Six observations about seeing
As Michael and I make some progress on our writing, I find that I have been assembling together bits and pieces of writing I have done over the years and putting some papers up at my site.
Today I want to invite you to have a look at a new paper called “Six observations about seeing” which is composed from some blog posts I made 18 months ago or so.
As always, comments are welcome.
Eeexcellent piece, Chris.
All change starts with seeing what is.
I have one thought to add. At the very end you write:
In the course of chatting I realized something simple: You can”™t change organizations. You can only reveal them to themselves. And they like what they see. Or not.”
Once we reveal ourselves to ourselves we can begin to heal, effect changes, choose futures, reconnect pieces and establish life again.
I agree and would even take it one step further: Real change starts with seeing what is *and liking it*. You must not just accept your current predicament you must actively appreciate it for what it is.
Patch Adams said it much better than I can in his book Gesundheit!:
Change that is deeply effective and positive presents a paradoxical challenge. On the one hand, there needs to be an appreciation and acceptance of how things are in the here and now. On the other hand, there needs to be an active intention to make things better. Nothing needs to change, and everything can improve. This is the way to avoid the two extremist traps of activist”™s frustration or pessimistic complacency.
Thanks for the observations Alex. I think your emphasis on appreciation is well placed. It suggests a revision to the paper. I’ll go back and take a look at it, and build that in a little more.
Agreed. Acceptance and appreciation are important pillars to any meaningful and permanent change. Denial serves no one and just prolongs a state that serves no one.