Passionate Genius

My favorite post from someone else's blog

2009-12-19T11:11:00.009-07:00

TIRED OF SPEAKING SWEETLY- (The Gift – versions of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky)

Love wants to reach out and manhandle us,
Break all our teacup talk of God.
If you had the courage and
Could give the Beloved His choice, some nights,
He would just drag you around the room by your hair,
Ripping from your grip all those toys in the world that bring you no joy.
Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly
And wants to rip to shreds
All your erroneous notions of truth
That make you fight within yourself, dear one,
And with others,
Causing the world to weep
On too many fine days.
God wants to manhandle us,
Lock us inside of a tiny room with Himself
And practice His dropkick.
The Beloved sometimes wants
To do us a great favor:
Hold us upside down
And shake all the nonsense out.
But when we hear He is in such a “playful drunken mood”
Most everyone I know
Quickly packs their bags and hightails it
Out of town.
~ Hafiz ~

I've read a lot of people's blogs this last year and the following post is simply my favorite for 2009. Thank you to Kelly Sheehan-Funk (from her blog "Cover It With Love").

What's Up with Kanye?

2009-10-21T16:51:00.003-06:00

Speaking of passionate genius, I reported in the Examiner today about the Kanye West is dead hoax. I feel for the guy. I mean it. Kanye West is clearly a very talented guy and yet he also seems to be haunted by a dramatic sense of insecurity and it's been showing up increasingly in how he's acted in the most public of settings.

So here's the questions: Is it all an act? Or is this rap-superstar really fighting the kind of inner demons that are driving him to the edge? The music biz is a tough world, like any success-driven scene (and it's even rougher, if you don't know that who you are on the inside has nothing to do with whether people like you, respect you, or give a damn about you).

What do you think? Is Kanye one more casualty of his own success? Or can he pull it together and recover from his own faux pax and the rumors of his own demise?

And see, here's the deeper question: (Because it's easy to judge the man from over here where I'm not dealing with what he is) If you were in Kanye's shoes, what would do to? How do you handle success? How do you approach it? What are your fears about your own success?

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

If You Had Three Months To Live -- What Would You Do?

2009-10-16T13:48:00.005-06:00

Recently, a long-time friend of mine died of cancer. I had gone to lunch with her a few weeks before she found out she was going to die. When I got an email from her that she needed to speak to me right away, I couldn't imagine that she would tell me she'd just found out she had 4th stage pancreatic cancer and would die within three to six months (it turned out to be just barely 3 months).

Knowing of her presumed fate, she and her husband set out to do some things she had always wanted to do: trips to places she'd only dreamed of previously; visits to the family to make things right; conversations with friends; and sharing the intimacy of her dying process and eventually her death.

Like every passing of one who is close to our heart, my friend's death has left me particularly reflective about life... about it's precious nature. And having died twice myself, and then come back to life, I'm keenly aware that our time here on this planet is limited. Nothing, it seems, provides us perspective on what we're passionate about like dying (odd, isn't it?).

In my case, as I felt my heart stop during the Northridge earthquake of 1994, my life flashed before me like some strange online slide show. What struck me most as I watched it go by, however, was that the only regrets I had were not for things I had done or experienced -- but only for those things I had not done; the words not spoken; the passions not expressed; the dreams not fully pursued.

I've spent my days since, trying to live out what my heart revealed to me in that critical moment. And so, as an exercise... perhaps a mini-workshop in being present to the life that is and what you most ardently feel called to do... what would you do, if you only had three months to finish out your life on this planet?

My hope is that in our sharing, we might awaken the calls within us... those deeper passions that in a significant manner are part of our reason for being here in the first place.

And for those of you who choose to share your thoughts in the comment section below, thank you... I always gain much from what you contribute.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

How to Access Unlimited Creativity

2009-09-28T08:15:00.006-06:00

In my most recent articles in the Examiner How to Access Unlimited Creativity and Stimulating Your Creative Genius, I share some of the ideas and exercises that have evolved from research done by both "creative types" and scientists (also very creative) and my own work around the topic of creativity.

In this blog, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences about the topic. When do you find yourself most creative. What do you do to access or stimulate the "muse?" Where do you think heightened creativity comes from? How is it, for instance, that the patent office reports nearly simultaneous submissions of paradigm-breaking patents from different people who have had no contact with each other?

The more we master creativity, it seems, the more we'll have the chance to generate great art and music, and solve some of the challenging problems of our age. What can we do to better support the process of creativity with each other?

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

For a glance at other topics covered so far, please visit:
Christopher Harding's Entertainment Column at the Examiner,

My most recent posts are:
Leonard Cohen (writer of "Hallelujah") Collapses During Concert Performance
Music Nomad -- a Philanthropist for Indie Artists
How to Empower Your Band -- Do You Want to Know a Secret?
Artist Integrity and the New Music Business -- A Match Made in Heaven?

Or check out some of the articles that have generated the most discussion:
"20 Questions Every Band Should Answer"
or
"Secrets of Social Networking for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 3",
Social Media Basics for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 4 and
Social Media Stragegies for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 5

Michael Jackson -- Genius or Madman?

2009-09-22T09:25:00.003-06:00

It has often been said that the line between genius and insanity is thin (and in some cases, very thin). By its very nature creativity (one of the oft-touted signs of genius) invites people beyond the boundaries of normal and into the world of the extraordinary and, at times, the very abnormal. Almost anyone who has observed Michael Jackson's musical career will acknowledge that he exhibited an extraordinary talent, a gift, the spark of genius. Sadly, nearly everyone who has followed Jackson's life and career, has also witnessed what happens when genius crosses over into the realm of severe eccentricity and some would say, madness.

In this round of the blog, I'd like to invite you to share your experiences of Michael Jackson's genius -- how his music, his dance, and his message might have impacted you. I'd also be interested to hear your own thoughts about genius. How have you experienced that spark? How do you manage your creative process? How do you maintain balance? Does that desire to be balanced prevent you from being as creative as you might be?

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Borrowing Success

2009-09-21T10:42:00.003-06:00

In my recent article for the Examiner, I pose the question about the reason behind the choice of Ellen as a judge for American Idol. Is it yet another example of executives covering their tails by making decisions that "borrow the success" of another person or project as justification.

My real interest is not in whether Ellen is a good choice or not (because let's face it, it's just not that important), but how much is this type of decision making influencing our personal choices (I'm choosing it because someone else is); our corporate decisions (I'm following suit, because I don't dare say 'no') and our political decisions.

While it's easy to point the finger at others, what might be more productive is to notice where we are doing this and to what extent it may be affecting our lives, our creativity, and our ability to generate bold new outcomes.

