Karen Wrote: For this reason, before stepping aside I *might* have named some of what I was feeling swirling throughout the space, perhaps even noting my own held breath (if it was held), as a method to make it "okay" for others to do the same. This is important, I believe, because as the individuals in the group "own" their experience, there will be less "un-owned stuff" swirling about the group and causing havoc on others. Through the acts of noticing and naming, we allow ourselves to be present with what's happening, while also remaining non-attached.
I guess I didn't make fully clear my actions and words. In fact I did just what Karen suggests. As a preamble to my departure, I likened the situation to living on the San Andreas Fault (earthquake zone in California) For years it is all quiet, and then the last molecule of rock melts under the pressure and the great tectonic plates shift -- violently. So also living in an organization. Things seem same old/same old -- and then what everybody knows, but nobody says is spoken. The world shifts. And when that happens disorientation is the automatic result. The temptation is to run -- but where? Before action it is useful to know where you are and where you are going -- or you will never know when you get there. After a few more words I made my departure with the promise to return. Upon my return I passed the stick with the words, "Where are you and where are you going?? Harrison ----- Original Message ----- From: karen gorrin To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 6:24 PM Subject: Re: Unintend Consequences, Collateral Damage and Truth Telling There is a saying that goes something like this, "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was." These words feel relevant here. With the act of stepping aside, IMHO Harrison truly allowed room for ALL possibilities of outcome: the energy of the group and it's individuals may have blossomed or contracted, or shifted in any number of expected or unexpected ways, perhaps leading to the collapse of this OST process altogether, perhaps leading to renewed energy and focus. By loving so much, and by trusting so much, Harrison modeled what it truly means to, "allow what Must Be to emerge." And so it did. In other words, people were lovingly offered space in which to "metabolize" (or process) their powerful group experience, taking whatever path was appropriate for them to do so. There is tremendous freedom and creativity in such loving space. In fact, I might say that open loving space is really all that actually exists. (A conversation for another thread!) I find that the "gasp-lack of oxygen" feeling can be a fear response that arises when powerful, unfamiliar, or uncomfortable emotions catch people by surprise. Often, just the act of naming the emotion, and normalizing it's existence, makes room (and makes it "okay") for people to relax their defensives, own their experience, and return to their breath and the present moment. For this reason, before stepping aside I *might* have named some of what I was feeling swirling throughout the space, perhaps even noting my own held breath (if it was held), as a method to make it "okay" for others to do the same. This is important, I believe, because as the individuals in the group "own" their experience, there will be less "un-owned stuff" swirling about the group and causing havoc on others. Through the acts of noticing and naming, we allow ourselves to be present with what's happening, while also remaining non-attached. Greeting from rainy and cold Seattle. --- karen gorrin | ceo www.modus360.com Modus360 | Facilitators Design and Guide the Process Important Conversations :: Key Decisions :: Collaborative Work * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
