opening space...empowerment and motivation

[Julie Smith]

Greetings, Ashley ~

Another fine fellow on this list, Winston Kinch, mentioned some time
back that he was preparing to facilitate an OST event for a group who
use the focusing process which originated with a book by Eugene T.
Gendlin titled (surprisingly) Focusing.  I think there's something very
powerful about this stuff for people who do what you're setting about to
do.  As I understand it, the process is a form of gentle being-with that
uses silence and open-ended questions to help another person access
their own truth and understanding of the world.  There are no
preconceived values or tellings or teachings, only wonderings and
responding tos.  According to the book and people who do this work, the
process helps people name a feeling or concept that had not been
articulated before, and in the naming the person is able to shift to a
deeper understanding.

This process captures much of what I value about OST:  lack of
preconceived notions or values or constructs, an invitation to
authenticity and authentic learning, and a surprising/predictable
internal shifting and deepening of understanding.  I think this is what
you're trying to get at.  As I understand it, this process is all about
helping another open their internal space and deepen their understanding
of themselves and their world.

You can learn more by going to www.focusing.org
<http://www.focusing.org/> .  There are some very good articles there
about using focusing with children.  Some provide a transcript of how
the facilitator/teacher used the process.   I found some very nice
examples of skillful following.

This process is different from OST in that the facilitator/counselor
does not attempt to be invisible to the Other, and very deliberately
(and perhaps lovingly) interacts in (without attempting to direct) the
growth of the Other.

Good luck in the work you've set out to do in the world.

Julie



-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Ashley
Cooper
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 4:52 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: opening space...empowerment and motivation

amongst these amazing discussions presently taking place on this list
(for which i deeply borrow and say the word john introduced,
meegwetch.), i would like to ask anyone's opinion on a present struggle
of my own. my question is more of an open space question than an OS
question!

i am a beginning graduate student studying counseling (in route to play
therapy).  in our introductory course we must choose one theory that
"defines" our style (that in itself is a little bit scary for me - why
can't i use the good parts of them all!!).  these discussions of
motivation and empowerment further challenge me to question how does one
genuinely attempt to open the space for one other person? to, excuse me
for saying it, but empower another to enter their own space? to help
create an environment that allows space for another's power to grow? any
suggestions?!

thanks
ashley cooper


* * ==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html


*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20030218/51a299c8/attachment-0017.htm>