Week 2: Reading "The Art of Possibility" Chapters 1-4

I believe I had only read the first few lines of The Art of Possibility when I had the first aha moment. After reading the anecdote about the shoe factory marketing scouts, I called my wife in the room and re-read it to her. I posed the question " How can we train ourselves to think this way?!" Isn't that awesome?" Ironically, that's exactly what team Zander (Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander) devote chapter 1 to: changing how we perceive the world around us. The Zanders contend that obstacles in our lives only appear to be such due to the framework of our minds. Therefore we must adjust our framework or point of view. We have to consider what assumptions we are making, and then consider what we can "invent" that would offer the desired outcome. At first glance someone may say that this is simply the power of positive thinking or some type of eastern mysticism involving self actualization. I kind of think it falls somewhere in the middle where problem solving meets optimism.

In chapter 2 the Zander duet compares "the world of measurement" to "the universe of possibilities." The former is where most of us operate. We set measurable goals and work to reach them. The latter is where we want to be, where we are free of from the assumptions that the society and even we personally place on ourselves. But wait there's more!

In chapter 3 we introduce " the universe of possibilities" to our relationships making a virtual "A team" of people we are partnering with towards the goal of realizing our full capabilities. Is this a stretch? I don't know, but there is that old adage about birds and hanging out together right? So it stands to reason, that as we grow in this way those closest to us will be affected in a positive way or run for the hills and/or we'll attract new friendships with like minded people.

I really enjoyed chapter 4 about "being a contribution." Throw out the notion of successes or failures. Only consider that in some way I will be a contribution to someone else's life. How often do we think of ourselves as a gift to someone's existence?

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. I admit the pessimistic side of me cringed a bit but I think that was the point.