Conversing about..."the right conditions"

[Chris Corrigan]

I have been working hard over the past few years to let go of what might
be and just focus on what is.  To say that there are "right" conditions
and "wrong" conditions, especially as regards to the future is, as you
point out, not a very useful exercise.

Accepting the now is basically all we can do.  To argue with reality is
insanity!  But it's never easy to get a clear picture of what "now" is.
We have to see past the stories we generate in our heads or in our
relationships to get at the underlying "now-ness" of the present moment.

Of course I can believe that we can influence our futures, but I stop
short about saying how.  Yesterday's "initial conditions" have led us to
where we are today.  And today's "action" is tomorrow's "initial
conditions."  Given the intellectual yoga required to grasp all this,
perhaps the best thing to do is just DO.  And of course we will all have
our own ideas about doing what, but I think most people try to act out
of goodness or positive intention.  Throwing people into Open Space to
explore options for doing just increases each person's exposure to
alternatives, leading to a richer field of action.

So, as usual, I have outlined a roundabout way of agreeing with you,
Marei.

Chris

---
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Bowen Island, BC, Canada
http://www.chriscorrigan.com
chris at chriscorrigan.com

(604) 947-9236






> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Marei
> Kiele
> Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 6:32 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Re: Conversing about..."the right conditions"
>
> Dear Chris, dear Arthur,
>
> it has been very interesting for me to think about the question and
the
> answer given. During the last days I tried to clarify for myself the
> difference between accepting and not-doing-anything-anymore. For me it
has
> to do with the time I am referring to.
>
> I agree that whatever happens under the present conditions is whatever
> could have and that there is no use in thinking about "ifs" and
"shoulds".
> And maybe the conditions are not only right but neither right nor
wrong -
> they just are. This is true esp. when thinking about the now or the
past.
>
> But thinking about the future I can ask which conditions are
supportive
> and which are not: which make change, development, transformation more
> possible than others?
> If one of the things necessary for differenciation (as I agree with)
is a
> nutritious environment - than we can influence the possibilities for
> transformation by sharing nutrition (physically or in other
dimensions).
>
> And referring to "wrong" conditions in organisations, the world, our
> heads: Maybe they seem not to be helpful or not fitting anymore or
born
> out of anxiousness. But at least they were the "right" conditions at
> another time or place. And in the moment being they are still "right"
for
> the organisation or the person and we - judging them - just don't have
all
> the insights...
>
> What I decided to try doing is both: totally accept the past and the
now -
> but do my share to influence the future (and accept whatever is
coming).
> Does that make sense to you?
>
> Marei
>
>
>
> "Chris Corrigan" <chris at chriscorrigan.com> schrieb:
> > Whatever conditions are present are the right conditions for
whatever
> > happens is the only thing that could have happened.
> >
> > Seriously.
> >
> > I think the second principle refers to the fact that no matter what
> > initial conditions are present, whatever happens is the only thing
that
> > could have.  It sounds like a tautology, but I think of it more as a
Zen
> > koan.  It is supposed to bring your consciousness to a place that
> > accepts the fact that "should" is an extremely useless word when we
are
> > dealing with an expanded now.
> >
> > As for the conditions that make Open Space really hum, I go back to
> > Harrison's elegantly stated four: passion, diversity, complexity and
> > urgency.  The more of each, the better the process works.
> >
> > And that, for many facilitators and managers, is another paradox.
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > ---
> > CHRIS CORRIGAN
> > Bowen Island, BC, Canada
> > http://www.chriscorrigan.com
> > chris at chriscorrigan.com
> >
> > (604) 947-9236
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
> > Artur
> > > Ferreira da Silva
> > > Sent: Sunday, September 07, 2003 11:18 AM
> > > To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > > Subject: Conversing about..."the right conditions"
> > >
> > > Hello again:
> > >
> > > For someone like myself that has problems with the capitalized
word
> > Spirit (as well as with some other capitalized words) and with the
> wording of
> > the "principle" that says "whatever happens is the only thing that
could
> > have" I felt very surprised as I completely agree with this
formulation
> > (from Alan's, "The Conversing Company"):
> > >
> > > "... When people interact under the right conditions, spirit or
> > > intelligence emerges automatically - it is the only thing that
could
> > > have".
> > >
> > > The way I see the "right conditions" to be present, or not, are
the
> > > following:
> > >
> > > - In "normal organizations", using current meeting methodologies,
the
> > > wrong conditions are normally present - they are "closed" by rules
and
> > > regulations, both explicit and tacit.
> > >
> > > - In our outside macro-world the wrong conditions are normally
present
> > > (see the Middle East or Iraq - before and now - to give only two
> examples -
> > > maybe three).
> > >
> > > - Inside our heads the wrong conditions are normally present  - as
> > > obsolete "mental models".
> > >
> > > For the space to be open it is necessary that someone opens it AND
> > that the "right conditions" are defined/clarified in the first
place.
> Those
> > right conditions are not only the OST principles and law but also:
the
> > correct preparation, the fact that all stakeholders with enough
> diversity are
> > > invited (but not obliged, directly or indirectly) to participate,
a
> > right and open theme is addressed, etc.
> > >
> > > I would very much like to see what others think that are the
"right
> > > conditions" for "whatever happens is the only thing that could
happen"
> > to be true.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Artur
>
> *
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