The Four Wells
Experience
The first well we get to draw from is that of our experience in the world. While we can all think of many experiences we have had over the years, our bodies and our unconscious have their own experience, their own stories to tell. This non-conscious embodiment of our experience is sometimes called the adaptive unconscious. It is unconscious in that we don’t have ready access to it through our usual cognitive faculties. It is adaptive in that it is capable, indeed cannot help but be capable, of adapting to our new experiences, our new thoughts and dreams, the changes in our environments.
This body/unconscious experience, synchronized with what we are consciously aware of, provides us a holistic approach to our world, one where we can be attuned to how our senses take in information, how our bodies respond emotionally and physically to that information, how our thoughts are triggered by our physical and emotional reactions. We can become much more aware of our gut reactions and how and when to trust them, how and when to challenge them, how and when to know them for passing on misinformation.
Take Jennifer, whose “reading” of her peers in a work setting was that she was being marginalized because of her communication style. A series of coach-guided observations made clearer to her the ways in which her body and emotional responses were triggering thoughts of incompetence which in turn led her to act defensively. Further observations of her supervisor, co-worker, and her work environment helped her understand much more deeply the dynamics in the workplace. Working with her coach, Jennifer was able to both center herself physically and open herself to a wider range of sensory information, both of which helped her more accurately read her presence and that of others.
Values and Vision
The second well from which we can draw is that of values and vision. When we act in alignment with our values and vision, we tap into deep levels of motivation and energy. Getting clear about who and how we are in the world prompts us to consider the values we want to live by. This process helps us prioritize our actions on the one hand. On the other, it helps us ground ourselves and act from a deeper intentionality.
To go back to Jennifer, she identified a set of values that she framed as “being professional.” These included valuing her good intentions in the workplace, acting in accordance with the stated norms of the organization, and using the competencies she brings to her work. When entering a potentially difficult situation, she is able to reflect on what being a professional means to her, to ground herself in that vision and energize her actions to “get the work done.”
Attention
“Where the mind goes, energy follows” is a phrase from Chinese martial arts that reflects the power of the mind. Where we pay attention and how we pay attention are wells of power and persuasion that we are usually unaware of.
To continue with Jennifer’s story, what she has been able to take into her field of consciousness as a basis for generating choices and making decisions is all based on how she is using her powers of observation. While her observations started with others, they inevitably come back to what about herself she is able to hold and pay attention to that makes a difference in her presence in the workplace.
Environment
The fourth well is that of the environment. This environment consists of other people and what they bring to the present moment. It includes physical attributes of the environment such as natural elements and man-made objects. It also includes subtler flows of energy resulting from the intentions and history of the forces and individuals present in the environment.
After some centering work, Jennifer is ready for examination of other elements in her environment. This includes where people sit in meetings, how their body language reflects their presence, what “historical” objects in the environment lend to the energy in the room, and how her intentionality can be reflected in her presence.
Experience
The first well we get to draw from is that of our experience in the world. While we can all think of many experiences we have had over the years, our bodies and our unconscious have their own experience, their own stories to tell. This non-conscious embodiment of our experience is sometimes called the adaptive unconscious. It is unconscious in that we don’t have ready access to it through our usual cognitive faculties. It is adaptive in that it is capable, indeed cannot help but be capable, of adapting to our new experiences, our new thoughts and dreams, the changes in our environments.
This body/unconscious experience, synchronized with what we are consciously aware of, provides us a holistic approach to our world, one where we can be attuned to how our senses take in information, how our bodies respond emotionally and physically to that information, how our thoughts are triggered by our physical and emotional reactions. We can become much more aware of our gut reactions and how and when to trust them, how and when to challenge them, how and when to know them for passing on misinformation.
Take Jennifer, whose “reading” of her peers in a work setting was that she was being marginalized because of her communication style. A series of coach-guided observations made clearer to her the ways in which her body and emotional responses were triggering thoughts of incompetence which in turn led her to act defensively. Further observations of her supervisor, co-worker, and her work environment helped her understand much more deeply the dynamics in the workplace. Working with her coach, Jennifer was able to both center herself physically and open herself to a wider range of sensory information, both of which helped her more accurately read her presence and that of others.
Values and Vision
The second well from which we can draw is that of values and vision. When we act in alignment with our values and vision, we tap into deep levels of motivation and energy. Getting clear about who and how we are in the world prompts us to consider the values we want to live by. This process helps us prioritize our actions on the one hand. On the other, it helps us ground ourselves and act from a deeper intentionality.
To go back to Jennifer, she identified a set of values that she framed as “being professional.” These included valuing her good intentions in the workplace, acting in accordance with the stated norms of the organization, and using the competencies she brings to her work. When entering a potentially difficult situation, she is able to reflect on what being a professional means to her, to ground herself in that vision and energize her actions to “get the work done.”
Attention
“Where the mind goes, energy follows” is a phrase from Chinese martial arts that reflects the power of the mind. Where we pay attention and how we pay attention are wells of power and persuasion that we are usually unaware of.
To continue with Jennifer’s story, what she has been able to take into her field of consciousness as a basis for generating choices and making decisions is all based on how she is using her powers of observation. While her observations started with others, they inevitably come back to what about herself she is able to hold and pay attention to that makes a difference in her presence in the workplace.
Environment
The fourth well is that of the environment. This environment consists of other people and what they bring to the present moment. It includes physical attributes of the environment such as natural elements and man-made objects. It also includes subtler flows of energy resulting from the intentions and history of the forces and individuals present in the environment.
After some centering work, Jennifer is ready for examination of other elements in her environment. This includes where people sit in meetings, how their body language reflects their presence, what “historical” objects in the environment lend to the energy in the room, and how her intentionality can be reflected in her presence.
