Yes, and.
Jennifer Drinkwater, July 24, 2013. 3:12 pm, acrylic on wood, 80" x 36", 2014.
I’ve found over the years that those communities making the most impactful, inclusive, and sustainable changes are those places that have a “yes, and” mentality and attitude. “Yes, and” is shorthand for being willing to seek out and listen to different perspectives and to experiment with different possibilities.
“Yes, that is a great idea, and we will try it!”
I totally attribute this quality to the larger umbrella philosophy of ABCD, or asset-based-community development (check out last week’s blog for a primer). Reframing one’s focus to the strengths of a place creates openness, and that openness can often lead to an increased sense of agency, a willingness to embrace change, to activate creativity, and to celebrate difference.
The Beginner’s Mind
So how do we get there? A couple of ways.
On an individual level, an important first step is reconnecting to having a beginner’s mind.
Harkening back to Zen Buddhism and found in all the major religions, the beginner’s mind is everywhere these days. Call it mindfulness, call it presence, call it whatever, but ultimately it refers to approaching life with the excitement and eagerness of a child or a beginner. That whole first falling-in-love-feeling where everything is sparkly and new.
Why does this matter?
Well, a foundational attribute of ABCD is laser-focused, non-judgmental site-specificity. In other words, we’ve got to notice where the heck we actually live or work or play, and ideally, we want to notice without our blaring mental commentary. It’s crucial to do this with new eyes and a fresh mind. Most of us are trained to find issues, problems, things to correct, repair, and mitigate. Many of us love to be outraged.
Observing what is happening around us well, and by well, I mean in a non-judgmental way, leads to truly seeing community strengths. I wholeheartedly believe that this will improve not only our communities, but every aspect of our lives as well.
(A warning: This practice is most challenging for those of us who identify as highly knowledgeable or expert within a sector of our community. Expertise gives us the sense that we *know* everything about a place, topic, or persons, and this can fundamentally limit our ability to see things differently and to hear others’ perspectives.)
Practical Ways to Apply the Beginner’s Mind in Your Community Work
I love practical, so a few things to consider as you go about your day.
Challenge yourself to go somewhere new in your community every day for a month. This could be a new restaurant, a new route to work, a new place to walk your dog.
What do you notice immediately?
How are your senses heightened?
Whom did you meet?
What questions did you ask?
What’s the list of places you’d take a beloved friend who came to visit?
Why these places?
What do you take for granted where you live?
Loren Erdrich, Exit Strategy, wood and steel, 2011. Learn more about Loren here.