Mindfulness is What Gets the Insight Out
Insight Out, by Tina Seelig, was a fascinating book about how we get from imagination to entrepreneurship. She claims that her goal is “to bring together what we know about creativity with what we know about entrepreneurship so that we can define, learn, teach, and practice these skills in a rigorous and reproducible manner.”[1] Her desire to help people get their imaginative and creative ideas to a place that the can make an impact on the world around them was inspiring and brilliant. I know for me, it is hard enough accessing my creative brain, let alone getting those ideas to a useful place. Her simple method of breaking it down into the following four steps was extremely helpful: “Imagination leads to creativity. Creativity leads to innovation. Innovation leads to entrepreneurship.”[2] Although I have never really seen myself as incredibly creative, I was encouraged by Sir Ken Robinson’s quote that “creative ideas don’t have to be original to the whole world, but they must be original to you, and they must have value.”[3]
I can see why this book is included with our reading list on leadership this quarter. It has valuable “insights” to make us all better leaders for the simple fact that it explains how we can communicate ideas to those around us in an effective way. Many brilliant people have numerous genius ideas that they can’t ever get out of their head and communicated in a way that others can help them see it into reality. Many ideas also come with challenges, which is why Seelig says, “The key takeaway is that you need to begin with curiosity, which opens doors to countless opportunities to identify challenges that need to be addressed, and then envision alternatives.”[4] Once again, the author lines out a process of simple steps to get from curiosity to overcoming challenges with alternative solutions. If we are committed to getting our ideas into the world, we have to be willing to overcome obstacles and take risks so our creative ideas don’t just get left floating around in our head or left on the back of a napkin.
This next part was surprising to read, but you can imagine why it drew my attention. The concept of managing your own psychology, which basically means paying attention to your self-talk, is something I deal with my clients on a daily basis. I have to include this brilliant excerpt on this topic from Justin Rosenstein’s talk at Stanford: “The most important part of being a leader is managing your own psychology. . .How many people in the room have experienced some sort of voice in your head that sounds like it’s your voice, but it’s telling you, you are doing things badly? There is a voice that is self-doubting and judging. And it’s very easy to confuse this voice for yourself, especially because it speaks in your own voice, but it’s not. It’s sort of like having an annoying judgmental roommate living in your head. You’ll notice this now that I point it out. . .I’ve done a ton of meditation work and I still hear this voice. But the difference is that I now have a new relationship to it. I hear the voice, I say, Thank you, I appreciate that you are trying to be helpful. You can keep hanging out in my head, that’s totally fine. Kick your feet up, make yourself comfortable, but that’s not me and I make decisions from a different place. And so I continue to act in the face of fear, even when those things keep coming up and telling me, Oh, you are screwing this up. This skill is often called mindfulness, which is defined as focused, intentional, and nonjudgmental attention on your sensations, thoughts, and emotions in the present moment.”[5] This reminds me of the verse in 2 Corinthians that says…“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”[6] This is such an important leadership principle because if we, as leaders, can’t manage the thoughts in our heads and weed out the negative ones, we will end up becoming our own worst enemies.
The art of mindfulness seems like a skill very few people are proficient at, yet it is one of the keys to staying centered and personally aware of what is going on in your head and body. In my practice, I work extensively with people to help them become more aware of their feelings, bodily sensations and their needs. This helps them become powerful and more able to express themselves with their loved ones and actually teach others who they are and what they need. It is fulfilling to see my clients become more self-aware and experience the results of getting their feelings heard and needs met, sometimes for the first time in their lives. The following excerpt from Ellen Langer confirms the importance of mindfulness: “Mindfulness is the process of actively noticing new things. When you do that, it puts you in the present. It makes you more sensitive to context and perspective. It’s the essence of engagement. . .I’ve been studying this for nearly 40 years, and for almost any measure, we find that mindfulness generates a more positive result. . .No matter what you’re doing—eating a sandwich, doing an interview, working on some gizmo, writing a report—you’re doing it mindfully or mindlessly. When it’s the former, it leaves an imprint on what you do. At the very highest levels of any field—Fortune 50 CEOs, the most impressive artists and musicians, the top athletes, the best teachers and mechanics—you’ll find mindful people, because that’s the only way to get there.”[7] If we are to get the ideas out of our head and into the world, we will need to learn how to become intimately aware of what is going on inside our heart and mind and manage it well.
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[1] Tina Seelig, Insight Out: Get Ideas Out of Your Head and Into the World, HarperOne, Kindle Edition, 6.
[7] Tina Seelig, Insight Out: Get Ideas Out of Your Head and Into the World, HarperOne, Kindle Edition, 114-115.
