Reading the book “ The Art of Possibility” by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander reminds me of one of my favorite sayings when I come to an obvious impasse in an argument or heated debate. I have often told the opposing side “Your perception is skewed”. When in fact, all of our realities are skewed in our favor from creation. If our perception of reality is invented by our brains to accommodate our experiences, then it seems that all of us should be capable of living happy lives by practicing positive and forward thinking skills. If we allow ourselves permission for our thoughts to wander beyond the constraints of how we see order and expand boundaries, then creativity begins to happen. When we begin to shift our perception, and look at situations from different angles, we allow ourselves the freedom to grow and learn and the power to invent or create. When we realize that we are just part of a larger construction and open ourselves to the realm of possibility greater than what our previous boundaries had allowed, it often changes our perspective in a very spiritual way. Allowing ourselves to consider another’s experiences brings about empathy and seeing a change brought about by a collective effort can alter our realities in a self-actualizing way.
Having this type of perspective as an educator opens up a magnitude in the realm of possibilities for each student. I love the analogy of Michelangelo’s ability to see a statue in each chunk of rock or stone to how educators could see our students. If we were truly able to forget the constraints of achievement testing and cultivate the individual talents and strengths of each student, the world would be a much better place. I think children would grow into happier adults. They would understand who and why they belong. They would be able to see how they fit into the grand scheme and value their contributions to the greater good.
No comments:
Post a Comment