[Ailist] Re: "staying positive"

Mon Nov 24 07:20:26 MST 2008

Michael,

This is the question.  Now you have me wondering if I am chasing the wrong rabbit. I'm now wondering whether the issue is in the labeling. This goes to the issue that Howard raised--the notion of the whole, which also speaks to the yin/yang.  I think the rabbit is our need to distinguish them--to turn them into opposites and to focus on either as separate.  

What would it mean to shift to another level of consciousness where our emotional response came from embracing the whole?  Might there then be an over-riding state of positivity, abundance, and possibilitiy?

Am I making any sense?

Cheri

 -----Original message-----
From: "Michael L. Schwartz" mschwartz at positiveconcepts.biz
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:37:38 -0500
To: "'Cheri'" cheri at mobileteamchallenge.com, "'Plummer, Carolyn'" Carolyn.Plummer at uhn.on.ca, "'Howard Ditkoff'" howard at emergentassociates.com, ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: RE: [Ailist] Re: "staying positive"

Are "positive" and "negative" emotions opposites?

Consider the Eastern philosophy of yin yang. These are "opposing" forces that are "rooted together". Without darkness there can be on light. Without summer there can be no winter. Or, maybe, it's really that without darkness light has no meaning and without winter summer has no meaning.

Ca we extrapolate, the, and say that negative emotions (sadness, depression, etc) are what give positive emotions (happiness, joy, etc) meaning?

Michael L Schwartz, PE, PMP
President
Positive Concepts, Inc.
Phone: 248 828 7701
Fax: 248 828 7708
Email: MSchwartz at PositiveConcepts.biz
Web: www.PositiveConcepts.biz

Enhancing the positive.

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu [mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Cheri
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 3:43 PM
To: Plummer, Carolyn; Howard Ditkoff; ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: RE: [Ailist] Re: "staying positive"

Carolyn,

You gave me pause to wonder....

Do we really need "the negative" emotion in order to feel "the positive" emotion or is that merely the result of dualistic thinking?  I have no idea, but I am curious...

Thoughts?

Cheri
-----Original message-----
From: "Plummer, Carolyn" Carolyn.Plummer at uhn.on.ca
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:16:04 -0500
To: "Howard Ditkoff" howard at emergentassociates.com, ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: RE: [Ailist] Re: "staying positive"

I agree that the word "positive" needs clarification, as does it's
"negative" counterpart. Working in healthcare (including a background in
Oncology), I have come to know that being with people in their journey can
be a very positive experience for all parties, even if this means being with
them through times of sorrow (which could be labelled as "negative"). Joy
cannot exist without sorrow. What has worked for me has been "being with" in
a meaningful way - not judging, not trying to "direct" persons to be a
certain way (especially not directing them to be the way I want them to
be...), but rather acknowledging their experience, listening, and being
truly present with them. This can have a phenomenally positive impact.

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu]On Behalf Of Howard
Ditkoff
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 11:16 PM
To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: [Ailist] Re: "staying positive"

Personally, I find the word "positive" very vague. What is positive? Many
malicious people feel that whatever is their agenda is positive. One of the
main things in AI that could be improved is changing the wording from
"positive" to something less manipulable.

Best,
Howard
Website: http://www.SystemsThinker.com
Blog: http://blog.SystemsThinker.com
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Cheri B. Torres
www.mobileteamchallenge.com
865-681-0146

_______________________________________________
The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list administrator. For subscription information, go to:
http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist

***
Cheri B. Torres
www.mobileteamchallenge.com
865-681-0146