I went to the “How To Think Like Leonardo� workshop, led by author Michael Gelb, at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY this past weekend. I signed up for the course because of an interview I read with the author.
So, how’d it go? Here are my thoughts.
I had formed the intention that I would receive my big breakthrough idea as a result of this course. (What’s wrong with thinking big?)
While that did not happen, that’s entirely OK. Instead, I realized a big breakthrough idea is really made up of a lot of little punches. The course reminded me that I’m punching in the right direction. The course reminded me that in one form or another, I AM following principles of genius.
The course related the seven principles that guided Leonardo’s genius.
Principle #1: Curiosity – Leonardo’s method for manifesting his curiosity was to keep a journal on everything and anything. Journals help you take your thoughts and intuitions seriously. Hey, that’s a lot like a blog! I’m confident Leo would have loved blogs; and I’m confident – and reminded – that by keeping this blog, I am following a principle of genius.
Principle #2: Demonstration – This principle talks about the discipline of thinking things through on your own. It’s about watching your body, emotions and mind and then watching yourself watch yourself. That sounds a lot like Emotional Intelligence to me! Demonstration is about taking different views. Leonardo would often paint/sketch things in three different perspectives. I am reminded that I live this principle by teaching – and practicing – empathy skills. What is empathy if not taking different perspectives!?
Principle #3: Sharpen Your Senses – This is about using your senses and being sharp. I am reminded that my senses are sharp. See my poem on listening, for example.
Principle #4: Embrace Uncertainty – Leo had a knack for embracing the unknown. My word, he invented the parachute before anyone could even fly! He was not afraid of the unknown and reveled in creating uncertainty in others (what IS Mona Lisa smiling at?). I often tell people in my EQ classes that we must become comfortable feeling uncomfortable, because nearly every feeling other than happy can be uncomfortable. Yet every feeling, including happy, gives us valuable data about what’s going on. I’m reminded that when I feel uncomfortable, I’m already one step ahead, because I allow myself to feel uncomfortable.
Principle #5: Art and Science – I love writing, I love cooking, I love sailing, I love the Internet, I love Mozilla, I love Google, I love the brain, I love yoga, I love scrapbooking, I love nature. I love being reminded that I do take both art and science seriously.
Principle #6: Balance the Body and Mind – Leonardo was the first to say “preserve your own health, keep your mind cheerful and eat healthy and savor.� Again, I see EQ principles here. How you feel affects how you think. If you are angry, you will have angry thoughts. Angry thoughts lead to angry words and angry actions. How do you get out of angry? Think happy thoughts. Therein lies the balance – or imbalance – of body and mind.
Princple #7: Connection – Ah, this is my most favorite principle. It’s a strong one because I see a triangulation here; a pattern of three:
1. Leonardo’s principle of connection.
2. Kpedia’s motto to “Connect, always Connect,� and
3. My blog’s title “Create Stronger Connections.�
Is there a connection here? And for you techies out there, here are a few Internet tools that reinforce connection
1. Mooter: a search engine that looks like a mind map
2. Google’s proximity search: search for terms that are one to three words away from each other (shows strong connection. Note: may not work on Mozilla; use Internet Explorer.
Finally, the course taught us all to mind map. I am reminded that I have been mind mapping for about 15 years already. My business partner and I mind map together nearly every conversation we have. I mind map when meeting people for the first time. (I still have the mind map I wrote when I met my busines partner for the first time!) Before it’s a post in this blog, it’s a mind map first. I teach mind mapping I my communications course as a listening tool. When you mind map as someone is talking, you become fully present. Michael made a joke about people asking “How do we live in the now?" His answer, “You just did, you just didn’t notice it.� Mind mapping is a “now� skill. It makes you fully present, and fully engaged in the other.
Thanks Michael for reminding me of the simple, yet profound, skills of a genius that make a huge difference.
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