The book begins with an invitation to possibility. Which I think most of us need.
We need to feel we are invited into something. I can think back to many times I haven't done something or was nervous to go somewhere because I didn't think I was invited.
Also, I have used it as an excuse to not do things outside of my comfort zone - "Well, I wasn't invited."
This idea that all things are possible doesn't often seem possible, yet when someone invites you to open your mind and heart to it, well then the impossible can become possible.
When no one is around though, how do we invite ourselves to be open to possibility? I think of a story I've heard or maybe read in one of Mr. Iyengar's books where he will say that we need to lift the chest to not get depressed. To me that lifting, raises and opens the heart. Aligns the mind with the heart so that together they can be open to all sorts of possibilities.
The Art of Possibility explains many ideas and concepts though stories. I appreciate this as I like stories and also can see that the authors have taken the time to put their ideas into practice in their world and see if it is true for them. Benjamin does say that life unfolds in the stories we tell.
The book leads the reader through 12 practices. Although many of the ideas were ones I would have read before, how they were delivered in this book was often in a new and interesting way.
Some of the ones that have stuck with me are "It's all Invented", "Giving an A", "Being a Contribution", "Rule Number 6" and "Giving Way to Passion" are just a few.
In the seventh practice Rosamund and Benjamin write about The Ways Things Are. Here 2 worlds are described, a downward spiral world or a world of radiating possibilities. One drags you down, the other from a place of being open-hearted and open-minded. One where when you make a mistake it is not a downward spiral, but a chance to say, "How Fascinating!"
They give quite an honest encounter and it might have said in the book, but I just watched one of Benjamin's talks. He is a conductor and teacher and says he used to be a leader in the old style - top down, do as I say, etc. - (downward spiral), until he had a revelation in his 40's. He realized that in his position he doesn't make a sound and depends for his power on his ability to make other people powerful. He realized he had a great opportunity to awaken a possibility in others. To be able to look into someone's eyes and see them shining! Mr. Iyengar wrote/talked a lot about the eyes, about having shining, bright eyes. I love when I see the teachings reflected in other areas. Yoga is union, it is everything, not just on a mat, but in all that we do.
Seeing on paper this job description of awakening the possibility in others resonated with me greatly because I know, even though I do speak in classes, I really am just passing along the ancient teachings the best I can. I take my role as an yoga teacher seriously and my hope has always been to build students up so they can see their own greatness.
I am not sure I have always been the best at doing this, but will continue to work at it.
I know also I need to go back to Rule Number 6 - which is "don't take yourself to seriously". We tend to get in our own way when we do that.
This is one of many books that has made an impact on me reminding me that we can all "Lead from any Chair", we can all "Light a Spark" and we can all "Give way to Passion".
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Benjamin Zander on YouTube - Below are a few links, but has many other videos.
Inspiring and funny and really sums up the greatness of this book.
How to Give an A - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTKEBygQic0
Choosing Your World - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZIC2f0fMKY
Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher
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