Hey everyone! Taking Harrison up on his offer (thanks!) and, in response to the rich replies so far, I am offering a few snippets for consideration in your upcoming conversation.... generally speaking - I think I'm advocating a research project that you and Plexus can co-sponsor, drawing on and providing opportunity for all the diverse science types they attract...
If we are looking at a move away from fear and its manifestation as control over the external environment and toward love, which supports self-organization and emergence, then I think we are looking at consciousness... How do we change our minds regarding this? We have been conditioned to limit our own power and to believe that others know better than ourselves. We have been conditioned to be more conscious of external states than internal ones... We are reinforced, societally, for our ability to control, manipulate and influence 'externals'. The problem is that, internally, this is problematic (how much frustration and suffering are we willing to tolerate?) and somewhat self-reinforcing (the more I control, the more I get on a material level). On a personal note, I know I struggle with my own level of responsibility/empowerment because when I look around, I see power abused. Do I want to become that? Not! What else does it look like? What else could it be like? It comes down to a matter of individual responsibility. This is fundamental to our exploration of self-organization... our consciousness limits, defines or, at least, influences what emerges. This seems a relevant area of conversation and exploration. Open Space supports the individual experience of self-organization as a possibility and activates the learning curve re: personal responsibility based on our highest ideals and deepest passions - a requirement for robust self-organization, I think. Something along the lines of how OS aids in: 1) Connecting with passion 2) Taking responsibility for bringing it forward Building on an excellent article be Richard Steel, wherein he outlines conditions for emergence (Emergence in Organizations - http://www.new-paradigm.co.uk), I compare below his criteria against relevant exploration via Open Space. 1)Connectivity - opportunity to speak with many others, high quality connections 2) Diversity - all topics accepted, diversity in invitees 3) Rate of Information Flow - length of breakout sessions, butterflies/bumblebees, turnaround on reports 4) Lack of Inhibitors - circle/equality, personal responsibility for learning (away form blame), whoever comes... 5) Good Boundaries - non-negotiables (instead of telling them what to do, let them know what not to do - all else is free), open/closing time, behaviours of group around this 6) Intention - clear goals for OS meeting, relevant issue/theme, desire for answer, urgency of need 7) Watchful Anticipation - when it starts, when it's over, whatever happens, etc... Be prepared to be surprised! I guess my passion is that the scientific community hear about how OS links in to all elements of self-organization... and decide to pursue some action research around it! Have a great chat, Harrison :-) Best wishes, Glory Harrison Owen wrote:
My conversations with Henri will continue, and hopefully move from talk to action. Which brings me to the point (at long last) of this note. What sort of actions, questions, explorations occur to you which might be pursued with Plexus. Henri, Curt (The president) and I will be conversing next week, and I will let you know the outcome -- but if any burning, passionate issues or opportunities jump to your mind -- let me know.
* * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
