When the anxiety is lower, the congregation has a higher capacity to perceive what is trying to emerge and invite a new narrative. Granted, as anxiety rises, the functioning of people potentially becomes more reactive and conflict can easily follow, for conflict is a way of dealing with anxiety. The anxiety and conflict, when responded to appropriately by leaders, can be the catalyst for creative, adaptive growth and positive change.
Posts in this Category
What is Anxiety? An Emotional Systems Lens
Anxiety is like the wind—you cannot see it, but you can feel it and observe its impact. But to observe it, one must pay attention. For example, one cannot see the wind, but if you look at a flag on a flagpole, you can tell if there is wind, and if so, you can estimate its strength. You can feel it against your skin.
7 Essential Components of Conversational Leadership
This process of conversational leadership is a way of growing, deepening and broadening the container, so the deeper, more important, courageous conversations can happen. The container has to do with its quality, paying attention to the group field; the clarity and interaction of intention and attentiveness, each of which help establish context; to monitor if it is too palpable? As the leader, influencing the quality of the container is our first job and very closely, it is inviting others to share that responsibility with us.
Where Peace, Reconciliation and Conflict Transformation Begin
Ponderings on Extremes: The middle is the puzzle
The alternative to extremes is a middle path that moves in-between and walks “the narrow ridge”. An alternative middle path is able to hold “paradoxical curiosity.” This middle path is a soulful, grounded, humble way that takes courage and strength to hold. It is the in-between space where the in-between conversations occur.
Our artistry is our ministry
A Half-Fast Walk through Martin Buber’s Thinking
Musings on Advent
A Commitment to We
The path also requires letting go of hurt and wrongs inflicted in anxiety and conflict. Like Jacob and Esau, forgiveness and reconciliation are a journey. I will see in the eyes of those that I have been blaming heartaches that look and feel very much like my own. In their struggles, stumbles, failures and celebrations, I see my own.
Musings on Silence
Most leaders speak 80% of the time and listen 20%. The best leaders reverse that equation, listening 80% and speaking 20%. Being in silence and being with silence expands the circle of listening and hearing, thus the depth of leaders. Silence: a gift, a blessing, the spirit’s pulsating soul. What I would give for some time of silence, I often think. When my wish is granted, I disrupt it and flee from it by creating a distraction or cacophony of sounds. Do I really want that for which I ask, SILENCE? What is silence and what role does it serve for the ripening of our deep self, or our souls?