One Apple A Day #264
“Empty your cup” is an old Zen saying often used when talking about teaching. If you want to learn something, you must empty yourself to create space for the new things you want to learn.
It is a valid suggestion also when you want to innovate. Innovation is about changing something that exists into something new. That change, that newness must be sourced from the unknown. But how can we gather inspiration from the unknown when our space is filled by what we know?
To innovate, you must be open to the unknown so you will be able to capture the unexpected. To do so, you need to practice presence.
Being fully present in the innovation journey is vital to give us the awareness and the openness to see new opportunities and connections.
Two things can affect your presence; the past and the future.
The past is what you know, the assumptions and beliefs you carry with you. Our mind is so cluttered with the stuff we collected that without realising, our vision is narrowed by our beliefs and assumptions so everything we see can fit into what we know.
The future is your innovation goal. It is easy to get so focused on the goal that you forget to look around. Your mind will see only the target and the straight-line taking to it. It may be an efficient way to move forward, but it will close your mind to contaminations and opportunities. Being present means to be detached from the goal and shift the focus on you, here and now.
Mindfulness, space and silence can help you in practice presence and detach from both your past and your future. When you are fully present all your energies are channelled in your actions, maximising your innovation potential.