Boundless Creativity by Janice Fletcher from Montessori leadership November 2015 by The Montessori Foundation

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 3 | 2015

O P T I M A L W I S D O M L E A R N I N G (OW L )

JA N I C E F L E TC H E R .CO M

by Dr. Janice Fletcher

verett sits in the back of the

a preparation of the spirit.”1 As leaders

experience of receiving wisdom. The

classroom, frustrated and worn

and teachers of Montessori students, we

process is the same for all. When we

out from his effort to find the

have committed to the calling of allowing

receive wisdom, insights, and answers,

last piece of the puzzle for the Lego™

creativity to spring forth in our schools. It

it is a learning moment. Currently our

bridge he is building. Giving up, the

is a deep calling and a profound responsi-

learning moments arrive unexpectedly,

four-year-old leaves the Lego™ area and walks over to the music center to listen to his favorite song. Two minutes later he runs back to the Legos™, smiling confidently as he rapidly picks up a piece, places it in the exact place needed to complete the bridge and announces to the classroom, “I built a bridge!”

occasionally and randomly.

When we receive wisdom, insights, and answers, it is a learning moment. Currently our learning moments arrive unexpectedly, occasionally and randomly.

Isn’t it fun when the answers pop into our

This important moment is the purpose of education. In our schools, this moment of boundless creativity is the cornerstone of our mission. Allowing the students to engage, discover and behold! Yes, creativity is boundless because it comes from Spirit. The process opens us to

mind effortlessly, when a new solution

bility as well as an incredible gift. As we

hear Spirit and be guided. All answers,

presents itself without a struggle or we

learn how to access our own creativity,

all problem solving and new possibilities

discover a unique, innovative perspec-

we will intuitively, organically do the

are available if we are receptive.

tive that shifts our focus for the answer?

same for our students and schools.

That fun is the experience of boundless

Prioritizing right-brain thinking, high-

creativity. Whether we are a student in

CREATIVITY

er-level thinking skills, and boundless

a classroom, working in our career, or

Creativity is channeled wisdom. How to

creativity over rote memory test scores

solving the problems of our daily life, we

access or channel this wisdom is the key

may be considered futuristic when re-

all want, need, and benefit from bound-

to opening ourselves and our students up

viewing the current state of education

less creativity. Creativity and wisdom

to it. The ‘how’ is happening all the time

in the general population. However,

is infinite, and we are able to access it

to each one of us. We are unconscious or

author Daniel Pink wrote an entire

consistently, knowing wisdom, answers,

unaware of the process. Wisdom is truth;

book, entitled The Whole Mind: Why

and insights will come forth.

therefore, the process is very simple and

Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. He

natural. Truth is always simple.

writes, “The future belongs to a very

Maria Montessori explained, “The real

THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

different kind of person with a very

preparation for education is the study of

You can choose your perspective, or

different kind of mind: creators and

one’s self. The training of the teacher is

proof, as neuroscientists, psychologists

empathizers; pattern recognizers; and

something more than learning ideas. It

and philosophers have researched, written

meaning makers.”2

includes the training of character; it is

about, and documented the extraordinary

The future is here. The time is now.

The giving up, letting go of the struggle

intuitive (right) mind is a sacred gift and

Learning how to unleash boundless

to figure out the answer or solve the

rational (left) mind is a faithful servant.”5

creativity is the greatest investment we

problem lead us to the second step; sur-

Grabbing the wisdom, creative answer,

have for our schools to prepare students

render. Biologically, our left brain shuts

solution, we can act on it: the fifth step.

for a successful future. Knowledge is

down. Our frantic search and anxiety

Our creativity is increased. We are now

currently being held at the whim of a

quiets and calms allowing the right brain

able to identify the Lego™ piece we

Google™ search. We no longer need

to ‘speak.’ The right side of our brains

need in our world. Whether it is a solu-

knowledge; we need creativity. The

problem-solves with hunches, looking

tion for world peace or which brand of

total development of the being includes

for creative patterns and configurations.

soup to buy, wisdom provides all the an-

knowing thyself, as Socrates stated.3

It functions in big-picture thoughts, vi-

swers, creating an easier, more confident

We know ourselves by listening within

suals, or images rather than words.

way of living.

The third step naturally follows as our

Finally, after watching the first five

mind stills. In order for the right brain

steps in the process unfold, we can test

Maria Montessori was, once again,

to function, the left brain must be stilled

the process and the creative answers.

futuristic in her philosophical state-

or quiet. This is the access point for

Knowing the process and practicing

ments about education: “If education is

wisdom to enter. It is important for us

it allows boundless creativity to come

always to be conceived along the same

to self-reflect, identifying how and when

forth! Have fun with the creativity

antiquated lines of a mere transmis-

we receive our insights. It will always

that you receive in your next learning

sion of knowledge, there is little to be

be in an alpha state of mind; the state

moment. Pause and note the steps. By

hoped from it in the bettering of man’s

of relaxation and peaceful wakefulness.

consciously doing this you shift it from

future. For what is the use of transmit-

Perhaps we are taking a shower, going

an Aha! Moment to an OWL Moment

ting knowledge if the individual’s total

for a walk, going to sleep, or waking up.

(Optimal Wisdom Learning) just like

and allowing receptivity for creative thoughts, ideas, and insights.

development lags behind?”

Everett did with his LegoTM solution.

Wisdom pops into our alpha state of mind THE ‘HOW’ OF BOUNDLESS

and we suddenly have the creative answer.

REFERENCES 1. Montessori, M. (August 19, 2014) http://

CREATIVITY

We experience a simple six-step process

The fourth step is very easy but often

www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mari-

during a learning moment, a creative

overlooked: to listen. We are all guilty of

amonte138609.html#JFg2Ovydehpr2JYj.99,

insight, or wisdom.

not listening when we lament, “I knew

2. Pink, D. (2005) The Whole Mind: Why

I shouldn’t have done that, said that,

Right-Brainers will Rule the Future.

First, we must desire some information,

eaten that….” We increase the access to

Riverhead Books, Penguin Group: New

an answer or a solution. We seek the

wisdom by conscious awareness of these

York, New York, p. introduction

answer within our mind, more specifi-

steps. A unique aspect of wisdom is when

3. Socrates, (August 3, 2014) http://

cally in our left brain that problem-solves

it enters and we exclaim, “I know!” I got

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_thyself

by logically and sequentially looking

it!” or “Now I remember!’’ We know

4. Montessori, M. (April 13, 2012) http://www.

at the parts of things. At some point,

without doubt the answer is correct.

brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mari-

frustrated, we give up searching, usually,

Wisdom is truth, thus extremely valu-

amonte138609.html#JFg2Ovydehpr2JYj.99

with an I don’t know.

able. Not listening is equal to throwing

5. Einstein, A. (August 20, 2014) http://quote-

away a precious gift. Einstein said, “The

investigator.com/2013/09/18/intuitive-mind

More about this topic can be read from author, Dr. Janice Fletcher, in her book, Wisdom from the Inner Teacher: Turning Ah’!s into OWL Moments or www.janicefletcher.com. She speaks and trains on this topic and others. She is currently writing Teach with Spirit: The Teacher’s Inward Personal Journey Preparation Guide.