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

What's Your Favorite Version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"

2009-09-19T11:57:00.003-06:00

Few songs have been covered as broadly by such a diverse set of artists as Leonard Cohen's song, "Hallelujah." If you have a favorite version of this song, I'd love to know about it. In light of Cohen's recent collapse on stage, I went to YouTube to view the songwriting performer's own version of the song. Have to say it's quite remarkable. Check it out and then share who else you've heard perform the song that moved you.

Leonard Cohen Peforming "Hallelujah"

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

How do you create great live performances

2009-09-08T16:01:00.008-06:00

In my most recent article in the Examiner, How to Create Great Live Performers Night After Night, I interviewed Tom Jackson, a premier live music producer. We discussed the method Tom developed to teach artists how to generate replicable excellence in live performance by focusing on the audience and how to connect with them and how to direct their attention in the right places.

What I'd love to open up for discussion are the following questions:

What are some of your most memorable moments regarding live performance, either as a performer or one attending a performance?

What are some of the challenges you've struggled with or seen others struggle with in terms of live performance?

What do you do to prepare yourself or your band for a live performance?

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

For a glance at other topics covered so far, please visit:
Christopher Harding's Entertainment Column at the Examiner,

My most recent posts are:
Music Nomad -- a Philanthropist for Indie Artists
How to Empower Your Band -- Do You Want to Know a Secret?
Artist Integrity and the New Music Business -- A Match Made in Heaven?

Or check out some of the articles that have generated the most discussion:
"20 Questions Every Band Should Answer"
or
"Secrets of Social Networking for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 3",
Social Media Basics for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 4 and
Social Media Stragegies for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 5

How to empower your band -- Do you want to know a secret?

2009-09-01T11:11:00.007-06:00

As the title of this topic suggests, I'm inviting us to explore the topic of empowerment for bands, artists (or for anyone).

Based on my recent article, here's how I've defined empowerment:

Empowerment cannot be bestowed by another person. Empowerment can be encouraged and authorized (though non-authorization doesn't really stop it, unless we agree), and we can create environments that are more conducive for empowerment. Ultimately though, empowerment is based upon a decision we each make to play all out, to utilize our fully capacity and capability in achieving a goal, vision, or outcome--or not.

What are your thoughts on empowerment? What's been your experience as you work toward a goal or a vision in your musical career (or any career)? What are the challenges you face?

Thanks,

Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

For a glance at other topics covered so far, please visit:

How to Improve Your Band's Success Rate
How to Empower Your Band -- Do You Want to Know a Secret?
Artist Integrity and the New Music Business -- A Match Made in Heaven?

Or check out some of the articles that have generated the most discussion:
"20 Questions Every Band Should Answer"
or
"Secrets of Social Networking for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 3",
Social Media Basics for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 4 and
Socia Media Stragegies for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 5

Artisitic Integrity - What is it?

2009-08-21T08:26:00.006-06:00

I'm getting ready to write several articles in the Examiner about some of the aspects of the entertainment industry seldom explored in today's media. One of these topics is artistic integrity for musical artists, in particular (though the topic can apply to any art form).

I'd love your thoughts and ideas on just what comprises artistic integrity and what could be legitimately considered "selling out."

Do artists have a responsibility to be true to their art? Or is that just a romantic notion that no longer applies in today's commercial world? What responsibility do those who enjoy and consume art have? And, is there hope that in the midst of an entertainment industry shakedown, during this current economy, that the independent spirit (and presumably with it, artistic integrity) might make a comeback?

Thanks!
Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

For a glance at other topics covered so far, please visit:
Christopher Harding's Entertainment Column at the Examiner,

My most recent posts are:
Can Christian Music Be Saved? and
Artist Integrity and the New Music Business -- A Match Made in Heaven?

Or check out some of the articles that have generated the most discussion:
"20 Questions Every Band Should Answer"
or
"Secrets of Social Networking for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 3",
Social Media Basics for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 4 and
Socia Media Stragegies for Bands -- Do it Yourself Music: part 5

Genius Explores the Notion of Servant Leadership

2009-03-05T09:12:00.007-07:00

As was brought out in our previous conversation, (Genius Wakes Up and Yawns), what we need now, perhaps more than at any time in our recent past, is strong, wise, intelligent leadership.

In 1970, Robert Greenleaf (founder of the Greenleaf Foundation) coined the term, "Servant Leadership." His foundation offers this explanation of the term's definition:

"The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature."

"The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?"

What are your thoughts about such an approach to leadership?

Have you personally experienced such leaders in your life (personally or in business)?

What could you do, regardless of your roles in life, to exhibit such leadership?

It will naturally be tempting to point at our national and international challenges and bemoan the fact that our leaders are not acting in our best interest (that's a natural point of debate). More interesting, though, is to apply the principles of servant leadership to ourselves and our lives (the world which we interact with and impact each day). How might we be servant leaders? What ripple effect could such leadership generate?

Join us with your thoughts, questions, humor, and skepticism. The conversation is always better for your contributions.

Thanks!
Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Genius Wakes Up and Yawns

2009-01-17T01:43:00.007-07:00

After a long sabbatical, I've been pondering a bit. Probably a little too much actually. But I really found myself blessed by everyone who participated previously. You made me think and you challenged me to take action.

With that in mind, I'm asking myself, what is it I can do in this current state of global and economic affairs that will make a meaningful contribution. You see what haunts me, ever so slightly (and a lot when I'm dreaming) is that everything we discussed and ruminated about on this blog previously, has played out on the world scene now. It's almost eerie, if I allow it to be.

So what does this mean? That we were quasi-prophets? Or that all of our talk did nothing to head-off our current conditions? Or that our current state of affairs (whatever it may be) is never what life is really all about?

If that be the case, then what is life all about? For you?

I'll toss some ideas out -- vague ones like it's about love, and grace, and working to find and express our wholeness together. But those may just be concepts, unless we are living it out in this very moment.

Bottom line: If you're up for it, I'm most interested in your thoughts. Maybe it will create a spark that might ignite a fire, that might in turn set the world ablaze (or at least set our own minds ablaze) with something productive.

If it's helpful, scan through some of our previous blog conversations (the widget to the left of the page has the full index available for your convenience). Otherwise, just jump in from here and let your genius loose.

Sincerely,
Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Genius Transforming the Economy -- Inextricable Connections

2008-03-10T13:40:00.004-06:00

In our previous conversation, Genius Gets Real -- The Workshop of Life, we covered a wide array of related topics -- from brain chemistry, to transformation, to the formation of economies, to personal ethics, and beyond.

