Students in my course are assigned to read Ben & Roz Zander’s The Art of Possibility and over this past week I’ve been reading and grading their reflections on the book in their blogs. The book, which espouses the notion that we will find more success in life if we recognize that we live in a universe of abundance, is assigned to my students as a way to encourage them as they struggle with the restrictions often put on them when they try to do something new in their jobs. For my part I often find myself encouraged by my students’ efforts to grapple with the book’s challenges to their own understanding of the world. For example, one student commented:

The Zanders understand the transformative effect of the mind reframed. And they don’t linger on the hard parts of living a transformed life (because after transformation, the hard parts are worth it). Still, I would like to hear more stories that have no clearly defined ending–that end unresolved. Possibility takes faith in the face of empirical reality, and faith is a hard to have when our life stories are in their second act. Frankly, it isn’t the power of positive thinking alone that can “construct a new world.” Ben Zander’s opening premise is only proverbially true. (R.Swindoll)

One thing I love about working with my students in their blogs is that I can respond to their thoughts with comments of my own. I commented to the above observation: Your right that their stories had a cute red-bow satisfying endings to them, but then it wouldn’t be a very good book if they introduced scenario after scenario with no ending (sounds like some novels I’ve read). Actually I have read some books that never quite delivered on their promise, so I’m glad that the Zanders bring endings with their observations.

My student continued: “Ben and Roz Zander’s stories assume Providence is on their side. The Art of Providence… that seems a more fitting title of the book, given what I’ve read so far.” R. Swindoll

To which I responded: Very interesting word game… I don’t think that the Zanders believe that Providence is on their “side” because I don’t think they believe in “sides.” I think they’re more coming from the idea that the world is so much bigger than most of us are able to navigate (predict), that most of us miss the good or the possible because we put ourselves in a protective posture whining that we want “ours” before it runs out. It’s more than a proverbial observation but not new age “name it and claim it” magic.

I work in one of the most wonderful places and have some of the most amazing students. jbb

music: Great indoors by John Mayer from the Room for Squares CD