[Ailist] Positive Core of America: responsibility
Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
robyn at litglobal.com
Wed Mar 11 21:03:37 MST 2009
Dear Roger, John, Stan, Mary Alice, Madelyn, Leif and AI community
I too have followed with interest how this thread is evolving. Mary
Alice and Madelyn, thank you for your stories and experience. Leif,
thank you for yours. These are such a powerful examples that life
and language are open to endless interpretations and how together we
create new knowledge and meaning. Thanks for expanding and reframing.
The three questions I posed in my original post demonstrate my
“appreciative curiosity” and desire for “compassionate
engagement” (Leif / Madelyn’s words) because I opened my own heart to
listen to what America’s positive core is. I was appreciatively
curious about the areas of greatest possibility that exist for America
to “rectify” its standing in the world; and what dreams Americans have
of their role in the world and how they want to be perceived. I was
being inclusive - “WE” - as apposed to “ME” (thank you Mary Alice),
because as an Australian, living in America, I feel a responsibility
(thank you, Roger, and for your continuity) to fit in and contribute
to the community, while I am living here.
I see this time in America as filled with the greatest possibility,
thanks to its voting for Barack Obama. He is a man of such holistc
vision, yet the divisiveness in the country seems to be re-surfacing.
I am growing disillusioned with the language and focus of
conversations, initiated by the mainstream media. I rarely listen
to, or watch the news, as the negativity, the “me-ness”, the fear, and
the focus on the “struggles”, the “tough times”, the sense of
“powerlessness” and “panic”, “despair” – all focused around the
financial industry - drives me nuts. It is ugly, representing greed,
power, winning at any cost. As a counter to the negativity, it seemed
important to hear what else America has given the world, from
Americans themselves - to keep connected to the best the nation has to
offer.
Rather than dwell on my own current irritations, I wanted to hear from
“you all” so I could share your excitements and hopes and dreams for
this country and how it can contribute positively to the world. I
want so much to maintain the hope and optimism and vision of Obama. I
saw a video of Michelle Obama tonight. She said,” “We have an
obligation to fight for a world as it should be and that is what
connects our hearts”.
What puzzles me still is that, until Roger shifted the focus to
include “responsibility”, there was only one American contribution on
topic. Even so, there are still more non-American responses to these
original questions.
Perhaps my original inquiry, as framed, did not connect to many
Americans and therefore there was no desire to engage (Mary-Alice,
thank you for your Japanese story). In providing my own response to
the questions, I was very conscious of choosing language that was
valuing, respectful and honoring, referring to "sustainable cultures".
So, Leif, I envisioned “the Positive Core of America” as a stepping
off point to shift the focus from America’s own self-centric view of
the world to begin to embrace the entire world in a loving way. Your
reframe is very lovely. When we get to that place of compassion – a
quiet positive emotion – we open our hearts and minds to others,
irrespective of national identity.
I’ll conclude by restating that I think the greatest opportunity for
America is a mindset shift from fear to love and a shift from "I" to
"we".
And the invitation still stands, "Imagine the World"! Who's in?
With deep gratitude
Robyn
Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
Creator, Positive Matrix www.positivematrix.com
Founder, L.I.T. Global www.litglobal.com
+1 732 291 0462
+1 917 816 5597 (mobile)
Skype: robynsb
On Mar 11, 2009, at 3:20 AM, Leif Josefsson wrote:
I have followed this thread with interest and, to be honest, in the
beginning also with irritation. After a while, however, I finally
find a
discussion on AI List that (in one way) takes a broader perspective and
actually connects to what is happening in the world/society of today.
But I
wondered, why should I think of the positive core of just America?
For a while I was thinking about the possibility of launching a
discussion
about "The positive core of Sweden"...... but I could not find this a
meaningful idea So I started to think about launching the thread "The
positive core of Europe" - at least that would create a broader
perspective.
And I think about my experience from participation in the "European
Network
around Appreciative Inquiry and strength based change" (also called
"Begeistring Organisations" | www.networkplace.eu | ) where we have
talked a
lot about identity. ("What is it about being European? Is there a
European
identity? Yes, we think so - We are Europeans - and we are
different...")
But then we often refer to ourselves as belonging to the "West" which
includes also Australia, New Zealand and, probably, Japan. Last
year I
found Kishore Mahbubani from Singapore who in his book "The rise of the
Eastern Hemispher" challenges the dominance of the west. This speech
caught
my interest last year. Somewhat prophetic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GEcXVbsEX8
Looking for "The positive core of America" in an international
discussion
group creates dilemmas:
- It puts all of us in a position where we have to relate to US as
a center of the world. Less than 5% of the world's population are
Americans
(even if the US accounts for 50% of global military spending) And
to put the
country I live in a perspective, Sweden is 3% of America's
population. 3%
of 5%......
