WK 2: Blog Post #1 - Readings on "The Art of Possibility" Chapters 1-4

Reading Chapters 1-4


Chapter 1: It's All Invented 

Zander’s expression “It’s All Invented” refers to the idea that we literally invent our life as we choose to see it.  Like the two British salesmen sent out to Africa to find out about business opportunities, one coming back saying no Africans wear shoes and the situation is hopeless versus the other coming back and saying no Africans wear shoes and glorious opportunities abound, we can choose in every life circumstance a downward spiral or a land of unbridled opportunity.

Chapter 2: Stepping Into the Universe of Possibility

The universe of possibilities is the place you seek after you have discovered that it's all invented. This universe…like a page that displays…extends beyond the borders that confine us to everyday reality. Our current world that we survive in is made up of measurements… measurements of achievement that we compare and contrast ourselves to. Our goal is to get up in the morning and instead of trying to figure out how to survive, we need to arise and yell out to everyone to look at how different things appear when you see them as possibilities. In this new world you make all things possible by creatively thinking and giving… producing new life, creating new ideas, consciously endowing with meaning, contributing, yielding to the power of contexts. How do you practice this step? Ask yourself; “How are my thought and actions, in this moment, reflections of the measurement world?” Just keep asking yourself this question until one day you wake up and someone asks you how you are doing and you reply, "Perfect" in light of all the problems you may face.

Chapter 3: Giving an A:

Zander conducts his musical class in Boston entirely differently.  He gives everyone an A from the moment the class begins.  All he asks of his students who enroll in his class to get the A is for each of them to write a letter in the first two weeks of class dated at the end of May of the following year that begins, “Dear Mr. Zander, I got my A because…” He does not ask for the student to extol his or her musical accomplishments (although that is allowed).  He wants to hear how the student has developed as a person over the year and whom that student has become over the year, writing the letter despite the future date in the past tense.  He wants the student to fall passionately in love with who he or she has become as a person. We need to give another person an A in life.  He explains that the reason for the Arab-Israeli conflict is that the Arabs have failed the Israelis and the Israelis have equally given a failing grade to the Arabs. 

Chapter 4: Being a Contribution

Every situation can be a reflection of our negativity, pettiness, and narrow worldview or it can reflect a broader beauty.  This is what comes to mind when I think about the starfish story. I will make a difference… Life is often an obstacle course that we spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to maneuver through and still remain hopeful. If we take away the element of measurement we experience a life where we are contributors to it. Not because of what we have done, but because of the story we tell. Remember the lady who was throwing back the starfish and the gentleman told her how useless this action was? She still helped each starfish she threw back into the water. The purpose of this section is to help us to invent ourselves as a contributor. Here's how: Declare yourself as a contributor. Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why.

The TED video of Benjamin Zander was an awesome video. Benjamin Zander is a great speaker.  He has a very wonderful way of connecting to the audience also thru his writing as well.