World Dignity University How It Works Linda Hartling and Evelin Lindner
(Image by YouTube, Channel: World Dignity University Initiative) Details DMCA
Writer's note: In sharing this 2nd installment in the series - Power Matters - I am aware that, especially for OEN, this is a long piece. I considered this and decided to simply submit it with the goal of offering a map of a transformation that we, as a species, desperately need. It is intended to be a "deep dive" into the alternative to the dominator system.
One image I have is that of drilling down at deeper and deeper levels to explore this critical matter.
A second image is that of someone spreading out a large territorial map on a table, allowing a bird's eye glimpse of a wide expanse. My hope is, given that we usually have limited time and multiple demands on our attention, you will feel free to pick and choose anything here which piques your interest.
Prologue
My first real glimpse of a "partnership" way of being happened as a teenager when I was blessed with a few experiences"with the aid of psychedelics"which transcended the consensus reality within which I lived. I experienced that it was possible to see and communicate "essence to essence," or if you will, soul to soul with another person.
These experiences led me to explore Martin Buber and his description of the "I-Thou" relationship. They also caused me to become keenly interested in the ways people avoid deep connections through "game-playing" and "impression management." I began to realize that these were attempts at manipulating and thereby dominating others.
Looking back, it's clear that I was becoming aware of western man's sense of alienation, lack of community and inability to find ways of organizing society for human ends. This awareness sent me on a search.
Years later in my 1st job out of graduate school I worked under a clinical supervisor who was mentoring schizophrenic patients and their families with knowledge, skills, mutual support groups, and therapeutic experiences. Carol Smith maintained a laser-like focus on helping both our patients and our team to create health in the midst of chronic illness.
As I described in "Forward into the Past," (OEN), if there was a one-word description of Carol's focus, it was "empowerment." She used every situation to support and empower each member of my team to be as creatively and compassionately effective as possible. And since she had no need to dominate others, she demonstrated partnership as a way of being.
Around the same time another woman whose wisdom I had sought out said, to me, "Blair, you shine by helping others shine." The universe seemed to be giving me a message: I was receiving lessons in taking whatever power I had and facilitating others in developing their own sense of personal power and worth.
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