If what we focus on is magnified, then it had better be something positive and good.

In the previous blog #84, I explained a bit about what David Cooperrider's Appreciative Inquiry is, from Case Western University:

1. In every society, organization or group something always works well.

2. What we focus on becomes our reality.

3. Reality is created by us in the moment, although there are multiple realities-we only choose one.

4. The act of asking questions in an organization or group influences it in some way.

5. People are more confident and comfortable to travel into the future (the unknown) when they carry parts of the past (the known) with them.

6. If we carry parts of the past forward it must be the best of the past.

7. It is important to value differences.

8. The language we use creates our reality.

Paired Interviews of a very positive experience (see description below)

Interview one of them and have them interview you following these instructions.

Be comprehensive in your answers

This is not an unbiased, objective interview. We want to get out of you what you long for and wonder about the most.

Write your answers as best you can.

Decide how many minutes each - (15, 20 minutes).

Positive Experience

Describe a real experience you had that was very successful. What was it like, what was the outcome?

What were your feelings, towards yourself, and towards others?

What were the key attitudes and behaviors in you and others that produced those excellent results.

In short, what are the most important factors or elements that must predominate in yourself in order to have excellent results and live fully?

Write down the outstanding themes (#3 AND #4) from the interviews.

After the interviews: take a few minutes to write and then:

6. Share with your interviewee what was most memorable, most valuable and meaningful to you from this process.

7. Identify principles/guideline behaviors you want to practice more to express more purposefully.

Carpe diem

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