- It assumes that a nation must have a "positive core" - risking
inquirying into conformity rather than diversity
- Looking for the "positive" it might overshadow important, and
possibly
painful, changes needed. Tax rises, role changes, behavior change,
self
identity change, economic discipline etc
- Risk of having Appreciative Inquiry perceived just as another
American
Consulting Fad.
Something that has troubled me following the AI-list during quite some
time
is the narrowing in on words connected with the words "positive" and
"happiness". There are lots of situation in life where these words
rather
would be limiting.
When I think of "Appreciative Inquiry" words like curiosity, interest,
compassion and engagement feel much more lifegiving to me.
If you have come this far, please do not see this as "America
bashing" (and
Robin I do not criticize you for starting the discussion). Apparently
the
subject has aroused a lot of energy. And one cannot blame Americans
for the
rest of us being quiet. So I would like to challenge both Europeans AND
"non Westerns" to engage in this discussion which could be reframed to
something like
- "How could we look with Compassionate Engagement and Appreciative
Curiousity to what is happening in the world today?
- How could we look with a positive lens even if there is an
inevitable
world shift leading to decreased (relative) influence of America (and
Europe) on the world
- How can we use the mindsets, values and tools of Appreciative
Inquiry
to open up our perspective and to start exploring the world using
the eyes,
ears and minds of others.
And finally, my reflection on "the positive core":
There is no common core. What I find most fascinating about the US is
that
whatever you are looking for, you will find it. It is the projection of
everyones wishes, fears, dreams. It has been a scapegoat or salvation in
minds of people around the world. There is not one America. To me
America
is a chaotic multiverse mixup where everybody happens to speak
English. I
like it.
Thanks for listening This was my personal views. I am happy to belong
to the
AI-List.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are European or might come to Europe sometime, welcome to
register on
www.networkplace.eu to the European Network around Appreciative
Inquiry and
Strength Based Change.
http://www.networkplace.eu/web/page.aspx?pageid=14071
The next European network meeting is in Barcelona April 23-24 - more
information here:
http://www.networkplace.eu/web/page.aspx?pageid=14110&eventid=4559&page=1
On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 11:24 PM, Madelyn Blair <pelerei at mac.com> wrote:
> As I read through what Mary Alice wrote, I had to share with you a
> story
> that I gave at a January AI event in Washington, DC.
>
> Living Appreciatively
>
> At the very first meeting of this group that Deb started, she asked
> if I
> would do something on story. I decided to do something from my work
> with
> Stories inside Words. I told of the project that I am working on to
> gather
> stories from peacemakers and the opening set of stories from three
> ambassadors who told stories inspired by words to the preamble to the
> Charter of the UN. We played a bit with how words become more alive
> when
> stories are told that came from their inspiration. Then I asked the
> group to
> tell stories inspired by either the word enquiry or appreciation.
>
> As I listened to the stories, I wondered where this one was going.
> Could
> people be so used to the words appreciative inquiry that they would
> not be
> able to find something new in themselves? Would all of their stories
> be of
> how they used AI? Would the words remain the same to me even after
> hearing
> all the stories? I just didn’t know what would happen.
>
> Every other time I have used the Stories inside Words exercise, the
> participants were excited about the words. They are usually words from
> mission statements or vision statements. I usually begin with asking
> them to
> tell stories inspired by words from mission statements of famous
> corporations like Niki or Mary Kay or Lego. They have fun with the
> words,
> and they see the words come alive in new ways. So, by the time they
> began to
> tell stories from their own mission statement, they are having fun,
> and they
> are practiced in finding the stories. But with the AI group, we
> wouldn’t
> have time to do this extra step. I had to rely on my belief that
> stories
> inside words would enliven in any event.
>
> I began to listen to the stories about appreciation or enquiry. The
> stories
> were mixed together. As they told their stories, I began to jot down
> points
> in their stories. One by one, the stories began to reveal things
> about the
> speakers. Perhaps the story was about a family member who had a
> habit of
> asking questions about everything. Perhaps the story was about
> something
> earlier in their career when someone gave them a real break that set
> them on
> the right track. Just as we find in AI work, the response to
> questions or
> the telling of the story ‘of the time when’ are revealing about a
> lot of
> things. But was there some kernel of something new here? I
> recognized my own
> dreariness with the words appreciative inquiry. I had been using
> that phrase
> for almost 10 years. I had written about them. I had worked through
> them. I
> had taught about them. Would there be something new for me?
>
> I didn’t see it at first. Perhaps because time was running out (I
> did this
> in an amazingly short period of time.) and so my thinking cap never
> got put
> on right and no new thoughts were coming to me. But the group was
> happier
> and happier about what they were seeing in the stories. They
> certainly got
> the point. They could see that stories enlivened words. But what
> about me?
>
> The next day, I began to write up the notes from the session. I
> typed each
> phrase, word, and note that I had made. Then as I got toward the end
> of the
> list, I felt that tingle of excitement start deep inside. Yes, there
> was
> something new there. Word after word just kept adding to the
> excitement that
> was growing in me. And suddenly, there it was. The stories about
> appreciation were about compassion – every story had some aspect in
> it. The
> stories about enquiry were about the interaction between two people
> who were
> engaged with each other in some form of conversation. That was it –
> compassionate engagement.
