Posted on by Tenneson Woolf

Leading With Aliveness

I quite loved receiving this book from my friend Meg. Its author, Mette, is someone I met a few times many years ago. I love it that she names “aliveness” as a criteria or encouragement for leaders (and for followers; and for those of us fluidly both).

Mette offers a simple model about the power and potency of several “p” words:

perspective
practice
pride
play
pause

Wonderful. It’s good to feel reminded. Encouraged. Nudged. Storied. Emboldened.

And then, what I love in the spirit of facilitation practice, Mette names a few questions that steer towards this animation that is aliveness.

  1. Who are the people you work with (or commune with) that bring you alive?
  2. Does your work (or community, or family, or neighborhood) bring you alive (in what ways)?
  3. Does the way you do the work (community, etc) bring you alive?

The last question is the wicked one to me — it presumes that we can and should feel aliveness together in a regular way.

Many of us have many tools to use with groups. We have some that are meant for a short experience together. We have some that are meant to be engaged over many days or months. It is important to me, and insightful, to point to aliveness.

Why? Ur, because it’s enlivening. And why wouldn’t this be an important part of our purpose? Why wouldn’t we wish to get to the good stuff together. Why wouldn’t we wish to find and cultivate love together.

Well, enough for today. Check out Mette’s book. And maybe take these questions for a walk.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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