When We Stop Fighting It

I know I’ve said it before but I really love experiential learning. It can really open up pathways to some interesting, meaningful and important reflections and connections. Last week’s program days were definitely no different. One activity in particular, plus the group reflection that followed, dug deep into a theme that resonated with us all. It related to what happens when we stop fighting ‘it’?

“I’ll choose honesty over perfection every single time.” – Unknown

The game used is a high energy one. Plenty of movement. Plenty of engagement. Plenty of fun. But more importantly than all that it always seems to bring out a message or messages that we really need to hear or focus in on at that point within the program. Life’s funny like that isn’t it. Do we in our everyday though take the time to really listen in, to process and subsequently learn from (compassionately choose differently next time) the teachable moments that occur?

“What you deny or ignore, you delay. What you accept and face, you conquer.” – Robert Tew

The participants comments came streaming in. Most of them were connecting to not fighting to hold onto or push against what ‘is’ in the game. Some related to not doing this (fighting ‘it’) at all, while others spoke about not doing it for too long during the game. By not fighting ‘it’ seemed to be where the feeling of fun was being experienced. It seemed to be why the participants wanted to keep playing. It seemed to help foster the reciprocal support required when the inevitable ups and downs occurred. It also seemed to be that each individuals acceptance of what ‘is’ (the wholeness of the experience – navigating the ups and downs together) was rippling throughout the group. You could feel it!

“Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep going.” – Yasmin Mogahed

These initial responses opened up so many more questions, connections and thoughts. That’s the point isn’t it? It has made me consider how do we most effectively stay open to, engage with, remain empowered within, learn and grow from, and subsequently inspire others within the range of complexities we face? What do you think?

“Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things.” – Thomas Merton