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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>open-heartedly,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Peggy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message -----
<DIV>From: "Larry Peterson" <<A
href="mailto:lpasoc@INFORAMP.NET">lpasoc@INFORAMP.NET</A>></DIV>
<DIV>To: <<A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>></DIV>
<DIV>Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 8:06 AM</DIV>
<DIV>Subject: Re: Whatever happens... (was: Dear OSLIST)</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>>I agree with Michael and Joelle. "Whatever happens" is
a key principle to<BR>> inform how we operate in Open Space. At first I
struggled a bit with that<BR>> one. I later recognized that it was my
desire to shape or control the<BR>> outcomes that was driving that struggle
for me. As a social justice<BR>> activist, I was convinced that I had
to control and that certainly something<BR>> else "could have" happened if
"right people" had been there, or if people<BR>> only had a better
consciousness of the real situation. I came to realize<BR>> that once
the space was opened, it was best for me and the participants to<BR>> assume
that whatever happened was the only thing that could have and then<BR>> learn
from that. The principle opens the group up to tremendous
learning<BR>> about where the group is at now -- not some ideal sense of
where you think<BR>> it ought to or should be. In my work with
corporations or with activist<BR>> organizations, if there is a need to
provide perspectives or information to<BR>> the whole group that will affect
how people see what is possible, then that<BR>> is done before opening
space. However, accepting what manifests in Open<BR>> Space as a
reflection of the situation now is critical learning for deciding<BR>> what
to do next. We cannot change history only our perceptions of it.<BR>>
"Could" it have been different -- we like to think so. However, it
wasn't<BR>> and the complex of variables that led to what it was were the
reality at the<BR>> time, including our own behaviour.<BR>> <BR>>
Larry<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
size=2>***********************************</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message -----
<DIV>From: "Michael Herman" <<A
href="mailto:mherman@GLOBALCHICAGO.NET">mherman@GLOBALCHICAGO.NET</A>></DIV>
<DIV>To: <<A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>></DIV>
<DIV>Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 6:08 PM</DIV>
<DIV>Subject: Re: Whatever happens... (was: Dear OSLIST)</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>> artur,<BR>> <BR>> i think that 'whatever happens is
the only thing that could have' is<BR>> necessarily absolutely true. if
there was anything else more likely,<BR>> more possible, it would have
happened. this does not mean that it is<BR>> most
desirable. does not mean that it should be repeated.
and,<BR>> especially does not mean that we understand all of the conditions
that<BR>> made it the most likely outcome (most likely in that it did in fact
beat<BR>> out all other happenings that might otherwise have happened in
that<BR>> moment). that we don't understand all of those conditions is,
i think,<BR>> the little bit of mystery that this particular principle points
to.<BR>> indeed, i thnk that's what the principles are for... pointing to
the<BR>> mystery, the surprise, the unknown.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>********************</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message -----
<DIV>From: "Joelle Lyons Everett" <<A
href="mailto:JLEShelton@aol.com">JLEShelton@aol.com</A>></DIV>
<DIV>To: <<A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>></DIV>
<DIV>Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 11:52 PM</DIV>
<DIV>Subject: Re: Whatever happens... (was: Dear OSLIST)</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR>> <BR>> I don't take "Whatever happens is the only thing that
could have" as an<BR>> expression of fatalism, but as an acknowledgment that
in the course of the<BR>> meeting we will do what we can, given the time,
resources, and our capability<BR>> to take action, maybe in a new
direction. It reminds me of a statement I<BR>> heard early in my
training for working with organizations: "Begin where the<BR>> client
is. Not only is this philosophically the 'correct' position, but
it<BR>> is the only place you can begin."<BR>> <BR>> The most
interesting comment I've seen about the 4 principles came from<BR>> Angeles
