Back to the Thinking Group

Yesterday, with the Thinking Group, we decided to work through a session on how we relate to one another.  This is almost like physics, right?  We’ve been caught up lately with “behaviors,” so we initiated a means to explore the issue.  People in general like to understand what is happening in their world, within the others' worlds, and how those worlds intertwine.
 
We were very pleased to be listening to the group singing in chapel before coming to our group.  Sr. Tess was teaching a song about us all being companions on our journey to heaven and gaining strength of those who care by sharing love and hope.
 
Our session was about “problem behaviors" as being “differences in behavior.”  We used the group's current behaviors to exemplify the points.  As a group, they had come in riled and distracted with each other's behaviors.  We gave the group fun opportunities to settle into things.  Then, we had them demonstrate various behaviors.  We wanted them to appreciate their ability to self-control behaviors, as well, giving others time to work through their issues.   
 
They wanted to tell us that we should ignore people who were behaving badly and the other was at fault for causing them unease.  We introduced a change of thinking, in that, maybe we could be more “tolerant" of differences between self and other.  We are each unique, yet we share similar needs and success'.  Each day we are given opportunities to be responsible.  
 
We told them we felt that people shouldn’t be ignored because you would miss the opportunity of learning.  We could also hurt the other as we would be hurt if someone purposely shunned us.  Most often these different behaviors seem to be poorly communicated efforts to say, “Hey, I need a little attention here!”  Or, “Please stop!  This situation is too difficult for me and I’m feeling overwhelmed!” 
 
One example lead to another and after a short while they were creating examples of when they had been different and had needed assistance.  It was a very good session and hopefully broadened their “people” understanding a little more.  We have a lot of trust and faith in this group's ability to learn and care.