OK, Doug--I don't have any real proof here, but here are some of my beliefs:
I believe that humans are naturally self-organizing and self-healing, but we often fall into bad habits, or are forced into unnatural modes of being by the rules and practices of organizations, society, family of origin, etc. I believe that it is often possible to arrange for people to re-experience their natural creativity and self-healing through an event which temporarily changes "the rules of the game." Open Space does this, I've seen similar results (maybe on a different scale) by something as simple as enforcing brainstorming rules in a meeting, or with playful events. I believe that the facilitator's non-anxious presence helps, and whatever practice might be required to enable one to remain present and non-anxious in a chaotic situation. What I have experienced in Open Space and some other significant places in my life is that in such an environment, something in me opens, something releases, something is released--soemtimes grief and tears, sometimes joy and creativity. My two cents' worth, Joelle * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
