The six months ICOF Sabbatical Renewal program came into swing with the first module (Theory U). We started with self-presentations, both from participants and facilitators, sharing experiences of our past and articulating our expectations for this sabbatical program.
These human experiences of our past brought out in us the various and different manners of human “brokenness ”. These brokenness as we carry them with us became obstacles to us in our search to reach greater heights. However, in order to encourage us to “effectively use” this brokenness, the facilitators Yago and Selina adopted the module of “Theory U, Journeying towards radical aliveness.” If to describe Theory U, it is a process of self-transformation and it has five (5) stages.
The stages are:
- CO – INITIATING. This movement make us aware of our experience of the past, and how our habitual thinking (downloading) can prevent us to engage in meaningful processes of self-transformation. In this stage we are encourage not to get stuck in a life situation were we are stuck and without resources. Then, it is important to explore and articulate what life is calling us to do. Here, an exercise was introduced for each to go into Self and vocalise what life is calling him/her to do. Then, we took time to share our expectations for this sabbatical program, and finally we came out with one common intent for this sabbatical:
- CO – SENSING. In this stage, there is need to observe, observe and observe, again the Self, Others and Environment. This observation is done with an open heart, empathically, reaching out to the most marginalized areas of our being, and the context in which we live. What we neglect is often related to our brokenness. There will always be ennemies on our journey of self-transformation, Theory U identity three of them: the voice of jugement, the voice of cynicism and the voice of fear. Identifying and naming them will contribute in our way of healing and inner reconciliation. During this stage we did several practical exercises such as case clinics, and Trauma (Tension) releasing exercises.
- PRESENSING. In this stage we “retreat and allow the inner knowing to emerge.” “Deep silence” is required, it helps us to reach our depths and also reach others. It was during this time that the emerging future is revealed in the here and now. We were attentive and receptive to this revelation. We explore it at personal and group level. Images, like the moon depending of the sun, an egg hatching, and an eagle flying in freedom, were presented by the different groups. Finally we agree in an image-process connecting all of them (see the collage above).
- CO – CREATING. In this stage we explored different ways to crystalize the group-revelation and to explore our experience of the module as a prototype of the way we would like to live during this Sabbatical renewal program. We took our time to come wit a motto that will help us to bring into our daily lives the revelation received the previous day. Finally we agreed on the following motto: CREATED FOR GREATNESS, we were inspired by the slogans of Martin Luther King and Barak Obama during our process.
- CO – EVOLVING. In this stage, we called for concrete and workable actions to express our “Created for Greatness”. Our greatness shall be, therefore, warmth that encourage others to blossom, as we are attached to Jesus Christ, our source of life. (Jn. 15:5). We took our time to define the ground rules of our living together for this Sabbatical.
We are very appreciative of this first module. It has helped us to build a good foundation for this sabbatical.
Robert Obro, SMA