One of the best ways to learn is together.
Circles are ancient technology for engaging in community and support each other in our quests. I love that though I can’t see what’s behind me (e.g., my unseen tendencies), others in a circle can see some of it! We all have different parts of the puzzle, and we need all of us to move through this moment we find ourselves in.
The field of information science calls these circles “communities of practice” or “communities of learning”…
I love the freedom of knowing that I don’t know everything, and in fact, there is SO MUCH that I don’t know. How do we learn from the learners? And how do we stay in beginner’s mind, a learning mindset, a growth mindset? And what happens if we don’t?
How do we call in the people we want to learn with? What characteristics am I looking for when I look for learning partners? And what conditions are necessary and sufficient to cultivate such that learning can take place?
A few reflections to build out further…
- Safety is key. This could be a facilitator who is an experienced circle space holder.
- Belonging. Am I welcome? Is all of me welcome? Do I belong? Could I belong?
- Agreements instead of rules
- Hierarchies are functional (e.g., we need someone in a facilitator role sometimes, or an organizing role) rather than being built around moral superiority
I am inspired to belong to and participate in circles that are working at our edges, where we feel safe to explore what feels vulnerable and unknown, where we trust that we will hold each other’s processes and support each other’s growth, where we can show up as we are able and be appreciated for where we are, where we are welcome to practice compassion and try new things and sometimes/often fail. I am excited about collaborative problem solving. We are better together
What have you learned from past community experiences about what it takes to be in authentic community together?