Thinking Out Loud

Thinking Out Loud: What Is Your Image of Your Future?

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

“Organizations are heliotropic in character in the sense that organizational actions have an observable and largely automatic tendency to move in the direction of images of the future.” P. 18

Note: The authors are speaking of organizations. I believe what they are saying can be applied to human beings. I lived in a high rise apartment building in Columbus, Ohio. The population comprised of people from all age demographics. The young people were mostly Ohio State University students. Their image of the future was one of hope and dreams of what they could do with the rest of their life. They were filled with energy. Many of the older people had an image of life that it was over. A friend I knew, I’ll call him Bob was sitting in a chair in the lobby. He hadn’t shaved and looked depressed. I walked over to him and asked him how he was doing. I could tell from our conversation that he had given up. It was apparent in the way he was taking care of himself. Three weeks later Bob was carried out on a stretcher and taken to a mortuary. His image of the future was death; it contrasted with the image of life held by the college-aged students. What image do you want to have for your life one of life or one of death. Appreciative inquiry proposes that holding positive images of the future shape the actions we take to make that image real.

Thinking Out Loud: Create a New a Positive Reality

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

A fundamental assumption underlying appreciative inquiry is that the language one uses creates one’s reality. Therefore, the emotional meaning of words such as dysfunctional, codependent, and stressed out effect once thinking and acting. This deficit based vocabulary can inhibit the vision for a better and brighter future and limit growth. 17.

Note: I received an email from a friend this morning. My friend used words such as “no escape, no victory, and doomed.” He was using dificit thinking. These words can only exacerbate the stress my friend feels from his work situation. I know his situation and don’t see it the way he sees it. A change in his language would change his attitude toward the challenges he faces. We can easily become stuck with this pattern of thinking. It is counterproductive and puts us in a fight or flight position. If we ask ourselves, “What is happening here? What are the positive alternatives to what is happening here? What opportunities exists in this context? We begin to generate positive alternatives. The more positive questions we ask, the more constructive our language becomes. Instead of building barriers to protect ourselves, we discover ways to work with others to construct a new reality. We’re never condemned to what is. We have the power within ourselves to create a new and more positive reality. What are you waiting for?

Thinking Out Loud: It’s Time to Look on the Bright Side

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

Powerful placebo: the placebo effect is a fascinating process in which projected images, as reflected in positive belief, ignite a healing response that can be as powerful as conventional therapy. . . . The placebo effect is accepted by most medical professions as genuine between 1/3 and 2/3 of all patients show marked physiological and emotional improvement in symptoms simply by believing they are given an effective treatment even when that treatment is just the sugar pill are some inert substance. p. 10.

Note: I have always been a big believer on looking on the bright side. It’s the title of my blog. I’ve found, in my experience, that believing that something was possible was significantly more helpful than believing the opposite. When we believe that something is possible and commit ourselves to working toward that possibility our mind shuts the doors to negative thinking and begins to work overtime to create a road map for that possibility. Last year, I had both hips replaced within 90 days. I was told by many people that my surgeon was the best in the city. I bought into that. I did everything I needed to do pre operation and post operation. Within three days after each operation, I was walking without a cane. Was the placebo effect at work in my belief in the surgeon? I think it all worked together. Why let your mind walk down a road that provides no benefit. This appreciative inquiry principle tells us that all things are possible within our relationships at work or at home when we choose to believe in possibilities and commit ourselves to that belief.

Thinking Out Loud: Where Do You Want to Go with Your Life?

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

The appreciative inquiry principle of simultaneity recognizes that inquiry and change are not truly separate moments they can and should be simultaneous inquiry is intervention the seeds of change are in the things people think and talk about, the things people discover and learn, and the things that inform dialogue and inspire images of the future they are implicit in the very first question asked. p. 8.

Note: “Where should we go out for dinner?” This simple question changes your life. It demonstrates how inquiry, the question about going out for dinner, and change occur simultaneously. Change occurs since you perhaps planned to kick off your shoes, enjoy a glass of wine, and when you feel right, hope there are leftovers in the fridge for two. By going to the restaurant life is changed. It’s changed by the way you travel, the people you’ll see, and the conversation you’ll have. The questions we ask have the power to determine our destination. Where do you want to go with your life? Are the questions you’re asking the right questions to get your there?

Thinking Out Loud: Open Up to Unlimited Possibilities

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

The most important resource for generating constructive change is the cooperation between the imagination and the reasoning function of the mind. . . . Appreciative inquiry is a way of reclaiming imaginative competence. P 8

Note: We can apply this appreciative inquiry principle to our everyday lives. Appreciative inquiry at its essence is all about relationships. It is about the generative conversations that occur when two or more people work together to solve challenges. Imagine you and your partner are having a conversation about where to go on an extended weekend break. Both of you have ideas for great get aways, yet your destination ideas are different. In some cases, both people may become fixed in their opinions, an argument occurs, and the result is no weekend getaway. If they decide to set aside their opinions and begin a conversation about what they want out of a weekend getaway without initially naming a destination, their conversation takes on a different hue. As their conversation evolves they can begin to ask, what places satisfy what we want? An important learning point is the set aside. When we set  aside preconceived opinions, we allow our minds to open to unlimited possibilities.  