About the Author
Jake Dean-Hill
Currently a Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice. Ordained minister with 10 years of prior full-time church ministry experience and currently volunteering with a local church plant. Also working with companies as a Corporate Leadership Coach.11 responses to “Mindfulness is What Gets the Insight Out”
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Hey hey hey, Jake. I have been learning about this idea of mindfulness, and I agree, it is key to many things, not the least of which is our transformation into the likeness of Christ.
I’m wondering how this book might be connected to your research. Is egalitarianism an “idea” that needs some creativity and innovation around it?
Totally Jenn, mindfulness is an excellent way to develop in our spiritual growth. And yes, gender-balanced leadership definitely needs some creativity and innovation to close the gender gap. I want to apply what I learned from the book to my research.
Hey Jake thanks for this excellent post. I’m going to sit with this for a while and give it more thought, but it resonates with me: “The most important part of being a leader is managing your own psychology.” I totally agree with you on the urgent necessity of self-awareness and the role of mindful meditation in bringing self-awareness. As a Christian, I particularly enjoy centering prayer and the Examen as helpful ways to hear how God is making me more aware of my junk 🙂
Thanks for your comments Chris. Yes more of us leaders need to be self-aware and proficient in understanding the emotions swimming around inside our heads. Thanks for the reminder of the centering prayer and I had never heard of the Examen, looks very cool from what I researched. And yes, keeping track of our junk and dealing with it is very important.
Thanks, Jake. Some of what you are writing about sounds kind of like “self-awareness” to me. Especially your ending sentence: “If we are to get the ideas out of our head and into the world, we will need to learn how to become intimately aware of what is going on inside our heart and mind and manage it well.” It’s interesting that “mindfulness” has become a kind of buzzword, when as you describe, it is a key ingredient for anyone operating at a high level. To be mindful, in the moment, aware of one’s self and surroundings. One thing I appreciated about Seelig’s book was how practical it was. It tried to get the reader not just to identify the problem (of having ideas or creativity crammed up inside of us), but also some solutions, some steps. I bet this all resonates right into your counseling practice, especially with couples. Anyway– thanks for your piece.
Thanks for your thoughts Dave. Yes, most people need to practice mindfulness in order to get in touch with themselves and their feelings and become more self-aware, which is why they get combined alot with people. Mindfulness definite is the more sexy word these days even though I don’t know very many people who practice it. Yes I appreciated the practicalness of the book as well and it very much resonated with the work I do with clients.
Jake,
Thanks for focusing on the mindfulness aspect. I really have a problem with that inner voice, I cannot tell you how many times I have “talked” myself out of stepping into a difficult thing and looking back wishing I had not done so. Being mindful is one of the most difficult things for us as humans to do I appreciate the fact you walk your clients through those times.
Thanks
Jason
“Managing your own psychology” — That is awesome. Never thought of that before. I can completely understand this new (to me) concept. Especially with being mindful of “self talk”. I appreciate you so much for enlarging my understanding! Practicing mindfulness, I get it, now even more thanks to you.
I loved that quote from Robinson as well. I think we desire to be original in our creativity. This quote really was a liberating statement.
I appreciated your discussion on the internal negative voices that we all have to deal with. I had never thought of acknowledging the thoughts out loud, thank it and dismissing it. Thats an interesting approach.
Jake, first off, I find it so hard to believe that you are not a creative or imaginative individual; your character just seems exactly the contrary (meant as a compliment).
Second, when a therapist starts discussing the “voices” that I may or may not hear…I feel like I’m being setup for the white jacket at special resort. LOL. Seriously though, I commend you on your willingness to help people find the value in the “voices.” I think it is usually those little voices in the head that tend to break us down and deter us from doing the things we actually feel motivate to attempt. We allow doubt, fear, guilt, and hesitation to speak louder to us than all of the encouraging statements found in God’s Word. I preached a sermon this morning that asked the question, “What made David pick a fight with a giant?” 1 Samuel 17 shows that the Israelites were too scared to admit their fear, his brother mocked and rebuked him, and the king Saul had no confidence in his actual ability; so why did he pick the fight anyway? There had to be “voices” going off like crazy as he walked down that valley, however, David did not listen to them, but rather to the potential and trust that God had placed in him. Look at what he accomplished as a result.
I appreciate that there are motivational therapists like yourself that seek to show people their potential.
Jake,
Your insight on mindfulness is a great addition to your post. I’m thankful that mindfulness is “trendy” right now…it is an excellent tool emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. I’m curious what specific techniques to mindfulness you teach your clients? And in what capacity do you practice it?