We cannot develop creative solutions to complex human problems unless we can see, hear, open up to, and include the humanity of all the stakeholders and of ourselves. Creativity requires all of our selves: our thoughts, feelings, personalities, histories, desires and spirits. It is not sufficient to listen rationally to inert facts and ideas; we also have to listen to people in a way that encourages them to realise their own potential and the potential in their situation. This kind of listening is not sympathy, participating in someone’s feelings from alongside them. It is empathy, participating from within them. This is the kind of listening that enables us to not only consider alternative existing ideas but to generate new ones.
A. Kahane (via goldillocks)
