Stillness & The Space Between
Since I founded The Space Between Center for Creative Spirit in Business earlier this month, I’ve received a lot of questions asking about the thought behind the name. There’s a lot of thought behind the name, that’s for sure. I started working on the concept way back in early 2008. Much of the following essay was drafted back then (time flies) and was shared with a few friends. I pulled it up and made a few additions and corrections this evening.
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Stillness is putting a muzzle on that monkey chattering in your mind long enough to hear the great ideas that come from somewhere else. We can call that somewhere else “God.” We can call it “the Universe.” For the sake of argument, I’ll call it “the Source.” Telling the voice in your head to shut up is one thing. Making it shut up or ignoring it until it shuts up out of frustration requires practice. That practice is the basis of meditation. Another way to think of this is what I call “The Space Between.”
There is an infinity in the space between breaths.
There is an infinity in the space between thoughts.
The wonderful ideas coming from that space are limitless. Picture a ruler or a number line from your days in grade school. On that ruler or number line, “1” is followed next by “2” then “3” and so on in both directions into infinity. Later, you learn about fractions like ¼, 1/3, ½, 2/3, ¾ and so on. Think about that. When you understand that the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and on are simply labels for concepts, and the same is true for each labeled fraction, then you understand that there is an infinity in the space between each number or fraction. More importantly, there is an infinity between each label we choose to put on numbers.
The infinity in the space between doesn’t apply just to numbers; it applies to anything you can label. Logically then, the space between is infinitely more abundant than anything we have or can label. This is why examining two words, phrases, or concepts that generally do not work together is such a great creative tool – examining the space between things that we don’t even associate with one another creates something I like to think of as a “bigger infinity” in the space between. You could also think of it as a “richer” infinity for great ideas, because like a riverbed that has never been explored, a virgin piece of farmland, or an isolated lake in Canada, it’s resources have not been mined by other folks for their own purposes.
When you understand the concept of “The Space Between” then you will never again think there is a scarcity of ideas, time, money or anything our minds can conceive. If there is an infinity around everything, how can there be a limitation of anything?
If you’re stumped, you just haven’t mined enough of the infinite number of spaces between thoughts, words, actions, feelings, senses, or labels.
In the quiet infinities between thoughts we find inspired ideas.
The space between is not empty. In the space between, the first occupants one generally encounters are the archetypes programmed into every human from the beginning of time. Those archetypes are described in different ways. Joseph Campbell talked of them in his famous works including The Hero’s Journey and The Power of Myth. The Hero’s Journey inspired George Lucas’s storyline for Star Wars. The hero’s journey is the outline of the human spiritual journey toward enlightenment and is found in practically every culture in our world, across time and space, in a virtually identical pattern. The hero hears a call to adventure, denies that call, experiences an event that requires him to engage in the journey anyway, finds a mentor, faces the challenge, gains possession of the goal of the journey, then fights his way back home where his knowledge and experience are eventually embraced for the benefit of the group. The trump cards of a tarot deck (called “major arcana”) also depict the hero’s journey through the archetypes of human existence in the space between where we were before we were born and the place to which we are all eventually bound.
Some people find the quiet in the space between to be a wonderful place to “receive” guidance. Many successful songwriters, novelists, journalists, visual artists, and speakers describe this experience as something close to “channeling” the message or other content from a larger collective creative source. To tap in, they just had to get their egos out of the way and listen to receive the creative flow. This type of receiving takes many names, from “inspiration,” which is how the church attributes divine authorship to the books of the Bible, to the “Spirit Guides” of tribal cultures, to the “Holy Guardian Angel” of new age spirituality, and the angelic visitations as described in the Old and New Testament and Islam. Many people all over the world claim these angelic visitations happen every day, and we can’t disprove those claims.
We’ve all had incredibly realistic dreams that seemed to be giving us messages. We’ve all had wonderfully creative ideas “come to us” as we are in the space between waking up and sleeping either at night or in the morning. We’ve all had moments of déjà vu. These are all experiences of finding the stillness in the space between thoughts. It doesn’t matter what label you place on the experience, or to what source you attribute the inspiration. The one thing that matters in the creative process is that you allow yourself to step out of controlling the process and allow yourself to surrender to receiving the inspirations that originate in the spaces between.
This concept is not just a Western thought. Verse 11 of the Tao Te Ching states:
We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it’s the center hole
that makes the wagon move.
We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.
We hammer wood for a house,
but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.
We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.
The space between is not only infinite, it’s useful.
These are the core reasons I founded The Space Between Center for Creative Spirit in Business. We all have ideas. We can reach our potential through creative business. To connect those two potentials, one must pass through The Space Between.