Thinking Out Loud: There’s Something Good in Your Relationship

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

Appreciative inquiry is driven by two basic questions:

1.  What in this particular setting and context gives life to this system (think of a system such as your family, work group, team, anyplace where a group of people gather in a common purpose)  when it is most alive, healthy, and symbolically related to its various communities?

2. What are the possibilities expressed and latent that provide opportunities for more effective forms of organizing. 4

Note: think about your current family setting or relationship setting and let’s put appreciative inquiry to work. Imagine you and your partner or significant other go out to Starbucks to have a coffee and conversation about your relationship. You sit down and talk about your relationship. Instead of talking about what’s wrong with your relationship you change the direction of the conversation. Together you brainstorm what gives life to your relationship when it is most alive, healthy, and expresses the kind of values the both of you share. To discover the moments in your relationship that are most alive and healthy think of specific experiences you shared where your relationship was most alive and healthy. What was it about these experiences that made it special? You’ll quickly discover that you have a history of experiences where you experienced joy, overcoming challenges, and supporting each other.

Thinking Out Loud: It’s Time to Practice the Art of Possibilities

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

Appreciative inquiry is inquiry into the art of the possible.  p. 4

Note: Let’s stop thinking about how impossible something may be. When we begin to change our viewpoint and believe that everything is possible, suddenly, the impossible becomes possible. Illusionary fears stop us from considering possibilities. Our illusionary fears want us to play it safe. There is no safe place. There are no guarantees. When we combine our thinking of what is possible with others who are thinking the same way we create a generative atmosphere where new ideas and new thoughts arise. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Don’t listen to the fear mongers. Listen to a heart that tells you, yes, it is possible; go for it.

Thinking Out Loud: Looking for the Best – Brings Out the Best

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

Appreciative inquiry is the cooperative search for the best in people, their organizations, and the world around them. . . . Appreciative inquiry is based on the simple assumption that every organization has something that works well, and these strengths can be the starting point for creating positive change.  p. 3

Note: When we look for the best in ourselves and other people the dynamic changes. I was working with a group in a rural community. There were two members of the group who had not spoken to each other in years. I asked the group to share an experience where something meaningful and positive happened in their lives. The group began to share. When it came to a woman, part of the non-speaking couple, she took a deep breath and said (I paraphrase), “When the tornado came through and destroyed my house he (she named and pointed to the person with whom she had the problem) came to my house with a van filled with his science class students and they helped me pick through the rubble of my home. They found a metal box that held photos of my parents and other mementos. It was all that was left. The man got up from his seat and walked around the table to her. She was crying. She stood up, they embraced, and their problems disappeared. That’s what happens when we search for the best in ourselves, others, and our organizations.

Thinking Out Loud:

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Learning to Appreciate. A look at appreciative inquiry. Excerpts are taken from, Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2003) by David Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, and Jacqueline Stravros.

Appreciate (v.) To value.; To recognize the best in people of the world around us.; affirm past and present strengths, successes, and potentials, to perceive those things that give life, Health., vitality, excellence. Inquire: To explore and discover. To ask questions. To be open to seeing new potential and possibilities. p.1

Note: How often do we appreciate others or ourselves? How often do we reflect on our journey and affirm the strength we had to overcome difficult times and challenges? We are culturally trained to be critical, to find fault with others and ourselves. When we choose to change our focus and inquire by asking different questions we discover different answers. Try asking questions that draw out data describing the best in those around you. It’s something to think about. In future posts I’ll describe the kinds of questions you can ask. Today, look at the people near you with an openness to seeing positive attributes they have that may be hidden or overlooked and let them know you appreciate them.

Thinking Out Loud: It’s Time for a New Way of Thinking

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When I was in academia my research was in the field of appreciative inquiry. Appreciative inquiry often shortened to AI has nothing to do with artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, Bard, or other artificial intelligence applications. It has everything to do with human intelligence and the inherent belief that human beings can construct the type of world in which they choose to live. It provides real hope to people who feel as if they’ve hit the bottom and the only option to give up. If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, there’s barely a week that goes by where I fail to mention the words never give up or never quit. I must have had the appreciative inquiry gene in my DNA when I discovered it’s existence. It made all the difference for me, the students enrolled in my appreciative inquiry classes, my doctoral students, and the organizations and communities where we applied appreciative inquiry. I will share and reflect on appreciative inquiry over the next week with the hope that you will discover the best of what is in your world and use it to stimulate your imagination to make it even better.

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