Having a Mild Case of "Creative Tension"

Having a Mild Case of "Creative Tension"
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

Peter M. Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline says:
"The juxtaposition of vision (what we want) and a clear picture of current reality (where we are relative to what we want) generates what we call "creative tension": a force to bring them together, caused by the natural tendency of tension to seek resolution. The essence of personal mastery is learning how to generate and sustain creative tension in our lives."
Clearly 'creative tension' is a general name given to the process of growth through overcoming resistance. Senge, refers to this attribute in suggesting habits necessary for sustaining growth in business through self development. This creative tension is constantly sought by those who realize that only through challenge can true growth and fulfillment be achieved.
Though creative tension at times finds us; it is a proactive seeking of creative tension that truly makes a consistent difference in personal growth and goal advancement. Some of us harbor a fantasy that elimination of "tension" is the cure-all for life's ills. This is not only erroneous but is pathological. Alfred Adler, the world-renowned psychoanalyst of the twentieth century explained it in terms of the "neuroticism" found in the "luxurious" class that lived in a world with little resistance or "tensions" in there lives.
Nietzsche went even further to proclaim that the most vital of human yearnings was the "overcoming of resistance" and thus humans harbored a "will to power." The value of resistance in our lives is multidimensional and goes beyond mere "resistance" workouts for physical health. So we can conclude that indulging in creative tension dissolves boundaries - yielding an enhanced sense of well-being - enjoyment.

-Angel Armendariz

Competent or Constricted?

"When people get very good at doing things a certain way, they become surprisingly inept at learning new skills when changing conditions demand it. Numerous studies have demonstrated that novices have an easier time mastering new tasks than experts." - David H. Freedman, "The Cost of Competence" INC Mag., Sept. 07

Here we go with change again. It seems to be true when we do something well or "think" we do something well we start to treasure that methodology as if it were a material priceless possession. When we think we do something well most of us aren't very open to listening to new information regarding that topic. As such we become consciously ignorant and slowly become indoctrinated has beens.

Truly effective individuals maintain an infant like curiousity, especially in that which they consider themselves most skilled; for the value of any small distinction in our areas of expertise are incredibly valuable. Having a curious mindstate opens up our awareness to the plethora of information available to become more effective.

Remember that a closed system quickly sinks into an inert energyless impotent ash. Because our manners of speaking frequently consist of affirming things as absolute. We should focus on speaking in terms of what "seems" to be, or what is known of at the current moment. Speaking in a form that acknowledges continual change, and missing information allows us to be conscious of further advancement to be sought.

General Semantics, as founded by Alfred Korzybski, sought to bring to awareness the dangers of our habitual speech patterns. In a nutshell he indicated that our words are intricately connected with us at the most intimate cellular level. Thus speaking in terms of absolutes, especially absolute limits, constricts the growth development of our physiological organism.

Because changing conditions are inevitable; I figure that maintaining an active mental flexibility, and not being so attached to methods or doctrines; will increase our enjoyment of every turn in the road. This will naturally increase the probabilities of outcomes in our favor.

Angel Armendariz