Feeling Hopeless? Embrace It. And then take action.
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A Memoir
Essential Conversations, August 17, 2020
Purposeful Leadership in Transformational Times
”Feeling Hopeless? Embrace It. And then take action.”
Eric Utne, founder, Utne Reader magazine
“I’m in deep ‘don’t know’ about what is next in my life…”
Eric Utne graced our ZOOM community with his wisdom on our Monday Essential Conversation with the theme recently printed in the New York Times, “Feeling Hopeless? Embrace it!” 45 of us gathered to hear from Eric and further explore positive impact as purposeful leaders.
Eric began by sharing the Spanish phrase of “los jubilados,” referring to those elders who have joyously transitioned from traditional life into one of service and great satisfaction. This is a model he invited us to consider and emulate.
In a recent New York Times Opinion piece, Eric noted: “Giving up hope, and facing my imminent demise, has been a kind of liberation. …When some young people say ‘OK, Boomer,’ I can’t blame them. We old ones know better, or at least we should. But what young people may not understand is that we were a hopeful generation. That hope, in some cases, blinded us. But many of us are starting to see the world differently now, and we are ready to join you on the barricades.”
As our Conversation Starter Eric challenged the community with several questions anchored by: “Who do we choose to be in a world of polarization of haves and have-nots and exhaustion of planetary resources?”. Utne insists the answer to this lies in finding our “spiritual kin.”
Using this inquiry we transitioned into a 20-minute breakout in triads working with this context: “find your people.” Some powerful questions emerged:
Who are your people? Your spiritual kin?
What gifts can we offer that we have yet to?
What is your role?
Have you given up?
If not, what is calling you?
We closed the session as we always do, after having followed the Art of Convening 9 Aspects Convening Wheel. Aspect 9 is Commitment to Action: What is your commitment to action? Something you are willing to act on in the next week.
Through these essential questions, and the conversations from them, we can be in a community of “hopeless” individuals willing to embrace our discomfort for the good of others, and take action for a positive future.
Join The Convening Institute to view the Zoom video and notes.
Here are three practices to be present to what is needed around you:
1. Listening
FIRST. LISTEN. A natural respect for all voices emerges when we listen with respect for everyone’s voice without fixing, problem-solving or advice-giving.
The practice: next time you are with someone, listen as if your life depended upon it. Because their life might depend on it.
2. Speak from the Heart
Take a chance to speak about what has meaning and purpose for you. It will most likely be meaningful for the person you are with. Speaking honestly and simply from the heart is compelling and authentic.
The practice: Pause, take a deep breath, put your hand on your heart. Ask yourself, “what is at the heart of the matter, right now?”
3. Slow Down the Conversation
Being interested. Follow the other person’s lead. The tendency to have a quick response, or talk over someone with excitement, isn’t the same as deep listening.
The practice: Allow pauses between the speakers, for connection to occur and to allow something new to emerge.
#purpose #artofconvening #convening #listening #leadership #practice #authenticengagement
In March, CPL launched a new conversation series, to explore this question: “What is a positive response in times of extreme disruption?“ Next week: “How Love Won”.
