Written by Mind Forge Director Jaques Smit
Grab it for free on Amazon on 12 and 13 August 2024!
Introduction
As a Master Transformational Coach, a Member of the International Coaching Federation and an Agile Coach for a Game Development studio, I love Positive Psychology and everything that Martin Selegman’s team discovered. I also love writing fantasy fiction, so it’s only natural that I brought these two together.
But what is it about my work that incorporates Positive Psychology? Well, other than Renate Couture being a Professional Coach that supports the main protagonist through the entire book, there are a few more things.
The way Renate speaks was intentionally crafted to generate awareness with the other characters by reflecting the way they think, based on the words used. She then asks Clean Language (by David Grove or open-ended questions to evoke understanding. Much of her approach is derived from Motivational Interviewing (William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick) and Lorenzo also uses more of the same.
This technique is combined with the concept of Gain Frame (Coined by psychologist and economist Daniel Kahneman and studied by Alison Ledgerwood, a professor of psychology) to direct the conversation, and thereby the minds in the conversation, towards the positive possibilities so that the other party might shift from a Closed Mind (Narrowly Associative State) to an Open Mind (Broadly Associative State) which is a more creative way of thinking that allows new ideas to arise (See the work of cognitive neuroscientist Moshe Bar).
I hope that when a reader encounters these ideas in the writing, that seeing them enacted could inspire them to learn more about the subject!
What is the “Eye of Winter”?
This book is a character-driven, fast-paced, action-adventure.
A reckless young thief lands himself in a team of misfit spies. Their mission, to stop an apocalyptic war bearing down on his home. But at what cost?
Our hero, Birger, must pull off a reverse heist while confronting a magically enhanced giant and an army of greenskins. He relies on his endurance, wit, charm, and the unwavering support of his friends – both in battle and psychologically – to push through.
Using Birger as the vehicle, the book explores the trauma that the Hero’s Journey inflicts on a protagonist. In my opinion, the extreme nature of what these characters endure during an adventures would leave them either a sociopath or an emotional wreck. As an author, I like to stack the deck and ensure that the hero remains believably heroic, by providing a mentor skilled enough to support them.
Enter, Renate Couture. She’s more than a con-woman and a spy. She’s a mindweaver. What is a mindweaver? To discover the details, you’ll need to read the book! But, here is the short version. A mindweaver is someone who has dedicated their life to guiding others on a journey of self-discovery and growth.
They employ an attitude of curiosity, seeking to understand through listening and empathy. In modern terms, we call this generative listening (see The Essentials of Theory U: Core Principles and Applications by Otto Scharmer). This facilitates a process where a person can identify and overcome limiting beliefs to achieve and goals.
The principal they employ is that for a mentor to be effective, they must first discover what the advice seeker already knows, and how they think about it. In my life, I’ve found that the simple act of reflecting the person’s thinking back to them and then asking a question that require a different thinking paradigm to answer can allow them to solve the problem. And if not, the mentor can give much better advice once they fully understand what the person is thinking.
The tricky bit is the mentor’s mindset. They must truly believe that the mentee is an intelligent, creative person, capable of solving their own problem. No process, framework, model, or theory can save you from your own mindset. And with the right mindset, those tools are simply ways to improve the impact of what you already do.
Conclusion
In summary, during the story, Renate profoundly impacts on Birger by listening to him and helping him manage his emotions by reflecting his thinking process back to him. This allows Birger to change and grow more quickly, while working through the psychological burden of stress, injury, and loss.
Now you might ask, if you are trying to deal with technical concepts from Positive Psychology, why write fantasy and not non-fiction? That is a fantastic question, and the answer might surprise some of you! In my opinion, fantasy is part of the same domain. What do I mean by that? Reading fantasy allows us to explore ideas from a distance and take a break from real world stress. Obviously, all things in moderation, and escapism can become a crutch if overused. And I believe we all need a safe place to camp during our trials, rebuilding our resilience for the next leg of the Hero’s Journey.
The Eye of Winter, is a Hero’s Journey that strives to inspire its readers to consider helping others in a different way. By being supportive, rather than directive, allowing them to flourish under their own power.
For specific news on Jaques Fiction Work, Join his Newsletter
Comments