As what I hope to be a natural evolution of this conversation, I want to invite us to have a more focused conversation about how systems evolve in our world -- in particular how the economy has evolved from our underlying values systems (i.e. how our view of the world influences the way we sell, trade, or buy products and services amongst ourselves -- and what we believe should be sold vs. what we feel should be given; what should be profit-generating vs. what we feel should be "non-profit" and why).

I'm sure anyone who's been tracking this blog for long will realize it is at this intersection that we've regularly hit the wall, so to speak (i.e. simply reflect on our healthcare conversations). But it is at this very juncture that I think we can potentially experience the greatest breakthrough in our thinking.

So, let's begin by addressing this question: What underlying values do you believe have driven the creation of our economy? What values or beliefs do you think might keep us from exploring new options that might enable us to adapt our systems into a more sustainable model (or do you believe our system is already sustainable)?

From there we can certainly let it go where it will, but I'd like to stay within this general topic-region. I'm hoping that what we find here will generate both multiple a-has that we gain from each other, but that it might also lead us toward different actions.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Genius Gets Real -- The Workshop of Life

2008-02-16T07:56:00.006-07:00

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. It appears that after some really heady and occasionally heated conversations about transformation, the power of intent, and the economy -- the latter of which was surprisingly related to the former two -- people are ready to put their words to practice.

(For reference to our past topics please utilize the widget on the left hand side of the page, just below the About Me section)

This topic, therefore, is going to more of a workshop where life becomes the exercise and our virtual space here becomes a place to share your experience, gain input from others, be coached, and learn from one another's encounters with life -- the place where ideas and our ego meet reality.

My suggestion -- pick a particular area of your life you would like to focus upon (it will most likely expand as we go on, but let's start more specifically to gain some clarity). You may considering sharing what you're encountering;how you see yourself connected to the results that are occurring; what you'd like to create from the situation; what you're willing to do about it; what level of ownership for your current situation you're currently at; what you'd do would do differently if you took a greater level of ownership for your role and the outcome?

I'd invite us to consider writing our process in steps so as not to create posts that are so long that others grow weary attempting to sort through them. Perhaps taking on one of the above questions at a time might be an approach. Or starting out by bulletizing to give us context and a more whole picture -- and then going into detail on the above bullets on subsequent posts.

Part of the magic of this type of process is to allow what other people write to be a catalyst for your own reaction or response. Notice what comes up for you; what it reminds you of; what would you suggest that someone might do differently to achieve results that better points them toward their desired outcome.

Also, it's valuable to remember that our experience is our own -- and that part of the secret of this exercise is to try to do "paradigm-shifting" -- experiencing life through the eyes of another -- walking a mile in someone else's shoes. The more we can be free of judgment and full of compassion, the more this process will benefit each of us.

Let the exercise begin.

Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Genius Manifesting -- The Power of Intention

2008-01-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

After some amazing interactions in our previous topic, "Genius Changing -- Transformation -- Stepping Through the Door ", I agree with Anna -- who provided the last post in that topic -- that it's time to transition and thus evolve our topic further.

This topic can certainly be used to further explore transformation, but what I'd like to add to this discussion is the concepts of "intention," "manifestation," and their relationship to "transformation." I've also re-posted Anna's comments below as the first comment, since they provide the perfect lead in to this conversation.

Also remember there is another active topic going on, entitled, "Genius Having an Identity Crisis -- How Economics Might Save/Destroy the World ."

I'm very curious and enthused to see where this discussion might lead us.

Please, dive in,
Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Genius Changing -- Transformation -- Stepping Through the Door

2008-01-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

Based on a request by several of our blog community, I'm setting up this topic to explore the idea (and practice) of transformation. There's certainly been ample talk of change amidst our political scene this year -- and that brings up a few questions:

What's the difference between change and transformation?

What are the various forms that the transformation of human consciousness can take?

What is required for a true transformation to occur?

Is transformation a natural process with humans?

Is it necessarily a good thing?

What are your experiences with your own transformation or that of others?

Since almost every topic we have explored here has inherently built into it a notion of the transformational process, I felt it might be helpful to take a closer look at this fundamental element that seems to be a necessary ingredient in any type of lasting, systemic change.

There is still another active topic in motion as well, "Genius Having an Identity Crisis -- How Economics Might Save/Destroy the World." So please feel free to add your thoughts and questions to either.

All the best to each of you,
Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Genius Having an Identity Crisis -- How Economics Might Save/Destroy the World

2008-01-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

This topic is an evolutionary side-bar from the previous topic, Genius in Action -- What's Your Ripple Effect?, which is still active and in its own discussion.

There was such an unexpected response to the subject of economics and how it impacts the world, that I've created this topic to enable that discussion to continue while those who prefer to contribute (or also contribute) on the idea of your ripple effect may do so in the aforementioned topic.

Also, if you'd like to capture the context of the economic discussion, please visit the previous topic, but make your comments here in this one.

Thanks!
Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Genius in Action -- What's Your Ripple Effect?

2008-01-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

In the last several topics, we've explored the notion of a collective consciousness, and of a collective paradigm that is based on the belief that we are not whole; need fixing; and are not fully capable to run our own lives (therefore, those who "know" better than we, should be allowed to make decisions on our behalf -- be it in healthcare, politics, religion, or life).

For specific references, please visit:

Genius Fiddling While Rome Burns -- What Might Africa, The Middle East, and Global Warming Tell Us About Our Personal and Collective Mind?

or

Naked Genius -- Being the Difference We Want to See in the World

We also delved into the notion of our own egos -- and the mythical role in which we cast ourselves as the central (and generally heroic) character of life's story. Several contributors have also proffered the idea that our addiction to our own self importance is one of the primary causes of the continuation of not only our own ego-myth, but also of the collective story of incurable lack (and therefore the need for continual consumption) that has been laid forth as the basis of our modern culture (and the its accompanying justification for a constant-growth economy and profit at the expense of all else).

Hand-in-hand with this notion, we explored the driving urgency that leads many to feel (perhaps stemming from the sense of our own importance and the fundamental assumption that our own view is correct -- or at least most correct) that we must change the world (or alter the collective consciousness).

This idea met with great skepticism by some and the suggestion by others that changing the collective consciousness is not only futile, but unnecessary. Perhaps what we should thus focus on, some suggested, is what we would like to clear up in ourselves. Though we've taken a shallow dive into that topic previously, my hope is that in this new topic we can move beyond concepts, beliefs, and platitudes and share some real experiences that each of us may have had or ones you'd like to create (i.e. I'm looking to move as much as possible into the experiential versus the theoretical).