>
> Compassionate engagement. I had it. This was new to me. Suddenly, AI
> became
> something entirely revitalized. We engage compassionately with
> others in
> compassionate engagement. I have never felt the same about AI since
> then.
>
> Now, the new words allowed me to broaden my view of, my use of this
> philosophy. I could design retreats, surveys, or interview protocols;
> conduct conversations, briefings, or discussions; teach, coach, or
> advise
> with my full attention on the others in the room (engagement) and
> with good
> intentions toward the other (a compassionate heart).
>
> These two new words were now fresh and alive to me. They also became
> measures of my intended actions and actual actions. Easy and simple.
> Be
> there for the other person with a desire to be helpful and affirming.
>
> I recently conducted some interviews for a book I am writing. The
> interviews were about how the persons perceived me. Here is one of the
> statements I recorded: “You always bring a strong desire to understand
> fully, to assure that the framework is clear, yet you give comfort
> to others
> while you do it.”
>
> Compassionate engagement has become my guide post.
>
> M. Blair, January 2009
>
>
> Madelyn Blair, Ph.D.
> Pelerei, Inc.
> Turning Vision into Reality
> www.pelerei.com
> 301-371-7100
> 301-371-7957 (fax)
> 301-471-8721 (mobile)
> Skype ID: madelynblair
>
>
>
> On Mar 9, 2009, at 5:55 PM, Mary-Alice Arthur wrote:
>
> Hello all!
>>
>> I've been following this thread with interest. I'd like to add to
>> the
>> conversation about 'responsibility' the two words 'connectedness' and
>> 'engagement', because I think they help to grow the capacity for
>> response-ability.
>>
>> In November last year I was in Japan, one of a facilitator team at an
>> international development conference. We were working on the 10 UN
>> themes
>> and my facilitation partner and I were leading the group on
>> 'Disconnection
>> and Barriers to Engagement'. Now all of the themes are stated in
>> this
>> negative way, which makes them very difficult to get excited about
>> and
>> even
>> harder to feel like there is hope or an answer. It didn't surprise
>> me at
>> all that the sign announcing our space fell off on the first day
>> and would
>> not allow itself to become reattached to the wall!
>>
>> Through the five days the group worked on this topic, we had very
>> interesting conversations, and one stayed with me. The group had
>> been
>> asked
>> to take part in an Appreciative interview in twos and we had one
>> group of
>> three. The two young women in the trio agreed they got connected
>> with
>> other
>> people first, then they got engaged. The young man said he got
>> engaged
>> first, then he got connected. They drew a little circular diagram
>> that
>> connected the words 'connection' and 'engagement'.
>>
>> They then went further and defined 'connection' as something that
>> happens
>> to
>> you -- a feeling. You can become connected to something or someone
>> without
>> even being able to understand it. 'Engagement' however, they
>> defined as
>> an
>> action; acting on the connection you feel. I had never heard it
>> defined
>> so
>> simply.
>>
>> The group went on the put ME/WE as the central part of our work
>> (and if
>> you
>> can imagine ME on top of WE you will see that they are actually
>> reflections
>> of each other in word form). We came to the conclusion that if ME
>> and WE
>> are beautiful reflections of each other and individual and community
>> well-being are beautiful reflections of each other, then the world
>> is a
>> beautiful place.
>>
>> This seems very simple, but, in fact is a very radical idea, if you
>> place
>> it
>> in Japan, where WE dominates and overpowers ME or the in the US,
>> were ME
>> overwhelms and overshadows WE.
>>
>> Years ago there was a cover story on FAST COMPANY about Yahoo
>> called 'Love
>> is the killer app'. I believe it is so. If we loved enough there
>> would be
>> no power plays at work. If we loved enough there would be no war.
>> If we
>> loved enough there would be no hunger or global desolation through
>> our
>> actions. Imagine a business where leaders loved what they were
>> doing,
>> where
>> people loved each other into their best expression, where people
>> loved
>> working and clients loved doing business. This would be the type
>> of world
>> where we would naturally take responsibility because it would be an
>> outpouring of our love.
>>
>> Loving enough IS a radical act. I am continually asking myself
>> whether I
>> am
>> up to it.
>>
>> Blessings,
>>
>> Mary Alice
>>
>>
>>
>> Mary-Alice Arthur
>> SOAR
>> PO Box 10-868
>> Wellington
>> New Zealand
>> mobile: +64-21-687-627
>> email: mary-alice at getsoaring.com
>> web: http://www.getsoaring.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David
>> Eccles
>> School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the
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>> administrator. For subscription information, go to:
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>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
--
Leif Josefsson
Förenklare / Facilitator
LeanderLeander AB
Communicate & Change
Ölandsgatan 48 - 116 63 Stockholm - tel +46 (0)70-773 00 54
www.leanderleander.com
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