Like Larry and Barry, for me, the law of 2 feet is about following what has heart and meaning. It is a fundamental reminder of personal responsibility for one's experience. One aspect of this that I haven't seen discussed yet is using your two feet to stand up for what you believe. Sometimes 2 feet let you move, other times, they support you where you are. I think that is the ultimate gift of the law. It requires being very clear about acting from passion and responsibility.
Peg Holman -----Original Message----- From: Barry Owen <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 4:37 AM Subject: Re: Musings on the Law of Two Feet >Koos, > >For me, the law of two feet speaks more of following what has heart and >meaning for me. I do not think of it in terms of "leaving" a situation but >more in terms of moving toward something for which passion has arisen. > >With this in mind, I think that if I am neither contributing nor receiving >(even when I am "having a good time") my mind will begin to wander, and I >will no longer be able to be fully present . . . most often when my mind >wanders, my body follows right along . . . and I end up being somewhere >contributing and receiving. > >This occurs without conscious choice-making - it simply happens. I do not >believe that I "force" myself to leave a situation in which I am not having >fun (or am not contributing or receiving - or as an excuse to get away from >an uncomfortable situation) because I know that there is a reason for me to >stay if my mind has not yet departed . . . > >This, for me, is the essence of the law of two feet - when my mind wanders, >my body follows right along. > >Good day to all, > >b >Barry Owen >The Owen Group >5518 Kendall Drive >Nashville, TN 37209 >Phone 615-356-2888 > >Simply living the FourFold Way in Open Space > >My Worldwide Open Space Web-site: > >"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/9215/"; >----- Original Message ----- >From: koos de heer <[email protected]> >To: <[email protected]> >Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 3:43 AM >Subject: Musings on the Law of Two Feet > > >> Hi All, >> >> I have been thinking about the Law of Two Feet. >> In the book it says that "When you feel that you >> are neither learning nor contributing, you go >> elsewhere." Maybe it has to do with my Dutch >> Reformed upbringing that I like to examine rules >> and laws closely. In this case, it made me think >> that the Law might benefit from a small addition. >> >> I know that Open Space generally benefits from >> less rather than more - I will get to that too. >> >> It occured to me that it is rather serious - as >> long as I am learning and contributing, or even >> if I am doing only one of those two, it is OK. >> Strictly taken, this would mean that there are >> two valid excuses to bash the ego of the speaker >> or the convener: I am not learning and I am not >> contributing. But how about: I don't think it is >> fun here? Even though I may be learning a very >> important lesson here, or I may have a great >> contribution to make to the group, if I don't >> want to learn that lesson or if I am sick of >> discussing the topic that I have been teaching >> about all my life - I can also be very miserable >> and the best thing for me to do could be to go. >> >> And of course, in the spirit of Open Space, I >> would encourage anybody in that situation to >> go elsewhere. I have seen people exercise the >> Law of Two Feet in situations where I had the >> strong impression there was a lessen for them >> to learn, but if the person would rather not >> be there, learning will hardly be effective. >> >> On the other hand, I can be in a situation >> where I am not learning and not contributing >> but having a great time. Does that mean that >> I should leave and make myself useful? This >> certainly appeals to my Calvinist upbringing >> mentioned earlier! >> Of course, in my vision of OS, there is nothing >> wrong with having a good time and I will stay. >> >> So that made me think of making an addition to >> the Law: if you are neither learning nor >> contributing or if you are not having a good time, >> go somewhere else. This could work for me: I can >> be contributing and even though there maybe things >> that I'd rather do, making this contribution here >> and now is important so I stay. Same for learning. >> In the ideal situation I will be doing all three, >> but if not, two out of three ain't bad and I could >> even do with one. >> >> But this led me to another question. Do I have to >> have a reason for leaving? I think this is not the >> idea of the Law of Two Feet. The idea is that I >> could be in a situation where I find myself >> starting to feel miserable and really not wanting >> to be there. The Law is there to remind me of the >> fact that I have a choice. Not the reasons why are >> important, but the fact that I have a choice and >> that I am the only one responsible for the >> situation that I am in. Even staying and feeling >> miserable is perfectly OK. The only thing that is >> not OK is blaming someone else for it. >> >> So now back to the Less is More thing. Maybe we >> need not an addition to the Law, but simply a more >> general version: whenever I find myself in a >> situation I don't want to be in, I can go. And if >> I am explaining it to someone, I can use all sorts >> of examples about learning, contributing, having a >> good time, being too lazy to get up (or too afraid), >> or whatever, to stay or not to stay. >> >> When I started writing this, I did not think >> it would turn out this long... Anyway, I am very >> interested in your thoughts on this. >> >> Cheers, >> Koos >> >> ------------ >> koos de heer >> auryn management advies >> utrecht, netherlands >> mailto:[email protected] >> http://www.auryn.nl/
