Imagine a world where everything works out. If you have too much in your hands, a stranger opens the door to get you on to your next destination. The weather is pleasant. The sky is clear. People smile. Life is good.
And then, just for a second, you think of the latest news. Someone bumps into you after you walk through the door, spilling all of the items you were carrying. Your phone notification shows the latest calamity. The information you start to hear is somehow wrong, but you cannot tell whether it’s incorrect or just leading the world astray.
What would it look like if you had a place where you could reset back to a wholeness that looked like the world you hoped for? I believe that intentional practice communities like ITP are one of the most powerful ways to do this.
In a practice community, everyone may agree that “things are crazy out there.” Even so, the way that the world works becomes varied. Each person in an intentional group will have diverse perspectives, even among those with similar ideologies.
ITP Practice Groups create a container for transforming together. Everyone in ITP practices the Kata. This group movement, relaxation, and meditation just works out, even if it was hard to commit at the start. Then, with a relaxed disposition, you share your transformation process in a confidential setting. Listening to one another does three things, in my experience:
- The first is to encourage deep listening.
- The second is the perspective to assess whether certain information or situations require your attention and action.
- Finally, practicing together provides a spark for your own transformational process.
Listening deeply is a rare skill in daily life. It’s hard to connect on a level where your mind isn’t waiting to talk. When someone talks after the Kata, there is a mutual understanding that this is a confidential space. By sitting in the presence of others, something happens. Not only are you listening, you honor the person talking. Holding space for others builds understanding that each person is worth listening to. What a gift.
Another gift of listening is the sparks that come from seemingly unrelated stories. For example, you might be struggling with juggling commitments, and someone's unrelated story about learning to play the piano or drive a stick shift could offer unexpected insight into your practice. These doors open when you share space with others on the same path.
Long-term relationships develop as you practice together. These connections provide a historical context for your personal experiences. Community members typically don't have daily insights into your life; their interactions might be weekly or bi-weekly. This infrequency offers an external perspective that is hard to gain when you are isolated in your own life. You gain a superpower of sorts -- the ability for others to help you determine what’s truly important because they know you well.
Personal transformations can be sudden or gradual. Even if you are diligent in recording your actions and decisions, others can provide feedback that reflects changes you might not have noticed yourself. They can recognize progress or shifts in situations that might feel stagnant to you. Everyone has hit a plateau. Everyone has achieved something amazing. Even if you cannot see the change, you are in the presence of so much potential. It’s good for everything in you, your entire integral being.
This intermittent feedback is invaluable as it helps you see the extent of your growth. In addition, you can act as a witness to the transformations of others. The collective witnessing of these transformations is powerful. It is inspiring to observe others actively working on themselves. The world becomes brighter. People smile.
ITP Practice Groups create the world that is possible when people all walk together. They are powerful creations that are greater than the sum of the individuals within. These groups offer multiple perspectives, long-term relational support, and collective insights that foster personal and communal growth. Even in uncertain times, they are a place of stability and encouragement. I can’t wait for my next meeting.