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1.6 | What have you learned/observed about your experience practicing with the Wisdom Circle in your team?
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At first, it was stressful because it was such a formula and timed but once we started doing it, it unfolded nicely. It was difficult at the beginning to decide which problem to work on as well. I definitely felt the urge to “solve” the problem and give advice.
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I really enjoyed my circle because it was a combination of meaningful exchange and practice. I noticed my business, the way that I tend to stack tasks back-to-back, which doesn’t allow me to process deeply and rest. I notices how hard it is to listen not for confirmation of what I know but what is new or wants to emerge. I have a tendency, cultivated through training and my own inclinations, to formulate interpretations while listening in such a way that when the person has finished speaking I think that I know with some degree of certainty what category of problem or challenge exists. This makes it really hard to operate relationally in a group and listen with my heart, body, and mind to what others decided was important. I also noticed my resistance to following protocols and processes. I would conjecture that some of this is related to these protocols and processes being designed to circumvent premature interpretations. But it also lies deeper, rooted in my beliefs about what it means to follow the rules.
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I have loved the Wisdom Circle process! I did not realize how much I was longing for this kind of connection and process with other loving kind thoughtful and wise hearts. I appreciate the strong structure of silence, organizing our time and MOLS work in a way that felt safe to enter as someone afraid to enter small groups. There has been a gracious spaciousness in being with other bodies practicing MOLS concurrently. It has definitely illuminated my fear of unstructured relating and how much I get activated and anxious with group engagement. Much more so than one-to-one interaction. I love my team. So grateful.
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I am witnessing the opening of my heart. My breath has slowed down. It is allowing me to cultivate a waking practice of being in the arena of work-tinged moments. I am so grateful to participate in building a new team and feeling what this feels like.
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The Wisdom Circle is a valuable approach to learn. I am surprised at the level of faith and trust in the circle. I also discovered that I am willing to coordinate the whole thing, but really aversive to being in the “hot seat.” I have become so accustomed to solving the problems on my own – skillfully sometimes and unskillfully other times – but still, on my own, that I really dont acknowledge that I might have a problem to be solved in the Wisdom Circle. But I think that problem -not wanting to be in the Hot Seat – IS my problem. I havent wanted to be subjected to 360 reviews at the workplace, either (so we dont do them!).
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I learned that it’s easier to see someone’s possibilities and patterns, when you aren’t in their shoes. Which is why the Wisdom Circle is great for feedback. They provide a sense of detachment and vision for my life, that would be difficult to attain if I only tried to explore my problems on my own. Having their perspective gives me a greater sense of what is possible for me, and it fills me in on what I might be missing. Plus, it’s great to have intimate conversations with them, and discuss real life issues! No small talk. Just right to the heart of what’s bugging us (or there to teach us), which has been great.
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I have learned how to be open, while suspending judgement on myself.
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Wisdom circles are a central part of my spiritual life and community. I met with a clearness committee frequently and facilitate them for others. In this program, the wisdom circle process is much different. Scheduling has been difficult and attendance irregular because many group members weren’t able to complete the program. I have incorporated the techniques for circles from this program into my own practice, such as time for silence and allowing each person to share how it relates to them.
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I really enjoyed our first Wisdom Circle – being able to sit with one of the members’ experiences and to feel how much commonality there is beneath the surface of very different life experiences/appearances/personalities/ways of being is a beautiful experience.
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It was a POWERFUL! Having done it several times now including being in the “hot seat” as my team liked to call it, each time we were able to create a holding environment that allowed the person to open to new perspectives, insights in a safe atmosphere. The ones in the outside circle held witness to, asked questions that led to a better understanding for both participant and witnesses, and sat in solidarity through connecting in shared experiences – all in a way that was nonintrusive, and allowed the participant to fully own their experience. I saw doors open that had been closed for a long time b/c they were too painful to revisit, and a new relationship to the experience was able to arise. I was very moved by the whole process, both as a participant and as a witness.
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