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Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish These words are attributed to Stewart Brand, on the very last copy of The Whole Earth Catalog, in the mid-1970s - a pre-Google publication well ahead of its time.At first sight, they do not appear to be great words of wisdom, especially on the demise of a publication. Further consideration reveals them to be a mantra that is totally applicable in today's world and one we all could adopt to advantage. Let's consider the notion of staying hungry. While this does not refer to physical hunger, there are some advantages to not always being sated. The body likes the ups and downs of need and plenty. It gives it time to deal with what's in there and then have a rest before the next onslaught. Nor does it refer to being hungry for more material things, the new car, the higher salary, etc for these are very short-lived, as is the constant nagging hunger for approbation, approval, agreement. Staying hungry is much more metaphorical here - staying hungry for new things, new knowledge, new experiences, new ways of working, new outcomes. When you go to work every day and you are in no way hungry, then it's time to look for something else - as scary as that may be. So it is the hunger to do better, move on, be of greater service. Hidden in the notion of staying hungry is also the need to let things die, to let old ways go, to drop old habits. This is the only way we can make way for what is new. Being hungry for change means being willing to make way for it to happen. Living in a world where the head rules, where academic prowess holds sway, being told to ‘stay foolish' does not sound like great advice either. Again closer scrutiny reveals a great deal of sense in these two simple words. It equates to the ‘beginners' mind', the not knowing everything, even having the sense of knowing nothing. If you are able to do this, you can then ask the simple question (and quite likely the one that no-one else has thought to ask) without fear or rebuke. It facilitates looking at a situation from a place of detachment, for the foolish person does not carry the baggage of emotions. If you have any doubt about this, consider the ‘fool' in any theatrical work. Regardless of the context, they are constantly trying to understand what is going on and doing their best to make it happen. This enables them to stay in the moment, be willing to take risks and certainly not worry if everything goes pear-shaped. Staying foolish means that you know there's always another day. It helps dilute the importance of the consequences to something that is more in proportion with reality. So these 4 words carry a mountain of really valuable advice for all of us. Try and hold them as your mantra for a few weeks and see what happens. A conversational monologueOver the last few days we've been having conversations and have been minded of the Margaret Millar's well-known quotation: "most conversations are simply monologues in the presence of witnesses". Millar is clearly alluding to something that we all experience, and others experience from us, day in and day out. It is that facility we have to stick to what we want to say, waiting to get in our next sentence (or even pageful) at the first opportunity, regardless of what the other person is saying. So, everyone involved in the conversation may be hearing what is going on, but there is a clear lack of listening. So what's the difference between hearing and listening? We take hearing to be a passive activity - an assault on the sense of hearing that is not necessarily wanted. This is certainly true when all we want is to be speaking, pontificating on what we know to be the best viewpoint, perhaps even the only viewpoint. Hence the disparaging phrase: "I hear what you're saying" and the very next word is inevitably ‘but'! If two people think they are conversing and yet are simply enjoying their own particular monologue in the presence of a witness, how does the conversation move forward? Is it any wonder we have crises and wars when people are only actively listening to themselves, focused on getting their point across, intransigent to the possibility of seeing something differently, even fearful that the other person might just have a valid point to make which obviously puts them in the wrong? How can we shift to conversations that are powerful by building on what the other person is saying and letting the conversation go in the direction that the relationship dictates, rather than it creating an aura of competition?Here's an analogy we find useful. If we can view a conversation like a friendly game of tennis, the intention of which is to keep the game going rather than winning points, then we have a chance of creating a powerful conversation and not a monologue with witnesses. Here are a few tips that we teach people to work on: § Be prepared to take the other person into account § Be prepared to sacrifice your vested interest, in service of creating forward movement § Be prepared to listen FOR what the other person is saying, rather than passively listening TO him or her § Be prepared to recognise your impact on the conversation § Be prepared to remedy anything that disempowers the conversation. Allotting time The allotment was a late 19th century invention for people living in towns and cities without gardens as the industrial revolution flourished across northern Europe. They still exist and certainly in London you can't get one for love nor money. They are at a premium and there are huge waiting lists. What's happening that people are asking for something that could be viewed as an archaic activity? Is it a part of our desire to get back to basics, organic living and all that? Or is it something deeper? Getting in touch with the earth and working it is powerful for the human body, not only physically, but also spiritually. The desire to grow something from seed, to experience nature at work, to be with the inevitability of the changing seasons, are deeply rooted (no pun intended) and their essence is applicable to our everyday life. Growing from seed As humans we naturally want to nurture, to bring life along to maturity. Give plants the right environment and they will flourish. Seeing a young person learn, grow and move towards being a contributing member of society is exactly what gives the buzz to many teachers. This desire operates in some organisations too, though the development of an employee is for the benefit of the organisation. Fortunately, there are some employers who provide opportunities for growth for the individual, even when they know that this may well lead to that person's departure from their organisation. Nature at work Plants and animals are totally authentic - they do what they do well; they are part of a much bigger whole than themselves; they provide some sort of service to other creatures or plants. In this world, the world you find in the allotment or garden, there is no room for long-lasting and ever-thirsty egos, for the pretence of role playing. Seeing nature at work from this perspective is a healthy reminder that being who you naturally are is much easier than play acting at something you're not. Structured inevitability The eternal round of the seasons brings a sense of knowing where we're heading as well as a sense of structure. Nature, through the seasons, provides us with a framework within which we can work. The impact of this on the human body is freeing for no matter where we are in the year, whether it's rain or shine, hot or cold, we can learn to work with what is offered, rather than wasting energy trying to change it. Remembering that ‘change is inevitable' is a message that is all-defining in the allotment. So next time you are tending your allotment or garden, let yourself become consciously aware of these 3 crucial reminders for a life with flow: nurture what you can; be authentic in who you are; welcome and embrace change.
We're supporting PEACE ONE DAY - 21 September is International Day of Peace. Do you want to do your bit to contribute to world peace? You can § Attend our one-day workshop in the heart of the land of peace - Switzerland - ‘a body-based approach to making a world of difference' [insert link??] § join in the Peaceathon where hourly conversations are taking place across the globe. [insert link] § tell us about your own particular planned activity to move us towards a more peaceful world. International Day of Peace A body-based approach to making a world of difference PHONE 4 PEACE: A ‘PEACEATHON’ – 24 HOURS OF COMPELLING CONVERSATION Penni Blythe-Jones is establishing a new entitiy called "Women of widom, wit and wonder''. Click here to read more about it.
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