What is the practice of co-intelligence? Part 4

This is the fourth of six posts seeking to describe what it means to practice co-intelligence.  (You can read the first post here, the second here and the third here.)  In this post I share ten questions to ask ourselves and each other as we try to practice co-intelligence.  Questions like these can be used to guide our learning from and with each other in and out of a co-intelligence community of practice.  How do they seem to you?  How would it feel to be part of an activity that takes such things seriously?  – Tom  (PS:  This is what the Co-Intelligence Institute is all about – and what any support you might send us furthers in the world.)

4. Practicing co-intelligence as an ongoing inquiry centered on wholeness

Here are some questions we can ask ourselves and each other as we begin (and continue) any co-intelligent practice or journey.  You may find them pretty simple and general at first… but sense into what it would feel like to take them seriously.  Each one has hundreds of possible answers, which we could learn about and explore to find which we think would best fit whatever we’re trying to do – and then see what happens….

• If we could, who or what would we include here, in order to include as much of “the whole” as possible? (And then later, who or what else…?)

• If we included them, how would we then engage them, in an honest effort to engage the whole? (And then later, how else…?)

• If we could, what would we consider, in order to take into account as much of the whole as we could? (And then later, what else…?)

• What capacities might we call on, in order to better realize the whole? (And later, what others…?)

• If we could, in what ways would we engage with the changes, challenges, and opportunities that come up, in order to meet and work with the whole? (And then later, what other ways…?)

• Who or what might we seek to benefit, in order to benefit the whole, to the best of our abilities? (And then later, who or what else….?)

• In each case, what is “the whole”?  Why do we draw its boundary there?  What about what’s beyond the boundary?

• How might we address the fact that there is always more to it than whatever we think we know – and whatever we do with the challenges we face?

• Why are we trying to consider all the things on this list?  What difference does it make?

• How do we see ourselves? Who do we think we are, in relation to all this?

In a co-intelligence community of practice, we can share our responses, thoughts, or feelings about any of these questions, in general or in regard to any particular challenge we’re facing or initiative we’re working on.  

Are there other questions we should consider when trying to practice co-intelligence more fully?

Coheartedly,
Tom

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Tom Atlee, The Co-Intelligence Institute, POB 493, Eugene, OR 97440

Appreciating, evoking and engaging the wisdom and resourcefulness of the whole on behalf of the whole

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