Roz Zander and Ben Zander on The Art of Possibility, Part 8

In the book, The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life, Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander show us the 12 things we can do to go on a journey of possibility, rather than living a life full of hurdles and constraints of our own making.

These are some of my favorite concepts and takeaways from reading the book.

The Eighth Practice: Giving Way to Passion

In this chapter, Roz and Ben discuss what it means to give way to passion. They offer the following observations and recommendations for us to think about:

In the universe of possibility, vibrancy and energy surround us. Yet, while the universe is sparking with generative power, how do we tap into the source? Where can we find an electric socket for vitality?

One way to find the energy is to recognize that vital, expressive energy flows everywhere. Such energy is the medium for the existence of life. The choice of participating in that vitality lies within ourselves.

Very often, our consciousness tells us a different story. The world comes to us with numerous boundaries and constraints. Culture has taught us to strictly operate within limits, stay in our lanes, and not compare apples and oranges. Yet our minds and bodies are perfectly capable of suspending an edge once we know how and where the lines are drawn.

Roz and Ben suggested that we take the following two steps to enable the practice of giving way to passion.

  1. Notice where we are holding back and let go. Release those barriers of self that keep us separated and in control. Let the vital energy of passion surge through us and connect us to all beyond.
  2. Participate wholly in the universe of possibility. We should allow ourselves to be a channel to shape the stream of passion into a new expression for the world.

When we are looking for an electric socket for possibility, one way is to let go of the edges of ourselves. Then, when we actively participate by finding our tempo and leaning our bodies to the music, we might be able to gain access to the energy of transformation.