Historically, my experience has been that experiential workshops - like OPPORTUNITIES, Pathfinders, the Training, Lifespring, Forum - have been filled with " 'A-ha! experiences." Not to be diminished, these Aha experiences are often considered the most powerful, magical, positive moments of experiential training. Yet, some potential draw backs can be observed.
The "draw backs?" "The lessons learned in the workshop seem to wear off over time; life goes back to the usual. Cliques form. A special language develops. Perhaps, the language is about graduates mimicking their "trainers;" perhaps, there is a positive intention to clarity. Nonetheless, those who keep the workshop "speak" sometimes tend to use their language as a tribal bond. Perhaps, you have even experienced a breed of "workshop groupies." Even further, there is even some kind of workshop addiction of which few are willing to speak. What's worse is the seemingly relentless re-marketing to often a more expensive workshop, a "necessary evil." Sign up, and continued membership in the tribe is certain.
Much of this kind of activity can be interpreted as a special kind of "I'm right! Hysteria." What has remained true (until now) is that, while the process by which the lesson is experienced is explainable, the actual experience of the participant is hard to explain. Often the most appropriate description found for the lesson learned is, "A-ha!" Thus, the name. Other new word usage seems to have developed. Of the attendees who "learn the lesson" it is said that they "get it." And, of the ones who do not, they are often told to "get off it" (itself an "apposition of opposites"). No wonder there seems to be confusion, even among attendees who sometimes describes their experience in the context of "religious" experiences - beyond words. John Bradshaw's "mystification" seems to be an appropriate nomenclature. Some have told me that divorces and other relationship tragedies have occurred as graduates have attempted to justify themselves or "convince' their partners who have not taken the workshop experience. Interestingly enough, graduates often disagree - not only on the "lesson to be learned" in the experience, but on what actually occurs in the experience itself.
These "A-ha! experience" phenomena can all be explained when much experience is described as a "learning that occurs OUTSlDE the conscious belief system" or in a "hypnotic trance." As I completed my study and experience of hypnotherapy with Virgil Hayes (an experience I highly recommend to those who have an interest), a certified instructor for the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (ACHE), I became aware of an induction technique called "Seven Plus-or-minus Two." This technique induces trance (supports the development of a "trance state") by bombarding (the conscious mind of) the "inductee" with numerous statements in rapid-fire succession. The number "seven" is an arbitrary number describing any number of statements presented to challenge the conscious mind. When a series of statements come fast enough, the conscious mind is unable or unwilling to process the information and confusion is experienced. It could be said that, in this confusion, a "suspension of the 'critical faculty' (the belief systems)" occurs and the inductee's attention is, thus, focused to the subconscious. When the subconscious is focused, "trance" occurs. If the facts are both true and contradictory to themselves, the confusion increases and the trance is impending.
For example, repeat the phrase "S/he loves me. S/he loves me not" several (approximately seven) times rapidly while allowing yourself to focus on the different "pictures" and emotions that would be associated with each statement. Note the resulting state of consciousness. John Bradshaw and John Woolinsky (Trances People Live In) might describe these states of mind as age regressions to responses learned or even habituated by the infant or child.
Not only does this "suspension of the critical faculty" and "conscious confusion" describe the context of my judgment of most workshop experience, it describes my family experience - especially from the mind of a young boy living in the midst of belief ridden, abused and traumatized, alcoholic adults. I guess from this context it would be correct to say that a workshop functions like a "dysfunctional family" with a "higher(?) purpose" - kind of like fighting fire with fire, and possibly just as dangerous. One of the important ideas brought to my awareness by Mr. Hayes is that I had already allowed myself to be hypnotized to a set of beliefs. Bradshaw and Woolinsky might affirm that most people live in various trance states, Going from one trance state to another. Mr. Hayes suggested that it is important to be de-hypnotized to see reality and re-focus on day-to-day awareness and experienced in his training, I experienced him supporting me and others in that process. This is what the OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOP is also about.
Here is an immanent question: Assuming that the above description is true, is it possible that a workshop technique could be implemented in such a way as to "de-mystify the experience” Is it possible to bring the workshop out of a confusion-trance based experience? Could this be done in such a way as to facilitate the powerful learning available in the workshop experience AND at the same time facilitate the conscious choice of the attendees to see consciously 1) their belief systems and 2) how they create and reinforce them? Could this avoid fighting the fire with more fire?
What has developed in the OPPORTUNlTlES Workshop is this possible answer: When the confusion-based induction and trance process can be "consciously observed," the attendees can consciously recognize the trances and choose out of the belief systems when such choices will serve them. And if this process of consciously observing the belief system can be learned by the attendees, 1) the re-choosings can be done at any time - with or without a workshop environment, and 2) the graduate can be I more tolerant and more sharing with others who have not done the workshop.
So, as a new development, part of the "work" in the OPPORTUNlTlES Workshop has been for attendees to "notice the process" of leaving reality and forming, going into, and/or reaffirming beliefs with fixed, sometimes automatic reactions. In the workshop, this concept has been presented as the "Theory of Human Beliefs and Behaviors." The theory is not new. I will attempt to explain it as follows: this theory is very close to the more traditional "Theory of the Mind,” which focuses the attention on *thoughts, imagination, memory, emotions, nervous system response, and behavior" as the process for developing beliefs and habits. In addition, these new invitations are added: to experience the "positive intent" behind the thought (or lack of thought often described as the confusion and/or the selective amnesia) and the relationships that develop seemingly as the "Results" of the reaction. When "choice" seems to be experienced in this process purpose and power can also be noted. In the workshop, the theory is modeled, and applied with the following axiom: "I am not what l (think, feel, do, or say); the truth is, I am my (thinkings, feelings, doings, or sayings) and much, much more." The invitation here is to de-focus on the "symptom" and to focus 1) on the positive intent 2) along with my other powers (whatever remains of my thinkings, feelings, doings, or sayings).
When this theory is modeled in the context of the relationships of the attendees, the skill is practiced and developed to support the attendees in modeling the skill at home and work and in their "real-life" relationships. Even ground rule clearings seemed to be a main stimulator of the process. As a result of this invitation to the experience of Beliefs and Behaviors, most of the mystification seems to be released and the OPPORTUNlTlES Workshops seem to have been "de-mystifying" experiences.
(I hope those who have attended concur. Your cards and letters are welcome.)
Confusing? Of course! Your belief systems have just been challenged! (This article is a “Seven, Plus or Minus Two} process! Who cares if what is said is "true?") Come and join us. We are having fun!
FOR MORE INFORMATION about Steve or about OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOPS
contact Steve Thomas: 801-592-7695