So here's an invitation:

What is it, you'd like to see the world (i.e. yourself) change, do more of, less of, or do better? What is it that you could do that, without the need to change others, might impact in the most positive way how you experience your life, those in your life, and your circumstances? What is it you could do (or possibly stop doing) to make your life richer, more meaningful to you, and enhance the odds of enriching the lives of those around you as well, should they feel the need to be so enriched?

And lastly, while I'm very interested in what we're already doing that is working, I'm also very interested in what you know would make a significant difference for your life that your not doing; and why you believe you're not.

Oh... and one final note... I'm truly appreciative of all of the ideas, comments, and contributions of everyone who's taken the time to participate actively in this blog. I also know there's a number of people who write me that they are regular readers, but haven't yet commented for a variety of reasons. I definitely respect everyone's right to participate in whatever way is appropriate for them -- and I also encourage anyone reading this blog to comment. We will all most assuredly benefit from more voices and fresh perspectives.

Your ideas, questions, stories, and humor are most welcome,
Christopher

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

Genius Fiddling While Rome Burns -- What Might Africa, The Middle East, and Global Warming Tell Us About Our Personal and Collective Mind?

2007-12-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

After some slightly self-confronting realizations, honest discussion, and soul-searching, we finally came to a temporary stopping place on our topic on wholeness entitled:

"Naked Genius -- Being the Difference We Want to See in the World."

(Thanks to the willing participation of so many in these conversations, there are some wonderfully insightful comments in that topic and in all of our previous topics. And now, thanks to the continuing advances of web widgets, you'll find a handy new tool in the lower right-hand side of the blog that provides a better glimpse of those topics for your convenience)

So, with a desire to advance in other fertile directions, a conspiracy of your fellow bloglings suggested this topic. The real idea here is to assume (and please, suspend disbelief, if you must) that what happens in the world at-large is a reflection of the inner world for each us (and as a collective). If this were true, how might some of our more confronting situations in the world be a reflection back to us of opportunities and challenges before us.

In the spirit of past topics, we're still looking to continually move out of denial (as much as might be possible) and head toward the light in an effort to get a more clear look at the possibility that we are a whole within a whole -- and how that notion might guide us and allow us to tap into our inner genius to find a better, more lasting, productive, and compassionate way.

Your thoughts, questions, confusion, and humor are most welcome,
Christopher

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Naked Genius -- Being the Difference We Want to See in the World

2007-12-01T08:11:00.001-07:00

Well... since this topic is about breaking out of the old paradigm, it seemed appropriate to also take on a new face. Hope this also handles some of your questions about not being to read the previous version as easily.

Now, that said, this topic is a step forward from of our previous two discussions entitled:

Complete Genius -- The Whole Truth

and

The Paradigm Conspiracy

In the last rounds, through all of our various commentary and quite fascinating explorations, the topic has evolved to a recognition that much of our economic, political, religious, social, and healthcare systems are based upon a strongly-held paradigm of "the natural world and we as people are not whole and are in need of fixing and must be kept under control and some form of supervisory management." Many in the previous topics have expressed that this view has led to much of the dysfunction in or societies, as well as the pain and addiction we experience as individuals, families, communities, and in our national and world scenes. Our current world condition, many have suggested, is merely a glaring symptom of this underlying cause.

As has been expressed previously, we are looking to strip away our facades and get philosophically naked together (pardon the imagery). But a level of bare, bold honesty is what we're looking to evolve to next.

As a segue from the last round, I'd like to add the last comments made by BKO, whose profession enables him to see as closely as any of us, perhaps, the effect of the worldview which we've described. He expressed:

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"We can produce great numbers of studies and intellectually parse the data to create stacks of elegant conclusions, but no matter how high we build them, none of them will make us one whit wiser. Smarter perhaps, but not wiser. If we wait to for “proof” [i.e. that we are out of balance and harmony with a deeper reality of holism -- comment by CH] (another one of our cultural addictions), we will fail. Where is that change going to occur? Are the politicians going to do it? Are the corporations going to do it? Are the religions? The universities? The answers to those questions certainly aren’t difficult to see. Conversation is stimulating and helpful, but until we’re willing to start looking at the assumptions we’ve made about the way we live and what we’re entitled to, nothing will change. And if that change occurs, it won’t occur in the distant halls of power. That change will happen right out at the end of our own noses, and it will happen because we got up this morning and grew the balls to say “ENOUGH!”.

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And so, in the spirit of his question, what is it you believe we can do to really address this situation? How can we say "Enough" in ways that will make a difference -- or maybe even more powerfully, as Gandhi said, how can we "Be the difference we want to see in the world" ? What does being a difference look like for you?

We've got a real collection of bright minds here so let's get out of the proverbial box and follow Einstein's axiom in that we cannot solve a problem using the same thinking it took to create it.

Your thoughts? Comments?

Many thanks,
Christopher

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Complete Genius -- The Whole Truth

2007-11-19T08:51:00.000-07:00

This is a continuation of the previous topic The Paradigm Conspiracy. I am very appreciative and impressed with both the intellectual depth of what everyone has shared in the previous topic, and your willingness to jump in and invite others to participate. I think we have answered with far more depth than I had anticipated several of the initial questions I posed in that topic.

For example:

"What is your belief regarding our innate Wholeness... our Connectedness. Is it a myth? A future possibility? A fantasy?"

Given that we have your foregoing contributions in that regard as a wonderful preface (please feel free to re-visit the previous comments for a refresher), I’d like to do a re-direct now. I am inviting us to begin to consider and comment on some of the questions that have arisen from the discussion thus far.

Namely:

1. One of my initial questions -- "Will it (the experience of Wholeness) provide us with a fundamental understanding from which to solve some of our greatest challenges (personally and societally)?"

2. Tarah's question (which I think is very important for us to explore more deeply): "If we're whole (or a whole within a whole) and yet believe we're less than whole and are separate, how does that then suggest that we are more controllable (or prone to such susceptibility) than if we were not in such a state of mind?"

3. A question that arose from an answer provided by Shayla to WC's question regarding why we don't see wholeness more regularly experienced: "Is it possible that we resist the notion or the experience of oneness... of wholeness... because we are addicted to our life in this world? And we fear that if we truly come to understand that we are a whole within a whole we will somehow die to this world? To our identity? To our limited self?"

4. A take off on Peter's comment: "If I knew deeply, intimately that I was, in fact, whole and that I was similarly connected to each person with whom I came in contact..." then what, if anything would change about how I show up (be, do, have) in the world?

