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The Opposable Mind: What is it?


 The opposable mind is the ability to hold two opposing ideas and create a new one.  

It is the people who, "have the predisposition and the capacity to hold two diametrically opposing ideas in their heads.  And then, without panicking or simply settling for one alternative or the other, they're able to produce a synthesis that is superior to either opposing idea."  (Martin)

Kind of like...our thumbs.  Check yours out!  Have you ever considered what an amazing thing a thumb is?  Throughout your day today, be thoughtfully aware of all of the ways our thumb helps us create and produce.  I have to admit, I had not paid much attention to Mr. Thumb-man, other then when I've hit it with a hammer!

According to Roger Martin, human beings are distinguished from nearly every other creature by a physical feature known as the opposable thumb.  "Thanks to the tension we can create by opposing the thumb and fingers, we can do marvelous things that no other creature can do..." (Martin)

Just today, I've used it to unlock my door, run my blinkers, drink my coffee, write, type, plant some garden seeds and shape the spray of water out of the hose and hold my book.  

The idea of opposable mind and integrative thinking is not new.  F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "The test of a first-rate intelligence is he ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.  One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise."

However, it might be new to some and validation for others.   The factory and industrial age have passed us by and it is time to embrace in all areas of discipline, a different way to think through situations and integrate different models.

We do not live in an either-or world.  Integrative thinking is that bridge that brings opposing thoughts, ideas and models together.  

It's not quick and easy, nor is it the shallow-skim-the-surface kind of thinking.  It isn't easy.  

And...it forces us to really connect, listen and work WITH others.  These others might not be in our field, our church, our culture, our family or our friend.

The excuses of yesterday's "this is not my role" or "scope" or "mission," have to be set aside and responsibility picked up.  Questions cannot illicit defensiveness nor power and control used as armor.

Our world needs authentic, honest, direct leaders to decide that it is their problem.  If it is recognized and seen as a problem...then it should be our problem.

I'm not encouraging enabling, enmeshment or other unhealthy behaviors. 

 I am saying...

"enough is enough" and "either-or" in any of our fields is just not working.







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