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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.)

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

7. 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.

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

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

10. 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)

11. 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!!

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

13. 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)

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

15. 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.

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

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

18. 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.

19. 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.

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