The Magic of Conflict by Thomas F. Crum

Author:Thomas F. Crum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: A Touchstone Book
Published: 1987-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Risk Takers

Every once in a while when you have a day which is not too hectic, set it up as a silent day. Obtain the support and permission of people around you beforehand. They can participate or not. As you go through an entire day of silence, it will be such an intense learning experience that it will have far-reaching benefits for everything you do. As you go through several silent days, you will notice that there are different phases of being silent. At first you are silent verbally, but find yourself mentally talking to yourself all day, occasionally even talking out loud and only realizing it afterward. In subsequent silent days you will find yourself more and more aware of the many levels of silence. You will give up the subtle levels of talking to yourself for the far more rewarding feeling of just being in the present and truly listening.

Silent days are a wonderful way for a group to explore and experiment with communication. You may discover that your communication can happen on an even more powerful level. Significant and important needs get taken care of ever more quickly and the idle chatter falls away.

When real silence is dared, we can come very close to ourselves and to the deep center of the world.

James Carroll

Explore your ability to communicate with other species. We may be the only species on the planet to suffer so deeply from interspecies deprivation. Notice how animals respond to you when you give them your undivided attention. Next time you go on a picnic, put aside some of your food for the ants. Actually invite them to your picnic. See what happens. Or carry dog biscuits in your pockets. Animals always live in the present. In spending some conscious time with them, you will discover more about the present yourself.

Try putting food coloring (or Jello) in your bathtub. Just for the fun of it.

When you are doing one of those seemingly monotonous chores like washing dishes or mowing the lawn or vacuuming the carpet, become more aware of the present by scrutinizing details, colors, textures, and your movement patterns. Infants do this all the time. Have your ki flow from you to the item touched or to the job being done.

When you’re in a relationship, occasionally close your eyes when looking at your friend. As you reopen them, see him or her as totally new, as if you’d never seen him or her before. See colors, textures, sounds, patterns, and feelings, and let go of your past pictures. Notice as many little things as possible: scrutinize your friend as if you’re seeing a flower for the first time.

Pick a subject—such as art, music, dance—in which you feel deficient or inept. Take a few hours by yourself to experiment and create in that art, using the process of discovery to help you supercede the restraints of perfectionism.

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

Helen Keller

THE AIKI APPROACH

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