Principles

I’m a person that has long appreciated principles and practices. They guide. They shape behavior. They clarify choices. They create sharedness.

I’m glad to remember today this particular set of principles above, that have some origin in the group, Pioneers of Change, co-founded and led by Maaianne Knuth, whom I’m getting to reconnect with this week.

Be yourself.
Never stop asking questions.
Engage with others.
Start now.
Do what matters.

Glad to be inspired by the group I’m with this week, a celebratory bunch connected to many networks that had birth in the 1990s and early 2000s — one of those is Berkana Exchange. I was formed by Berkana, and will get to share a bit of story this morning about Berkana, with my friend that began in those days, Bob Stilger.

Good to be guided. Good to share some of what has been helpful and inspiring.

Creating principles and practices is one of the things I most love to do. Contact me if this is something you are starting or revisiting, and wish a bit of sharedness with.

4 Replies to “Principles”

  1. Love your “star chart.” A new kind of astrology, perhaps. 😉

    The one that’s on top … Be Yourself … caught my attention because I was in a situation earlier this week in which I had a little talk with myself and that was the advice I was dispensing.

    Be yourself. Be warm. Be engaging. Be welcoming. Be present.

    After, someone said to me, “You were so friendly and vivacious. I aspire to be that.”

    My words back: Be yourself.

    This person is not naturally vivacious, but she is naturally generous and kind. Be that, I thought. Be who you are, not an attempt at being me.

    At the same time, I enjoy hearing that the talk I gave myself helped me step into my natural self. I actually love the process of finding the words — in person or on “paper” — that welcome and invite. That connect, in the moment.

    So, I’ll take it. Reinforcement for being myself.

  2. I’ve had some conversations with Juanita Brown and a few comments with what Chris Corrigan is identifying as containers around how the deeper conversation is all about the same thing which for me is called Circle Culture. And now your pondering. I have been thinking it would be good for the 4 of us to have a zoom call.

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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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In My Nature
is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

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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Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

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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