This naturally leads to Ellio's last questions (inspired by all of your comments, I'm sure, but especially by the words of our resident sage, Rizzin [very happy to have you back... hope you and your tribe will share more of your wisdom with us]).

5. If you have had a meaningful encounter of wholeness, how has it impacted your life? Do you crave do have an experience of wholeness (again or for the first time) and does it also, in some regards create some level of fear or trepidation?

This may seem like a lot to chew on, but take the chunk that you relate to most or that hits you the most strongly right now and let's attempt to break this down.

Many thanks,
Christopher

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The Paradigm Conspiracy

2007-11-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's several days after November 1st... the intended date of re-starting the conversations here... but one additional week of travel held me up.

As I've been out on the road, working with organizations on topics like collaboration, inclusion, empowerment, and thinking more ecologically (is it good for me? my team? the organization? the planet?), I've also been re-reading a provocative book entitled, "The Paradigm Conspiracy." The book's premise (at least as I interpret it) is that there is an overarching paradigm or unconsciously agreed upon foundation of thought that people must be controlled (we must control others or be controlled)... and perhaps even more fundamental a belief that is labeled in the book "The Four Agreements" as being the Great Lie -- that great lie being the belief that we are not Whole -- and that we are separate -- not connected.

The question I'm probing now (which would love your thoughts and input on) is this:

What is your belief regarding our innate Wholeness... our Connectedness. Is it a myth? A future possibility? A fantasy? A longing to reconnect with the womb? Is it healthy? Will it provide us with a fundamental understanding from which to solve some of our greatest challenges (personally and societally)? Or could it be a hindrance?

Please join in. Your thoughts, questions, skeptical notions, and humor are always welcome.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

PPS. If you're just joining us or would like a view of some of our past discussions, please visit our last posts:

Incomparable Genius -- Treating an Irreplaceable Being

or

Global Genius -- Creative Solutions for a Crazy World

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Incomparable Genius -- Treating an Irreplaceable Being

2007-08-27T21:45:00.000-06:00

Our previous topic, Genius Out of the Box -- Creating the Empowered Patient, has provided us with some remarkable perspectives. Now we're ready to take a significant step forward.

As a precursor to this topic, I'd like to reflect on three different conferences I've attended over the last several months all of which were focused on creating a new paradigm in medicine. It's been very encouraging to hear the genuniely heart felt desire of physicians, medical directors, nurses, and administrators to reshape the healthcare model and to dramatically improve how healthcare is delivered. All of the approaches I've heard have focused on providing patient-centered care in a healing, inspiring environment (and have included much of what Michelle and WC spoke of in our previous topic).

Now, in this discussion, as we get down to some of the bare fundamentals, I think our biggest opportunity will be to think beyond our current restrictions. I'm aware that because we have all grown up with these restrictions, we are in some ways like the horse who stays in his corral because a single wire at knee height once shocked him when he touched it. Those boundary conditions are then etched in his mind as real and permanent.

I believe that one of the prime boundary conditions that we have become hard-wired to accept is the notion that healthcare is expensive, that providers, insurance companies, etc. are going to generate excessive profits and that we must simply accept this. I would like to propose, for the sake of this discussion, at least, that we assume for the time being that money is not an issue (we'll pretend that some new source of revenue has been uncovered that will cover all costs or whatever mechanism enables you to set aside the financial discussion for now).

What I'd like to see us do therefore, is focus on how we would go about interacting with a human being, who has come to us in a wellness center, who we recognize as a totally unique expression of the force that animates the universe. And let's also presume that we realize that this being and the very life force within them is of incalculable value. How would we go about treating such a being?

I look forward to your thoughts, questions, and ponderings.

P.S. We also have an active topic in motion entitled, Global Genius -- Creative Solutions for a Crazy World. Feel free to join us for that discussion as well.

P.P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

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Genius Out of the Box -- Creating the Empowered Patient

2007-08-08T09:56:00.000-06:00

We've had a tremendous discussion going on in the topic:

Genius in Action -- Creating a Model for a Community Wellness Center

One of the areas that's come up as fundamental to any wellness model is a designation that's been called, "The Empowered Patient." Others have discussed self-determination and a patient-first focus. This topic is so critical, it seems, to our ability to really contemplate a new model, that I would like to invite us to use this topic area to explore more deeply what this really means in terms of a wellness model.

What is an empowered patient? How might a system be created to truly accomodate and serve this notion? How is an empowered patient different from our current notion as patients or those who serve patients?

Please chime in... I have the feeling we're really getting down to the some of the real bare fundamentals now. Let's see what we can discover together!

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Also remember there's another active topic regarding utilizing our genius to solve social issues. You'll find this topic directly below or by clicking this link:

Global Genius -- Creative Solutions for a Crazy World

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P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

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Global Genius -- Creative Solutions for a Crazy World

2007-08-04T11:33:00.000-06:00

One place where our collective genius could certainly be put to use is in the arena of world, national, state, and local solutions. I'm looking for out-of-the-box thinking in terms of our various challenges and opportunities. How might you go about solving some of the dilemmas we seemed to have created for ourselves as human beings?

Pick your topic. Suggest a solution -- or even the beginnings of a solution. Add to someone else's solution. Suggest an alternative. We've got a creative crowd here, so let's see where our creative experiences might take us.

One request. Allow your solution engineering to come from the deepest, most authentic place in you. Suggest solutions that you feel would create the most profound ripple effect and that would impact the globe in a way that you'd want your children and grandchildren to learn and benefit from.

Let the solutions begin!

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As a reminder, we have two other active topics still in motion:

Genius in Action -- Creating a Model for a Community Wellness Center

Exotic Genius -- Your Wildest, Most Daring or Memorable Creative Experience

Feel free to dive into those discussions as well.

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Exotic Genius -- Your Wildest, Most Daring or Memorable Creative Experience

2007-07-21T22:51:00.000-06:00

The wellness center topic is directly below this one and is entitled Genius in Action -- Creating a Model for a Community Wellness Center. It is picking up great traction, so feel free to jump in there, too.

This topic was inspired by an email from KBF, who tracked me down via my bio to suggest that he'd love to play in the arena of, "What are the absolutely wildest, most exotic, crazy, out-there creative experiences you've had? What did you gain from these experiences? How were you changed?"

I thought this was a wonderful idea and a chance to advance the creative string on to the next level. Please feel free to dive in and take us on your own creative journey.

Thanks!
Christopher

P.S. And thanks to KBF for this very engaging idea.

