Idealism vs Realism
Lindon's Keyboard - Idealism vs Realism
Quotes:
"Think of your future idealistically. Think of your past realistically"
-Lindon Crow
"Idealism increases in direct proportion to one's distance from the problem."
-John Galsworthy
"I'm an idealist: I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way."
-Carl Sanburg
Over the years I've been exposed to a multitude of homilies, theories, platitudes and attitudes on how to live life. It has come from classes I have taken, books I have read, advice from friends and family, church and T.V. shows. I have tried many of them, although admittedly some I followed without much enthusiasm. Some I found useful and some have left me confused and bewildered. In that time I have come to believe that there are no theories that can tell me how to live my life, only insights and observation that will provoke my own discovery.
I began to understand that the value in all theses opinions might not be in the literal guidance, but in how it stimulated me to seek new perspectives. There is some real experience that generated the idea and it is that experience and our interpretation that will enlighten us to some new perspective or approach.
As a teacher I have found myself passing on to others the condensed version of my discoveries. Included in these will be those of others that I have found useful. But, what I think is most important is to try to provide some kind of experience along with the idea so that each participant can find their own meaning. This, however, is not always feasible. There are times when learning commences with a new idea; the application and experience come later. This newsletter is an opportunity to pass on a few of our ideas along with information about upcoming activities and locations.
Rick and I often bounce back and forth between our visions of the future of Productive Learning & Leisure and the reality of filling our next month’s workshops. During one of these meetings I came to realize the balance I had been seeking on realism and optimism.
I had often wondered about the different attitudes about "positive thinking" and "be a realist." Each approach had strong arguments and I could clearly see the advantages and wisdom in both ways of thinking. I could also see where the two ideas resulted in conflict. Sometimes the conflict was between two people each seeing the same situation but not the same way. Other times the conflict was internal, creating dissonance within. Either way these two ideas showed the potential for clashing and yet I knew that there was something useful about both.
I knew that without a positive, idealistic view of the future I would lack the vision and inspiration to push forward and continue to grow. That my life would become stale and without passion.
On the other hand I knew that if I viewed everything through the eyes of an idealist, I would never be satisfied. In addition I would judge myself and judge others too harshly. I knew from experience that I would lie out a plan that couldn't be done because it lacked a connection with the facts as they were. My positive thinking approach prohibited an honest accounting of some critical factors.
Then I realized it was all in the timing. There were certain times for being idealistic and other times when a grounded, realistic approach served me better. It came to me where the distinction could be made while talking with Rick. I needed to be inspired about our future otherwise I would lack the drive to face the challenges that go with a fulfilling life. I also needed to feel confident about what I would be doing. This would come from building a strategy based on a realistic view of myself as well as a realistic view of the current conditions. Hence I came up with a saying that I could use to check my performance.
"When you think of yourself and your future, think idealistically.
When you evaluate your past, think realistically."
In the months that followed my adopting this point of view I found that the internal dissonance had disappeared. There was an increase in confidence as well as inspiration when having conversations about the business and our future. I no longer worried about being too idealistic or too realistic. Instead I found both have a place in any conversation. The idealism is an inspiring motivator for the future and the realism is a fair and honest review of the past. From there, plans could be made with the benefits of both.
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