whatever happens...

Mon Apr 23 22:27:55 PDT 2007

Not much to add to this font of wisdom except perhaps to say that this
principle is also the one I struggle most with.  In that sense it is the
basis of my practice.  I present it as an invitation to follow threads.  If
we feel as if the conversation should be going in one direction and the
passion of the moment takes it in another direction, I invite people to
follow that.  It is in that rich ground of friendship and engagement that
innovation is born.  It is there we truly experience emergence.  And
emergence is, after all, why we choose to engage in conversation in the
first place.

Because we can never know what will emerge, trusting in one another will
take us to a place that none of us could have guessed at prior to meeting.
And thus, whatever happens is the only thing that could have.

Chris

On 4/23/07, Peggy Holman <peggy at opencirclecompany.com> wrote:
>
>  I did a search of my OSlist archive.  The last time this subject came up
> in depth was in 2001!  I've copied some excerpts below.
>
> A new insight for me on whatever happens is that it helps reframe
> disonnance, disturbance.  I know now that perturbations in a system are a
> sign that something new is wanting to emerge.  When conflict, anger,
> frustration or even excitement, hope, aspirations show up in Open  Space,
> they are a reminder to be curious; to "welcome disturbance", knowing that it
> could well reveal something pivotal.  So rather than resisting or in other
> ways block unexpected energies, whatever happens is a great reminder to be
> present to what is showing up.
>
> open-heartedly,
> Peggy
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Peterson" <lpasoc at INFORAMP.NET>
> To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 8:06 AM
> Subject: Re: Whatever happens... (was: Dear OSLIST)
>
> >I agree with Michael and Joelle.  "Whatever happens" is a key principle
> to
> > inform how we operate in Open Space.  At first I struggled a bit with
> that
> > one.  I later recognized that it was my desire to shape or control the
> > outcomes that was driving that struggle for me.  As a social justice
> > activist, I was convinced that I had to control and that certainly
> something
> > else "could have" happened if "right people" had been there, or if
> people
> > only had a better consciousness of the real situation.  I came to
> realize
> > that once the space was opened, it was best for me and the participants
> to
> > assume that whatever happened was the only thing that could have and
> then
> > learn from that.  The  principle opens the group up to tremendous
> learning
> > about where the group is at now -- not some ideal sense of where you
> think
> > it ought to or should be.  In my work with corporations or with activist
> > organizations, if there is a need to provide perspectives or information
> to
> > the whole group that will affect how people see what is possible, then
> that
> > is done before opening space.  However, accepting what manifests in Open
> > Space as a reflection of the situation now is critical learning for
> deciding
> > what to do next.  We cannot change history only our perceptions of it.
> > "Could" it have been different -- we like to think so.  However, it
> wasn't
> > and the complex of variables that led to what it was were the reality at
> the
> > time, including our own behaviour.
> >
> > Larry
> ***********************************
>
>  ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Herman" <
> mherman at GLOBALCHICAGO.NET>
> To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 6:08 PM
> Subject: Re: Whatever happens... (was: Dear OSLIST)
>
> > artur,
> >
> > i think that 'whatever happens is the only thing that could have' is
> > necessarily absolutely true.  if there was anything else more likely,
> > more possible, it would have happened.  this does not mean that it is
> > most desirable.   does not mean that it should be repeated.  and,
> > especially does not mean that we understand all of the conditions that
> > made it the most likely outcome (most likely in that it did in fact beat
> > out all other happenings that might otherwise have happened in that
> > moment).  that we don't understand all of those conditions is, i think,
> > the little bit of mystery that this particular principle points to.
> > indeed, i thnk that's what the principles are for... pointing to the
> > mystery, the surprise, the unknown.
>
> ********************
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joelle Lyons Everett" <
> JLEShelton at aol.com>
> To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 11:52 PM
> Subject: Re: Whatever happens... (was: Dear OSLIST)
>
> >
> > I don't take "Whatever happens is the only thing that could have" as an
> > expression of fatalism, but as an acknowledgment that in the course of
> the
> > meeting we will do what we can, given the time, resources, and our
> capability
> > to take action, maybe in a new direction.  It reminds me of a statement
> I
> > heard early in my training for working with organizations:  "Begin where
> the
> > client is.  Not only is this philosophically the 'correct' position, but
> it
> > is the only place you can begin."
> >
> > The most interesting comment I've seen about the 4 principles came from
> > Angeles Arrien, who states that they are statements about spiritual
> > detachment--the ability to work hard on something without being attached
> to a
> > particular outcome.  This rang true for me; I find that facilitating
> Open
> > Space is very closely related to my inner struggle to stop trying to
> control
> > everything in the world.  Spiritual work, and it doesn't come easy to
> me.
> >
> >
> > Joelle
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* John Engle <john at johnengle.net>
> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> *Sent:* Monday, April 23, 2007 7:06 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [OSLIST] whatever happens...
>
> these are great! thanks for your affirmations, lisa, and for your
> reflections alan and doug.
>
> no one will ever be able to argue or dispute, "whatever happens is the
> only thing that did"
>
> i can't even say it without a grin and chuckle. that's a good sign.
>
> i look forward to learning what others think.
>
> thanks again!
>
> john
>
> *douglas germann <76066.515 at compuserve.com>* wrote:
>
> John--
>
> How about "Whatever happens is the only thing that did"?
>
> :- Doug.
>
> On Mon, 2007-04-23 at 18:22 -0700, John Engle wrote:
> > 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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>
>
>
> www.johnengle.net <http://johnengle.net> Open space facilitation
> www.circlesofchange.com <http://circlesofchange.com> Participatory
> learning and leadership
> www.harvesttime.cc <http://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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-- 
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Facilitation - Training
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com

Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.
http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com

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