Generally speaking a crisis or catastrophe is considered a negative happening. The discontinuous change is perceived first of all because of the danger to the existing stability. In this respect it may be interesting to step from Japan, which Gulliver visited, across the sea to China a country he unfortunately missed; the Chinese language does not know the concept of crisis! It combines two Kanji symbols, the first one meaning danger and the second opportunity.
The amazing thing is that these people did not know the concept of crisis. In their thinking there were always two sides to a new event, like yin and yang and the difference between the two. Gulliver's crises also helped him to get a better of view of mankind. By comparing the giants with his own kind he saw the difference: visiting foreign countries generates differences; a difference that creates emptiness and invites creativity. These three entities always form a trinity or triangle, if one disappears the others disappear as well, and we will have a new situation. As C.B. Handy writes in his enlightening book The Age of Unreason (1989) discontinuity is not catastrophe, and most definitely need not be catastrophe. Perhaps the discontinuous change (or crisis) is the best thing that can happen to make us aware of how the environment changes. Continuous change on the other hand gives us the false illusion that nothing changes, but as Herakleitos said: "You can never step into the same river twice for the water continually changes." This seems very much like the Chinese idea.The first character depicts a man on the edge of a precipice:
The second character indicates opportunity; it serves as a reminder of the seemingly small but important opportunity that can come out of danger. 
. So nothing ever remains the same, yet like the newly painted house we are often not aware of the gradual change. Handy gives two examples which may help illustrate this point. One is that of the Peruvian Indians who, seeing the sails of the Spanish Invaders on the horizon, put it down to a freak of the weather and went on about their business, having no concept of sailing ships in their limited experience. Assuming continuity, they screened out what did not fit and let disaster, in the form of the Conquistadores, in. The other one is the story of the frog that if put in cold water will not bestir itself if that water is heated up slowly and gradually will in the end let itself be boiled alive, too comfortable with continuity to realize that continuous change at some point may become intolerable and demand a change in behaviour.
Gradual change makes us sleepy and unaware of the point of no return. Rather like buying a second-hand car which again and again needs costly repairs. However, selling is no alternative because the investment has been too high. On buying the car we can also set a certain limit, which upon reaching will indicate the point of no return. Stating clear points of return makes me independent and able to act instead of just react. Reacting usually takes up all attention for solving everyday problems. Acting means using the opportunities present in the same situations which seem to provide problems only in other words anticipate. The question seems to be: who is in control: I or the problem?
Do I adapt to the situation or do I create a fitting situation?[back to start Creativity Explored in Gulliver’s Footsteps] [back to Index] [Go to Lilliput start] Go to Brobdingnag start page]