Abundance and Creative Pivoting

Our weekly Community Calls provide peer support, discussion forums and guest workshops for retreat center leaders and allied organizations. Keep checking back for more of these videos here in our blog.

Just click the picture above to watch the video.

Today’s conversation highlighted the enthusiasm and energy in our group. What is possible now, that retreat centers are just discovering? Who are we connecting with, in ways we didn’t think were possible? Jean and Margarita share exciting stories of online engagement and connection, and invite folks to share insights from centers across the continent.

Our conversation opened with the poem, “Turning to One Another,” by Margaret Wheatley:

There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about.

Ask: “What’s possible?” not “What’s wrong?”

Keep asking.

Notice what you care about.

Assume that many others share your dreams.

Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.

Talk to people you know.

Talk to people you don’t know.

Talk to people you never talk to.

Be intrigued by the differences you hear.

Expect to be surprised.

Treasure curiosity more than certainty. Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible.

Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something.

Know that creative solutions come from new connections.

Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know.

Real listening always brings people closer together.

Trust that meaningful conversations can change your world.

Rely on human goodness.

Stay together.

More notes and an audio recording of this session are available at the link below.

Facilitators:

Jean Richardson, Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center, RCC Steering Committee

Margarita Solis-Deal, Dominican Center at Marywood, RCC Steering Committee