Movement

Image This...

How are you moved when you see this?

As you look closely at this image your eye is likely drawn to the eagles in the nest.


Do you find yourself feeling trapped high up in the air with nowhere to go? Or do you feel like you are free to launch in any direction, freely flying wherever you want to go?

You may feel contracted and trapped, afraid to venture forth or eager to take the next step into the unknown.

What is your first inclination to move back and in or up and forward into the deep blue sky?

If you are one for whom this image generates tension in your belly, take a deep breath and imagine leaving the nest with a sense of adventure and wonder.

Debriefing in the Moment

Creativity In Action...

The JICT images are an amazing tool to use to give voice to strong emotions that, if ignored, could prevent a group from moving forward. Participants in a class that I taught this summer had just attended a lecture give by a very famous opera singer who was a major force in the civil rights movement. After about 3 minutes into her hour-long speech, it was obvious that she was losing her cognitive capacity. While many in the audience left, all of my students stayed for this heartbreaking experience. Rather than using my planned beginning, I decided to ask each participant to chose an image to capture how they were feeling. Several of the participants chose this image and described the dried seaweed as the brittle and broken neural pathways in her brain that no longer allowed this amazing women tell us her stories.

Using the images images allowed us to process the experience together, brought us closer together, and enhanced our learning. The ability to be flexible and sensitive in the moment as we work with groups adds real value to our work with others and the images are the perfect medium to encourage the release of strong emotions.

Our Journey

Here is a very enthusiastic group of new image users who attended a class I, Jane Kerschner, taught in Chautauqua, NY entitled, “ Exploring Image with Groups: A Window into the Soul”. We used the images to get to know each other, to discover more about our own selves, and to find very practical ways to use them in the work that each does in the world. Participants left with confidence that they had an engaging tool that would enhance their work in the classroom, the church search committee, the college sorority, the family reunion, and the medical conference.

My colleagues and I offer consulting and workshops to help others build their expertise in using images in their workplaces and individual client work. Please contact us at customerservice@jictimages.com to learn how we can enhance your work and play with others.

Thanks to Gordon Bartage from Shreveport, LA, one of the students, who captured us holding the image that captured what each of us felt was most expressive of who we were.

Presence

I’ve been noticing how distracted (my assessment) so many folks are by cell phones, Ipods and other communication devices. Isn’t it interesting that these devices are purposed for communication and yet, in many ways they inhibit connection. This image speaks to me about how the devices that are intended to connect us in many ways “wall us off”.

Have you been out to lunch with a friend or colleague whose smart phone is on the table and one eye (if not both) constantly on the screen? All of a sudden it lights up and s/he either quickly hits ignore or offers an excuse to take the call? It makes me wonder whether our time together or the caller or email author take priority.

How about the times when you are at a meeting and at least half the attendees focus is directed toward their lap. While texting is quick and efficient and makes connections, at times it interferes with connections. On a scale of 1-10, how fully engaged in the topic at hand can you be while texting a reply or responding to an email?

Being fully present to me means the person in your presence is the focus … not someone at the office or at home or across the world. And, I recognize that there are times when our devices quickly connect us to emergencies, etc.

So I ask you, what bars are blocking your connections? I have a concern that folks will lack connection while communicating. I am really interested to hear your thoughts.