A question then

Thank-you :)
I've read through most of the threads here, much of which I found very interesting and informative. I'm sure I can contribute a little here and there; any opportunity to learn and share knowledge is certainly beneficial.

I recently wrote an essay (just a brief one) relating characteristics of literature--of all things--(particularly Hemingway, Nabokov, and Faulkner) to Erickson's statements/anecdotes regarding the unconscious mind and creativity. I primarily consulted <The Wisdom of Milton H. Erickson> (Havens) and <My Voice Will Go With You> (Rosen). The essay was merely a brief glimpse of some connections I have observed; however, when I have spoken with writers and in considering my own writing (I enjoy writing fiction myself) I often have found a certain harmony or resonance between the "Ericksonian" perspective and what I have observed in all forms of creativity. I have also observed the effectiveness of the "indirect" approach in literature (particularly with Hemingway) that may be likened to the "indirect" approach which Erickson expressed for triggering unconscious thinking and learning.

I was responding, for the essay, to the notion that one may consult other means besides literature to learn about human nature WITHOUT spoiling or contaminating one's understanding of human nature. I have found Erickson's views to be the most liberating and, I believe, the most astute observations that, indeed, I have yet encountered. I made the argument that one can indeed go outside of fiction and find a great deal to learn from someone such as Milton H. Erickson.

I would like to pose the following question: do others, when taking the wealth of information left behind by Erickson, find a definite resonance in the ideas, conceptualizations and, essentially, the way of thinking, inherent in any aspect of human creativity, learning, thinking, and living--even outside of, say, therapy (the area in which we typically consider Erickson)?

By this I suppose that I am refering to my own experiences, which goes something like this: I observe and learn something and, by whatever means, a "something" pops in my head and I say "yes, that reminds me of some observation that Erickson made that I read about"--and then I am startled by how I am able to see connections between his observations and so many other aspects of, to put it simply, humanity.

Regards,
Steven Stewart
Steven.T.Stewart@UNB.ca

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