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I came across this some time ago and it embodies the atmosphere Id like to see here more in our dealings with each other, rather than the open and sometimes immature fighting that breaks out. Not suggesting we stop disagreeing with each other, but perhaps find a greater context of respect within which to disagree What do you think?
Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world
around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to
perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2.
to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms:
VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.
In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions;
to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY,
SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.
Appreciative Inquiry is about the coevolutionary search for the best in people, their
organizations, and the relevant world around them. In its broadest focus, it involves
systematic discovery of what gives “life” to a living system when it is most alive,
most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human
terms. AI involves, in a central way, the art and practice of asking questions that
strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive
potential. It centrally involves the mobilization of inquiry through the crafting of
the “unconditional positive question” often-involving hundreds or sometimes
thousands of people. In AI the arduous task of intervention gives way to the speed of
imagination and innovation; instead of negation, criticism, and spiraling diagnosis,
there is discovery, dream, and design. AI seeks, fundamentally, to build a
constructive union between a whole people and the massive entirety of what people
talk about as past and present capacities: achievements, assets, unexplored potentials,
innovations, strengths, elevated thoughts, opportunities, benchmarks, high point
moments, lived values, traditions, strategic competencies, stories, expressions of
wisdom, insights into the deeper corporate spirit or soul-- and visions of valued and
possible futures. Taking all of these together as a gestalt, AI deliberately, in
everything it does, seeks to work from accounts of this “positive change core”—and
it assumes that every living system has many untapped and rich and inspiring
accounts of the positive. Link the energy of this core directly to any change agenda
and changes never thought possible are suddenly and democratically mobilized.
Read the complete excerpt from A Positive Revolution in Change:
Appreciative Inquiry by David L. Cooperrider and Diana Whitney.
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The only problem with appreciating the positives is that it ignores those actions, beliefs and thought habits, usually unconscious, that stand in the way of spiritual evolution. In fact, since this action may well serve to enhance self importance it would actually be counter productive. It seems to me the "work" generally involves the discovery and dealing with the more uncomfortable personal issues resulting often in reflexive behaviors. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for this notion to be promoted in a forum dedicated to social hobnobbing rather than the nasty work of recapitulation and dealing with the ugly items of the tonal.
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Didnt think you'd like that Gonzo! and so you go into a tailspin by the mere mention of something remotely positive and constructive. Perhaps you didnt notice that this approach does not advocate the pasting over of anything unpleasant. There is a suggestion however of a constructive overall approach, and within that, there is room for plenty of deconstruction and questioning of belief systems, reactions habits etc. I am not an expert or even knowledgeable on the 'appreciative enquiry' subject but I do see from what I read that it involves the asking specifically of provocative questions that take people out of their comfort zone within an 'appreciative' context.
We all know this path is uncomfortable. I see members have developed unique and diverse skills here. What Id like to see here more is an acknowledgment of that and less direct insulting and attacking of each other. This requires more discipline and more respect than is sometimes displayed by some members. We have all found each other here together, we are all in varying degrees committed to a difficult and uncomfortable path. There are other tools available other than a big hammer you know I see useful skills in all the members here, skills I dont have, including you Gonzo. I have my own skills and experience to offer. I also see weaknesses in others too. But its the skills that interest me, and those resources we are pooling together here. IMHO change can be effected much more effectively if there is a starting point of some kind of mutual trust and respect.
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Turin Otzaki wrote:What Id like to see here more is an acknowledgment of that and less direct insulting and attacking of each other. This requires more discipline and more respect than is sometimes displayed by some members. We have all found each other here together, we are all in varying degrees committed to a difficult and uncomfortable path. There are other tools available other than a big hammer you know I see useful skills in all the members here, skills I dont have, including you Gonzo. I have my own skills and experience to offer. I also see weaknesses in others too. But its the skills that interest me, and those resources we are pooling together here. IMHO change can be effected much more effectively if there is a starting point of some kind of mutual trust and respect.I agree. It is possible but does take a bit more work, focus, awareness and attention to come up with an interesting yet on point response rather than a quick jab, insult or tit-for-tat response. I am not positive, but I feel like some men kind of get a kick out of that, testosterone based posting. However, that being said, there are other ways and places to make this show of 'strength'. I feel like there is much power in a man (or woman) who says what he feels in a clear and concise way without having to resort to putting others down.
My two cents.
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Enchantra wrote: I feel like there is much power in a man (or woman) who says what he feels in a clear and concise way without having to resort to putting others down.
Yes! I LOVE to witness a man (and woman) who can hold his or her strength without resorting to the slash and burn approach, (bit of a lazy line of least resistance for some).
I learn the most from strong men and women who have a balance, and a whole wide range of tools available to them, the sharp, incisive, ruthless ones, as well as the encouraging and nurturing ones.
