After enjoying eight years as a successful head coach for university golf teams, Matthew Steinbach felt the comfort of familiarity was constraining his growth as a coach and as an individual. He examined the role of homeostasis in his life and decided to pivot.
We usually look at our world with an agenda. We look at something. We look for something. What if we didn’t perceive the world through “hard eyes”? ITP Mastery Teacher Charlotte Hatch and ITP practitioners demonstrate experiencing the world through “soft eyes.”
Dr. Matthew Cobb started his professional ministry in The Episcopal Church (TEC) where he has served as campus minister, community organizer, healthcare chaplain, development officer, parish priest, indigenous missioner, leadership developer and spiritual director. ITP and the Ki of Cooperation play an important role in his personal and professional lives.
To achieve cooperation with another, it can help to look at the situation from the other person’s point of view. Leonard Energy Training offers an exercise to help us achieve this. ITP Mastery Teacher Charlotte Hatch teaches the exercise “Getting Off the Line,” reminding us to listen to the other person while taking care of ourselves.
Gaining insights during a facilitated exercise is great, but do they really make a difference in everyday life? In my experience, absolutely! The key is sticking with the practice and actively working on those insights. At first, it might feel like progress is slow, but then one day, you suddenly realize how far you've come. Here’s a personal example that illustrates this journey.
A community of practice is more than just a gathering of like-minded individuals. It’s a dynamic, living entity where people come together with a shared commitment to learning, growing and supporting one another. In this space, we build deep connections, share invaluable resources and develop a rich, shared practice through sustained interaction and mutual respect.
With cooperation in the world, the Ki of Cooperation infinitely expands its reach into the world around us. The “world” can be as big or as small as you like. Take for example this famous quote by William Blake: “To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.” The world is readily available and limited only by our perception of it.
What makes cooperation in a community different from cooperating with just one other person? The answer lies in the complexity. As the number of participants grows, so do the intricacies and challenges of maintaining effective cooperation.
Cooperation with another person can be challenging during a brief encounter or throughout a lifetime. And, in the spirit of our practice, these encounters can prove to be transformative. ITPI Mastery Teacher Charlotte Hatch shares her personal insights gained through the lens of her Aikido studies and ITP.
The Ki of Cooperation is vital in many situations. It is easy to understand the importance of cooperating with a partner, in a community and at a global level. But consider cooperation with yourself. This internal harmony is the foundation upon which all other forms of cooperation are built. But what exactly does "cooperation within" mean, and why is it so vital?
