We continue to flow on this community journey. From croquis drawing of the amazon woman to facilitating experiential leadership workshops. The program is moving in its full capacity, with high hopes, positive energy and swimming through all the challenges that we meet as a team.

A key theme this week is Leadership in community. I am experiencing the power that is cultivated, when a team embodies a high level of leadership & trust within themselves & each other. This means that there is a feeling of 'we are in this together, & we got each others back'. This is very present among our small team, because even though we are working in a very high paced culture, there is a strong level of trust between each of us. We are facing many challenging walls together, but because we have each other to talk with & share perspectives with, it helps us release our pains, and find new ways forward. For this to be possible, it requires a few key elements to be embodied:

1. Trust - We give this to each other, knowing that we are going through this journey together, & have each others backs.
2. Care - We want the best for each other, and therefore care a lot about each other. We show it by asking how we are, giving hugs & high fives, celebrating each other, giving feedback & generally supporting in all the small ways that really count in the end. 
3. Non judgmental - We are very diverse, that means our needs are very different. We don't put someone down, judge them or ridicule them for wanting, saying or doing something different. Instead we are curious towards our differences, and we hold space for each others differences. We don't compare one person to another person, but we respect each others differences, meeting them where they are. 
4. Open & honest - This requires vulnerability to say what is truly going on. And when the honesty arises, we start to be authentic with each other. But this also means that we must be able to receive it and give it from a space of deep care, trust & non judgment. 

I am experiencing this to be very strong within the team. It is an inspiring space to be in, which supports us to be a regenerative team. However the challenge becomes to share these attributes with others, who do not necessarily work in this way. And so the learning journey continues. 

PROJECTS EXECUTED
Alongside our deep learning journey, we have executed & supported multiple projects in the community. These are:

• Croquis drawing the amazon woman
• Experiential leadership workshop
• Blogging basics
• Community Brunch
• Good morning & welcome home
• Co-living 101 - 1st workshop on World café
• Fresh Friday - An alcohol free hang out
• ​Values presentation workshop
• ​Grenfell March

If you are curious to learn more, drop me an email and say hello. or subscribe to my journal. 

My co-living experience at the collective is truly becoming a transformative one. By living & working in the building, I am discovering new aspects from life and at the same time, I am developing myself in surprisingly new ways.
My team & I continue to work to co-create transformative & meaningful community experiences here at the Collective Old Oak. Have a sneak peek at the vibe here in our home/work place.

And the experimentation continues here at The Collective Old Oak. We have reached the week where we explore Values in our peer led learning journey. 

Start with the Why. Simon Sinek talks about the importance of  understanding Our Why. Which leads to our purpose which leads to our values.
Why are we here? Why do we choose what we choose? Why do we do what we do? The Why is the core that directs our journey. Even if we are unconscious about our why, we are still driven by its core. Because our Why turns into our thoughts, which turns into our choices, which turns our behaviors which turns into our experiences. So what is your why?

Gabriel and Petronella, two amazing humans, designed and facilitated our first learning module on values. We explored the dragon dreaming Process, by looking into

• What we dream for the future in the collective Old Oak.
• What we currently experience.
• What projects we could initiate or strengthen between the current experience and the future vision.

Projects we have initiated / executed so far: 

• The fairy captures fears & dreams of the community
• Community doodling 
• Tea time - A space to meet & chat over tea (Weekly event)
• Hot seat - A space to dive into who you are and why
• Wellness club - A space to connect deeper into your soul  practice. (2 times a week)
• Basketball club
• Humans of old oak - capturing quotes & moment
• Walk in the park - Connect with the members & explore the neighborhood 
• ​Rise & shine Rave - Start the day with good music and a yogic dance (weekly)
• Samhain Gathering - the Pagan Celtic new year ritual

Upcoming

• Co-living 101 - A participatory workshop for the Old Oak Community 18 Nov, 10 Dec & 20th Jan @ 10am - 12pm
• Fresh Friday House party - Fresh juice, glitter, music - Alcohol free, 10th Nov @9pm - midnight