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Genius in Action -- Creating a Model for a Community Wellness Center

2007-07-21T18:54:00.001-06:00

After a lot of discussion, collaboration, expression of thoughts and ideas, we're now poised to take our ideas regarding a new healthcare paradigm and put them into a definitive form. The purpose of this experiment is to create a vision that is well-enough defined that someone could, if they so desired, actually put it to use or at least utilize it to provide a significant inspiration for what they would like to create in their own town or community.

I know that putting things to form can be a little tricky and so I'm going to layout a methodology here that I realize is a) not perfect; yet b) is based on an attempt, at least, to be sensitive to the various styles and approaches to which the group who's come this far on this endeavor, seem to respond well. If the approach I'm using isn't ideal for you, I hope you'll pardon its less-than-ideal nature, and share your thoughts, ideas, and visions with us anyway.

The form I'd like to use is the following:

For each entry you make, please choose an area of the vision upon which to focus (i.e. focus on an area like one of the following: the exterior appearance of the center, the underlying philosophy, the various fields of service that would be available, the interior space, how the center handles its financial needs, patient education, community outreach, etc.).

There are numerous areas from which to choose and many not named here. There are also a variety of ways of naming categories that might provide a new linguistic angle that will have us see or think of the area differently or in a totally new way. I want to strong encourage us to feel free to be very creative in this regard.

Since I would like to combine our work into a single document at one point that I'll re-publish on this site as a collective work, I'd like to ask for a small favor. At the beginning of your comment, simply begin by labeling the area your particular post will address as follows:

INTERIOR SPACE:

I see an interior space that is... (or whatever language you'd choose).

The primary point is that the focus area will be in caps and that the commentary will be 2 spaced lines below. This will allow for all of us to easily read through comments and find the material we're looking for and it will allow me to capture the content later and be able to work with it much more easily in order to prepare a collective piece to re-publish here.

One last detail. Rather than disagreeing on someone else's contribution... just add your own vision about the same area. What we're going to do is look for an additive process... or a collective process. Someone may write a vision you think is totally wrong. That's okay. Just describe your vision of the same category in your commentary. Later, we'll take a look at the various versions of each area and see what we feel accomplishes the overall vision the best.

Remember, we're looking to accomplish a couple of goals with this process:

1. Create a well-defined, exciting, invigorating, fresh, practical, and solution-based, vision for a wellness center; and

2. We're looking to have fun in the process (we don't have to create the perfect vision... just something that provides a good springboard).

I'm very enthused to see where we can take this together. We've assembled some good minds with good intent. Feel free to invite others to this process and contribute to as many different areas of focus as you'd like as many times as you feel would be useful.

Let's create something amazing together!

Thank you,
Christopher

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Artificial Genius -- The Power of AI

2007-07-18T14:17:00.000-06:00

I'm creating this topic to allow for the fallout and processing of our encounter with CCC to be explored to the extent people want to. I've received a half-dozen emails asking me about it and wanting to talk about what happened and yet not wanting to distract from the flow of the discussion on creativity.

So in this topic please feel free to explore Artificial Intelligence (AI), your thoughts on the encounter we had in our other topic, and any other thoughts or questions you want to explore in regard to this topic area.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

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Creative Space

2007-07-15T08:35:00.001-06:00

This topic is an extension from our previous one, entitled "Genius Gone Wild... The Messy, Unpredicatble, Beautiful World of Creativity". We also have an active topic, several down from this one on "Idyllic, Inspiring Wellness Centers (and Other Genius-Inspired Healthcare Solutions) " Feel free to join either.

In this topic, I'd like to continue with a discussion that began to emerge previously. What conditions (space, people, mindset, and so on) allow you to be at your creative best. KBF, one of our previous contributors shared that they've studied this for some time. I'd like to apporach this much less formally -- this time in a wide open discussion format. I'm not looking for us to provide scientific evidence. Instead I'd like to explore the wide open spaces of what works for you or what you've heard works for others.

Perhaps we can all learn from each others methods, quirkiness, etc. Heaven knows, I've learned more and been invited to think more over the last while (thanks to everyone's participation) than in a long time.

Thank you!

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Genius Gone Wild... The Messy, Unpredictatble, Beautiful World of Creativity

2007-07-09T23:41:00.000-06:00

This topic is a continuation from our previous discussion on creativity (found two topics below this one -- Tapping into Our Genius with Unbounded Creativity). The exploration of wellness/healthcare is also still very much alive and is found directly below this topic (Idyllic, Inspiring Wellness Centers (and Other Genius-Inspired Healthcare Solutions).

For this round, it seems that the group that's assembled is interested in exploring the less predicatable, rough around the edges, messy, yet sublime side of creativity. There are some great comments in the previous topic that you may want to read to get in the flow of this topic. But then bounce right back to here to keep the flow going.

Let's dive in!

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Tapping into Our Genius with Unbounded Creativity

2007-06-22T11:01:00.001-06:00

This is one of two topics that emerged from Step Two of our previous exercise on collaboration (the second on topic, which is on healthcare, can be found direclty below this topic). During that discussion, Anonymous offered some thoughts that resonated with most, if not all of the group. The comments were in regard to how we unconsciously limit our options regarding solutions by falling prey to the habit of choosing from artificially derived polarities:

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"My main concern is that we are all blindfolded, and ready to march to the beat of a drum which has yet to materialize. At this point I think we'll all march to ANY beat just to avoid the unpleasantness of our own discomfort, and that concerns me.

"My experience has been that when creativity is "led" and "guided" in ANY direction, the vacuum created by the polarization itself is enough to effectively kill any REAL and new way of thinking. And I believe we are finding ourselves in that kind of a situation as we are soliciting (or, as the case may be, solicited to supply) the already known opinions on an ill defined and ambiguous issue. "

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Anonymous had, in fact, unveiled part of the purpose of the exercise -- to allow participants in the exercise to have a direct experience of the futility that results from attempting to create solutions from polarized positions (which inherently limit our options -- see Step Three of the exercise below).

The response, however, to these comments showed a real curiosity and desire to explore what became referred to as "unguided creativity." I've referred to it in the topic heading as unbounded creativity, but whatever we choose to call it, the real opportunity I'd like to invite us to take with this topic is to explore the freedom of creativity... to describe what that's like for you... what do you create or innovate, and to explore how to more fully and more readily access the creative state (or perhaps be aware that it's always present). So jump in... create... explore... wonder out loud... share your perspectives and your perplexities. And thanks to Anonymous and everyone who responded with such enthusiasm and thus led to this topic.

P.S. As always remember that to see the comments in a separate window, click on the "Comments" link. To see the comments in the body of the topic, click "Links to this Post"

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Collaboration -- A More Sure Path to Genius?

