The Adjacent Possible | Nancy Hillis
The hero’s journey, the adjacent possible and the mathematical concept of zero to one show up in surprising ways in art, life & creativity
Dr. Bruce Sawhill, my partner, had an astonishing experience that combined the hero’s journey, the adjacent possible and the concept of zero to one while swimming recently in Santa Cruz.
This is not just any swimming. It’s more like full immersion baptism in the cold Pacific waters of northern California in November.
Without a wetsuit.
He thinks this is fun.
Bruce is a physicist, mathematician and complexity scientist who finds swimming conducive to pondering the mysteries of the universe. It’s a form of prayer and sensory deprivation- alone with wind, wave and breath.
Perhaps the frigid water (54 degrees) brings his brain closer to absolute zero and the beginnings of superconductivity.
Maybe the prone swimming position allows increased blood perfusion to the area of his brain where his most treasured ideas are kept.
Bruce is aware of my fascination with the hero’s journey as a paradigm for many of life’s deepest challenges and mysteries.
He had a strange and remarkable encounter while swimming that he told me about after returning home and running all the hot water out of the shower.
Bruce’s Story
“I was cruising along in shallow water near the shore because there are no lifeguards on duty as this is great white shark season.
I know you’re fascinated by the idea of the hero’s journey, and it occurred to me that every open-water swim is a kind of hero’s journey in miniature. But this one was different.
Here’s how my particular Hero’s Journey went:
The call: It’s a good day for a swim.
The refusal: It’s windy. It’s cold. The water’s murky. A shark was seen somewhere. I’ll go tomorrow.
Saying yes. Taking the plunge: No explanation necessary.
The dark night of the soul: I’m a half mile from the stairs and I’m getting cold and tired.
The reaching within and digging down deep: Pushing hard, getting slapped around by waves, taking great breaths, heart pumping fiercely to counter the unforgiving cold assault from outside.
The reward: Climbing out, feeling more alive than seems humanly possible.
Finally, the Return: a hot shower.
As I was in the reaching within part of the journey, I was fascinated by the beautiful ripples on the sandy bottom as my shadow passed over them, my hands throwing whirling vortices of bubbles.
Just then, something moving and white caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.
It was not a great white, it was more like a plant, anchored to the bottom, waving its tendrils in the currents.
I changed course and stroked over to the mysterious organism. It seemed odd that a plant would flourish in a great expanse of sand. It took a moment to overcome the cognitive dissonance and recognize the object for what it was.
I couldn’t believe what my eyes revealed.
It was a book.
I dove down and picked up the hardback. It hadn’t been there long. It didn’t dissolve in my fingers. I leafed through the sodden mass to find a title page.
It was Spartacus, by Ben Kane. The story of a hero’s journey if ever there was one.
I’m not necessarily a disciple of the idea that the Universe sends you what you need, but like the pioneering Danish quantum physicist Niels Bohr who kept a good luck horseshoe above his office door said, “You know, my friends tell me it works whether you believe in it or not.”
I’ve been swimming in these particular waters for many years and have seen very few books on the ocean floor.
In fact this was zero to one
Having nowhere to put the book (I was wearing a Speedo) and rapidly getting chilled, I released the tome to the waters and watched it flutter its pages of glorious story on its slow motion descent.
It seemed like a dream.
And then I returned- back to my life.
I swam back to the stairs, climbed out, and cycled home, elated by this auspicious message from Poseidon.
I couldn’t wait to tell Nancy.
Nancy’s Story
When Bruce told me this story, I was struck by the incredible variety and randomness of how inspiration can strike.
In previous posts I’ve written about the concept of the Adjacent Possible, formulated by Drs. Bruce Sawhill and Stewart Kauffman at the Santa Fe Institute, an idea that originally grew out of the mathematics of genetic evolution but that eventually grew to encompass a much broader space of concepts.
The story of the book submerged in the waters of the Pacific Ocean is not only an exercise in thinking about the Hero’s Journey (and by extension, the Artist’s Journey), but also about the Adjacent Possible and zero to one.
The Adjacent Possible
Bruce didn’t go on a swim to find a book and be inspired, but it happened anyway.
It was because he was open to explore the unknown that he literally changed his course to go look at the mysterious object on the bottom of the sea floor, which turned out to be a book.
Researchers who study the phenomenon of luckiness have discovered a couple of personal habits that are highly correlated with people who consider themselves lucky.
The first habit is that they change up their daily routines. They don’t take the same route to work every day, paint with the same palette or tools every day, or exclusively talk to the same group of people every day.
The second habit is they avoid over-scheduling. They leave breathing space in their day for reflection and replenishment.
Making room for surprise
And finally, and perhaps most importantly, they make room for surprise. There’s a German phrase lass’was einfallen which translates to let something fall in.
What use is an Adjacent Possible of surprise, learning, and wonder if there is no time or space to take advantage of it?
You must cultivate an attitude of being surprise-able.
This applies particularly to artists.
What if a Universe of Possibilities is always there, and all we have to do is open our eyes and hearts to allow it in?
We’re swimming in an ocean of possibilities and mostly unaware of it.
Men occasionally stumble over the truth.
But most of them pick themselves up and hurry off
As if nothing had happened.
Winston Churchill
With gratitude from my studio to yours,
Nancy
P.S. The Artist’s Journey is named by BookAuthority as “One of the best creativity books of all time” .
Get your copy here.
Hello! I just read this section in the book, and am hoping to find a citation for the “Researchers who study the phenomenon of luckiness have discovered two personal habits highly correlated with people who consider themselves lucky” statement. I’d really love to read that research! Can you point me towards those researchers?
Thank you!
Hi Lesley, It’s Richard Wiseman and the book is called The Luck Factor. Enjoy!