But, for those of you who want an easier and more modern answer, take a listen to The Space Between by The Dave Matthews Band. Here are some of the lyrics:
The Space Between
The tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more…
The Space Between
Where you’re smiling high
Is where you’ll find me if I get to go…
Take my hand
‘Cause we’re walking out of here
Oh, right out of here
Love is all we need here…
Nice. Think about it. Take my hand…
Best Seminar I’ve taken in 29 Years.
A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of doing a Continuing Legal Education workshop based on my Fuel the Spark: 5 Guiding Values for Success in Law and Life book. (do you have your copy yet?…)
One of the evaluations had the following quote:
Best Seminar I’ve taken in 29 Years.
That makes me feel good. If you would like to have me give this presentation to your group, or at your law school just email me.
Creativity—You’re Full of It!
The American Bar Association asked me to write the introductory article for the November Issue of The Young Lawyer (one of their many magazines for attorneys). The issue is dedicated to the theme of Creativity. It’s on the streets now, so I can finally share the essay. Enjoy.
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Creativity—You’re Full of It!
By Kevin E. Houchin
You’re full of it! You really are. There’s no way that I’m the first person to tell you. You can’t deny it. You’re full of it up to your eyebrows.
Full of creativity. You were born with it. You are made of wonderful, delicious, colorful, smelly, heaping globs of creativity!
As a child, your humanity burned with the divine spirit of creativity. You imagined games. You imagined friends. And, you even created vivid experiences that existed only in your mind but existed nonetheless.
Then, you went to school.
You learned to live by other peoples’ rules and their ideas of how and what you “should” be. Walls grew that blocked your view of those wonderful places in your imagination. Those walls grew until finally the creativity of your heart, spirit, and right brain were all but abandoned in favor of subjects that could be objectively tested with multiple-choice exams and computer-graded bubble sheets.
Then, you went to law school.
Your walls were adorned with thorns and you were not even allowed to have ideas of your own. Any creativity you were allowed to display was carefully disguised as nuanced synthesis of precedent (other people’s ideas—the older and less original the better).
It felt like you had suddenly become unworthy of being the source of an idea or thought. You felt like a slave to a footnote or maybe like a footnote yourself.
But, you’re not in law school anymore. Now, you’re the only “source” that really matters. Your senior partner may determine your job status and salary, but you get to decide how much credibility to give those things.
If you’re feeling trapped in a job that doesn’t allow you to express your creativity, you have the power to change that. You don’t have to leave your job to feel more fulfilled. Rather, start chopping through the thorns and breaking down the walls that decades of education have placed around your creative spirit. Trust me, you can do this and still be an effective lawyer. It may even be the secret prerequisite to a happy and satisfied life in the law.
There’s no simple seven-step process to recovering your creative spirit. The journey is different for each of us. A simple start is to look for creative opportunities that already surround you. You happen to be holding one of them in your hand. This issue of The Young Lawyer is dedicated to helping lawyers recognize opportunities for expressing creativity in their lives and work. Use it to jumpstart ideas for creative outlets that you would enjoy. Paint, play music, sail, climb, write, spend time with family, do community service, sing—do something other than work.
It’s time to start living a more creative life. Read these articles. Fuel your spark of creativity, and then share your flame. You’re full of it!
Notes that make your day…
I received this note as feedback from the article I wrote to introduce the November issue of the ABA Young Lawyer Magazine which is dedicated to Creativity. The article is titled “You’re Full of It!” As soon as the ABA puts the issue online, I’ll post the article. Until then, they have exclusive first publication rights. 
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Mr. Houchin:
I just wanted to thank you for writing such a necessary article in the YLD Newsletter. What you wrote resonated with me on a host of levels, and it arrived in my office at EXACTLY the moment I needed to hear someone outside of my own mind remind me of all the creativity that I have been trying to find time to cultivate and enjoy. The practice of law can feel all consuming. Conflict is a daily part of the practice. Nonetheless, the antidote is exactly the cultivation of the creative.
Just a note to say, your words were very necessary and came at exactly that right moment.
Thank you,
Tanisha M. Bailey-Roka, Esq.
Thanks Tanisha.
Sweet Note
So many years ago, when I told my dad I wanted to be a lawyer, he said there were too many lawyers in the world and not enough good ones. Kevin, I think you’re one of the good ones. There should be more lawyers like you. And I hope to be one of them after I graduate.
-Gina Murillo
Law Student – Chicago, IL
Blog Talk Radio with Ann Levine
I’ll be talking about success in law school and beyond with Law School Expert Ann Levine today at 11:00am Mountain. The show will be on Blog Talk Radio. Here’s more information about the program.
