Gary

I had a thought and not sure where to put it so I hope you and my creative community don’t mind but I thought the title of the article goes in line with my thought.

The message around the creative community is to be child-like. I agree. Kids dream, believe and are simple. As adults, we stop believing, we complicate things, we stop dreaming and we stop seeing.

One thing that stands out in regards to kids –

They know they are not in control and just free to be.

Just a thought -
Marcy

I’m not talking about controlling thoughts, neither was the Buddha. It’s more like observing and understanding them, so that you don’t get caught up in them.

I agree with you about the state of being, but I think studying it is more of a direct experience than something you could do as a research ‘study’.

I also agree with the chicken metaphor. It made me think of the saying, “running around with your head cut off like a chicken.”

It takes a lot of discipline to control our thoughts. I found success in controlling what information I receive before it takes root in my thoughts via what I read or hear on TV or from others.

The difficulty comes when information is coming faster than one is able to process.

I am not a psychotherapist, but I would call controlling the chicken metaphor a state of mind. Correct?

I also believe there is a state of being, which goes deeper than a state of mind. Is there study on the state of being?

@ James – Well the Buddha agrees with you. He said the elephant needs training, otherwise it will run amok. And the horse wasn’t doing too well on its own before Erickson got in the saddle.

Continuing the animal metaphor theme, the Buddhist teacher Ajahn Chah said the mind was like a chicken – leave it to its own devices and it will wander off into the forest. If you want to understand the chicken you need to put it in a cage (i.e. disciplined meditation practice) so you can study it.

Good post, Mark.

I think the only problem is that many people see this analogy as “go where your mind takes you”, but as any good rider knows, you still have to have some control over the horse you’re riding.

They know where they’re going, and they’ll take you home, but you have to work in tandem as a complete whole and not rider letting the steed wander at will to some miracle surprise.

I will certainly say that when you do work as a team, you have fantastic journeys. As one, without fighting each other for control.

And isn’t that the point?

Metaphor fascinates me from a psychological point of view. My expertise is a little more focused on the NLP side, but I spent a few weeks hanging out with Steve Gilligan earlier this year. Erickson left a remarkable legacy via that man.

Keep an eye on the site – the grand unveiling happens after the weekend

“And easy.” – Well, I’ll grant you “easier”.

Intriguing holding page you have there… and great design!

Supercool post – the use of metaphor is fittingly Ericksonian too

In my work, I always encourage clients to cultivate as much of a relationship with their unconscious as possible. It’s good for decision making and good for business.

People struggle to “go with the flow” because their baggage (emotional) comes between them and their unconscious mind’s attempts to lead their way.

In my opinion it’s the clearing up of that baggage that makes what you’re suggesting possible… And easy.