Learning for transformation

 Now that cycle two of Thrive School is coming to a close, I like to take a step back and capture some of the learnings so as to build upon them for the next phase. Here are a few reflections on the learning required for transformation, and at the end of each one, I offer a question to you about how you may apply it to your own learning and visioning as you evolve your own ideas and being.Deep, transformative learning and change is accelerated through clusters. There is power in the pack. When that pack becomes a nurturing, listening, open and supportive space, even more so. When we think of entrepreneurship we often think of the solo/ individual action and hierarchy: the lone warrior, the lone wolf heading out to hunt its prize. But look at nature- it doesn’t flourish that way. Wolves operate in packs and their ecology is deeply connected not only to  their own place in their family, but also, as the poet Mary Oliver describes it, ’in their family of things (This video, how wolves change rivers never ceases to amaze me). We see ‘bunches’ of flowers, murmurations of starlings, and even trees- which we often think of in the singular- as collective, connected, communicative systems. The wellbeing of every individual within the pack is intimately woven into the wellbeing of the eco system into which they grow.As Thrive School evolves, so too will the emphasis on ‘pack’ learning- using the space of connection, listening and support to create eco-systems or clusters from which growth can emerge.  So much of education, and business operates from the old paradigm of competition, but flip that and we have the opportunity to evolve new ways of collaborative learning, and business.While on a small scale currently, what I have seen in Thrive School is glimpse of this new paradigm. By cultivating safe, supportive, nurturing environments, when people have the chance to tease out ideas, test assumptions and feed back to the group without fear, we can also cultivate a field which brings out the best in all of us and builds upon the best ideas, projects and visions.**Can you create your own creative cluster? Who around you is craving this kind of support and would be willing to cluster around you too? **  Practice makes progressCultivating the place of inner knowing is critical to sustaining our entrepreneurial journey. It is both an art and a practice. Life is chaotic, but when we have some form of daily practice in which we tune into our inner knowing, we learn to navigate the chaos with greater fluidity and skill. We have a place to bring our challenges before they overwhelm us. Our practice becomes a way to listen to our inner guidance, and then use this guidance to carry us forward.We can cultivate this inner place in many ways by creating and safeguarding pockets of stillness and listening into our daily life. For some this is meditation, for some yoga, for some walking in nature, or painting. Whatever it is, when it allows us to drop into a deeper sense of being, and connect with our bodies and breath, this listening space is a  beautifully ripe ground for asking questions to your inner self: what are my next steps, what am I not seeing, who should I connect with, how can I evolve my current offerings. Through this we can develop our vision and tune into our gut instincts, thereby creating a deeper sense of trust in our own decisions and next steps, our own sense of progress. On days when life feels even more chaotic and when we feel we don;t have the time, that’s when we need it the most.**What daily practice draws you? And how can you safeguard this precious time each day? The magic is in the space between us - the power of connected listening. Deep down I think we all know our answers. There is guidance available to us and our bodies can tell when we have tapped into it. And yet it is hard to hear or to distinguish the ‘knowing’ voice from the inner voice of criticism and judgement. So creating safe listening spaces, where we can talk out our ideas with another person and learn to distinguish between these voices is so important. The listening is a craft which can be honed. We can learn to listen for the tone, energy and the message behind the words, and we can learn to ask clarifying questions so that new insights can emerge and blind spots be revealed. When we approach the space between us with sacredness and our conversation as a sanctuary, it hold a special magic and momentum. So, it's in the space between us- the interaction- where a clink of clarity, understanding and insight can emerge.**Who can you buddy up with to have a regular listening conversation with? How do you think you can improve your listening skills? ** Invite fear to the table. Ask anyone why they aren’t pursuing their big dream, their highest potential and what is really calling them, and it’s likely that ‘fear’ will feature very highly on their list of reasons. There is almost a sense of shame around naming fear for what it is. ‘I’m afraid’ sounds week, almost childish. We were afraid of the dark, or afraid of ghosts- but that was back then, so why does fear rule the roost now too? And so because it seems childish we tend to hide it and feel isolated in our fear, thinking we are the only ones who experience it. But when we think on evolutionary terms, fear is a natural biological response mechanism to protect us from harm, danger and risk. It protected us in the wild, in the dark, and it continues to protect us from physical danger. So when it comes to building our own business, or following though on something which is pushing at the margins of our experience and learning, putting us in a vulnerable position, it is natural that fear will kick in too. And so, rather than ignoring it, or denying it, we need to learn to invite fear to be at the table and have frank, honest and open conversations with it. We can journal about, talk about it with a friend or mentor, we can give it a place without it having to run the show. When we learn to observe the fear, see what impact it is having on us, name it, we can then ask for it to release it grip and allow hope, possibility and love to be the currents which carry us onwards.** Here’s a little practice -spend 5 minutes journalling your response to the following questions: In what ways is fear holding me back? What one thing can I do to today that can help me to befriend my fear? Structure = Flow.Boundaries, discipline, even timetabling, often viewed as restrictive, are tools to help us create and maintain flow. In Thrive School we have been referring to them like the banks of a river. Without the banks we get floods, deltas, and at times, chaos. The banks help to direct the course. And yet the banks are being constantly eroded and re-deposited; they are not rigid walls but flexible, malleable and adaptive. Creating a weekly structure which is firm enough to create focus while adaptive and flexible enough to respond to opportunities is the key.  Our ultimate freedom comes when we understand and embrace the structures which work best for us. What boundaries do we need to have around how we plan our time, for instance; or what parameters do we need have around our spending and savings for financial flow. It’s the boundaries that give rise to the freedoms that we chooseWhere do your own ‘banks’ need to be strengthened for you to create more flow? Think Big, Start Close, Act elegantly… There can be such amazing power in having a big compelling vision and to be really clear on your ‘why’. This is what attracts people, carries momentum and can keep you motivated on even the hardest of days, but we also need to learn to hold the future in the present, and not let our distance from our future possibility distract from the beauty of today, of who is around us now, the gift of the current challenge and what opportunity is emerging just ahead of us, for the future begins in our very next moment. So, as the poet David Whyte says, ‘start close in’ with the step that is next to take. In Thrive School we talk about finding your ‘elegant’ next step- it may be strategic, it may be tactical, but can also be graceful, easy, accessible. Step by elegant next step we build momentum and gain traction.What is your elegant next step?  ....Thrive School Dublin starts on March 11th. Apply online by March 3rd. Find out more over here.