So…today we began the “3 day intensive”, participating as clients “doing the work” the same as I will when I’m facilitating the groups in Winnipeg. There are no exceptions to the route to becoming a certified facilitator of The Daring Way (TM)…all therapists are human, and all humans with capacity for empathy carry shame. Being unaware of how shame is a force in one’s life makes a person dangerous to others…likely doubly so if one is a therapist!
If you don’t do vulnerability, vulnerability does you!
So, I experienced today:
- The beauty of a group of mental health workers be real enough to let down their armor of their degrees, their associations, their fancy specialities and engage with each other as humans. The facilitators reminded us that folks can hide behind credentials, and use one’s qualifications as a way to shield from vulnerability.
- Iced tea is standard around here…it is on the tables for a meal instead of water. And. It. Is. Tart.
- When people get together to really listen and support each other in the challenging work of finding out what holds us back from doing hard things, nothing short of magic happens. People find courage to think things they’ve never thought, and plan to do exciting things because they believe in themselves. To be a part of that experience is both humbling and amazing
- “Comparison is the thief of happiness” Laura Williams
- “Circling back” is likely a Texas term cuz it gets used around a lot here, but I’m gonna bring it to Winnipeg. The great group leader skipped over something at the beginning…and for one person at least, it was experienced as offensive. So, the leader “circled back” to hear of the anger and distance that created…he held space for it, and also took the time to explain that he had been nervous, he goofed, and he apologized. Watching “the boss” circle back to hear of a goof, and respect the concern raised without defensiveness or returning anger was cool
- Sitting with the other Canadians from British Columbia to Nova Scotia felt great…and when some of them decided that we should sing our anthem, a number of us were vaguely horrified...but starting reluctantly and moving towards enthusiasm by the end, 13 of us sang together…and the warmth in the room and pleasure of the Americans applauding said that we had created “a moment” for the room. Courage to be playful is no different than any other kind of courage...but the result is fun.
- I’ve sat all day for two days in a row, and this must be interesting stuff, cuz I’m looking forward to sitting all day again on day 3
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