The Path of Least Resistance

230 Pages·1986·30.141 MB·English

by  Robert Fritz

WHAT YOU WANT TO C
ROBERT FRITZ
Ms.MargaretWeimer
169BrairLn
San MateoCA
94403

THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE

Principles For Creating What You Want To Create
THE
PATH
OF
LEAST
RESISTANCE
Robert Fritz
DMA,
Inc.
MA
27 Congress Street, Salem, 01970
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Fritz, Robert, 1943-
The path of least resistance.
1. Success. 2. Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)
I. Title
BF637.S8F67 1984 158'.1 84-17512
ISBN 0-913299-34-0
THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE
Copyright © 1984by Robert Fritz. All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a re-
viewerwho may quote briefpassages orreproduce illustrations in a review; nor
may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trans-
mitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, re-
cording, or other, without written permission from the publisher.
This book is manufactured in the United States of America. It is designed by
Steven A. Baron and the cover photo is by the designer. Composition by Crane
Typesetting Service, Barnstable, Massachusetts. Printed and bound by Halliday
Lithograph, Inc., Hanover, Massachusetts. DistributionbyStillpointPublishing,
NH
Box 640, Meetinghouse Road, Walpole, 03608.
FIFTHPRINTING
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
vii
Introduction ix
PART ONE: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
1 The Path of Least Resistance 3
2 A Shift in the Times 12
3 The Reactive-Responsive Orientation 17
4 Structural Conflict 31
5 Emotional Conflict 39
6 The Orientation of the Creative 44
7 Structural Tension 54
8 Current Reality 59
9 Vision 66
PART TWO: THE CREATIVE PROCESS
10 The Creative Cycle 81
11 Germination and Choice 87
12 Primary and Secondary Choice 95
13 Fundamental Choice 103
14 Assimilation 114
v
( I
THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE
Momentum
15 121
16 Strategic Moments 131
17 Completion 142
PART THREE: MANIPULATION, MASTERY,
AND TRANSCENDENCE
18 Conflict Manipulation 153
19 Willpower Manipulation 165
20 Ability and Discipline 175
21 Creating What Matters 187
22 The Power of Transcendence 197
vi
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many people have contributed greatly to this book's development.
First and foremost is Louis Savary, who helped me bring the book
to life. He was not only the major editor but also my major teacher
in how to express these ideas in the form of a book.
Kalen Hammann provided extensive, insightful editorial assist-
ance; over three hundred of his suggestions have been incorporated
into the present manuscript. Sue King brought materials and people
My
together as she directed the logistics ofthis project. wife Rosalind
transformed our home into the ideal environment in which to write
and was always there to support the effort.
I also acknowledge Peter Senge for the years of discussion and
debate about the essence of systems and structure; Charlie Kiefer for
his insights and also his help in bringing the book to publication;
Robert Hanig for his kind words on the book's jacket; Anita Jaros
who as the major typist of the manuscript poured hours into our
word processor keeping up with all the changes I continued to make;
Kathy Maliawco for typing many ofthe early chapters; Pat Berne and
JerriUdelson fortheirsuggestionsonthemanuscript; RobertShuman
for bringing Lou Savary and me together; and Stevan A. Baron for
technical production of the book itself.
In addition, my work with the DMA executive staff (Graciela
Cummins, Deborah Gold, Kalen Hammann, Robert Hanig, Sheila
McGarey, Susan Royal, and David Stanton), as well as with the rest
vii
[ ]