Practice

"Practices like presencing or suspension can be demanding to learn at first, but when you begin to make progress they can be highly transformative. So the rewards for learning these skills are great and some things take ongoing practice, patient study and further inquiry to learn about."
--Olen Gunnlaugson

I have a hard time tying to put theory into practice, at least in my profession life as an instructional designers and my personal life. However, it is fairly easy for my to put theory into practice in my practice of art.

The whole idea of practice is exciting, yet speaks of a long, difficult journey. Practice makes alive the ideas of generative dialogue, and to live your life to your ideals and philosophy can lead to a meaningful life.

Practice isn't something you do for a few hours, but over your lifetime. Practice must include some sort of desired outcome and the ability to reflect on what you are doing. The problem with generative dialogue is it's a one-way practice. I practice it with non-practitioners. It's like being a Christian in Iraq.

Olen Gunnlaugson also mentioned, in the same email, that "it helps a great deal to explore doing this on one's own first." With this in mind, I probably should worry too much about other people. Center myself first, then encourage other people. Maybe I'm focusing on the wrong thing. Center myself should be first. Find and realize my practice. Help people, but don't force. It sounds silly to tell myself, you are not at my level, nor in my generative dialogue space, so we can't talk. Would the Dali Lama say that? I don't think so.

I'm really weak with practice, except with art making. Ceramics is the perfect blend of thought, action and reflection. Each time I throw a pot, I'm at the right level, but always pushing to achieve more.