Can you see the possibilities?

Renee Lehman

(4/2020) In 2004, I read the book, The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. Written in 2000, The Art of Possibility presents twelve breakthrough practices for bringing creativity into all human endeavors. The book combines Benjamin’s experience as conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and his talent as a teacher and communicator with psychotherapist Rosamund’s genius for designing innovative paradigms for personal and professional fulfillment. The authors’ harmoniously interwoven perspectives provide a deep sense of the powerful role that the notion of possibility can play in every aspect of life.

I pulled it off my bookshelf to reread during the week of March 22nd since my acupuncture office was closed because of COVID-19. Why, you ask, did I pick this book to reread? What was it about this book that I wanted to revisit it now? The back cover caught my attention. The first statement on the back cover is this: In The Face Of Difficulty, We Can Despair, Get Angry… Or Choose Possibility

This book offers 12 practices to help you shift your perspective and stay open to new possibilities for your life. You may not be able to change the reality that you are encountering, but you can shift how you deal with those situations. The practices are:

It’s All Invented - "A shoe factory sends two marketing scouts to a region of Africa to study the prospects for expanding business. One sends back a telegram saying: "Situation hopeless stop no one wears shoes." The other writes back triumphantly: "Glorious business opportunity stop they have no shoes" When you’re looking at a problem, all the assumptions you make about it are in your mind. "The frames our minds create define – and confine – what we perceive to be possible. Every problem, every dilemma, every dead end we find ourselves facing in life, only appears unsolvable inside a particular frame or point of view. Enlarge the box, or create another frame around the data, and problems vanish, while new opportunities appear."

Stepping into a Universe of Possibility - Imagine no limitations exist; the universe is abundant, open and infinite. If you have an attitude of abundance instead of a mentality of scarcity, you’re more likely to find new business, new opportunities and new possibilities. If you participate joyfully in tasks and projects, you’re more likely to be successful. If you are inclusive and passionate in your life, you’re likely to see greater abundance. The Zanders encourage you to step away from the world of measurements and scarcity. "In the measurement world," they write, "you set a goal and strive for it. In the universe of possibility, you set the context and let life unfold."

Giving an A - "You can give an A to anyone in any walk of life – to a waitress, to your employer, to your mother-in-law, to the members of the opposite team and to the drivers in traffic," the Zanders write. If you automatically assume the best and give everyone an A in life, then you let the best come out in them and you remove a lot of the barriers that have held the relationship back. "This A is not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live into."

Being a Contribution - In this practice, you wake up every morning with the idea that you are a gift to others. Contribution involves two practices: "1) declare yourself to be a contribution and 2) throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why." When you contribute, you forget about scarcity and dwell in the pond of abundance. You go from self-concern to making a difference for others.

Leading from Any Chair - The conductor is not the only leader of an orchestra. You can lead from any chair you’re sitting in. The act of leadership is not limited to people in leadership positions.

Number 6 - "Rule Number 6 is ‘Don’t take yourself so goddamn seriously.’" When you lighten up, you release yourself from egoistic and self-limiting beliefs.

"When we follow Rule number 6 and lighten up over our childish demands and entitlements, we are instantly transported into a remarkable universe. The new universe is cooperative in nature and pulls for the realization of all our cooperative desires."

The Way Things Are - This involves acceptance of what is, as well as presence and making the best of any situation. When you’re present and not resisting the current situation, you are free to turn to the question, "What do we want to do from here?" "…the capacity to be present to everything that is happening, without resistance, creates possibility. It creates possibility in the same way that, if you are far-sighted, finding your glasses revives your ability to read or remove a splinter from a child’s finger. At last you can see. You can leave behind the struggle to come to terms with what is in front of you and move on." When you accept that things are the way they are, instead of complaining and resisting, you’re able to make the best of the situation. You’re allowed visions, dreams and appreciation for your current place. You’re more open to finding solutions or to making the best of the situation in your mind. Being present with the present lets options and dreams come alive. You’ll live in a place of freedom and possibilities when you’re comfortable with this moment.

Giving Way to Passion - To give way to passion, "participate wholly. Allow yourself to be a channel to shape the stream of passion into a new expression for the world." Life has made many of us conformers and has given us structure and limitations. Your life will change when you "transcend the barriers of personal survival and become a unique conduit for its vital energy."

Participate, engage and immerse yourself in your passions.

Lighting a Spark - Imagine that others want to feel the same spark and electric sense of possibility that you feel. Be available and invite others who are ready to catch their spark and live their dreams. The Zanders describe this idea as playing together in a field of light. The steps include being ready to participate, being willing to be moved and inspired and offering that which lights you up. Also, know that others are willing and eager to catch the spark. When others say "no" to your idea or passion, they might be saying simply that they don’t see the same possibility you do.

Being the Board - Declare, "I am the framework for everything that happens in my life." "You can always grace yourself with responsibility for anything that happens in your life. You can always find within yourself the source of any problem you have." This practice isn’t about blaming yourself or feeling at fault for your circumstances. You’re also not looking to place blame elsewhere or on others. It is about exploring the assumptions you make about what’s happening in your life and, ultimately, taking responsibility for them. "Gracing yourself with responsibility for everything that happens in your life leaves your spirit whole and leaves you free to choose again."

Creating Frameworks for Possibility - The practice in this chapter involves creating frameworks that cultivate possibility. "Make a new distinction in the realm of possibility: one that is a powerful substitute for the current framework of meaning that is generating the downward spiral." Find the courage and boldness to stand with your ideas and to face the direction where you’d like to lead people. Become more conscious of the way you use words and define new frameworks of possibilities.

Telling the "WE" story - Can you move on from the story of "you and me" and "us and them," (which is fundamentally driven by FEAR) and get to "we?" Can you go from a place of division, conflict and hostility to a place of enthusiasm and togetherness? A place of friendship and cooperation?

‘What do we want to have happen here? What’s best for Us? What’s our next step?"

Permit the barriers that separate us to dissolve and act from a place where all of us benefit, together. All of us can find solutions that work for everyone.

Final Thoughts…

So, right now, can you see the coronavirus through different lenses? What are some of the possibilities that can and/or have come out of the COVID-19 pandemic? Yes, there is bad associated with this illness. And, there is good that has come out of this experience. Focus on the possibilities. This will help to create a peaceful environment within you. From this peaceful place, you will create better health for yourself. Your peace will then affect others that are around you. You never know what kind of positive impact you could have on your friends and family.

Renee Lehman is a licensed acupuncturist and physical therapist with over 30 years of health care experience. Her office is located at 249B York Street in Gettysburg. She can be reached at 717-752-5728.