Radiating Possibilities

And the value of boredom

“Radiating possibility begins with things as they are and highlights open spaces, the pathways leading out from here.” ~ The Art of Possibility

It’s easy to get stuck in certain ways of seeing, thinking, and doing. To me, that stems from a lack of imagination and prevents growth. When you’re feeling stuck or bored, that’s a sure sign that it’s time to shake things up a little. Last week, we practiced cultivating a beginner's mind. This blank slate can be a scary place but it’s in this space where possibilities emerge. 

The Value of Boredom

I was lucky to grow up on a cul-de-sac with a forest at the end, during a time when kids roamed outdoors with very little structure. We played games, built forts in the trees, and even created a musical group with homemade instruments. We had to get creative when boredom set in. 

For me, photography has been a great tool for expanding perspectives and jump-starting creativity. I’ve mentioned photographing a subject from many different perspectives. A similar exercise is to set a number, for example 24 or 36, different shots of a subject. There’s always a point in this exercise where you get a little bored and think you’ve exhausted all possibilities. But, the boredom just means that you’ve stopped seeing. Boredom is a judgment from your mind; this point means you’re on the cusp of creative possibility. Pause for a while and wait for something new to emerge. It always will, guaranteed.

The antidote to boredom is to get curious and cultivate wonder. These are the seeds for new possibilities to emerge. 

The Art of Possibility

The book quoted at the top of this post is from the book, The Art of Possibility, by Ben and Rosamund Zander. They use the example of an orchestra to talk about possibility and suggest examining your framework of assumptions so that you will be able to see more clearly and take actions that are best for all. 

There are 12 practices/ideas in the book, each of which offers a shift in perspective and good life lessons. Below is a summary of the practices which just scratches the surface of what is presented in the book. Hopefully, they will jumpstart your own exploration of possibilities this week. 

1. Everything is invented. Everything we’re told about the way we’re “supposed to live,” is a story and that story can be changed. 

2. We live in a world of measurement and there is another world alongside that which is a world of abundance and possibilities. Once we take to heart that the world is invented, we step into a universe of possibility. 

3. Practice giving A’s to others. Giving grades is a measurement tool used for comparison purposes. This practice is genius because it assumes that everyone wants to contribute and it allows them to flourish in their own way. 

4. Ask yourself, “How will I be a contribution today?” 

5. Lead from any chair. As leader of an orchestra, Zander sees his job as focusing on each person’s passion and desire to contribute and to help bring that to life.

6. Don’t take yourself so seriously. When we lighten up, learn to laugh at ourselves and the mistakes we’ll inevitably make, we give others permission to do the same. 

7. Accept the way things are. Instead of resisting the reality of life, learn to ask, “What is happening?” “What else is happening?”“What do I want/need to do?” This is how real change happens.

8. Give way to your passions, whether that’s making people laugh, tending a garden, or running a corporation. Your passions make you who you are. 

9. Light a spark. The Zanders call this enrollment. How can you interact with others in such a way that you light a spark in them?

10. Be the board. Own everything that happens to you, whether fair or deserved or not. You have a choice as to how to respond to whatever happens to you.

11. Create frameworks for possibility. How? First, know your passions and your vision. Then, embody them. Keep distinguishing what is on and off track for the new vision.

12. Tell a WE rather than ME story. So many of our stories revolve around us. The WE story acknowledges that life is a constant dance of relationship. 

Which of these struck a chord with you? How will you wake up to new possibilities today?  

Practice

See more quotes from The Art of Possibility here: Possibilities Open up When we Shift Perspectives. Take one or more of the practices from The Art of Possibility and apply it to your life at this moment. 

Answer these questions for yourself. What is your passion? What is your vision? What story needs to be changed now? What possibilities could I step into? What lights a spark in you? How can you light a spark in others? What is this present moment asking of me? Who can I give an A to today? How can I be a contribution today? What risk do I need to take? Is there a possibility I’m avoiding?

A photography exercise for stepping into possibilities. Choose an ordinary, not too exciting subject and take 36 different shots. The important thing to notice is when you get that bored or helpless feeling. Recognize it and just wait. Something new will come. You’ll be surprised at what you come up with.

What possibilities open up for you? I hope you’ll share in the comments.

Resources

My kids had an orchestra teacher who always gave A’s and I wrote about him here - Giving Space (and an A) for Possibilities.

Profound thoughts from a fascinating book by James Carse called Finite and Infinite Games - A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility.