“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” Shunryu Suzuki
The following was yesterday’s entry from The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo
“Believing is all a child does for a living.” Kurtis Lamkin
“Picasso once said that artists are those of us who still see with the eyes of children. Somehow, as we journey into the world, more and more gets in the way, and we stop questioning things in order to move deeper into them and start questioning as a way to challenge things that we fear are false.
As a child I used to talk to things – birds that flew overhead, trees that swayed slowly in the night, even stones drying in the sun. For years, though, I stopped doing this freely because of what others might think, and then I stopped all together. Now I learn that Native Americans do this all the time, that many original peoples believe with their childlike eyes right into the center of things.
Now, almost fifty, I am humbled to recover the wisdom that believing is not a conclusion, but a way into the vitality that waits in everything.” Mark Nepo
The above quotes by Mark and Kurtis are very timely as we transition into a new year that will certainly bring new opportunities and challenges given the talent landscape, economic outlook and a presidential election year to boot. I enjoy this concept of looking at the world through the eyes of a child and allowing myself to believe and broaden my perspective. The concept is rooted in theories around Beginners Mind and can be a method to innovation. To innovate its necessary to move beyond one’s comfort zone and mental models and be open to exploring what could be possible – breaking beyond barriers of what often becomes limiting beliefs.
If you’re interested in exploring the concept further, Shunryu Suzuki’s book Zen Mind, Beginners Mind is a good place to begin. As Shunryu shares in his writings, “The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities.”
Perhaps the hardest thing is that as we develop our expertise, which are rooted in experiences, we need to rid ourselves of the “expert” habits that have been shaped o=along the way – often by others or a specific experience.
On a related note, I found myself struggling with a decision yesterday. IT would mean an investment in travel and a commitment of time and money and I wasn’t sure if I should do it. Well, I decided I should and while I was on the phone confirming my plans looked out the window of my home office and this is what I saw – talk about believing!
I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year with the power to clear your mind, look through your “child eyes” and believe in all that is possible.
Cheers!!
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