BrooksJeff@aol.com wrote:
> A few personal questions: do you feel that you've made some final
> determination on that dilemma for yourself? From your posts you certainly
> seem like you lean toward the creative (or, I think someone once used the
> term "authentic") life. What kind of process did you go through to get
> there? Perhaps this process is a big part of what shifting into a LO
> mind-set is all about?
Have I chosen to live a creative life? YES! What did I go through in
making this decision? That's pretty much the story of my life. I'm not
sure everyone on the list is all that interested. I can say, however, it
was a long and painful process.
Honestly, I can't see why anyone would want to live a secure, stable and
static life -- all of these are completely unachievable. To seek for them
is to be constantly frustrated. THE ONLY THING WE CAN CONTROL IS OUR
CREATIVE EXPRESSION!
I can say, it is difficult to be creative; the word "heretic" has been
used to describe creative people. (Read Art Kliener's book, and get to
know some really creative people. . .I'm especially fond of Peirre Wack
and Ted Newland).
I think Carl Rogers hit the nail on the head, when he wrote:
". . .these past ten years have been fascinating -- full of adventuresome
undertakings. I have been able to open myself to new ideas, new feelings,
new experiences, new risks. Increasingly I discover that being alive
involves taking a chance, acting on less than certainty, engaging with
life. . . .All of this brings change and for me the process of change _is_
life. I realize that if I were stable and steady and static, I would be
living death. So I accept confusion and uncertainty and fear and emotional
highs and lows because they are the price I willingly pay for a flowing,
perplexing, exciting life."
My life, too, is full of emotional highs and lows; and, I commonly
experience a broad range of emotions. . .but I live every moment, cherish
every thought, and relish in the fact that it's my life . . . mine to
control, influence, and discover!
At the same time, I'm keenly aware that I do not exist independent of
others. I'm part of a family; a business; a community; a nation. Each of
these is a part of me. I can't live independent of my family (after all, I
didn't create myself -- my parents did), and so I seek to use my
creativity to improve each part of me . . .
--Ben Compton The Accidental Learning Group Work: (801) 222-6178 Improving Business through Science and Art bcompton@geocities.com http://www.e-ad.com/ben/BEN.HTM
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>