Significant transformations are taking place in Machuca Valley, our chosen home. Following a profound workshop facilitated by Esperide Ananas, an Ambassador of Damanhur Community in Italy, our community formed vital groups focused on diverse topics, including Health & Wellness, Continuous Education, Regenerative Economy, and Permaculture Ecosystems, among others. These groups aim to foster regeneration and move towards the kind of community that we want to experience.
As we embark on our initiatives, we encounter the essence of human nature and challenges arise. This article offers tools and perspectives to aid in our endeavors. It's not solely for Machuca Valley but for anyone seeking insights into group success and sustained collaboration.
Let’s begin by delving into why group energy tends to fade, making the work burdensome and sometimes prompting individuals to explore other interests. Following that, I'll explore the dynamics of conflict and the process of reconciliation within groups.
For decades, our approach to projects has been rooted in an achievement-oriented paradigm, fostering a world dominated by masculine energy (unrelated to gender). We're so conditioned to constant action and transactions that we leave minimal room for transformation and the organic unfolding of processes. There’s a fear of losing momentum, as if every single action determines our fate.
Some of us are so driven to create that at times, we forget the importance of making room for simply 'being,' engaging in 'nothingness.'
Nothingness isn’t about resting or watching Netflix; it's about being fully present in our bodies, connecting with ourselves and listening. (Most of my life, I never thought of this as a possibility!) I’m starting to see it as the rhythm of breathing in and breathing out; we require both to sustain life—quite literally—and ultimately to harmonize with the Universe.
The energy of action is a masculine one, moving forward, achieving goals, while the feminine energy is about slowing down, craving meaning, and fostering connection. Both energies are needed. While the first propels us into the future, the second creates a space for evolution and nurturing.
Without awareness, both energies can lead us to undesirable places. Masculine energy can be pushy, leading to burnout, while the feminine can slow us to stagnancy.
Balancing these energies unleashes an infinite wellspring of universal life force, turning us into channels of dynamic, pulsating vitality—an energy that doesn't fade. Without this force, our projects and endeavors risk dissolution, leading groups to scatter in diverse directions where the allure of creating life somewhere else becomes more enticing.
The main reasons for a group dissolving often boil down to: (click here )↙
- Lack of Alignment: Varied purposes or directions.
- Conflict and Communication Issues: Disagreements and poor communication.
- Lack of Commitment: Members not fully invested, feeling undervalued.
- Poor Leadership and Structure: Unclear roles, responsibilities, and decision-making.
- Changes in Circumstances: Personal or external changes.
- Burnout or Overwhelm: Excessive workload leading to burnout.
- Unmet Expectations: Dissatisfaction with progress or expectations.
Interestingly, imbalances arise when the 'doing' aspect dominates, leaving little room to clarify our purpose or allow everyone's growth. It's crucial to discuss meaning, vision, have ongoing group talks, and foster connections. We can move forward with goals while creating a dynamic balance between action and the feminine process.
Moreover, when creating something new, we often encounter restraining forces. As humans, we frequently feel discomfort when our worldview is challenged, often being convinced of our own 'rightness.' However, is our human perception truly aware of all factors and situations that can paint the complete picture? Consider the analogy of blind people touching an elephant, each believing they comprehend the entire truth. They're unaware of what they don’t know, yet they claim their truth as the universal truth.
By engaging in a group dynamic with the understanding that our own experience is rarely the whole truth, we can open our hearts to input from others, preparing the soil to create something greater.
When I first joined TRP in 2020 (The Regenerative Practitioner Program), professors Ben Haggard and Joel Glanzberg asked us:
- What drew you to participate in this group?
- What qualities must you embody to succeed with your intentions?
First, we define our intentions and personal purpose, creating that future image that will keep us motivated. And then we ask ourselves: Who do I need to BE to birth that intention?
Even when we can’t control others, we can shape the way we want to show up to achieve the desired result. In our world, 'observing the other' is easier and more comfortable. Yet, the first step to improve group dynamics and change this pattern is becoming aware of when I'm in 'observing the other' mode, which is already transitioning towards self-awareness.
And what if conflicts or resistance still arise among group members?
It's important not to avoid or run away from conflicts because they are here to teach you something. The Universe presents both a challenge and an opportunity for growth.
Additionally, it's not just about observing yourself; it's an opportunity to create something richer than what one could accomplish alone.
We can think through this Regenesis simple framework called the Law of Three:
- ➡️ There’s a propulsive desire force with a certain direction, seeking to create something new.
- ⬅️ There’s also a restraining force that seeks to shape things in different specific way.
- ⬆️ Reconciliation occurs when both forces aim for a common high purpose, focusing on the greater whole (such as the community). How can we harmonize these seemingly opposing forces to bring something beneficial to the community by merging our approaches and creating something unique and valuable?
Here are some questions that may help with reconciliation among two people: (click here )↙
What drew you both here?
Are there commonalities?
What common interest unites you both?
What does the other person or group reflect back to you?
Are you triggered by a past pain point you've avoided?
When did you last confront this, and what can you take responsibility for during a tense interaction?
The answer might not be immediately evident but could emerge if you allow yourself to view things through different lenses.
So, let's celebrate conflicts and opposing energies; they are opportunities for growth and for taking us to new horizons we've never imagined.
Insights
Thank you for staying engaged with this topic. To summarize these diverse perspectives, here are the key takeaways:
- Balancing Energies: Embracing a harmonious approach where both action and connection processes coexist, ensuring a balanced progress.
- Open Communication: Encouraging ongoing discussions about meaning, vision, and fostering connections within groups, fostering an environment of openness and understanding.
- Embrace Self-Awareness: Cultivating self-awareness to understand who we are and who we need to BE in order to contribute effectively within group dynamics.
- Embracing Conflict: Recognizing conflicts as avenues for growth and learning within group dynamics.
- The Law of Three: Acknowledging and reconciling diverse perspectives and opposing forces, steering them towards greater collective outcomes in community initiatives or whatever interest you have in common.
I hope these insights serve as guiding principles, enriching not only your group endeavors but also nurturing your personal growth.
Warmly,
Daniela Luján
Action Items
Questions for Reflection:
- How often am I in “other-observing” mode? (Hint: sounds like: He/She/You should do…blah,blah,blah)
- Who do I need to BE to help the kind of world that I believe is possible unfold?
- What’s my role in the bigger system?
If you are in a conflict situation:
- What is this conflict trying to teach me?
- Be with your emotions and give them space to be felt. They are not wrong, they are just here to tell us something.
- Celebrate that this is here to liberate you from these feelings and old patterns.
- What can I take responsibility for in this conflict? By letting the other person know about this, hearts will open to have a conversation and possibly apply the Law of Three, where both are seeking a higher order value to create something new and beautiful.
ABOUT ME: I'm a regenerative development strategist and an active member of Regenesis Group community “The Regenerates” since 2020, deeply engaged in guiding systemic change within community development and purpose-driven projects since 2014. Originally trained as an architect specialized in bio-architecture, sustainability, and innovation. I also thrive as an educator, fostering growth and encouraging continuous evolution.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arqdanielalujan/
https://www.regenerat.es
