Dear Artur ~ For me, the "it always works" aspect of OST is the only possible outcome from any OST, not because of any particular "positive" or "negative" effect, but because during the time the OST is taking place, the group operates by proper principles, principles that honor the inherent wisdom of every person in the room, and that invite each person to express their wisdom in the manner of their choosing in the moment they're in.
I don't think it matters if there is high energy or low energy. Both are valid. (Note the growth of plants. High energy in summer. Low energy in winter. Or bears. Hibernation is necessary to growth and survival. To all things a season....) I don't think it matters what level of passion and responsibility is evident. It isn't particularly important that any of us express passion or take responsibility for something. What IS important is that we each have the opportunity to authentically express whatever it is that calls out in us to be expressed. If that expression in a particular context is lack of passion or responsibility, that is as valid as it's opposite. (I'm reminded of Thomas Edison, who conducted thousands of experiments before he created the light bulb that "worked." Another way to see this progression is that each and every experiment "worked" in the sense that with each "failure" he learned something he didn't know before, and came closer to reaching his goal. Thank goodness for "failure!") In terms of "did it work?" I also don't think it matters what happens after the OST. OST invites each of us to be fully present, fully "in" the moment we're in. We aren't asked to participate in something planned by someone else in some other time, but to actively create our own experience in the unfolding moment we're in. That is the radical difference that OST brings to group dynamics. For me, THAT is sufficient for OST to "work." It invites us to play with presence and Now in groups. Even if no one in the room accepts the invitation to be fully present, the fact that the invitation was made is sufficient for me to feel it "worked." Even if there is no apparent change or transformation in the group after the OST, or even if things appear to be worse, the invitation to presence and authenticity was given. Some invitations need to be given more than once before they can be received. Every invitation matters, even if we can't perceive it's manifestation in the world. As I think more on the question of lasting impacts of OST, I realize that clearly, "later" isn't "now," so in some ways trying to pin down the future into a construct we interpret as positive contradicts the very principles of OST. When it starts is the right time, and by golly, when it's over, it's over. Creating conditions (if x happens, OST is successful) is not very OST-like. I think we're bouncing between paradigms here, but can't quite articulate what I mean by that. For me, the OST invitation itself, the principles of OST, are a way of truth-telling. They tell a truth about what it means to be human. Simply speaking them out loud, giving them away, "works." Whatever happens next is..... well, the only thing that could have, given everything that is. I think we tend to see "good" things happen during and after OST because our nature and the nature of truth is "good." When we're invited to manifest who we are, we find we like what we see. And.... most of us also have a bit of not-truth and not-goodness to contend with. If we see THAT part emerge during or after an OST, then perhaps that isn't a failure, but simply evidence of some of us learning something we didn't know before, on our way to reaching our goal. Leaving us with (whew!) It's All Good.... (with thanks to Chris C. for introducing me to the unbidden hidden 5th Principle.... or perhaps it isn't really another principle, but an outcome of the 4 Principles..... yes, that's it..... OST always works because the 4 Principles always, inherently work because they reflect the truth. Truth, goodness, joy and love are all the same. Find one and you find them all. OST principles speak the truth about who we are and how we can properly conduct ourselves with each other. Therefore it works. Every time.) Okay, I'll stop now..... Julie * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected], Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
