One of the books for the 2016 Reading Challenge was to be in the 'self help' genre.
Synopsis: You can choose what you really want out of life and once that choice is made, you can create that reality. There are several steps to this process and there are set-backs; however, perseverance and awareness of the actual reality leads to success.
Review: This book was now at all what I expected. I was looking for information about how to better tap into the creative process rather than how to 'create' your life. Because of my background, the information was nothing I hadn't read before. Aside from this, it was verbose and rather pompous. The information could have been distilled into a 20 page pamphlet and been more impactful. If the reader is a complete novice in the area of cognitive awareness, then it may be helpful. ( )

I think it was inCite I was reading when I came across a quote from Robert Fritz - I'd never heard of him or the book before. It's actually quite a lot of years since I had any interest in "pop psychology" or other developmental books, so I was surprised when I found myself taking note. I had been thinking about how I wanted to proceed in terms of career and also diet. When I saw the quote, I realised that I wanted something to help me focus on, not solutions, but ways of thinking. It didn't really matter whether I agreed or not with the ideas being presented; I wanted to grapple with ideas and play with ways of looking forward, and a book is always a great way to achieve that for me. I figured that I might as well start with this book as any other, so I borrowed it from the library.

Okay, there are times when he waxes a bit evangelical (about his subject, not about religion) and there are other times when, in an attempt to add clarity, he belabours a point. But I like his thinking. It makes sense to me. His whole focus was perfect in forcing me to see my thinking as a particular mindset and to examine alternatives. I think I will definitely try "Your life as art" at some point (with a title like that, how could I not?!).

It is interesting that I am also currently listening to Helen Keller's autobiography. If ever there was an embodiment of the power of choice, then she is it. Her anecdotes make the perfect illustration of his ideas. I hope that I will really gain from having read this title and let my mind wonder. ( )

In De weg van de minste weerstand (ik las de 2007 heruitgave) beschrijft Robert Fritz de kunst van het creëren. Moeilijk of alleen voor een enkeling weggelegd in de kunsten, zoals schilderen, musiceren of beeldhouwen? Nee, zo betoogt Fritz, want in elk creatief proces is een aantal standaard stappen te onderkennen:

1. ontkieming en keuze
2. assimilatie (schepper en schepping worden verbonden; schepping groeit naar eindresultaat)
3. momentum
4. voltooiing
Belangrijke basis ligt in het maken van keuzes. Fritz maakt onderscheidt tussen fundamentele, primaire en secundaire keuzen. Door te beginnen met een concept, deze te concretiseren in een visie, de werkelijkheid onder ogen te zien en doelgericht je schepping te scheppen en te voltooien werk je creatief. Afleidingen, redeneringen en beschouwingen genoeg, maar die verstoren het creatieve proces. Fritz leunt op Peter Senge's systeemdenken om de gevolgen van keuzes aan te tonen en je te laten inzien, wat het verschil tussen structureel conflict en structurele spanning is, en waarom dus filosofieën als positief denken, self-affirmatie en new age 'newspeak' tot mislukken gedoemd zijn. Robert Fritz buurt regelmatig in de Bijbel, bij kerkvader Augustinus en dominee Martin Luther King. De verloren zoon, het scheppingsverhaal uit Genesis en het vinden van de rust in God dragen zijn goedkeuring weg, hoewel het blijkbaar moeite kost om fundamentele keuzes van mensen als 'ik wil Gods wil doen' of 'ik ben een werktuig in Gods hand' te erkennen, hoewel aan de andere kant juist gepromoot wordt een religieuze, levensbeschouwelijke of andere fundamentele houding te omarmen. De weg van de minste weerstand bevat veel waarheden, en als je door de promotie van de eigen cursussen en succesverhalen heen leest, blijft er erg veel leerzaams over. Zeer de moeite waard. ( )