This week we took on chapters 4-6 in the book “The Art of Possibility. “ Below you will find my thoughts on this weeks reading.
Chapter 4 was all about the game of contribution. This is a great thought process basically not being a perfectionist. In a sense it is saying look at the world a little differently by seeing yourself as a contributor to the world and not having to achieve some big huge spectacular goal. What was also nice is how they gave us two simple steps to play the game of contribution:
“The steps to the practice are these:
1. Declare yourself to be a contribution.
2. Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why.”
Chapter 5 is all about how we can all be leaders and allowing yourself to see others as leaders. The concept is “Leading from any chair.” While teaching leadership class I have taught that we spend too much time teaching what we find in the books and theory of leading and not enough time on the people we never hear about. The single mother of 3 giving every thing she has to keep her family in a house. The 12-year old entrepreneur starting his business as a pooper-scooper so he can save money to start investing his money for his future. Or the teachers aid willing to go from room to room to work with children and share his years of knowledge and how he applied what he learned in school as a plumber and a Vietnam Veteran. I love the idea of seeing everyone as a leader. It is a noble thought process that allows everyone to see himself or herself in a different light.
Conveniently chapter six is about “Rule #6”. This works out to be don’t take yourself so serous. Be willing to have fun and bring laughter in to what you do. I don’t really get it. I think fun is way overrated!!! I think the world and life would be so much better if people were more serious and just gave in to the world of calculations. Okay, I can’t go on! I don’t think we have enough fun in our lives I have worked in way too many environments that take themselves way too serious. Life is wonderful and I love living my life. But I don’t feel that enough people know how to have fun from day to day or moment to moment.
Q,
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% about most people taking life and what they do way too seriously. I guess there are some professions where this is necessary, such as medical personnel whose responsibilities are literally a matter of life and death. But unless it is life or death, WE NEED TO LIGHTEN UP! As I have aged, I have a better handle on not letting life get too heavy when it isn’t really necessary. But, I still have a long way to go to feel “lightness” every day. Perhaps it is more my personality than my life that has shaped this -- I tend to be pretty intense and driven. I do have lighthearted moments -- but they have been very few and far between in my life. I hope the next half of my life will see more joy and fun and less struggle. But then I’ve spent the last 5 years creating an atmosphere that will support that; so I guess what I have is anticipation, not exactly hope! I think if everyone would come from a place of abundance instead of fear, we would see SO much more fun, joy and laughter in the world.