Mixed is probably the best way to describe my feelings on the first three chapters of Art of Possibility. I found myself nodding vigorously at the points I agreed with and shaking my head profusely at those I did not. To follow the example set by Zanders in the book, I need you to give me an A so that you will not jump to conclusions about my reaction but rather listen to where I am coming from and then you can decide whether or not you agree with me.
Much of what constitutes my core values originate from parents who were both teachers and leaders at church walking and talking the good Word. Right away I noticed how much this book promulgates the predominate way of thinking that the truth is what you make of it. How your life can be more joyful and satisfying if you change your focus and realize that "the only grace you can have is the grace you can imagine" (p. 52). Why has it come to this? According to the book, "in our new global society, no institution has the wide acceptance to create values and direction for the majority of people" (p. 3). While I agree that no institution has this wide acceptance to create values I completely disagree that this allows for a self truth that trumps everything. I believe in a truth where grace comes from a source that allows for complete freedom that it not only defines us, but transforms us into exactly who we were created to be. The first three chapters stress the importance of what you need to do to realize "it's all invented" and that through practice we can achieve this new way of thinking which will result in the better life as stated above. However, what if I told you that if you tried so hard to not try so hard and let yourself be who you are in Him, it would not only give you the better life but actually best anything you could ever do on your own no matter what frame you put around it? Would you agree? Disagree? Either way, at least you would know why my head shook profusely while reading the first few chapters.
On the other hand, there are a lot of things I read that made me nod vigorously especially when it comes to the teaching aspect and how to live more in the universe of possibility. As a past teacher of Advanced Placement Economics, I saw first hand just how important grades were and how effectively they killed the process of learning. Here were these bright, dedicated, and hard working seniors taking a class that would require them to know graphs, charts, and how the tax multiplier is always less than the spending multiplier when it is applied to aggregate demand. Yet, almost to the student, they were worried more about what they would receive on the national test and if so and so would get a low enough grade so that they could slip into the valedictorian spot than the process of becoming life long learners. I would love to go back and practice the idea of giving the A to see what type of effect it would have had on them as students and as human beings. To really see what would have happened if I knew then that the "practice of giving the A allows the teacher to line up with [his] students in their efforts to produce the outcome, rather than lining up with the students against these standards" (p. 33). To get away from the "measurement world where you set a goal and strive for it and get into the universe of possibility where you set the context and let life unfold" (p. 21).
I would love to hear your thoughts, reactions, anything that adds to this post.
References
Zander, B & Zander, R. (2000). The art of possibility. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
I will always give you an A....and look forward to reading your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteDrew,
ReplyDeleteWow! This is very thought provoking. I am intrigued with your perspective, especially your statement "While I agree that no institution has this wide acceptance to create values I completely disagree that this allows for a self truth that trumps everything."
I guess I'm a bit lost at the comment "self truth." Was this statement made in the book? However, whether it was or was not, we all have our own belief systems that guide our daily actions. I would consider this a self-truth. In other words, it is a truth centered around our core beliefs about our creator, but some of our beliefs are intermingled with our past experiences and perspectives. And although you and I believe in the same God (I know this because of discussions we've had), our belief systems will never line up 100%,because our experiences are completely different, so we would have to rely on some form of self truth. And although many of us believe in the same God, we don't view him exactly the same, instead we agree on basic core truths. Is this what you are referring to? I could be way off base.
Anyway, I think everyone should challenge their own thinking and step outside of their own perspectives to bend concepts that they think are solidly in place. After all, every idea is just a collection of our own understanding or experience. It is very difficult for humanity to change perspective beyond our own experiences.
Wow! Very challenging post, and I like how it has caused me to think differently about the book. Great job.
Drew
ReplyDeleteAs we discussed last night on skype, having thought provoking reading this month is a nice change, and I feel that we each need to take what is relevant for us from this book, and be open to possibilities for change. I completely agree with your statement
"I believe in a truth where grace comes from a source that allows for complete freedom that it not only defines us, but transforms us into exactly who we were created to be."
I know that personally, I need to be more in God's Word, as my true worth and value are in Him! I also believe from experience that He can speak to us also through different writing and people. Thank you for being a calm voice of wisdom to me throughout this year!
I appreciate you being so honest and thoughtful in your post!
And I definitely give you an "A"!! :)
@ Stace
ReplyDeleteWhat I mean by self truth is the notion that whatever I believe is true even if it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that it is false but that doesn't matter because I know it true so therefore it is. For example, if I brought in a yellow balloon and kept saying how pretty my green balloon was, you would probably think i was a little off center but it doesn't matter what you think, only that I know its a green balloon. If I told you that I know the world is flat and prove it to you by showing you a map from the middle ages you would come back with a globe and other things to refute what I thought was true and we would just agree to disagree because we are both right since we both believe each theory is true. That is what I believe self truth is and I think it is the biggest lie that has been concocted to lead people into misery.
I agree with you that we each have are own experiences that influence the way we view everything in life, the point I was trying to make is this doesn't mean there are 6.8 Billion truths out there. Should we challenge ourselves to think outside the box and be able to find new ways of meeting problems? Absolutely. Should we go around thinking it was because of how enlightened I am now because of what I did to invent a new reality that bestowed grace on others? Sounds like something that led a certain couple astray a long time ago with a simple bite of an apple.