Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
August 7, 2008Last night I finally got around to listening to Viv’s podcast ‘Whatever happens…explained!’. It’s a conversation amongst Open Space practitioners discussing one of the four principles of Open Space Technology: ‘whatever happens is the only thing that could have’, and what it means to them.
I really like the simplicity, and implications of Alan Stewart’s view that “whenever we treat each other well, something good emerges.” I certainly agree with the sentiment.
For me, the principle is about being present and in the moment, not having any pre-determined expectations and also about the illusion of being able to control what happens.
I’m reading ‘The Power of Now’ at the moment and came across a couple of passages that really resonated with me around this topic.
Whilst this first quote talks about transformational relationships, I think it equally applies to the transformational potential of group work:
“As far as inner transformation is concerned, there is nothing you can do about it. You cannot transform yourself, and you certainly cannot transform your partner or anybody else. All you can do is create a space for transformation to happen, for grace and love to enter.” — p158.
And what is Open Space, if it is not exactly that — creating a space for transformation to happen?
I like this one too, which also speaks to the transformational nature of groups and the ‘magic’ that can emerge:
“Do what you have to do. In the meantime accept what is … acceptance immediately frees you from your mind dominance and this reconnects you with Being. As a result, the usal ego motivations for ‘doing’ — fear, greed, control, defending or feeding the false sense of self — will cease to operate. An intelligence much greater than the mind is now in charge, and so a different quality of consciousness will flow into your doing.” — p179
It’s not something that I considered or perceived when I first entered into the world of faciliation, but there’s quite a spiritual dimension to group work, which is something I now find quite fascinating. At first I thought that perhaps this was an unintented consquence of my own search for work that was more meaningful or at best coincidental. Or perhaps it’s the only thing that could have happened?
Update: This podcast was actually recorded by Chris Corrigan at OSonOS. It is also available from Viv’s Winkipod site.
And death shall have no dominion
April 16, 2008Dylan Thomas: —
And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.
…
Unlearning
January 30, 2008In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities,
in the expert’s mind there are few.”
– Shunryu Suzuki
I’ve been reflecting on this quote a lot. Lately, it seems like I’ve had to unlearn much of what I’ve been taught.
Learning how to write well is a simple example. I learnt to write–like many others I imagine–in an academic, formal and objective manner. I considered myself to be a very articulate and competent writer. But this style of communication no longer serves me well.
I detest gobbledegook, weasle words and spin, and my preference is to read things written in plain english, free of jargon and ambiguity. So why should I expect that readers of my writing are any different?
I’m trying to develop a more open style of communication, aimed at a large, rather than restricted audience. This means using an active voice rather than the passive voice and limiting the number of discjuncts and buzzwords beloved by beauracrats the world over. It’s a work in progress.
My point is that we all have preconceived ideas or have an attachment to concepts, techniques and methods that prevent us from receiving the new. Sometimes learning new things means letting go of something that served you so well for a long time. This may seem like a simple thing to do, but in practice it can be very difficult.
It tests your emotional resilience. It’s really difficult to admit ‘I don’t know what to do’. That feeling when you realise how little you don’t know can be very confronting. But to learn, you have to brave that sense of incompetence and open yourself up to new possibilities. Learning begins with not knowing.
In my case, it’s been a conscious decision to go through a process of unlearning. I hope to emulate a martial arts instructor who has been training for a long period of time. He has a worn and discoloured belt signifying the time he has been training his way back to white belt.
(The white belt is said to signify the purity of the beginners mind).
Signature strengths
January 25, 2008Reading the Cluetrain Manifesto was the nearest thing to having an epiphany that I have personally experienced. It was literally like a light bulb being switched on inside my head. It spoke to me — directly. I have never quite understood why.
For those of you that haven’t read it here’s a couple of lines, that capture its main thesis (emphasis added):
Markets are conversations. Their members communicate in language that is natural, open, honest, direct, funny and often shocking. Whether explaining or complaining, joking or serious, the human voice is unmistakably genuine. It can’t be faked.
Recently I read Martin Seligman’s ‘Authentic Happiness‘ — a seminal work on positive psychology — and as suggested I took a test on the accompanying website to identify my ’signature strengths’.
My top strength according to the test results is: ‘Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness — you are an honest person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a genuine and authentic way. You are down to earth and without pretence; you are a “real” person.’
If these results are to be believed (they feel like the real me, which is Seligman’s criteria for adopting them), then the Cluetrain speaks to me so clearly because it is a convergence or intersection of my interests and passion (internet, technology) and my signature strengths (authenticity, love of learning). Wow!
So, having identified this cosmic collision what should I do with it?
Herein is Seligman’s suggestion for living the good life: ‘use your signature strengths every day in the main realms of your life to bring abundant gratification and authentic happiness‘.
Sounds easy! I can be authentic, genuine and honest, but what practical steps can I take to use these strengths? Or is it enough strive towards using the strengths in what I do?
Integral Thought
February 19, 2007Nick just sent me a note pointing me to a wikipedia entry on Integral Thought. He thought that maybe it fits in with my generalist thinking a little. From the text:
“The word integral means comprehensive, inclusive, nonmarginalizing, embracing. Integral approaches to any field attempt to be exactly that—to include as many perspectives, styles, and methodologies as possible within a coherent view of the topic. In a certain sense, integral approaches are “meta-paradigms,” or ways to draw together an already existing number of separate paradigms into an interrelated network of approaches that are mutually enriching.”
Sounds like he’s right on the money!
And talk about syncronicity. Tony and I were only just discussing the other day the God v. Science and Creationists v. Rationalists meme that seems to be going around at the moment.
I don’t want to weigh in on this one, but perhaps a view that seeks a comprehensive understanding of humans and the universe by combining scientific and spiritual insights is a worthy opponent (alternative) in this debate?
