InSpiritry

The problems that exist in the world today

cannot be solved

with the level of thinking that created them.

Albert Einstein

Hope! Change! Possibility! Excitement!

The year 2009 began with a bang. The amazing celebrations surrounding the inauguration of Barak Obama as the new President offered Americans some much-needed optimism about the future. Some of us even let ourselves believe the worst was over!

While it was nice to have that brief January respite from the storm of bad news from around the world, February seems to have tossed us overboard: Worsening economic conditions.  The catastrophic environmental crisis. Governmental gridlock. Terrorism. Genocide. Famine. Illness. And so far, most of our leaders are displaying a stubborn and often selfish allegiance to old ideas and older fears.

As illustrated in the quote that began this post, Albert Einstein (my favorite genius) noticed the very same situation fifty years ago.  His response was to remind the world that problem solving is not a comfortable endeavor based on well-established traditions. Quite the opposite, solving problems requires a radical shift in thinking to embrace innovative methods, inspired strategies and new ideas. As the title of a recent book on creative approaches to leadership so eloquently states: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. Put in a familiar bumper sticker format: Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

So what does that mean for those of us who care deeply about the problems facing America and the world?

How can it help us with our more personal dilemmas like shrinking retirement accounts and loss of job security?

What does Einstein’s message have to say to our leaders and to us today?

Well, I hope you’re ready for the answer: Change the way you think! Change the way you work! Change how you feel! Get creative! Climb out of the box! Consider the impossible–

But what does all that really mean?

• First of all, it means letting go of the familiar, something most of us find unnerving. We must set aside what worked in the past; this is a whole new ballgame! That means relinquishing old dreams, old expectations, old slogans, old plans, old opinions. However painful, letting go is the first step in moving forward.

• Secondly, it means opening our minds. We are going to need to consider things we’ve never really thought about, to learn about subjects we never wanted to know before and to explore options that seemed crazy until now. Lifelong learning is not just a cliche; making a list of questions and searching for answers is a good way to frame any problem.

• Third, Einstein’s approach means opening our hearts as well as minds. We need to learn to trust the “organic” processes of creativity and collaboration: start with the seed of an idea and help it grow. Most of us like control and safety, but creative problem solving means using ”free form” strategies like brainstorming, conversation, interaction and artistic expression. It also means seeking input from a variety of people, even those we considered outsiders, competitors or opponents before.

• Fourth, while we’re letting go of the past and embracing the future, while we’re being creative and collaborative, we also need to use critical thinking. Einstein would be the first to assure us that our minds are still our best problem-solving asset. We find the best way forward when we set aside easy solutions to tackle more difficult concepts: science, economics, sociology, psychology, history. Thinking rationally leads us to discover unexpected connections that offer new possibilities.

• Finally, we need to leave behind old temptations of self-interest and short term gain to embrace our our morals, our humanity and our core values: compassion, kindness, courage, persistence, faith. These are the touchstones that lead us to our best selves, our best world, our best future.

So, go ahead, watch the news, listen to the pundits, open that bank statement, make that move, talk over that diagnosis, consider the worst case scenario.  Whatever problems we are facing personally or  globally, as legislators or community leaders, we can handle them. We just have to remember Einstein’s caution that the best solutions will require a whole new way of thinking using the InSpiritry values of Compassion, Creativity, Collaboration, Connections and Courage. Like Einstein’s work, the results can be amazing.

Problems? What problems?!

When We Change Our Thinking, Life Can Be a Blessing!

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