I am still reflecting on some feedback regarding an event that I recently designed and facilitated. One of the comments was that “there was too much ebb and flow”, and that we should create more “pressure” to keep the highs at maximum volume at all times.
But is ebb and flow such a bad thing? I don’t think so. On the contrary, the tension between ebb and flow is a requirement for growth and creativity. Adding more pressure will not keep the flow on, it could create exhaustion and fractures and breakages.
Instead of pressure, I believe we need to design opportunities for expansion, probably in the form of silence or more in general, reflection moments in the absence of inputs and triggers.
Like in Jan Chipchase’s expeditions: “Long trekking days were spent in meditative solitude or long conversations depending on personal preference, as energies ebbed and flowed”
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Peter, I continue to enjoy your insights and all the wonderful things you share. This piece really resonated with me. The ebb and flow of things in nature aren’t judged to be ‘good’ or ‘bad’ or even ‘useful’ or not, they just are part of the dynamic of the natural world. Designing for something that, like seasons, is a natural part of the world that we often ignore, misperceive, or dislike might do us a lot of good.
Us humans have got so used to being able to control things that it’s easy to lose touch with these patterns and rhythms. If we embraced it and designed with it might do much better than against it.
This got me thinking more about why this is important.
Thanks for sharing all your ideas, insights, and inspirations.
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement, Cameron !
I love Cameron’s words. In nature, so many things just are. No judgment, no KPI… I also like the Yin & Yang concept, and the fact, that we need contrasts to see the other side (there is no light without darkness). My most favorite song for years was this one: Jason Mraz – Life Is Wonderful.
Thanks for making me think and feel.
Hi Peter, this topic also resonated with me. Pressure is an interesting force to employ in session work. I find people respond in three ways to it:
1. They truly thrive under pressure
2. They *think* they thrive under pressure, but really do not
3. Pressure shuts them down
The interesting thing I’ve seen is that these responses are not constant. The same person who thrives under pressure in one case does not in another.
Pressure can cause collaboration to be done at too high of a level, because there is excitement that comes with delivering something under pressure. Providing an ebb and flow experience balances the excitement with the deep thinking needed to develop genuinely creative solutions.
A challenge today is that people forget how to take advantage of the ebb experience. I love what Cameron says above about humans being used to being in control. We need to be reminded that pressure is not equal to control and that the ebb is not a loss of control!
Thanks Peter!
Hi Gordon! Thanks for your very nuanced opinion about this subject. I really like your take on it. Especially the insight that responses are not constant…
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