Arrien, who states that they are statements about spiritual<BR>>
detachment--the ability to work hard on something without being attached to
a<BR>> particular outcome. This rang true for me; I find that
facilitating Open<BR>> Space is very closely related to my inner struggle to
stop trying to control<BR>> everything in the world. Spiritual work,
and it doesn't come easy to me.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Joelle</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=john@johnengle.net href="mailto:john@johnengle.net">John Engle</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, April 23, 2007 7:06
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [OSLIST] whatever
happens...</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>these are great! thanks for your affirmations, lisa, and for
your reflections alan and doug.<BR><BR>no one will ever be able to argue or
dispute, "whatever happens is the only thing that did"<BR><BR>i can't even say
it without a grin and chuckle. that's a good sign.<BR><BR>i look forward to
learning what others think.<BR><BR>thanks
again!<BR><BR>john<BR><BR><B><I>douglas germann <<A
href="mailto:76066.515@compuserve.com">76066.515@compuserve.com</A>></I></B>
wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">John--<BR><BR>How
about "Whatever happens is the only thing that did"?<BR><BR>:-
Doug.<BR><BR>On Mon, 2007-04-23 at 18:22 -0700, John Engle wrote:<BR>> Hi
fellow listers.<BR>> <BR>> I know that some have been through this
hundreds of times but I'm<BR>> wanting to get the most recent reflections
on the principle:<BR>> <BR>> Whatever happens is the only thing that
could've.<BR>> <BR>> My colleagues in Haiti and I continue to have
smart people from a<BR>> variety of cultures let us know that this
principle doesn't sit well<BR>> with them. <BR>> <BR>> It
communicates fatalism to some instead of encouraging<BR>> responsibility.
While i'm totally comfortable with the principle, if<BR>> enough people
tell me that it communicates something to them that is<BR>> different
than what i'm trying to communicate, there's a problem. <BR>> <BR>>
For me, what's worse is that often times people remember it as:
"What<BR>> happens is that which is supposed to happen" or "There's a
reason for<BR>> everything that happens." This can have us sounding like
Christian<BR>> fundamentalist.<BR>> <BR>> We've been experimenting
in Haitian Creole and in English with this:<BR>> <BR>> What Happens is
what happens - learn and move forward.<BR>> <BR>> Here's an example of
a text that would explain this principle:<BR>> <BR>> This principle
helps us to not lament over should’ves, to not wallow<BR>> in regrets.
We’re all responsible for how we use our time and space<BR>> together
during this meeting. Let’s assume that responsibility and be<BR>>
prepared to accept what happens and to continually strive to learn
and<BR>> to keep moving forward.<BR>> <BR>> i covet your
thoughts.<BR>> <BR>> John<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
www.johnengle.net Open space facilitation<BR>> www.circlesofchange.com
Participatory learning and leadership<BR>> www.harvesttime.cc Harvesting
for justice that all may have enough<BR>> <BR>> telephone Haiti:
509-461-3067<BR>> <BR>> email: john@johnengle.net <BR>> telephone:
202-236-6532 <BR>> fax: 202-449-8343 <BR>> <BR>> John Engle
<BR>> P.O. Box 337 <BR>> Hershey, PA 17033 * *<BR>>
==========================================================<BR>>
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To<BR>>
subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of<BR>>
oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:<BR>>
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about<BR>>
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:<BR>>
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR><BR><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"></SPAN><A
href="http://johnengle.net">www.johnengle.net</A> Open space
facilitation<BR><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,255)"
href="http://circlesofchange.com">www.circlesofchange.com</A> Participatory
learning and leadership<BR><A
href="http://harvesttime.cc">www.harvesttime.cc</A> <SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"></SPAN>Harvesting for justice that all may
have enough<BR><BR>telephone Haiti: 509-461-3067<BR><BR>email:
john@johnengle.net <BR>telephone: 202-236-6532 <BR>fax: 202-449-8343
<BR><BR>John Engle <BR>P.O. Box 337 <BR>Hershey, PA 17033 * *
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