The Art of Possibility
Transforming Professional and Personal Life.
By Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander
TOPICS
Leadership • Problem Framing • Creativity • Conflict Resolution
The Big Idea
The Art of Possibility teaches us to distinguish between two contradictory approaches to life: a common approach the authors call the “downward spiral,” contrasted with an optimistic attitude of “radiating possibility.” The Zanders show us how to live a life of radical creativity and life as an unfolding story that changes depending on how we tell it.
The 12 principles are shared anecdotally, providing a glimpse into the life of professional classical musicians while revealing universally applicable insights. We are invited to use the principles to live an examined, reflective life that opens our eyes to the multitude of choices and perspectives available to us in every moment.
This book is important to me because it illuminates a path toward deepening authenticity and cultivating my unique voice in the world, un-swayed by the onslaught of media, politics, and technology that are preached as inalterable “truths.” It reminds me of the richness and abundance available in every conversation. And when I am stuck, I can use the principles to shift my perspective and see new opportunities.
Key Definitions
Living a life of possibility is based on the premise that “many circumstances that seem to block us in our daily lives may only appear to do so based on a framework of assumptions we carry with us. Draw a different frame around the same set of circumstances and new pathways come into view.”
What’s the Significance?
Problem-solving is great, but simply removing a problem leaves a void that will be filled by the next problem. Instead, using these principles enable individuals and organizations to create the conditions for new innovations and responses in the face of rapid social, economic, and technological change.
“Art, after all, is about rearranging us, creating surprising juxtapositions, emotional openings, startling presences, flight paths to the eternal.”
The practices in the book are “geared toward causing a total shift of posture, perceptions, beliefs, and thought processes. They are about transforming your entire world.”
Application
Asking good questions is at the core of the practices in the book. The most fundamental questions to ask in each situation are:
What assumption am I making, that I’m not aware I’m making, that gives me what I see?
What might I now invent, that I haven’t yet invented, that could give me other choices?
These questions remind us of our inherent creative power, even in situations that appear largely beyond our control.
Principles
Some of my favorite principles include:
It’s All Invented. We perceive a map of the world through our personal storytelling. If you don’t like what you see, you can tell a new story.
Stepping into a Universe of Possibility. Step outside the box, expand the context, invent new opportunities, and let life unfold.
Being a Contribution. Life is a place to contribute, and we are the contributors. Rather than asking, “Is it enough?” ask yourself, “How will I be a contribution today?” Then throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you might not understand how or why.
“When you play the contribution game, it is never a single individual who is transformed. Transformation overrides the divisions of identity and possession … recasting the tight pattern of scarcity into a widespread array of abundance.”
The Way Things Are. Echoing Buddhist principles of radical acceptance, being present to the way things are—instead of spinning stories about how and why things are—opens possibilities for action and change.
Conclusions
I first read this book when I was in graduate music school and everyday was a struggle. I continue to return to it when I need a reminder about the possibilities inherent in every situation and a prompt to step into my own power for creative subversion.
This book pairs well with …
Change by Watzlawick: by introducing practices that may seem counterintuitive or unexpected, they introduce the possibility of second-order change (in Watlawick’s terms).
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: particularly about Pressfield’s admonition to think about the territory in which we play, rather than hierarchy of comparing ourselves to others. In the principle “Rule Number 6”, the Zanders encourage us to get away from what they call the calculating self, which thinks in terms of success and hierarchy.
Be Here Now by Eckhart Tolle. The principle “The Way Things Are” is all about being present, accepting, and observing, which are the core elements of Be Here Now.
Who should read this book?
Leaders creating the conditions for their teams to bring their best selves and work
Facilitators guiding parties through conflict to creative resolution
Individuals wanting to break through creative blocks and experience more delight and abundance out of life