Three More Reflections on Structure

March 7, 2011

This post is the sixth part in a series about deliberate practice, structure and creativity.

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In the previous post, I wrote three reflections on this idea of structure, and how it relates to all activities in which we partake.

Here are three more:

4) Structures Within Structures

I’ve written previously that representing structure as part of a point A-point B, left right, linear process isn’t totally appropriate. Structure is more holistic and always interacting on micro and macro levels.

These relationships are very complex. For example, walking to the grocery store first requires the ability to walk, one foot in front of the other. How fast should you walk? Do you have good walking technique? Walking is itself a complex activity made possible though intricate biological processes.

(Can’t see the video? Click here)

Furthermore, on your way to the grocery store, you’ll probably want to wear clothes. While you’re thinking about ways to travel to the grocery store, you can also think about all the different combinations of clothes you can wear. Plus, how many different ways are there to put on a sock?

Suppose you’re on your way to the grocery store. What if you bump into a friend? How would that change things?

And why are you going to the grocery store? Maybe you’re hosting a dinner party. You’ll need structure for cleaning, decorating, cooking, entertaining, conversing, connecting and waving good-bye to name a few.

Why are you hosting a dinner party?

I’ll stop there; you get the idea! The point is to appreciate the sheer number of structures we are engaged in. Also, because of this complexity, it is difficult to fully specify the nature of these structures. Structure is symbolized as a solid line in my diagrams; maybe it would be more properly represented as a dotted line.

5) Taking Structures for Granted

My dog (named Jazz), has a keen sense for some structures we take for granted. Jazz loves car rides; he gets very excited about the prospect of getting in a car. So when somebody’s leaving, Jazz is right there, hoping he can tag along.

It’s funny though; Jazz knows when I’m leaving before I’m consciously aware that I’m “getting ready.” There’s something about my pace, speech patterns and movements through the house that he picks up on and gets excited about.

We can’t help it: We take many structures for granted and are completely ignorant of others. We’re totally oblivious of the millions of neurons firing in our brain at any given moment. We don’t usually think about blinking, or breathing or scratching an itch.

We’re born into structure; our bodies have inherent limits. You might consider life and death the ultimate structure.

Another structure we often take for granted is language.

In some ways, language is impenetrable; we’ll never escape how it shapes our thoughts and minds. But in other ways, structure in language is shady and permeable. When you listed all the ways you can travel to the grocery store, you may not have thought of:

With a friend
Using the longest route possible
Wearing shorts
On the way to the library
Vigorously

There is weakness in the words “ways” and “travel.” One can be liberal with their interpretations. Or in other words, they enable one to mold a structure as they please. This paradox of language is at the heart of this Buddist koan (from a post I wrote last month).

6) Modifying Structure

This is slightly different from expanding structure, which I wrote about in the previous post.

Rather, modifying structure is meant to mange creative freedom. One reason to manage creative freedom is to optimize deliberate practice, which I already wrote about in the first three posts.

Another reason is to optimize purpose, whatever that may be. To optimize purpose, one must first have good knowledge about available and unavailable options. Then, he/she makes available options unavailable, and vise versa. Here’s an example:

You’re going to the grocery store and you’re in a rush. This eliminates walking, crawling and baby steps from your available options. In weighing your options, suppose you decide to focus on running. There’s still much creative work to be done!

What route will you take? How fast will you run? What shoes will you wear? How will you get home with all the groceries? Are you in shape? If you truly want to optimize purpose, you may consider a fitness regimen to train your body appropriately.

Or maybe it should look like this:

This relationship between available and unavailable, positive and negative is very important. Remember this graph?

When you reach the top of the red line, you’ve optimized purpose and creative freedom. Another way to understand this point is through the relationship between positive and negative options. The top of the red line signifies an optimized balance between the two.

Though I’ve mentioned the difficulty in specifying nature of structure, one can’t help but wonder if there’s a consistent ratio between positive and negative in all things beautiful.

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Three More Reflections on Structure

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