Generative Conflict Somatics

Generative conflict moves us closer to purpose. For that reason, you might expect mission-driven institutions to embrace and celebrate generative conflict. Too often, however, our societal conditioning and past traumas prevent us from responding well to the opportunity to embrace conflict. We are so steeped in punitive-systems culture that, rather than offer loving corrections, we disavow nuance and cancel one another or avoid raising issues at all. Creating cultures of belonging that are resilient in the face of individual missteps and political disagreement requires us to accept generative conflict for the sake of our shared purpose. When we practice holding generative conflict skillfully, deeper relationships and greater cohesion become possible, and our campaigns benefit from greater efficacy and more nuance. 

In this workshop series, participants will explore generative conflict through the embodied modalities of somatics and applied theatre. Using collaborative exercises, group challenges, and storytelling, participants will explore their skills and growing edges while learning to develop a culture of belonging for application in the larger world. 

This workshop is for you if…

• You want to feel secure in your relationships without fear of ruptures or cancellations.
• You long for less guardedness and more transparent communication in your professional relationships. 
• You’re skilled at analysis, but not at staying present when things get hard.
• You want to feel confident, compassionate, and open when addressing sticky conversations. 
• You want tools to express your boundaries and needs with ease and openness. 
• You’re curious to gain insight about your own conflict shaping for the sake of more responsive choices when under stress.
• You are interested in exploring group dynamics through collaborative experimentation. 

Imagine…

• Willingly engaging in repair without avoidance or fear of vulnerability. 
• Freely expressing your needs without guilt.
• Openness and care being your immediate response to conflict. 

Participation Promises

By the end of the workshops you will…

• Expand your capacity to spot the signs of nervous system defenses in yourself and others.
• Have a greater awareness of your unconscious adaptive strategies and safety shaping around stress or conflict.
• Have more tools and an increased ability to respond more constructively and less reactively to conflict or stress. 
• Be more conflict secure and conflict responsive.
• Be more skillful at communicating your boundaries and needs. 

Guiding Questions

Using embodied exploration, the workshops will explore the following questions:

• How do I feel and understand my belonging in groups? 
• How does my body respond under stress?
• What is at stake in conflict?
• How do I feel about conflict and what are my unconscious patterns of response? What do they take care of? What is the cost?
• When have I experienced conflict as a positive force for transformation and relationship deepening, if at all? 
• How are we showing up to conflict in our organizations and communities?
• What patterns of conflict behavior are familiar and show up frequently in my spheres of influence?
• How might embracing conflict create more alignment between our values and actions? 
• How can I strengthen the connection between my conscious intellect and the animal wisdom of my body for the sake of dealing with conflict more efficiently?