Learning to live in open space in all the moments of our lives (was Causing Trouble/Digging Heals)

joe joralt at netvision.net.il
Mon Mar 26 03:11:39 PDT 2007


Loved this story. Great example of metaphysical balance in everyday life.

Thank you.

Josef

 

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Robyn
Williams
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 3:03 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Learning to live in open space in all the moments of our lives
(was Causing Trouble/Digging Heals)

 

Learning to live in open space in all the moments of our lives can be a
definite assist in those instances when the cookie really crumbles. 

 

I practice on the train, standing without holding on.

 

When I lose balance I enjoy the fall.

 

I fell down the stairs recently. Far from digging, my heels slipped and my
legs shot out in front of me. I grasped the rail (helm?) – no way could I
stop the fall however enough to turn my body slightly, safely, and down I
went, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. I was surprised yet calm during the
short, bumpy ride, amused by the sight of my legs sticking out in front of
me, quite delighted by the unexpected, knowing that I might end up worse for
wear and accepting that I was helpless.

 

I came to rest, shaken up like that ol’ martini. I breathed deeply, feeling
the fright, allowing the ride to settle. Then I checked for damage. Apart
from a few uncomfortable grazes on bony bits, my bum bore the brunt. The
next day a spectacular, inky bruise the size of a soup bowl left me in no
doubt about the force of my multiple landings. No pain though and I thanked
my bouncy bum, grateful that it did what it was designed to do.

 

Without the rail I would have landed on my coccyx, a very painful affair
according to a colleague recovering from this damage.

And if I’d tried to stop the fall by hanging on tightly to the rail I may
have broken my arm.

 

 

Best wishes

Robyn Williams

PERSISTENCE OF VISION

Facilitation Communication Sustainability

Fremantle, Western Australia

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
Sent: Friday, 23 March 2007 6:49 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Causing Trouble/Digging Heals

 

Scott – this is definitely a conversation to be interested in. At least I
am. Your observation that when the world goes crazy people tend to grab for
the nearest support is obviously true. And I would guess – completely
understandable. Having been in a number of world-changing events (at least
my world changing events) I know exactly what the feeling is.

 

It is not at all unlike being in rough weather on my boat. When the first
waves hit, throw you on the deck and the boat broadside to the wind – you
grab just about anything you can get your hands on. However, if you stay in
that position (on the deck holding on to the table – which is where I was
the last time this happened) there is an absolute certainty – if the boat
goes down, you will too. Counter intuitive as it may seem (crazy might be a
better word) you have to let go. And having done that, if you attempt to
fight the waves and the boat’s response (pitching) – you will be in worse
shape. Believe me; it is out of your control. The only hope is to literally
ride the waves (hopefully still on your boat) until you can reach the helm
(some people call this the “controls” – bad thought) – and then as
opportunity presents itself – slide to the open space. Never work against
the wind, waves or currents – but ride them! And if you ever think, even for
a moment, that you are in CONTROL, you are in deep trouble!

 

Learning to live in open space in all the moments of our lives can be a
definite assist in those instances when the cookie really crumbles. So if
there is a moral to this story it goes something like – open space anywhere,
anyhow, everytime you can  -- for who ever (including yourself) happens to
be around. Who knows – it may just be the “training experience” of your
(their) life time.

 

Harrison 

 

 

 

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, Maryland   20854

Phone 301-365-2093

Skype hhowen

Open Space Training  <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com


Open Space Institute  <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org

Personal website  <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com 

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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Scott
Willard
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 12:06 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Causing Trouble

 

I'm really interested in this thread of conversation.  I wonder about the
"need" for admin to control.  With organizations changing so rapidly, one
would think that the models of Complex Adaptive Systems and Adaptive
Leadership would really catch on and drive a new openness to the impact of
complexity theories on management.  Yet, our human nature when confronted
with rapid change is to dig our heels in the ground, bare our teeth and
charge in to control what we can.  Regardless of the quiet whispers that
tell us that all living systems reside outside of our "control."  The system
will hit a bifurcation point and new life will emerge or death will occur.
Our western business culture is so afraid of death.  Why?  Death makes
possible new opportunities.  I'll take a breath now.
 

Scott Willard
Affinity Consulting Group
affinity-scottwillard.com 

 

----- Original Message ----
From: Tenneson Woolf <tenneson at berkana.org>
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 7:41:29 AM
Subject: FW: Causing Trouble

Thank you for voicing this. It has helped me to name something that I have
seen many times and has made my skin crawl each time, without knowing why.

 

A prevalent management strategy seems to be “how to create obligation.” I
contrast this with the simple invitation to “co-create.” The former feels
like a never ending job that continues to require more and more effort, but
in a way that will never accomplish the most possible (or even more). It is
three parts manipulation, perhaps cajoling, perhaps retention of power, and
one part human to human synergy. The latter feels calls deep down to the
core of the human spirit, without even needing to be too funky, which seems
to enliven us through its simplicity. 

 

OK, maybe it isn’t all that simple. And yes, many approaches work to some
extent in many circumstances. But this fundamental distinction – obligation
vs invitation to cocreate – speaks volumes for me.

 

Thanks all.

 

Tenneson 

 

 

 

Tenneson Woolf

 

The Art of Hosting

tenneson at berkana.org

www.artofhosting.org <http://www.artofhosting.org/> 

801 376 2213

 

Dyer Institute for Leading Organizational Change

tenneson_woolf at byu.edu

www.dyerinstitute.byu.edu <http://www.dyerinstitute.byu.edu/> 

801 422 2665

  _____  

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 5:27 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: FW: Causing Trouble

 

From: Uwe Weissflog [mailto:Uwe.Weissflog at t-online.de] 
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 6:28 AM
To: hhowen at verizon.net
Subject: Re: Causing Trouble

 

Dear Harrison ,

what you say resonates with my experience and my heart. After numerous Open
Space events in high-tech businesses and universities I have come to similar
conclusions. Humberto Maturana's says in one of his books: "... but creating
and managing are basically different. I co-create, by consciously living in
the Now, making life more harmoniously - without enslaving other people".
But this, apparently is the dilemma we face when opening the space: the
self-organising and co-creating power of people becomes obvious and collides
with the desire of some who want have power over people.

I had cases, where after very successful Open Space events (for example one,
which resulted in 3 patents) higher management simply stopped it because the
structure did not fit the "normal way of life" in the company - what a waste
of possibilities.

I'm now very careful when and how to use Open Space - sometimes it seems
better to say no - for the sake of the people involved.

-- 
Uwe Weissflog
Pathway Guidance - Europe(TM), GbR
www.pathwayguidance.eu
uwe.weissflog at pathwayguidance.eu
Rinnengärten 1
D-34516 Vöhl-Marienhagen , Germany
+49 5635 99 11 97 (fon)
+49 5635 99 39 34 (fax)
+49 175 521 76 56 (mobile)

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