Someone reminded me this week that objects have no intrinsic color -- our eyes and brain interpret reality, assigning the colors. "Brown," therefore, is merely our own interpretation of a particular wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum.
So what?
It's an example of the fact that the brain loves to make meaning out of the objective world -- and that can work for-, or against us. It automatically creates a narrative to help make sense out of what would otherwise be a jumble of confusion. While that's helpful, it's so often true that our stories, operating below the conscious level, limit possibilities.
Research suggests that sleep is when short- and long-term memories are filed away. Some believe that dreams are a byproduct of that process -- while that filing activity, or "system maintenance," is going on, the brain makes up stories out of the memories, forming a rough narrative, using metaphors and symbols along the way. If you believe such research, then dreams are good examples of how the brain uses stories to create order out of chaos.
In the waking world, our brain is constantly making up stories about ourselves and others. It tends to change them only when confronted with an inconsistency. "I don't understand how Bob could have done that -- I wouldn't have thought him capable of it."
Like assigning a color to an object, whatever we thought about Bob before was our own story; merely an interpretation we made, full of assumptions / expectations. We did it without awareness.
And consciousness of story is the key.
After all, how can we chart a new course, change our careers, or help others transform? It's a process of becoming conscious of the narrative and limitations of the stories we are living in -- about our organizations, ourselves, and others -- to the point where we can edit them, change the direction, or throw them out.
People and objects have no intrinsic meaning to you other than what you assign them, either consciously or unconsciously. Your awareness frees you from the shackles of stories and beliefs, enabling you to consider new possibilities. When a leader is aware of the content and limitations of the stories they create, new possibilities are opened up, and new outcomes flow.
The cliche "Think outside of the box" merely means: step outside of your usual story.
Enjoy!
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Related posts (both from July, 2006):