2007-06-14T18:40:00.000-06:00

The question we're posing here has been asked and hinted at throughout the last blog topic, in particular. And then, Annonymous posted the following comment, which I'd like to use as the springboard into the topic of genius and collaboration:

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"Chris suggested, in an earlier blog entry, that we consider our so-called collective consciousness. According to Chris, we all possess and own this entity. And I agree with Chris (and Jung) about the existence of such communal intelligence property (I also believe that the stated fear and mistrust of the concept is real and present in our thinking).

Chris then asked, in a later blog, the following question: "(Or) is there something (or some perspective or wisdom itself) beyond ethics (and thus possibly sourced by genius -- or the whole) which possibly enables a more holistically balanced manifestation of genius?”It seems reasonable to (in response to Chris’ question) suggest that maybe the “higher ethic” or “wisdom” is simply the act of considering the collective consciousness before the personal intellect (or genius)?

Wouldn’t that create what he called a “more holistically balanced manifestation of genius?”In light of MM’s latest entry, I have personally decided to look at trans generational intelligence, thought, and genius as parts of that greater collective consciousness. Consequently then, knowledge and wisdom and truth about old AND new ways of navigating through this territory called life (and its limitations), becomes a process greatly enriched by ALL contributions and contributors. No matter which generation contributes the knowledge."

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In light of Annonyomous' questions about generational collaboration, I'd like to expand that notion to include any perceived barriers that might seemingly separate us and invite us to consider the following questions:

Is the act of collaboration, in a very real way, a surrendering of the ego? A realization that by combining our ideas, talents, etc. with another (or others) we will be able to create something beyond our own immediate ability?

As we begin to consider those questions, I'd also like to clarify a distinction between toleration, cooperation, and collaboration. (I'm slowly learning from MM to be concise):

Toleration: Putting up with (learning to cope) with someone's differences.

Cooperation: Working together because we have to (because circumstances or potential consequences of not cooperating) without being willing to consider giving up our point of view.

Both of these, while not optimum, may gradually lead us to trust more in the involvement and participation of others and thus take us toward...

Collaboration: Proactively seeking out the involvement, ideas, and participation of others because we want to (realizing that not only do we perhaps need to, but that our idea will be better for it, that adding or combining other viewpoints and dealing with differences drives innovation and creativity (in essence it approaches differences as assets).

Because of its very nature (actively including more perspectives than my own and trusting in the inherent value of those additonal prespectives) and the mindset required to utilize collaboration, it seems that collaboration will certainly increase the odds that we are better able to understand the ramifications and ripple effect of our actions.

I'd like to suggest that, while toleration and cooperation may be better than their opposites (exclusison and unresolved conflict), that these approaches do not net the benefits described by MM in their description of how they learn collaboratively, nor do those approaches fully take advantage of the increased perspectives and exposure to the whole created by accessing the intelligence across the divides of generation or other differences (as reflected by Annonymous' suggestion).

So... if collaboration, as defined here, creates a greater opportunity to generate a more expansive thought process (and more lanes of access to the collective intelligence and thus a more potent dose of genius)... and, if utilized with practice, generates a higher level of creativity and innovation (which a number of studies indicate that it does)... what can we do to intentionally be more collaborative, model collaboration, promote collaboration, etc.

(I'd invite us to consider real examples that, without sharing things you deem too personal, give us a more clear glimpse of how we might all learn to better access this modality with more confidence and intentionality.

Lisa Lee suggested that anything that does not utilize this more inclusive approach may, in fact, no longer be considered to be genius at all (but instead, short-sightedness). That's a very thought provoking suggestion. What if we no longer gave credence to intelligence used short-sightedly?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Where Ethics and Genius Meet (...Collide?)

2007-06-06T15:53:00.000-06:00

For the sake of furthering our conversation to perhaps another level, maybe we can agree, momentarily at least, on several definition of terms that come from the combined comments of everyone participating thus far (realizing, as anonymous said, that words are not adaquate to describe what is essentially indescribable [i.e. "the map is not the territory"]):

Ego: our sense of separate idendity, that which sees ourselves as separate from the whole, something which is neither good nor bad, per se, but that which, when allowed to run the show, tends to do so with the shortsightedness understandably attributable to the lack of total perspective allowable if, (and I'm trusting at some level this total perspective is possible -- though perhaps "god-like") one were able to see the "All in All" -- including the past, present, and future ripple effects and implications connected to our actions."

As was mentioned by annonymous --

Happiness: a feeling or sense we experience (recognizing that the ego may also be that which defines and seeks "happiness" based on its own needs and expectations, which are again, limited).

I'd like to also suggest that the ego, when operating in its more useful position of not driving the bus, but serving as a helpful resource whose job it is to keep the organism it is supposed to serve alive (as opposed to attempting to keep itself alive, at times at the expense of the organism and others).

This doesn't mean that happiness is not a valuable human experience or emotion, but more simply that it is a state of mind that may be possible without necessarily taking the "Whole" into account. (For some reason -- the word "joy" seems to be a word that to me takes on a more permanent sensibility and suggest the emotion that comes from a more holistic understanding.)

Genius: the collective wisdom, knowledge, creativity, information, data, etc., accessible via conscious volition and, at times, through unconscious volition or as a consequence of steps or processes which we may have undertaken, which have some sort of cumulative affect (as is in profound insights, creative solutions, musical masterpieces, etc. which seemed to "drop in" out of nowhere).

So this definition suggests that genius itself is the data, wisdom, etc. in its pure form (not yet applied) -- though the application itself may also be laden with genius. Also, to Annonymous' point, I'd add that there may be a natural flow to genius that we access when we are simply "being" (and in such instances, to the extent that our natural flow is transcendent to the doings of our ego, genius and its application would be much more seamless).

The Application of Genius: which would be limited... or one might say "filtered" or "shaded" to the extent to which the ego is operating the implementation control panel (and to the inverse extent to which the ego realizes its inherent limitations and successfully attempts to the degree possible, to get out of the way and allow the "Whole" to manifest this slice of collective "a-ha" or "creation" -- as unfettered as possible).

It's worth noting, however, that part of what we deem as the beauty of any creation or act of genius may, in fact, be the very coloration or touches of "imperfection [i.e. lack of "wholeness"]) brought on by the nature of the information being brought into this dimension by a human or other being of nature [I've seen animals access genius as well and come up with a remarkable series of adaptive mechanisms or extensions of themselves that one might call "art," "creativity," innovation," and so on -- so I'm postulating that genius is not limited to the human species]).

As you can see, I'm hoping it helpful to distinguish between "genius" (which may be transcendent to the ordinary self) and the "non-transcendent application of genius" (which, as long as we're in human form, will to varying degrees, involve the participation of our ego -- which often seeks it's own temporary happiness or satisfaction).

I also want to acknowledge that by using words and characterizing some acts as transcendant or limited and others as not, some manifestations of genius and productive and some as not, etc. we are by nature talking in terms of the relative state (and that we may, in reality, be desribing "genius" as that which is accessible and in fact part of or a manifestation of the Absolute -- to use the Zen termonology -- and the non-transcendant, or ego infused application of genius as the Absolute State as applied by and later valued or judged by the Relative State).

Now, with those clearly less than perfect, but hopefully temporarily adaquate, definitions in mind (since, again, they are an attempted synthesis of everyone's comments), let's move on to that tricky question of the ethics and genius. I'm going to drop a couple of questions into the mix... ones which I am truly pondering (as opposed to rhetorically launching)... and hope others might share some insight regarding them:

Are not ethics, by nature, relative to each person (and therefore sourced by ego)? (This may also lead to that phenomenon of satisfying agreement that we experience when we have enough overlap with another in our ethical blueprints to feel that sense of shared joy we at times experience upon finding one who sees the world the way we do -- this then becomes the basis of those we consider "close" to us perhaps?)

Or is there something (or some perspective or wisdom itself) beyond ethics (and thus possibly sourced by genius -- or the whole) which possibly enables a more holisitically balanced manifestation of genius? One which, upon our later examination or judgement, from our viewpoint (as humans and as ones whom, to varying degrees, may have our egos in their more productive role -- or not), appears to be more or less valuable to us (and to those people, things, etc. which matter to us -- i.e our values)? I'd love your thoughts on these somewhat clumsily stated questions (which may in and of themselves, invoke more questions, but nonetheless... let the process begin).

P.S. Remember to click on "Links to this Post" to see the comments in the body of a blog topic or click on "Comments" to see the comments in a pop-up window.

Dive Into "Where Passion Meets Genius"

2007-06-02T13:02:00.000-06:00

There's a most interesting discussion going on in the "Where Passion Meets Genius" blog (click on the link to the left with that name to see the blog and the comments from others). If you're just visiting for the first time, please take a look at that string of comments and feel free to add to it or apply what's said there to the second blog (What Drives Us?)

And please, feel free to pass the link to this blog to others whom you think might enjoy reading and/or participating in the conversation.

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.

What Drives Us? (Do We Fear Our Own Power?)

2007-05-31T17:20:00.000-06:00

Ems and BKO's comments from the previous posting (see below) are certainly intriguing and introduce some interesting questions and considerations around passion and genius.

First Em introduces a notion that I'm sure most of us have experienced or may currently be experiencing... and that is the fear of failure/success. Her question and linkage between this fear of failure being also a fear of success raises a question worth pondering... do we fear our own genius... our own power? If so, how is it that we developed such a fear?

This leads to BKO's comments and questions... about genius, passion, and perhaps some other driving force that may compel us to evolve, grow, transform in spite of whether it is joyful (consciously) or not.

One theory may be that we have been taught to fear our genius... our creativity... our power through the simple, but powerful process of solicalization (as well as the process of real consequences that at times befall us either because of... or at time coincidental to our actions).

An additional step to consider is that we all possess something akin to what Jung described as a collective consciousness (i.e. somewhere within our minds -- minds being the some total of our mental, physical, and spiritual intelligence -- including that stored within our cells via genetic transmission -- is the sum total of knowledge of our species -- or of all species). If this is so (or approximately accurate) then we may also possess a vast library of knowledge, understanding, and solution-ability that exceeds our immediate knowing. Because this knowledge or genius is relatively unknown to us or at times has become dis-associated with us as if it were from some foreign realm or entity, we develop a normal fear and mistrust of such knowledge and the passion it at times elicits.

And yet... in spite of our hesitancy at times... and/or because of an underlying drive to evolve, grow, learn, transform... we often access our genius and create, innovate, invent... sometimes to our mutual benefit... sometimes not (and it seems, at least, that when our genius runs amuck, it happens to coincide with the times and to the degree to which we allow our limited identity [e.g. ego] to delude itself into thinking that the genius is proprietary... owned solely by and/or for the limited benefit of "me" or "us").

In this regard, the process of creative endeavors, problem-solving, and invention and innovation seems to be bare this out as individuals and/or groups arrive at levels of understanding and problem solving (including the creation of entirely new paradigms) that exceed the conscious individual or even collective understanding of those involved. What we then do with those products of genius, depends to a great extent, on the mindset of those involved.

So... back to a fundamental question raised by BKO... what is genius? I would suggest, as a beginning place, that genius be described as the internal ability and intelligence (which can be constantly increased by way of experience individually and collectively) which we can access when and if we move beyond our limited identity (and thus limited knowledge base) and, even if for an instance, access the collective consciousness (which includes, of course, our own accumulated knowledge) in such a way that we're able to bring that information, knowledge, and/or wisdom into this realm to be contemplated, utilized, or... in some cases... abandoned.

Ultimately... part of my passion, and what I've made my vocation and avocation, is to help people remove, as Ems described them... some of the blocks that we allow to prevent us from being free enough to really tap into the passion of genius. Why do I do this? I'm not really sure, though I could make up a reason. It simply seems to be what I do naturally. Perhaps that's a clue to accessing genius... giving ourselves the freedom to do what comes naturally...?

P.S. To see comments included within the body of the blog, click on "Links to this Post". To see comments in a pop-up window, click on "Comments"

Where Passion and Genius Meet

2007-05-31T11:21:00.000-06:00

I've had the privilege of working with creative, innovative geniuses for years. From my father... to world renowned scientists like Stephen Hawking... or musical legends like Kenny Loggins... all of these individuals have shared something in common -- passion!!

It was my father, a multi-faceted artist whose works were splashed across the pages of Life Magazine, the programming of PBS-TV, and in World Fair Exhibits, who once told me that the way to access your genius is to focus on what you're truly passionate about. When, as a young man, I asked him how I could know what career to pursue, he answered, "It's simple... find out what you truly love to do... what you would do even if you weren't paid... and make that your career."

"But what if what I love to do changes?" I asked. "Change careers," was his simple, but profound answer.

So what are you truly passionate about? What really engages your mind, body, and soul? Is that the work (or play) you're engaged in? Have you truly tapped into your inner genius in a powerful, meaningful way? If not... we should talk. If you have... let's talk and share the joy.

P.S. Click on "Links to this Post" to see the comments in the body of the blog or click "Comments" to see the comments in a pop up window.

Views of those commenting have not been checked for accuracy and do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog publisher or his associates.