One of the cool things about this is that Ann and I just reconnected due to our respective books for prospective law students and via Twitter and Facebook. However, we had worked together about a decade ago when she was at DU Law and I was at Stamats Communications. I was the account exectuve that lead the production of the DU Law admissions marketing materials and she worked in the student services office there and coordinated the photoshoots and student interviews for the project. She had a different last name then, and it feels like a lifetime ago to me, but it’s VERY nice to reconnect and proves the point that it’s always smart to be nice to people who come in and out of your life, because they’ll be back.
e2we Business Conference
Here’s the info on the first e2we Business Conference coming up on April 14th
HILTON GARDEN INN
2821 Harmony Road, Ft. Collins 80528
970-225-2900
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(Registration 8:30 a.m.)
LAURIE MACOMBER: Web 2.0
Every person of influence that uses internet technology should have a basic understanding of the tools and concepts of Web 2.0 in order to grow and maintain their web of influence. Web 2.0 is the term given to describe a second generation of internet use that focuses on collaboration, open sharing of information, and the use of online communities. Laurie has been involved in web marketing since its inception in the corporate environment. She owns Blue Skies Marketing (www.blueskiesmktg.com) in Fort Collins and she will teach on how to use and benefit from Web 2.0.
RON ZASADZINSKI: Why Design Matter and How to Choose a Web Developer
In addition to “Why Design Matters”, Ron will discuss the benefits and fundamentals of good design, as well as some advanced web design principles. He will review specific things to look for when choosing a web designer or developer. You will come away with an increased ability and confidence to evaluate and improve the design of your own web site. Ron is the owner of CodeGeek.net (www.codegeek.net) a full service web development company.
VIVEKA VON ROSEN: Social Media and Your Business
If you are a business leader, you can’t afford to dismiss social media any longer. Your customers are using LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogs, podcasts and other social media tools to talk about your products and services. Ignoring these virtual conversations will not only result in being left behind, but you might be left clueless as towhat’s being said about you. More importantly, there may be ways to monetize what is being said. Viveka von Rosen is CSMO of Integrated Alliances (www.integratedalliances.com) & CEO of Linked Into Business (www.linkedintobusiness.com)
KEVIN HOUCHIN, ESQ: Play Nice: Legal Issues & Social Media
You already know, or are learning, that social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are wonderful ways to keep in touch with your friends and business associates. However, unthinking posts in such forums could land you on the wrong side of a lawsuit: defamation, privacy, interference with business relations, negligence, contract, trademark and copyright. Kevin is Principal Creative and Attorney of Houchin & Associates, P.C. (www.houchinlaw.com)
Kevin is author of the book: Fuel the Spark: 5 Guiding Values for Success in Law & Life.
ADRIENNE ZOBLE: Thriving in Difficult Times
Listen to the screeching media intone about the state of our economy and become depressed; or ignore what they’re saying. Learn the ins and outs of three simple marketing strategies to get your phone to ring again. They cost little to nothing, but they work. This presentation will prove that, in marketing, it’s not what you spend, but how you spend it! Adrienne is owner of Adrienne Zoble Associates, Inc. (www.azobleassoc.com)
HILTON GARDEN INN
2821 Harmony Road, Ft. Collins 80528
970-225-2900
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
(Registration 8:30 a.m.)
CO Bar 3-Hour Ethics CLE
Here’s the link to my March 19th Ethics CLE through the Colorado Bar Association. If you’re interested, you can come in person, or attend via Webcast.
Fuel the Spark – 5 Guiding Values for Success in Law and Life – Ethics CLE Workshop
Video from Joel Comm’s Tweetathon2009
There were some technical challenges during my interview with Joel Comm during yesterday’s tweetathon2009 event. In the first video I’m talking about the Fuel The Spark book and in the second we discuss some of the legal issues to keep in mind while using Twitter.com that are included in Joel Comm’s new book Twitter Power.
Live Video streaming by Ustream
http://www.tweetathon2009.com/
Join us for this ground-breaking online event. I contributed a chapter on the legal issues of Twitter.com for Joel’s new book. This is going to be huge!
http://www.tweetathon2009.com/
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I receive health when I surrender disbelief.
— , Fuel the Spark
About Kevin
Kevin E. Houchin is an attorney, artist, teacher, author, and principal of
Houchin & Associates, P.C. , a copyright, trademark, arts & entertainment,
business development, and branding firm located in Fort Collins, Colorado.
To schedule Kevin for keynote speeches, workshops, or seminars, call 970-493-1070
or email
kevin.houchin@houchinlaw.com.
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