Is improvisation at times the best bet?
DRAPING FOR THE RUNWAY WITH CHIFFON IN SPAIN
As the core nature of life is constant change, improvisation often turns out to be one of the most powerful tools to tackle the hustle of daily events. Instead of getting stuck on what's not the way we want it to be (as I frequently, stubbornly find myself trying), we learn to work with things as they are. Approaching plans with flexibility and knowing when to wing it becomes essential.
Improvisation is not about letting go of aspirations but about being attentive enough to catch opportunities as they arise, often leading to unexpected synergies if we see everything as a potential offer.
In this way, improvisation can take us to places we never envisioned. More excitingly, we evolve as we discover parts of ourselves we didn't even consider, as renowned psychologist and author Susan Jeffers reminds us in "Embracing Uncertainty":
“There is great adventure in the unknown that propels us to discover the powerful parts of ourselves that we didn’t know were there.”
We cannot predict our life's path, while we are the ones creating it moment by moment through our choices. The greatest challenge lies in enduring the paradox that we can only truly comprehend our decisions and experiences in retrospect, as Steve Jobs stated in his Stanford commencement speech:
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
This statement emphasizes the importance of having faith in the journey of life, suggesting that while you may not see how your experiences will come together in the future, they often make sense when you look back on them.
Bravely moving forward without knowing what lies ahead might be the best bet, while becoming comfortable with discomfort and consequences we may never fully understand. This is reflected in the words of Søren Kierkegaard, the 19th-century Danish philosopher:
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
Reflecting this outlook on a smaller scale, draping serves well as an example. It was a huge part of developing patterns when working on runway pieces as a designer. It’s about following the quality and flow of the fabric, letting yourself be led by the characteristics of the cloth, and seeing where the connection takes you.
I love that process as it feels like being tuned in with the limitless creative intelligence always available. You literally make up the pattern as you go along, not the other way around, as when following a flat pattern. There is beauty in something materializing beyond rationality, as expressed by influential record producer Rick Rubin in “The Creative Act, A Way of Being”:
“Part of the beauty of creation is that we can surprise ourselves, and make something greater than we´re capable of understanding at the time, if we ever can.”
Sticking with a pattern can keep us from connecting with unrevealed possibilities. In draping, as in life, improvisation can take us to unimaginable places if we let it.
In a world increasingly driven by data, algorithms, and predictive models, we often seek more security and proof of outcomes before taking action. This growing sense of control, fueled by technological advancements, can sometimes hinder our ability to embrace the unpredictable nature of creativity and life itself. However, it's crucial to remember that not everything can be quantified or predicted, especially when it comes to creative processes and personal growth.
Our tendency to seek patterns and explanations often blinds us to the role of randomness in life's outcomes. We don't like the idea of not having as much control as we seek, as Nobel Prize-winning economist Daniel Kahneman observes in "Thinking, Fast and Slow":
“We are far too willing to reject the belief that much of what we see in life is random”.
I recall working on a fashion show in Paris, where half of a beaded key showpiece gown got stuck in customs in Mumbai. The energy of potential exasperation was re-routed into making the present half into a high-waisted skirt with a matching bandeau top by witty, experienced seamstresses, knowing how to escape the storm of anger brewing on the fashion front. Worked experimentally into a solution, the outfit made the cover of a renowned magazine.
Amusingly, the headline was about the impromptu ensemble being the brainchild of an intensely thought-out mastermind concept. However, the mind often is not the ingredient it gets credited with being, as mirrored in the words of Rick Rubin:
“The intellect may help complete the work, and it may decipher what is driving our delight in hindsight, but the making of art depends on getting out of our heads.”
This experience highlights how improvisation can lead to unexpected success. Yet, despite such positive outcomes, we often resist improvising and instead cling to rigid plans.
Ultimately, we seem to make plans out of fear of the unknown, not wanting to be exposed to insecurity and vulnerability. Yet sticking to a formula can be a limitation, as we lose sight of limitless opportunities beyond a set idea.
Allowing solutions through improvisation can be a better fit than anything envisioned while taking us beyond our comfort zone. This is where expansion lies, as I was reminded when reading the words of Ocean Vuong, a leading voice in contemporary poetry exploring themes of uncertainty and discovery, in "Night Sky with Exit Wounds":
“Remember: The rules, like streets, can only take you to known places. Underneath the grid is a field - it was always there - where to be lost is never to be wrong, but simply more.”
As we open up to the powerful tool of improvisation, we don’t just open up to unimaginable gems; it also lowers the stress level of wanting to control life, which is never meant to be controlled.
There are countless benefits of improvisation:
Adaptability: Improvisation enhances our ability to adapt to unexpected situations, making us more resilient in the face of change.
Innovation: It fosters creative thinking by encouraging us to find innovative solutions to problems.
Confidence: Successfully navigating unplanned situations builds self-confidence and trust in our abilities.
Stress Reduction: By embracing uncertainty, we can reduce anxiety about the unknown and learn to flow with life's unpredictability.
Enhanced Problem-Solving: Improvisation sharpens our ability to think on our feet and find quick, effective solutions.
Personal Growth: Improvisation can lead us to discover unknown parts of ourselves, fostering personal growth and self-discovery.
Improved Interpersonal Skills: In social situations, improvisation can help us become better listeners and more spontaneous communicators.
Have you asked yourself:
How can I embrace the art of going with the flow in my daily life?
When I look back, how many of my best moments came from carefully laid plans versus unexpected turns?
What's holding me back from trusting my ability to handle the unexpected?
How might my life change if I viewed unexpected challenges as opportunities for creative problem-solving?