This is a post in my series on organizing ”between and beyond.” Other posts are here. The purpose of this post is to reflect on subjects occupying my mind. I make no claim to fully believe what I write. Neither do I pretend that others have not already thought or written about the same subject. More often than not, I take up, combine, and add to already existing thoughts and ideas.
What is on my mind?
Emma Taylor (@generativeOD) has started a new project On Feeling and Knowing which I find both interesting and inspiring. I share Emma’s interest in actively cultivating more generative ways of working together. The following core themes have emerged as part of the work:
- Authenticity — Being in touch with who we are
- Listening Deeply — Receptivity to openness
- Letting Go — Embracing the continuous flow of experience
- Interconnectedness — Grounding self and the other in an ecological context
Emma thinks that:
… we known that this world of unrelenting consumption and economic self-interest will not change unless we … change our ways by turning towards life sustaining business practices. Now is the time when we each need to take responsibility for the work places we co-create. We need to wake up and stop denying that our old ways of working will suffice. … This requires a courageous participation that is centred in purposeful collaboration that reaches beyond individual self interest. Catalysing … acts of openness not judgement and kindness not criticism.1
Emma asks the following questions for those who chooses to see:
- What if we each just took a deep breath and stepped into the collective vulnerability of our not knowing?
- What if we allowed the future to form by intentionally letting go to our fixed ideals and objectives?
- What if we chose to start from a position of truly wanting to understand the other?
- What if we chose to meet one another exactly where we are, without expectation or shame?
- What if we allowed ourselves to be fully seen?
- What does it take to create the conditions in our work places that enable us to show up in all our imperfections?
- What would it take for us to truly come into contact with each other, to listen, or ask for a helping hand?
- What will it take for us to breakthrough our sense of disconnection and ever present absence
- What is our deepest most heartfelt purpose for the world?
- What are our common threads of connection?
- What makes us feel truly alive?
- And, how can we facilitate life affirming conversations?
Yes, what if?
This requires that we see life’s intrinsic value, and act accordingly!
Emma quotes Andreas Weber:
…it could be that the planet is not actually suffering from either an environmental crisis or an economic one. Instead, it could be that the Earth is currently suffering from a shortage of our love.”2
We need to love Life itself, and show it! This includes honoring intrinsic human values—not least at our workplaces.
Notes:
1 Emma Taylor, About This Project—On Feeling and Knowing (accessed 2018-08-03).
2 Andreas Weber, Matter and Desire: An Erotic Ecology (Chelsey Green Publishing, 2017), p.3.
Related posts:
Organizing in between and beyond posts
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