whatever happens...

[John Engle]

Hi fellow listers.

I know that some have been through this hundreds of times but I'm wanting to get the most recent reflections on the principle:

Whatever happens is the only thing that could've.

My colleagues in Haiti and I continue to have smart people from a variety of cultures let us know that this principle doesn't sit well with them. 

It communicates fatalism to some instead of encouraging responsibility. While i'm totally comfortable with the principle, if enough people tell me that it communicates something to them that is different than what i'm trying to communicate, there's a problem. 

For me, what's worse is that often times people remember it as: "What happens is that which is supposed to happen" or "There's a reason for everything that happens." This can have us sounding like Christian fundamentalist.

We've been experimenting in Haitian Creole and in English with this:

What Happens is what happens - learn and move forward.

Here's an example of a text that would explain this principle:

This principle helps us to not lament over should’ves, to not wallow in regrets. We’re all responsible for how we use our time and space together during this meeting. Let’s assume that responsibility and be prepared to accept what happens and to continually strive to learn and to keep moving forward.

i covet your thoughts.

John




www.johnengle.net Open space facilitation
www.circlesofchange.com Participatory learning and leadership
www.harvesttime.cc Harvesting for justice that all may have enough

telephone Haiti: 509-461-3067

email: john at johnengle.net  
telephone: 202-236-6532 
fax: 202-449-8343 
 
John Engle 
P.O. Box 337 
Hershey, PA 17033

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