Warmly,
Nancy
There are lots of things so much info on it. Your blog really inspires me a lot.
Best regards,
Thomassen Cannon
I find myself on track with you. thank you Nancy for this blog and revelations.
Thank you Dawn! It’s always wonderful to hear from you.
Loved this wonderful story Nancy and also loved how these 3 Habits can relate to our art…..and to our life. ❤️
Loved this wonderful story Nancy and loved how these 3 Habits can relate to our art…..and to our life. ❤️
Finding you and your remarkable mind has been transforming for me. This is another insightful blog and I thank you and Bruce. I loved that his response was wanting to share it with you. I think you have also found a gem.
Thank you Nancy and Bruce for sharing this story. …Wondering what surprises the next year will bring.
You’re welcome Carol! Thank you for being here. We’d love to see you again. Let us know when you’re in northern California. Me too…I wonder what wonderful surprises await us?
Just lovely! I appreciated reading this rich story and insight so much.
Angela
Thank you so much Angela! One of these days we’re going to meet in person! I can’t wait.
Warmly,
Nancy
A beautiful story, thank you Bruce and thank you Nancy for sharing you’re always so inspirational
Thank you Christina, from both Bruce and myself. I appreciate your lovely words of support.
Warmly,
Nancy
Nancy, loved this story. One of those many things that seem to happen out of the blue by chance but we are somehow able to make a connection. There is great power and energy in the world, around us all the time, influenced by a higher consciousness or being, sending signals or direction onto our path. Its for us to be open to allowing these signs and seeing how they may fit into the direction of our daily lives. When you are very quiet you can almost feel that energy around you.
Diane, thank you so much. Yes, what you wrote is lovely and resonates deeply with me. It’s in the silence that we connect deeply with the energy of the universe. Thank you for being here Diane!
Warmly,
Nancy
Nancy, I look forward to your blogs, demos, words of encouragement for the journey. Thank you for your gifts of not only what you say, but the risks that you take in what you choose to do. Your message is strong and calls for a most difficult bravery- trust in self. It “rings so true”. You are a wonderful role model. I am grateful that you share your doubts and successes.
Catherine, thank you from the bottom of my heart. There are dark nights of the soul in undertaking any journey of saying yes to one’s dreams. Your lovely and kind words of encouragement are a beacon of light in the darkness. We never know how important our words of encouragement can be to another person. Thank you for your radiant soul.
Brilliant!
Thank you so much Shawn.
I learned such an interesting concept today! Your post led me to a TED talk by Steven Johnson and one by Vittorio Loreto on The Adjacent Possible before I found the photo essay on your retreat. Now I am on to learning more from Bruce Sawhill and Stuart Kauffman. Perfect way to spend a cool gray afternoon here in Southwest Florida.
My mind is filling up with all the ways in which the Adjacent Possible is at work, even though the term is new to my vocabulary.
As a pastel artist, working in both abstract and realistic subjects, I will expand my vision even further because of your post today.
Hmmm….wouldn’t that book beneath the chilly waters make an interesting painting?
Love hearing this! Great reminders!! Thanks so much for it all.
Hi Lesta! Thank you so much for being on this journey. Big hugs, Nancy
What an amazing story and analogy. Thanx for sharing.
Thank you Vickie! It was indeed an astonishing story. Thanks for writing.
What a wonderous experience…and to have the recognition of it being that gift…of the unexpected, that Zero to One on That Heros Journey into the testing, beauty and frigidity of the cold, cold Pacific Ocean. Making time , being readily aware and available for the unexpected. Yes, in a very similar way we as artists must be ready, and available to meet the unexpected in our own zero to one experience with our creativity, every time we put the brush in our hand in front of that empty ocean of waiting paper! Thank you for your amzing experience and the telling of it!
Hi Nancy,
As a 73 yo RN (still working part time) in my 3rd year of BFA program, 10th year of recovery from alcohol misuse and volunteer/founder of a peer-led recovery center, I want a copy of “The Artist’s Journey.” But I won’t, haven’t, can’t, choose not to buy from Amazon as they are still advertising on Breitbart. Is there any other way to purchase your book? A dry one please! 🙂
Hi Barbara,
Wow! That’s fantastic about being in a BFA program, helping others in recovery as well as working part time as an RN! Yes, you can purchase The Artist’s Journey book through:
Barnes & Noble here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-artists-journey-nancy-hillis/1130073783?ean=9780999750414.
Bookshop Santa Cruz here: https://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/book/9780999750414
Thank you so much!
Warmly,
Nancy
Ahh, Sugarlump,,,I am so happy for you and your success with your (first?) book! You are so worthy of the incoming accolades! All of your musings have certainly helped me..and I’m thrilled to have you recognized by others for it.
One of the first a-ha! moments for me was to realize that I have no boundaries, Always interested in more of whatever it is that interests me.My pinterest page and my paintings show it but it wasn’t obvious to me,
It has helped me to see that I don’t have time for the friends I have, let alone for making new ones. Hard to realize that the three fascinating
women I’ve met recently are people I don’t have time for because I barely see my family and old friends as it is. I love being in my studio and experimenting, which never seemed to get the time it deserved. I have sorted priorities,,,,
The second most helpful subject that you clarified for me was the “possible adjacent”, That frees and helps focus in so many areas, that
it makes time expand, I realize that I’m working with this one thing at this specific time and just being PRESENT and thinking of nothing else.
Thank you, My Dear and May the Force be With You! Anne Ferguson
Ah…dear Anne, you always light up my day with your radiant spirit! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I sit at your feet!
Love,
Nancy
Nancy,
Thank you for this! I will hold this story dear.
Pamela
Portland, Oregon
Pamela,
Thank you so much! It warms my heart to hear this.
Nancy
This story had me smiling, glad I am on this same track, I totally relate.