What I've learned so far
During the process of this journey, I've felt frustration hit me. The feeling can be intense, due to my mind nagging me on what is wrong & my emotion not wanting to accept the current reality of chaos. Carol Sanford talks about internal locus of control with external consideration, meaning we need to take responsibility for our own inner world but still consider and connect to the world around us. This meant that instead of just lashing out in the middle of an intense meeting, I needed to take my time to look at my frustrations, and see what it was specifically telling me. From there, I could lay it out clearly and see:

• what 'I needed to let go of,  in order to move forward into a new reality,
• what specific feedback I have to whom and how and when to deliver this feedback from a place of love and wanting the best for the team.

How and when we deliver information to someone can make all the difference weather the information will be received well or not. 

Another insight I have had about my being is that I easily absorb other people's emotions. When they are happy I can feel so happy with them. But when they are sad I can feel so sad with them. Being so open and connected, I have realized that I need to keep my inner core very safe with light, so I can always tap into that space to connect to a positive energy. This has meant that when I am in a space with another person who is in pain, I can feel their pain, but let the light guide me and that person into a new insight. I have used curiosity instead of judgment to help me find my way out of that pain. Inquiring to myself and to the person in pain often helps find new ways forward from the pain. The Appreciative inquiry has been a useful tool to shift my mindset into discovering what could be instead of trying to fix what is. 

Current Question
How can I bring the most uncomfortable sides of myself forward into the light, and grow in a more authentic loving human being?

Its been just about a week and a half since we arrived to The Collective Old Oak. What an incredible journey so far, as we explore being alive together.

The intention
This program was created with the intention to catalyze connection and nurture the Old Oak community. The Collective Community program is designed as a learning journey. The team cohort will apply their talents to catalyzing communal bods among members while participating in a series of training modules over the three month intensive program.

The desired outcome
After this program, we hope to have gained the following outcomes:

• To develop one’s skills in community facilitation
• To nurture a vibrant culture and nurturing community at The Collective
• To engage members as active participants in the communal experience
• Create a learning handbook on building community and connections

The messy part
This journey is not all rainbows and unicorns. The collaborative process is both amazing and messy. Amazing, because its a great opportunity to learn and uncover the magic of being alive together, but messy because there is so much one needs to let go of in order to step into our potential as a team. We have had anger, tears, annoyance, judgment and all of these emotional pains during this process. However with each bump, there has been an amazing space where we can share all our fears and pains, so we can let it go and move forward into a new connection. 

What I've learned so far

• Collaboration is a messy process. We must be able to hold the space, so that all the pains and fears can be released and let go, before we an move forward as a team. But to hold this space, one must dare to share it, and be authentic to what is truly going on. And the others must be there to witness the pains, and just simply listen.  After the process of release, when one has had the space to let go, the witness must fill herself with love in silence, and just give back that love and compassion with few words. From there, we ask the question, 'what do we need now to be able to move forward?'
• Frame & intuition must work together. During collaborative work, in the state of emergence, it is important to hold the space by having clear collaborative frameworks. These frameworks help to contain and support team to move forward together. The intuitive and the frame must work together. Its a dance of the space holder of stepping in and stepping back during the collaborative process. The art is knowing when the right time is to do what. When we as humans have to deal with too large amounts of chaos, we easily loose ourselves from being overwhelmed, that is why the frames are key supporting elements, that hold the team together. 
• We must be ready to let everything go. The moment one holds on too tight and tries to control everything and everyone, that is the moment we must let go. Because this invites stress into the situation. The act of pushing or pulling helps move things forward, however one must always notice what price we are paying in order to make this pull or push. The questions become 'Where will this push /pull invite a regenerative contribution & where will it invite a damaging contribution? Can this be done in another way? What do I need to let go of in order to invite a new way working with this current reality?' 

Current questions:
How can I fully embody my vision of always being connected to love?