What is Leonardo Da Vinci trying to teach us?

In our quest for fresh eyes – How can Leonardo Da Vinci help us become better agents of change?

 

I was recently listening to an interview with Michael Gelb on writing his amazing book ‘How to think like Leonardo Da Vinci’.

 

He started with the question – What is he trying to teach us?’. He went through all his notebooks, inventions and artworks looking for the answer and the 7 principles emerged.

 

It is a great guide for problem solving, creativity, self expression, goal setting and wellbeing. He was trying to teach us.

 

To me Michael Gelb is a great Creativity Thought Leader and Leonardo was the Genius to learn from.

 

My reflection on these seven principles is they are not what he wants to teach but more

 

 

These seven lessons stand the test of time and are relevant now as we grapple with this new changing world.

 

 

P1 Curiosita – be curious – an insatiably curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning. By asking great questions, questioning questions and looking at the world with fresh eyes. Stop looking for the answers and start with the questions. A learners growth mindset.

 

P2 Dimonstrazione – think critically – a discipline of looking at important issues from at least three different perspectives, discovering our biases, reflecting and taking the lessons from our succeses and mistakes.

 

P3 Sensazione – be mindful – sharpening all our senses, using them to gain new insights and perspectives, living more in the moment – the here and now is all there is – experiencing mindfullness.

 

P4 Sfumato – embrace uncertainty – a willingness to welcome ambiguity, paradox and the unknown. Seeing the opportunity and recognising the obstacles just make you stronger. Challenging – yes, but it has never been more important as an agent of change.

 

P5 Arte/ Scienza – balance your thinking – between art and science, logic and imagination plus other paradoxes – using both sides of the brain and giving them workouts together i.e. mindmapping, design thinking and juggling!

 

P6 Corporalita – look after your wellbeing – the balance of body and mind – optimized. Seek wholeness through the cultivation of wellness, happiness and overall wellbeing. Leonardo was an athlete. He sought fitness through grace, ambidexterity and poise.

 

P7 Connessionne – connect and build relationships – people and all things – a recognition and appreciation of the interconnectedness of everything – connecting the big picture and details, with a love and respect for nature and each other. You can look at this through systems thinking. To Leonardo Da Vinci the earth was a living being.

 

His ultimate message was about connecting at the highest level – our sense of purpose, personal vision or mission, our deepest values and our goals to what we do everyday – bringing the best version of ourselves to the world.

 

I think he would love to be alive now!

 

What do you love about his genius?