Copperfinch runs monthly learning sessions- something we committed to when we acknowledged how important continuous learning is for us. For Octobers learning session, I was able to share some of my own learning from a recent retreat ran by Lucy Ball and Sue Holland on Gestalt Ways of Being at Creative Beings CIC in Devon. It was a truly enriching experience and one that will continue to resonate with me. I am going to attempt to share some of my insights from this, and my experience of sharing it with others:
▶ One of the central ideas of Gestalt coaching is the importance of awareness. I introduced the 'Wheel of Awareness' through a group meditation inviting our awareness into each of the 5 zones of awareness. By practicing tapping into our own awareness, we can cultivate greater awareness of our experiences in the present moment. It can also support our reflections on our own daily experiences and identify any recurring themes or patterns. I have to say I felt quite nervous in leading my colleagues through a meditation, its not something I have done before- as I was talking through the various levels of awareness, I was aware of my own thoughts and how hard my own heart was beating. However, the process really worked to help me ground myself and start regulating my own nerves.
▶ Connected to the above is the emphasis of Gestalt on living in the here and now. Often, we can get caught up in past regrets or future anxieties, at the expense of enjoying or appreciating the present. An exploration of the Cycle of Experience helped us to reflect on what elements of an experience we are noticing/spending time in, and which aspects we skirt past or avoid completely. Do we get stuck bouncing between sensation and action? How much reflection and awareness do we bring to our choices for action? How are we paying attention to what's needed to have closure and withdraw from an experience? This also brought to mind some of my earlier learning on what environment supports my own reflection (and it's not generally sat at my computer).
▶ Noticing how our own experiences are intrinsically connected to the wider system, and the inter-connected nature of our existence is key to Gestalt. This includes others in our system (both living and dead, and even those yet to be born?), nature and the elements. A powerful question we were invited to explore is: If I apply the notion that everything is co-created in my life and work, then what? For me, this question promoted the following thoughts: I would be more forgiving with myself, recognising that the outcomes we see are a shared outcome. Similarly, I would be more inclined to give myself some credit when things work out well, rather than my usual tendency to brush it off as someone else's success. So words like compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, courage all came to my mind. I would love to hear what comes up for others, in reflecting on this question.