30 day learning journey
Hey reader(s). Wondering if you would join me in a little exercise…
A few months ago I was sitting with Christina Baldwin in a World Cafe on the question of “What question, if asked, would change everything?” and we realized that the answer for us was something like “What would it take for you to be curious?”
That question is powerful because a curious person is a non-judgemental person. A curious person is a learner, not a passive participant in the cultural stream. If people practiced not only asking questions, but being curious about the answers I think that would change everything.
Last month, I was in Ontario with a friend of mine and he asked “what are your goals? What would I see if I talked to you in six months?” I told him that I don’t have any goals, but instead I run these little research projects. I get curious about things and start noticing them in my life and work and I usually use a combination of this blog and a moleskine journal to record my results. It keeps me moving forward.
So, I’d like to invite you to try this approach out and see if there is something that gathers your attention and piques your curiosity enough that you’d be willing to engage in a a somewhat public 30 day research project. For myself, I am looking at the question of how to be of service in large scale change work from the perspective of someone who has limited contact and influence. As a facilitator, I come into processes, but often I am not involved in a day to day role. So how do I help encourage shift where I can?
I’m going to be thinking and reflecting over the next 30 days on this question and I invite you to choose a question and engage in a research project as well. See what we can learn. Everything I post here will be tagged “Shift”.
You in?
(PS…two sources to get me started…Debra Meyerson on Tempered Radicals from last year’s Pegasus Conference and a site on patterns for introducing new ideas into organizations)
I’m in.
Someone once said something like: “If you want to change your world, change the way you think about it.” My question is: in what ways could I change the way in which I think about my world, and how would that be helpful?
Cool! welcome to the learning journey Andy. I propose by the way that at the end of 30 days we all post something about what we have learned about the 30 day learning journey.
What a great idea! I’m in, too.
My question to myself relates to being part of the process as an effect on the process; i.e. how can I best step out of my own way and let change happen as if I was not there.
Make sense? Hmmm. Let’s see what happens…
We all lead three lives, an actual one, an imaginary one, and the one we are not aware of. – Thomas Berhard. On the Mountain. p 8
My question is how do all these lives entwine and practices which encourage awareness of these lives. Tagged “3life”
You’ve talked to me about goals and I do have the same philosophy now about goals. But it was funny starting this art mentorship because my mentor works in goals so he was trying to get me to set goals, accomplish them, and move on. I think I will have a sit down and explain about about this appreciative inquirery that, I feel, is more at home to my intuitive and ever inquisitive mind has always been. Like back when I was a kid.
I will do the same over the next 30 days on creative and exploration into research projects. Less judgmental, especially in the beginning phase of things with new projects and idea’s. Let’s see how things go and flow, and flow and go.
[…] I always find it inspiring to read Chris Corrigan’s blog, and especially this recent entry: 30-day learning journey. Chris is a deep learner of life, he is about learning from head till toes. Most of the time you can see his eyes sparkling, and sometimes he get bloody serious. Serious is not the good word here: focused, grounded, standing for his values; that is how he is too. […]
I’m in too, Chris. I am curious to discover how my community can maintain all its diversity and independence and yet still have one voice when needed. What would that look like? What can I do to open and hold space for that to happen?
Count me in, Chris… Me and my mates in the European Commission, bustling around like leetle ants in the huge machine. We’re starting to make a difference already. Having you holding these questions makes a huge difference.
i am ripe for a good dose of curiosity – thanks for the prompt Chris. my project is “what does it mean to be soul-full and how does it show up in my life?” “how do i hold space for my self and others to be soul-full too?”
how to be of service in large scale change work from the perspective of someone who has limited contact and influence.
how do I help encourage shift where I can?
If I had done the reflection, service and writing you have done, I would consider writing much of it again … in a book … but from a perspective as a catalyzer, a putter-forward of a philosophy, framework for and dynamics of. Goading, in the form of an invitation, whilst offering a synthesis of how to approach and engage in large-scale change backed up by the wisdom of all that you have seen and helped happen.
Not so different from what you do now, but from a differently-assertive stance perhaps (I know, such a position and dynamic is probably anathematic to you).
This sounds like a great warm-up to the WOSonOS for me. I’m curious about how to bring together the threads of passion, creativity and collaboration in myself and my work as a facilitator, and what’s next?
[…] I’ve accepted Chris Corrigan’s 30-day learning journey challenge. […]
i’m in too. i am thinking of maybe ten friendly acquaintances with whom i’ve felt mutual support and a broad shared vision, and i’m curious what new spark of creative expression might emerge in each of these relationships when i meet with them carrying a box of matches and a large fan.
[…] So it’s been more than thirty days that I have been on my 30 day learning journey, but here is a harvest from some significant conversations. Consider this the tender early sproing greens. There is more to follow. […]