ELAN Blog ~ Week 45, Day 229

ELAN Blog continues discussion of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, by Michael J. Gelb. He shares many exercises throughout the book, including self-assessments to measure levels of the seven practices of Leonardo (more on those tomorrow). One such exercise is a huge challenge, but what better way to take our brain out to play than to stretch it past the easy picking of low hanging fruit?

Make a list of 100 questions. You may as well take out that notebook that Gelb encourages readers to carry at all times. These questions will add fire to your flame of curiosity as you Observe Your World with a renewed sense of wonder. Gelb notices that themes arise during this exercise, especially after the first dozen or so when the questions begin to slow. If you stretch your brain to complete the list of 100, you will see the importance of ideas and beliefs in a new light. But there is a trick – watch for emerging themes without judging. Impossible, I know. Still, what would happen if you have a list –– a lengthy list –– of ideas you are curious about regardless of what you think you know of them already? Then what would happen if you selected the top ten questions? Can you imagine going through one of your days with one such question in mind? Consider a question such as… Where do I see beauty? Gelb further challenges us to hold a question in mind for a long while. When your mind wanders, and it will, return to the question. Ask it out loud if you can. Think about it before going to sleep and when waking up. Then spend some time in stream of consciousness writing (in your notebook, of course). Don’t think. Don’t judge. Just write and keep the pen moving across the page.

“Don’t worry if you seem to be writing pure gibberish; this is actually a sign that you’re overriding the habitual, superficial aspects of your thought process,” Gelb says. “…You’ll eventually open a window through which your intuitive intelligence will shine.”

TODAY think about a question you would like to ponder. If you feel stumped, ask this: Am I asking the right question? Is there a different way to look at this? Gelb shares this example: instead of asking what the meaning of life is, ask instead, “How can I make my life more meaningful?” To challenge the world view you must first challenge your own view.

“And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

“You are gifted with virtually unlimited potential for learning and creativity.” Michael J. Gelb,  How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci