#001 — Doodle your Adventure
To strengthen the connection between our heart and our imagination and see what emerges for us.
To practice doodling as a means of subconscious expression.
Our own ‘art’ no matter how poorly rendered, has the ability to connect us with things our rational mind suppresses. The purpose of this exercise is to challenge ourselves to step off the rational path (just for a moment) and look through the mists at things hidden in the background.
We are going to ‘practice’ some doodling. Contrary to what you may have been told in the past, doodling can be a productive way of paying attention. At a minimum, it is a way of remaining engaged in situations where you might otherwise ‘zone out’ from the content. But it is also a way of engaging more of your brain in what is going on — as described in Sunni Brown’s TED talk. It can tap into aspects of the unconscious mind in the form of metaphor or creative expression.
Doodling while Listening
Print off an A4 copy of the doodle background (png | ppt | pdf) and hold a pen or pencil over it. Actively, but ‘mindlessly’, doodle on the sheet as you pay attention to Steve Jobs Stanford Address from 2005 (and to make notes on it if you wish) — deliberately keep the tip moving over the paper — moving on the whim of the moment. Complete this before reading on.
When the talk finishes, take a moment to deliberately believe that your unconscious has placed something meaningful in the shapes and metaphors you have created. And take a bit of time to look at the shapes, pictures, and play with the options of what that might be. Might anything in there reflect something of your attitude, purpose, dreams, value, hopes, fears?
Ask yourself the question: Is there something yearning in my subconscious that wants to speak into my plans through this emerging doodle, and if so, what might that be? And am I brave enough to step into some part of that? If the answer is, ‘I think I might want to’ please look at the blue track before your commit yourself to anything. And if it isn’t, that is fine, even expected. Commend yourself for taking a step off the track and accept that some steps won’t lead anywhere … yet. But some of them will. ;)
Doodling Practice
The connection between the subconscious and the conscious can easily be suppressed in all the responsibilities we place upon ourselves. It can take some time to redevelop the link to move beyond the most salient insights and really begin to listen to all that it has to say to us. Over the next week, repeat the green track using other inspirational talks for a few minutes each day. Try different times for each day.
Remember that the goal is the insight. There is no need to feel compelled to do anything that emerges — it is not about that. Trust yourself. You have two sides to your thinking for a reason. Adventure is a conscious choice. A considered step into uncertainty, not a blind foolish rush into danger. Again, trust yourself. Examine your motives, not to confront them, merely to gain insight from them. And then make your choice. You have plenty of time. If it is important, you will come back to it.
Engaging Your Team in Doodling
If you have followed the blue track and got something from it, consider using the green track with some or all of your team. It can be a personal exercise for them, or it can be a team exercise looking at something radically different for the team over the coming 12 months.
Then, have them stick their pictures up on a (virtual) whiteboard and add sticky notes for the potential challenges and team adventures they see there. Explain that the team does not need to feel it has to act on these, but that if anyone, after some reflection, feels moved to make a proposal to the team, we can talk about it at the next team meeting.
You may find the following TED Talks helpful to listen to as you develop your doodling practice
Nippun Mehta on open heartedness
Chris Bailey on focus
David Brooks on eulogy
Daniel Goleman on compassion
Shawn Achor on better work
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Useful links:
Introduction to Leading by Adventure | What we mean by spirituality? | Why Adventure
Adventures to date | I did it, but it didn’t work very well | How do I know if it is working
Bringing this thinking into your meetings | Adventure & Mental Health
Leading by Adventure community | Explore Strategic Support options
