben Zander's position as a conductor, he tells stories of how he incorporated subtle suggestions from his players into his symphonies... thus enhancing the performances and, more importantly, touching those people who were affirmed that their voice really mattered.
Lighten up. Simply put... plus, give in more to the "central self" rather than the "calculating self." Relax the natural tendency to take criticism seriously, relax the tendency to point fingers at others... just embrace our faults and shortcomings, get on with our lives, and live in the universe of possibility.
Acknowledge the way things are. Engage not in "downward spiral" talk but in "conversations of possibility" (i.e. the African shoe example). Take Jane Goodall, and all the tragedies and carnage and horrors she has experienced living with chimpanzees in Tanzania. She sees them as they are, she doesn't give fire-and-brimstone speeches and she doesn't give up home. Instead, she calmly shares her experiences and breeds compassion, love and change over time. Another way of acknowledging the way things are? Don't fight what is; make a habit of substituting the word "but" with "and"...
We are in Florida for our winter vacation, but AND it's raining. This isn't what we planned; it's very disappointing. If we wanted rain at this time of year, we would have visited our friends in Seattle. But AND, this is the way things are.
Simply put, presence without resistance. Furthermore, ask "What do we want to do from here?" Instead of mope in the Florida rain, the Zanders suggest one could explore the pathways of possibility instead: rest, eat great food, have sex, read a great book, dance in the rain, or try catching the next flight to Tucson.
That's where I'm at so far, about 65% in. I'll try to post the rest of my thoughts once I make it to the end.
