MAC Wk 3-1: Reading Post -- THE ART OF POSSIBILITY

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"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you through all time, this expression is unique.  And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.  The world will not have it.  It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions.  It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open."

--Martha Graham, quoted by Agnes DeMille,    

Martha: The life and work of Martha Graham

The discussion of leadership in Chapter five of The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander is interesting and profound.  As the title of the chapter ( Leading From Any Chair) suggests, leaders are those who choose to take a leadership role, regardless of their assigned role or designation.  Leadership involves taking the initiative that others can follow to strive for a desired outcome.  Often, people with strong leadership ability do not have direction or they are negative leaders who lead others to negative outcomes.  I believe that all people have leadership potential whether or not they choose to exercise it.  However, from the prospective of a teacher it is excellent to recognize the leadership potential that students have to influence one another and to channel that ability through student centered activities and cooperative grouping.  In this chapter, I particularly liked the story about the legendary quartet that played their music from memory.  Their alertness and ability to step in to pick up the slack for each other was what made them successful.  This was a great example of shared leadership.

Chapter six, Rule Number 6, is full of poignant stories and light-hearted surprises.  It provides a reminder not to take yourself too seriously and to work toward moving from the rigid, serious, "calculating self" to the free, light-hearted, generous, "central self".  Posing the question, "What would have to change for me to be totally fullfilled" and playing the game "Have the best sex ever" are great exercises to help a person break through the confines of the calculating self to the central self.  The stories in this chapter were amazing.

"The way things are" is an unusual title for a chapter.  However, Chapter seven is initiated with a dialog from the movie Babe that expresses the concerns of animals who may be destined to become dinner at some time or another.  Through this dialog, the authors present a contrast between two outlooks, one of resignation and one of indignation.  These attitudes are examined and refuted within the chapter.  The authors assert that neither outlook is advantageous.  They propose that a zen type mindfulness be applied to the way things are, so that we are "being present without resistance".  This practice allows for circumstances to be brought into perspective, further allowing for acceptance, emotional honesty and transcendence.  The story of Jane Goodall's work and her ability to apply the principle of acceptance of the way things are, to reach greater possibilities, provided a touching highlight to this chapter.

Many authors have written about finding your passion and following your passion.  I think that it is undeniable that passion is a key element, recognized as a determining factor for success.  However, in Chapter eight, "Giving Way to Passion", the Zanders have written about passion in another perspective.  Their stories seem to describe passion as a unique, energy of expression that propels an accomplishment into the realm of extraordinary.  I really like all of the stories and anecdotes related to music and musicians.  It is exciting to hear about their struggles and how they must master their art while uniquely expressing themselves creatively.  It is easy to see how passion fits in through the examples provided.