A Quiet Time

Thu Mar 2 11:06:37 PST 2006

From: Brian Dalzell [mailto:brian at bdalzell.com] 
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 1:33 PM
To: hhowen at verizon.net
Subject: RE: A Quiet Time

Hi Harrison:
We haven't communicated in the past but I have been out here listening so I
guess that is half communicating. I'm glad you're being moved to write a
book that definitely needs to be written.

The only thought that came up about what you wrote below is that maybe we
are not to let go but let be. We are after all human beings who spend most
of our time as a human having and human doing. If we let go of the having
and doing and just let "be" to receive what will come back from sending out
our intention we may get closer to that human being. Letting go seems to
scare people just like they don't like to change but are fine with growing
and developing. It may be that we react or respond to the words and as a
result of our subconscious we don't achieve our potential.

Stay with and in the flow.

Best regards, 
Brian Dalzell

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 11:10 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: A Quiet Time

Seems like things are a little quiet here in Spaceville, which doubtless
means that folks are thinking and doing good things. For myself, I am deep
into the process of writing another book - or as is usually the case, the
book is writing me. I never thought it would be simple, and in fact I have
resisted the urge for several years, but there comes a point where fools
rush in where more intelligent folks would take a pass. My objective is
simply to apply what we have been learning in the self-organizing open space
to the larger, and I think seriously more important, realm of our daily
lives in organizations of all sorts. At stake is the radical enhancement of
human performance, in search of what my friend Peter Vaill has called High
Performing Systems. Time will tell whether any of this pays off, but the
journey itself has been more than a little interesting as it passes through
some very familiar, but oddly unknown territory. You might get a flavor for
this in the following reflection upon one of the Four Principles. Needless
to say, thoughts and comments are most welcome. It is always good to have
some companions when you are out there thrashing about. :-)

**************************************************

 Whatever Happens is the Only Thing that Could Have   Obviously the grammar
of this principle is somewhat tortured, but the intent is very straight
forward. Do not worry about all the things that might have happened, could
have happened, or should have happened - focus on this present moment
because that is all there is right now. This is not to suggest that
reflections on the past, and hopes for the future have no place or purpose,
but the simple truth of the matter is that the past is over and the future
hasn't happened yet. All we have is now. And perhaps more to the point, if
our minds are filled with memories of the past, or dreams for the future, we
are very likely to miss, or fail to fully appreciate, what is taking place
right in front of our eyes. 
	A clear focus on the present moment is critical for our lives as
(and in) self-organizing systems, or as the people at the Santa Fe Institute
would say, Complex Adaptive Systems. And the key word is "adaptive." In
order to achieve the highest levels of performance (find the most effective
degree of fitness with ourselves and our environment) it is essential to be
in constant, conscious contact with the infinitely complex and changing
world. The complexity theorists have taught us that, even within a
nanosecond slice of time, the degree of complex interaction is absolutely
mind-boggling. Of course, much of this passes well below our capacity to
notice, which may appear fortunate for our peace of mind, however, it is
also a liability. Even the smallest changes can represent the foretaste of
emerging advantage or disaster. In the mythology of the chaos folks - this
is the fabled butterfly flapping its wings.
	It turns out that full, conscious awareness of the present moment is
no easy thing. Viewed as a rational project in which we might identify,
track, analyze, and respond to the myriad elements of our existence, it is
simply overwhelming and more than sufficient to fry to sharpest of minds and
the most powerful computers. That said, it may also be noted that we possess
a secret weapon; the process of self-organization itself. For 14 billion
years, this process has negotiated mind-blowing chaos and confusion with the
observable result that infinitely more complex and adaptive forms, animate
and inanimate, have come into being. In their own time they have manifested
fitness and demonstrated higher levels of performance - only to be replaced
by subsequent forms as the process continues. 
	Under the circumstances, discretion might dictate that we simply
caste our fate upon the winds of self-organization. And in fact, that is our
only option - however we might also learn to ride those winds in useful and
productive ways. As I said previously, it is all about letting go, but not
giving up. With patience, we may find our version of the surfer's Sweet Spot
on the wave. And with practice we can ride that sweet spot with elegance -
true High Performance. But it all begins with the present moment and the
realization that whatever happens is the only thing that could have.   

Harrison 

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>

Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
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