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reflections from a gracious space training

5/30/2014

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The moment I walked into the room where our three-day workshop would be held, I felt comfortable, welcome and full of excited anticipation. And that is the essence of Gracious Space, combining spirit and setting to learn in public and invite others with styles and points of view that are different from our own. Clearly, our session’s facilitators had it figured out.

These days filled me with useful, practical ideas about how to help groups of people work together toward the common good. We talked about arranging the physical space to support the specific kind of conversation that’s necessary. We worked through exercises that showed us how to be inclusive and take risks while learning together. We focused on interrupting patterns in order to bring a fresh perspective to a situation.

Of particular value to me was the idea of welcoming the stranger, both the one inside ourselves and the other person with whom we have friction. “Reframe a difficult person as your teacher,” one facilitator said. The difficulty signals that there is something to learn. Leaning into it pushes us to grow. This is a concept that can serve all of us, it seems, because whether we’re in the workplace, a family or a social setting, we are inevitably confronted with discord and uncertainty.

Perhaps most important, this workshop exposed me to the wisdom and creativity of an exceptional group of people. The profound insights and experiences of my fellow participants astonished me again and again, all through the training. The Gracious Space workshop’s relevant subject matter and stellar reputation drew a particularly eloquent collection of individuals, from all walks of life. My notes are filled with their observations, and I refer to them often.

The training gave all of us firsthand experience with what it means to create and live in Gracious Space. I left the session inspired, motivated and toting a binder full of techniques and activities. My circle of friends and mentors has grown considerably. And, it was fun!

Who among us doesn’t occupy a situation that would benefit from greater grace and understanding? I would recommend this training to absolutely anyone.
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    Author

    Heidi de Laubenfels

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