Dec 15 2009
A different kind of prompt
Sometimes the best way to work through something is to have a conversation.
Not the lightweight kind that’s all about weather and idleness. I’m talking about the heavyweight kind that starts out with a interesting question, forcing a dive to the depths of one’s mind/heart/being, and comes up with something bright and unexpected and, in a way, profound.
No introductions, no status reports. Just a simple, interesting question.
When I have something I need to work out, one of my favorite things to do is Google searches. Because, to my mind, if I’m thinking about it, chances are someone’s already thought about it and is talking about it right now. All I have to do is find it, right?
My second favorite thing to do is Amazon searches. Because, to my mind, if I’m thinking about it, chances are someone’s already written a book about it and Amazon is selling it right now. All I have to do is find it and buy it, right?
As a result of doing these things, I’ve become very familiar with what’s out there in terms of “random prompts as pathways to profundity,” and I’ve come to the conclusion that either I suck at searches or what I want doesn’t exist.
What I want: I want a book of questions that make me think. I want an oracle of a sort. Something that will spur me to follow threads I can’t create for myself just yet. Something that will ask me that simple interesting question so I can dive in deeply and come back up with something I wouldn’t have found otherwise.
Perhaps I expect too much. As I think about this, it sounds like what I want is a “coach in a box.” Doesn’t seem practical or even very useful since it can’t be customized. But still, there should be things out there that can trigger positive reflection in everyone, right? Things that are just triggers, that allow you to stop right where you are and do the work, without any pressure to turn the page, finish the chapter, or get to the ending.
Are there?
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