Elemental Principle: Contemplate (3)
By maestro. Filed in Productivity |
In our folktale the doll shows Vasilisa that there is always an elegant solution hidden in the myriad of options. Elegant solutions carry their own energy; they flow. In The Art of War elegant solutions carry a special type of power called shih. As in chess, though there may be many possible moves, there is often one that is the most potent, while being simple and beautiful. This dynamic is based partially on the position of the pieces, their relative power, their relationships to the opposing pieces, and timing. The sage commander knows how to cultivate shih by collating the information gathered (Earth) and listening to the greater flow of forces (Water). He lets go of all he knows and opens himself to new possibilities. This is the development of inner knowing, or “knowing the unknowable.” The shih within a solution is temporary. Therefore, a fixed solution to resolve a reoccurring problem is not possible because the forces of the Universe are always shifting and changing. The solution just “feels” right. Its shih is palatable.
In his book The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference Malcolm Gladwell describes how elegant solutions operate. Gladwell depicts ideas or solutions that carry extraordinary influence or change, even though in themselves they are minor shifts. Elegant solutions act like epidemics in that with very little effort they have sweeping effects across a community. The Internet as a solution to our communication challenges is a good example of such a contagious idea. These solutions instantly capture our attention; they use the unseen connections or relationships of a community, and they appear at the right time. They are full of shih.
Taken From : The Way of Conflict—Elemental Wisdom for Resolving Disputes and Transcending Differences
