The BOLD (Quick, the Bus Is Coming)
I know this seems improbable as you rush between air-conditioned havens but September is coming. It’s almost Back to School season. In all likelihood, you spent a dozen years or more of your life preparing for Back to School. Was it a time of anticipation or dread for you? Either way, the dawn of a new cycle of learning was preceded with a swarm of activity—new clothes, school supplies, last-ditch trips to the lake.
Now, even if you or someone you love is no longer in school, Back to School still sends its ripples through your life. We’re conditioned to new beginnings at this time of the year.
The theme for September (and for anticipating September) is Pierce the Transparency, the first key in the Prospects of Possiblity™. How do we prepare for learning and discover what is possible? We learn to see what is invisible to us now. Class is in session.
The Whisper (Keep on Swimming)
Picture a fish tank full of brightly colored fish. As the inhabitants flit about chasing elusive flakes of fish food, dodging each other and hiding in the basement of the elaborate castle, they are aware of a select set of things. They see the food because it is not always present. They see the other fish because they could be mates or threats. They notice the castle because it offers shelter.
The one thing they probably don’t notice is the water.
Efficiency of Thought
Our brains do an amazing job of saving energy. We create shortcuts and habits to streamline our function. Have you ever driven home and realized you don’t remember a single intersection or turn? Your brain knows the way home and it manages the minute changes in routine to prevent you from pulling into oncoming traffic. However, most of the trip is pure habit. This creates an economy for your brain. It also creates blind spots.
Like the fish, we are swimming without the perspective to see everything around us. This means we also cannot devise new ways of working or take advantage of unseen opportunities. How can we begin to Pierce the Transparency and see these hidden things?
In order to take a new action to get a different result than we have been getting, we need to have enough perspective to see what is possible.
Our Senses Bring Data
To find the data needed for a shift of perspective, we can take advantage of the powerful system of perception devices that are factory installed for us. If we take an inventory, we may have access to sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Sensory organs deliver information to our brains via our nervous system. Each of these has the potential to open up new possibilities if we pay attention.
We operate with efficiency and our brains filter out much of the information at any one time.
As I sat writing this, I was not aware of the music on the sound system that is competing with the ocean wave sounds in my headphones. I was not aware of the wafting smell of baking cookies. I was not noticing the texture of the keys on my keyboard or the sensation of the table surface under my elbows. I was not eating, so taste wasn’t a factor. I was only focused on the keyboard, but my peripheral vision took in the little girl dancing on her toes trying to get her Mother’s attention over by the plate of sample cookies on the counter.
My sensory organs were collecting data and my brain was making decisions about what would receive my focus. It created an efficient environment for writing.
What if, for instance, I wanted not to write but to make a decision about what I want to do next? I would probably want the data from the world around me to help with that. I can open to include the available data and cast a broader net.
To take advantage of your senses to shift your perspective, you can invite the input of your sensory system. For instance, imagine that you are having a hard time concentrating. You can scan for data that will help you understand what is blocking concentration. It sounds basic, but often we will ignore the very input that is impacting our experience because we are focused elsewhere. Take the time to perform a scan:
- Auditory Data: Is there a song playing that is calling you to a memory? Is the background sound level too high? To low? What are you hearing that might be interfering with your concentration?
- Olfactory Data: Are you ignoring a compelling or repelling smell? Is the smell reminding you that you need to eat? Is the smell driving you away?
- Visual Data: Is there movement that is calling your attention away? Even with headphones blocking the sound, you might be seeing evidence of activity in which you would like to participate.
- Tactile Data: As I was writing this, I realized that there was a notebook perched a little too close to my arm and the corner of the pages kept poking me in the elbow. It wasn’t an overwhelming sensation so I almost didn’t notice that it was annoying me. Are there textures or sensations of touch that are distracting you?
The network of sensory data that we receive has influence even when it is not the focus of our attention. By initiating a deliberate focus on these sensations, we can pay attention to these sometimes hidden inputs.
This is the reason that a change of scene can also help to elevate our perspective. By walking into a new environment, we can let the new surroundings stimulate new thoughts.
A fresh environment or a fresh look at the current environment can allow us to shift perspective. A shift in perspective allows us to see the options that may have been hiding in plain sight. Acting on these new options can lead to new outcomes. This is the antidote for being stuck.
Leave a Reply