In participating we encounter the otherness of others

“In participating, if we do so fully, we encounter the otherness of others, and if we can remain open to this otherness, this difference, we are offered a glimpse of our own limitations. By finding ways of rubbing along with those who are like us but are not us we can experience the possibility of coming to understand ourselves anew. We are conscious of the constraints of our business project, which we still need to address, but in meeting this way we are also exploring, feeling our way. The … project, of which we are part, if it is to be transformational will consist of a continuous process of opening ourselves up to our preconceptions and assumptions, and our ingrained ways of understanding the world. To achieve difference will be to practice differently: rather than having the end in view, we’ll know the end when we get there, but the end will be consistent with the means of getting there.”

From a recent post by Chris Mowles at reflexivepractice called “Meeting With No End In Mind”.