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1.6 | What have you learned/observed about your experience practicing with the Wisdom Circle in your team?
Below, you will see the Session #1 reflection questions. Please answer these questions at the bottom of the screen.
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55 Replies
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As stated earlier, I have noticed quite clearly my tendencies to be impatient when listening, judging, seeking solutions, and giving tips. At the same time, the exercise gave me a very strong feeling of connection and belonging, and brought me clarity on how this positively impacts my physical energy level and lightness in the body (absence of discomfort and pain).
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Our group has rapidly developed a sense of trust in each other. There is a sense of safety in our circle that is very inviting. One of the participants recognized the power of these conversation and how we need to redefine the term of community because nowadays these virtual spaces have become vital for many of us.
I recognize how this mindfulness training allows me to be more present and vulnerable with others in the circle. By sharing and relfecting, we understand how our stories have common roots and are interrelated. This human condition makes us sisters and brothers in each space where we gather.
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I was the first person in my team bringing up a topic for more clarity. I felt grateful for all the great questions and how they relate to the topic themselves. Hearing them share their experience brought me a sense of not being alone. The energy of the room shifted from beginning to end. I was much more hopeful and confident by the end. My body felt lighter and my chest had some glow. I felt like putting the topic into words to explain it to my team was also helpful.
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Going in, I am always skeptical of small group assignments, in general. This is so, not because I do not value their potential (in fact I use them extensively in my own work). Rather, I often feel a degree of discomfort whenever I have to come out of my corner (which necessarily requires an “exertion” on my part to overcome), and when in a place of learning I prefer to be left to my own mind-rhythms and thinking. Ironically, this is precisely why I enjoy my wisdom circle group and our interactions: it keeps me honest, focussed on (as the prompt advices us) what is most beneficial for all those present, it keeps me oriented outwards and aware of other’s words and shared experiences. Most of all, the rhythmic, trusting and supportive interactions with Gunder, Peri, William and Susan have humbled and energized me, making me feel present and connected – and, as an added bonus, ready to engage with whatever needs doing after our meeting. The beauty of it all, is that it only happened a few times (so far). Overall I do not feel like I learned or observed anything that I was not yet aware of, but this practice did make it all swiftly, and startlingly evident. And as for the circle itself… what a wonderful and fun group of people!
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I really enjoy the wisdom circles. All of us are very different but each has wonderful contributions and I am so grateful for them.
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It was pretty amazing. We’ve had two sessions. Both were powerful and moving. I addressed one of my questions and it opened an alternative that I thought about before but didn’t feel courageous enough to do. After the Wisdom Circle – I did it – with presence and stillness that I didn’t have available to me before the Wisdom Circle.
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I really really enjoy the wisdom circle format and the people in my group are just awesome! Everyone is so smart, so caring, and so thoughtful. I’m thankful to have this as an additional supportive practice throughout this class.
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I was a bit skeptical of the process, I’ve never participated in a wisdom circle or any other process like this. I was blown away by the depth of compassion our group extended to each other. The clarifying questions were profoundly insightful and nonjudgmental. I am in awe of the amount of wisdom and experience my cohort possesses. I grew personally while supporting someone else navigate their challenge in the two wisdom circles we completed.
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This was a very powerful moment. Both times, the first time when I was a listener and the second time when I was the speaker. Once I started telling what I needed help with, I imagined that no one could help me, but just listening. And in the end I left hopeful and with many ideas.
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I enjoyed listening to others in the Wisdom Circle activity. Although there were times when I wanted to offer advice, I was able to redirect those words into more questions and noticing vs. recommendations. I also enjoyed the level of honesty and openness that all members of the circle felt comfortable sharing. It was clear that we all wanted to help, listen and create space and this genuine care came through clearly even through Zoom. I felt some anxiety with the thought that I might have to share at some point, but this first experience was a great opportunity to set the stage and lay a foundation for the future.
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I struggled in the beginning with ‘arriving’ in the moment. But as the wisdom circle unfolded, and I paid attention to my body, and the problem being presented. I found myself quickly arriving, quickly engaging and present.As I listened to the presenter, I was aware of my desire to comfort, to affirm and to show reaction, and then my active work to not react in any way, but just listen. This felt calming, and I could sense the stillness in my body, my breath and my mind as I just listened and absorbed.
It was initially challenging to think of questions that were not advice, but my brilliant team members led the way and I found it freeing and engaging to not try to solve the problem for them, but help them explore and be curious about the problem. I felt the group’s curiosity and exploration of the problem grow, opening it up beyond the constraints that the presenter himself perhaps saw the problem. We pried it open beyond its superficial status, and in doing so found wisdom for us all to take away.
I reflect now on the commonalities we all have in our experiences. What might feel like a unique conflict or emotion or experience, is not. They are just human conflicts, emotions or experiences, that we can all have, that we all will have or have had. Taking a step back and seeing this commonality, this human experience as one we all have, is freeing. The experience or emotion does not own us or define us, but rather is shared amongst us and not held to any one individual experience. There is real freedom and wisdom in this if it can be remembered in the moments when we feel these emotions or experiences occupying us, and are driving our lives without consent.
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This was a great experience. It was such a joy watching the others (we’ve met twice) have these moments of what seemed like “awakening” to alternative ways of thinking, being or doing related to their challenge. And the wisdom of the questions asked was really profound.
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Such a beautiful experience! This was one of my favorite moments during the training so far. I am so impressed with the level of care, vulnerability, and openness my group embraced in this exercise. I am looking forward to meeting my group again on Thursday.
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I was the person presenting today; it was an emotional day for our team. The presentation period was sufficiently long that I was able to consider different aspects of the quandary than I had personally focused on, so it was interesting to force myself to go deeper even before the clarifying questions from my teammates.
The questions from my teammates stretched still more in the “hidden dimensions” of the issue. At times, I felt like I wasn’t really understanding their question, and wondered if it were a form of mental blocking.
I’d say that I left with less clarity than I entered: originally waffling between two alternatives and leaning toward one. But after being challenged to view the problem through a wider lens, I feel as though I’m less certain and see more possibilities, and need to give the whole question more consideration. I’m grateful to the team for their role in bringing out the limitations I was prematurely applying.
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I found the wisdom circle to be profoundly connected, supportive, and nurturing in a way that we rarely get to experience with others.
In our first wisdom circle, my team listened to a problem that I brought forward, and I felt deeply heard and more readily able to tap into my intuition and confidence–thanks to their listening, and incredibly thoughtful questions, alongside moments of silence (the pause) in between. I left super-charged with a clear path forward.
In our second wisdom circle, in which I focused ever more on listening and asking questions, it was clear how much we all had in common and how deeply we could empathize with each other. I was very conscious (maybe too much so) of trying not to give advice but instead to really focus on asking open questions—a muscle I’d like to (and need to) continue flexing and growing. It was equally wonderful to show up and support one of my team members, alongside the other inspiring indviduals on my team.
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