Beginner’s Mind
You have probably heard the concept of “beginner’s mind” before? It is a term coined by Zen Master, Suzuki Roshi that encourages the adoption of openness, anticipation, excitement, and the release of already formed opinions and mind sets in order to create a space for something new. It is the type of approach we might take when we are first beginning to learn something – a new skill, a novel concept, or an emerging technique.
Beginner’s mind is a critical component in transformative learning. To move from a place of knowing through a process of critical thinking and reflection and ultimately landing in new terrain where a previously held perception or interpretation is suddenly understood in a new way – a deeper way – or at times, a completely different way – is basically what happens when we are transformed through learning experiences. This simply cannot happen if we are not prepared to take the beginner’s mind. No way…no how!
So, this notion of beginner’s mind really became the foundation for the idea of the “experienced novice.” Let me explain a bit…
Choosing Freshness
You may all be at very different places in your career – perhaps, you have just graduated and you are securing your first position in the field. Maybe, you have been working for many years in the same or various positions in the field and consequently, you have garnered a great deal of experience.
No matter where you are in the life of your career in the helping professions, there is always room for growth, for learning, for new information. Could you imagine if there wasn’t?! Yikes! That would get old pretty fast…
But, it isn’t always about continuing education and professional development. It is not only information related to theory, technique, and best practices that require you to open your mind and become willing to expand your current way of thinking.
The Experienced Novice is a part of you – once developed and nurtured – that you can bring with you to every interaction and experience you have. The Experienced Novice is a regular guest on the invitation list every time you meet with the people you are providing service to whether it is the initial contact or years into your relationship.
Working with the Mind
Your human mind likes to organize information – it makes it easier to remember and access later when needed. This internal filing system also helps you to understand things – albeit on the surface –in a much quicker way. You can see quite rapidly where a piece of information fits into your existing frame of reference. This enables efficiency and responsiveness and allows you to make sense out of things so you can keep moving forward without too much extra analysis.
But, like everything – there is always the flip side. When you approach your interactions with others – whether in your helping relationships, our co-worker relationships or your personal relationships – from the “filing system” you will likely miss out on a great deal of information.
You have probably had the experience where someone you know well is telling you something and you cut them off with a quick response that lets them know, “you already know that.” And you have likely been in situations where you received that response as well. What has happened is that we hear what someone starts to say – we check out – the manager of the filing system kicks in – and takes over the conversation. And, the reality is – we all do it. It takes commitment and practice to continually come back to what is actually happening now instead of getting lost in what happened last time.
Wisdom and Curiosity – A Winning Combination
When you first meet someone who has come to access service, it is imperative that the Experienced Novice is present. Yes, you know a great deal about the field you work in – you are aware of a multitude of resources – you have an understanding of what the individual may need in a general way – you have highly developed skills and training.
But, the person who sits across from you is the expert in this interaction – and always will be. The time will come when you will draw on your knowledge, your skills, your experience and those resources. But, for now, the part of you that is most required is the part that knows nothing –the part that seeks to understand –the part that is curious and compassionate – that part that is connected and present.
If we miss this piece, we run the risk of putting people in boxes – we see through the eyes of our experience only and miss the opportunity to really listen and really hear the person’s story – to get a glimpse of that story through the eyes of their experience. And this ability is integral to the helping relationship no matter how long you work with someone and how well you may know him or her over time.
There is no greater demonstration of respect than to be able to empathize with someone else – to be able to convey your ability to be present and to relate to his or her experience – and at the same time honour the inherent uniqueness of his or her personal story.
Practice approaching every interaction with a deep sense of curiosity and a desire to suspend what you already know so you can make way for what you don’t know.
Layer after layer – mystery after mystery – the undiscovered terrain of the human experience is exposed. The Experienced Novice waits in expectation for this gift in others and herself.
Let’s get started!
What strategies do you use to engage in beginner’s mind and show up fresh in each moment – or as often as you can?
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