The Three Positive Connections For Generative Change Stephen Gilligan, Ph.D.

The core idea Significant positive changes are best made in a state of creative flow featuring three positive connections: (1) Positive intention/goals (2) Mindbody centering (3) Positive resources

Premise 1. Reality is constructed via filters Filters translate quantum imagination into classical reality. Three general types of filters: Somatic, Cognitive, and Field. All we know is what our filters produce: Our maps are our reality. We can generatively work with our filters.

Premise 2 Filters are held by human consciousness: “Mindless” or “Mindful” When held mindlessly with neuromuscular lock--fight, flight, freeze, or fold--problems develop and repeat themselves. When held mindfully with creative flow, solutions and new learnings are possible.

Structure for Creative Flow: Three positive connections Positive intention/goal (succinct: 5 words or less; resonant) Mindbody center (experiences of well-being) Positive resources (people, places, things, skills, ancestors, etc.)

Core Premises When the positive connections are at high levels, good things happen When the positive connections are at low levels. bad things happen

Self-scaling as helpful tool The three connections can fluctuate along a continuum. Self-scaling is a very simple and helpful tool for tracking and optimizing the connections. Self-scaling can be used any time, anywhere. In therapy sessions, it is used intermittently to gage and shift intensity levels.

+10 +9 +8 +7 +6 +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 Positive Intention (RESONANCE) Centering Resources FIGURE 4.2 The Positive Connections Scale

The first positive connection: Positive intention/goal What do you most want to create in your life?

Three ways to represent intention Verbal statement (positive, succinct, five words or less, resonant) Visual image (color, literal or symbolic) Somatic model (posture and movement)

Exercise: Speaking intention Client: What I most want to create in my life is (verbal statement) --The image that goes with that is _____ --And the somatic model of that is (show movement) Therapist feeds back 3 statements and adds: And I send you much support for making that real!!

The second positive connection: Mind/body centering Where do you most feel that connection in your body?

Methods of Centering 1. Somatic felt sense of positive goal (Cognitive-Somatic crossover) 2. Positive memories 3. Negative experiences (e.g., focusing on felt sense)

The third positive connection: Resources What are the most positive connections in your life?

Notes on Positive Resources Resources: That which re-connect a person to creative consciousness. Many types: People, places, experiences, spiritual beings, historical figures, etc. Many purposes: security, encouragement, advice, inspiration, “know how”, etc. A person’s state influences resource accessibility. Resources helpful at multiple times-- regaining gen. state, balancing, deciding, etc.

Ways to access resources Note spontaneous citation of resources. Ask directly. Invite client to “ask inside”. Intake forms/feedback.

To potentiate resources: Experientially elaboration: Sensory details, etc. Somatic attunement: centering and somatic modeling. Spatially locate around the person. Self-rating intensity levels.

Summary Generative coaching goals: (a) create new positive realities and (b) transform (old) negative states. This is best done in generative state of creative flow. This generative integrates 3 positive connections: Positive goal/intention Centering Positive resources These connections are usually lost in a problem state. To transform problems into resources, the 3 connections need to be developed and maintained. These connections areproblems into resources, these connections need to developed and sustained.

A few practical notes The connections need to be held in both cognitive and somatic consciousness—hence, limbic resonance and mindbody attunement are crucial. There is no fixed sequence of developing the connections—use whatever unfolds optimally. If positive connections seem impossible to develop, shift contexts first: somatic movement, humor, topic shift, relaxation, etc. Remember: Deeper than the conditioned (wounded) self is an unconditioned (unwounded) Self.

Thank you... And May the Force be with You! Stephen Gilligan, Ph.D. www.StephenGilligan.com