Throughout history, philosophers have asserted that “the fundamental nature of the world is aesthetic.” Thinkers like Alfred North Whitehead, Gregory Bateson, James Hillman, Martin Foss, and Donald Winnicott all emphasized the profound connection between aesthetics and how we perceive the world. Interestingly, the word aesthetics comes from the Greek aisthanesthai, meaning “the ability to perceive.”…
When I began teaching professionally, I faced a dilemma: Should I present information conventionally and try to embody the role of “The Expert,” or should I honor my own unique creative process and teach from a place of authenticity? I initially attempted the first approach, but it didn’t fit me at all. I’ve never been…
In late December 2006, during a meeting with the president of a small university, I was asked what course I wanted to teach in their Ph.D. Psychology program. While I had curricula prepared, I surprised myself by blurting out, “Metaphor.” The response felt immediate, bypassing thought entirely, as if something spoke through me. I wasn’t…
Last week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed about Getting Messy on Jefferson Public Radio in Southern Oregon. Here’s the link to the interview: The listeners who called in shared fascinating insights about teaching, learning, and group dynamics. One caller, in particular, made a compelling observation about the “magic” of odd numbers in group…
An excerpt from my book Getting Messy: A guide to taking risks and opening the imagination for teachers, trainers, coaches, and mentor In the 1920s, Lincoln Steffans was a history student at the University of California Berkeley. As a freshman, he became engrossed in history and read everything he could find on the subject. It…
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