Week 2 Reading - The Art of Possibility

As I began reading this book, my first thought was that this was just some abstract way of perceiving the world that you like better - if you don't like what's happening, just think of it another way and all will be better. But then, as I continued to read, I found expressed so well a philosophy I've already begun to implement in my life. All too often I find myself approaching life as though my resources are scarce, when in actuality if I use them well I have abundantly more than I need.
Then reading, Giving an A, I was at first reminded of the eternal stories (books and movies) of teachers who enter a challenging classroom of students whom everyone else has given up on (eg. My Posse Don't Do Homework) with the attitude that the students can and will learn and they achieve more than anyone else could have hoped for. As I read, it's more than just giving students an A with the expectation that they will do the work to maintain it but approaching every interaction with the idea that the other person (and yourself) has something of value to contribute to your relationship. It's taking the focus off the measuring stick and moving it to the relationship and growth.

Sky on Fire by Robert Couse-Baker

By focusing on what is working and valuable rather than what isn't, each person can change a small part of the world to unknown extents.