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I like what you present here Turin. Its what I would call, the path less traveled. Because of how we were raised, we were given an intent that caused us to look for weakness...a preditorial view. We viewed it initially as a survival mechanism...eat or be eaten, and a way to stay safe...'they are out to get me so I better locate their weakness.' Then after years of living in the concrete jungle of human interaction, such negativism becomes quite automatic and we start being negative even when no one is after us...such as we may be watching TV and make a negative comment about the person in the TV, lol I said "in" the TV...I'm leaving that type I will pretend I am primitive man just landed here ion the future...watching the 'men in teh TV" , lol. I want to get back to primordial self. Get out of mind. Mind was a tool developed to help man 'cope' with 'taming'. The maneuver is weakness spotting, thats how you tame someone...you spot their 'weakness' or achilles heel and then set out to intimidate them into being submissive and then, voila...tamed.
Wild people, those who walk the walk of being in the wild...do nto resort to this. The wild honors strength. I know some will say...no its the other way around, predadation is in the wild even moreso than in the 'civilized world'. Thsi is a misconception. Yes, the predatorial nature of getting food is in the wild, but not the predatorial mind of man, and it is that which I refer to. YOu will never see a wolf talking a rabbit into submission...no he chases the rabbit and if he is faster or smarter he eats, if teh rabbit is faster or smarter he lives another day (or minute). Animals don't really look for negatives, except when it pertains to survival...man, on the other hand has used this technique to control fellow men...to coral them into a corner and utilize that energy. I say man is not behind it, but rather at some epoch the FI arrived...and brought such legacy.
BUT, this thread is not about that, but about the option of goign against that very grain of intent. Why do it? Because therein lies freedom, therein lies the opportunity to no be like the tamed man. To always look for positive on others is not easy...its especially not easy when you have lost of emotion towards a person that is unpleasant...thats when all the negative option present and the urge to go negative is most strong...and thats actually the best time to do the opposite, to go positive. It will allow loads of energy redistributed and ap shift.
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Food for thought...there is a megnetic pull we must combat. If you put a bunch of people in a room and showed two TV programs...one the Jerry Springer Show and the other a documentary on Norman Vincent Peale (power of positive thinking) I'd bet most people wouold graviate to the JS TV. The reason being there is a 'pull' towards it.
Another example...you are at a grocery store...a fight breaks out between the clerk and customer, the customer is raving. Do you keep watching your own items being scanned and carry on your business or do you 'tune in' to the argument? Most people in the store stop what they are doing a tune in to listen. DRama has a 'lure' that is reinforced and then it has a 'life of its own'. Truly, we should not like drama, we should love adventure and new possibilities instead. I think 'drama' was its substitute in our 'taming'...keeps us corralled.
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Thought for the day,...............RESPECT.
Taking responsibility for your actions, deserves respect.
Ruthless self-examination, deserves respect.
Recognising and attempting to address your reflexive, emotional, ego-induced, behaviours, deserves respect.
Laughing at your own stupidities, deserves respect.
Defensiveness, self-justification, judgemental moralism, and, above all, hypocracy,.......... NEVER deserve respect.
IMO, of course.
P.S. Well said, Gonzo.
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"judgemental moralism, and, above all, hypocracy,.......... NEVER deserve respect".
There's a nice bit of judgemental moralism from you right there seren.
Oh, and isnt that then hypocrisy?!!! Heh Funny how we find we display the very qualities we detest in others...I find that in myself all the time.
"P.S. Well said, Gonzo"
Well thats why you guys have your very own forum now! We know you guys views, you have expressed it over and over and over. You have an ethos you, Gonz, SHM and co which you share with each other and hence you find affinity. (scuse the pun) All paths probabaly lead eventually to the same place anyway, there's so many different routes to suite each character. Respect to all fellow travellers, we share the same momentous battle even if we have different ideas on how to fight.
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Nu Lang wrote:Food for thought...there is a megnetic pull we must combat. If you put a bunch of people in a room and showed two TV programs...one the Jerry Springer Show and the other a documentary on Norman Vincent Peale (power of positive thinking) I'd bet most people wouold graviate to the JS TV. The reason being there is a 'pull' towards it.
Another example...you are at a grocery store...a fight breaks out between the clerk and customer, the customer is raving. Do you keep watching your own items being scanned and carry on your business or do you 'tune in' to the argument? Most people in the store stop what they are doing a tune in to listen. DRama has a 'lure' that is reinforced and then it has a 'life of its own'. Truly, we should not like drama, we should love adventure and new possibilities instead. I think 'drama' was its substitute in our 'taming'...keeps us corralled.Yes, but as we gain awareness we have more power to choose and thus resist the pull!
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And the pull gets stronger too it seems?!
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Yes Turin...I agree with you too, lol. More challenging...but then it gets easier eventually if you meet the challenge.
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