Remember pigeon-post?
Creating a 'Thinking Environment': First Observations
8/9/20252 min read
Remember pigeon post?
When someone was sending a message via pigeon post, were people getting stressed and anxious about it? Did they know when or whether it will arrive, whether it will be read? Understood?
A couple of months ago, time was right for me to practice and formally reflect on my experience facilitating group discussions using Nancy Kline's inspiring Thinking Environment and its 10 powerful components!
A learning journey that began 10 years ago and has continued through reading, practicing and witnessing the significant impact this approach has had on both my work and personal relationships.
So, what am I noticing thus far?
The first thing I notice is how challenging has become to communicate, to agree and honor an appointment.
Despite all the tools available, emails, phone calls, Viber messages, what's up messages, messages in Messenger, on the phone, in Telegram, in Instagram and who knows how many more tools, in person too (!), and it's still difficult to find a time, to be on time, and more importantly to be fully present.
And it feels as if we are constantly apologizing, for being late, for misunderstanding, for not paying attention…for not really being present… It just seems that there is no time at all, when the only thing we truly have is time…a paradox isn't it?
Why do we keep filling our days with more tasks, appointments, obligations, always rushing to keep up? Always having something urgent to do? What do we get out of it?
Wouldn't we live better, feel better, think better if there was more ease in our lives?
I’m learning that urgency destroys, while ease creates.
Experiencing this magic firsthand through the 10 components of the Thinking Environment fills me with hope.
Observing their impact in my pilot groups encourages me to keep practicing, and receiving feedback truly excites me!
Feeling hopeful, encouraged, and energized, I am on a mission to keep co-creating this space with others, in person and virtually, and to share our observations and reflections with all of you.
Stay tuned…and who knows, maybe the time will come for you to join us :)
