Soulwork and Identity 3

Systemic, Global and Universal Perspectives

© Martyn Carruthers & Janelle Doan (1995)

[ Part 1 ] [ Part 2 ]

1995: Who are we if we are not our bodies, nor our self-talk? Who are we if we are not our memories, nor our expectations? We attempted to address the abstractions of human experience, asking, "What are the organizing principles around which we live?" Our answer is that these organizing principles are non-verbal experiences of integrated connectedness. We cannot describe them; although we generally all them aspects of Integrity or Soul.

Systemic Coaching ... Systemic Coach Training

While investigating the care and nurturing of Soul, we realized that the experience integrity seems to integrate all values, actualized and potential, in a harmonic and dynamic whole, providing simultaneous inspiration, motivation and guidance. Soul experience underlies the philosophy of Soul Centered Changework and the applications called Soulwork Systemic Coaching.

Summary of Identity (Vision) levels 1-6

This article is part 3 of 3, using Gregory Bateson's “logical types” and Clare Graves’ work sometimes called "spiral dynamics" as models for understanding the evolution of human behavior. Part 1 describes the first three types of identity “from the inside out” in a developmental sequence, Part 2 describes the central three types and this describes the final three levels that we know about.

Vision State 7: I Connect Systems

I live independently within a connected world. I develop by learning and experiencing new things. I explore ways to bring meaning to my life and the lives of others. I enjoy exploring relationships and I enjoy the freedom to be and to do as I choose.

I want to do better, yet I am not ambitious; I compare myself today against myself yesterday. I esteem your competence and reason yet I question your authority and your rules. I respect your learning and experience and not your power, dogma, status or allegiance. I like to succeed and I can learn from failure and feedback. I can defend myself and I am not defensive. I am flexible and motivated, and I enjoy paradox and ambiguity. I want to be competent, and once competent I may move on.

Look for me emerging into main stream thinking in Europe and North America. See me in environmental science and cybernetics. Find me writing books, plays, poetry and biographies. Look for me teaching management science and philosophy. See me in architecture and engineering design. Find me in systemic coaching.

At my worst I am intolerant, ignoring the outer world and immersing myself in my inner world. I may become addicted to information or lose myself in interesting ideas. I may take psychoactive drugs to distract and explore myself.

At my best I am adaptable and practical. I enjoy using different learning experiences to increase the quality of my life.

I am project centered and I can work independently. My organization must respond appropriately to our changing world. Our projects must provide practical long term results on many levels. Our project is more important than your status and your feelings. The most competent person should manage each part of our project.

Be a model of competence. Show me how much I can learn and how my work will benefit others on many levels. Ensure that I have the right resources and training. I can communicate with anybody who has resources I need. Ask me for my ideas and listen to me. I enjoy creating integrated practical models. I need to do my part well.

I resent unnecessary paperwork and unwieldy procedures. I am frustrated by inefficiency, superficial solutions, short term planning, insignificant details and ineffectual methods. Above all, I am stressed by incompetent superiors and untrustworthy co-workers.

If you are my manager - do not try to force your rules onto me. Do not withhold important information. Do not be petty, punitive or waste my time. Do not make my work boring and repetitive. Do not interfere with my right to be or to learn. I accept that you have your compulsions, perceptions and values, but I may not accept them for myself.

My religion teaches me interesting things and offers a variety of experiences. I may change religions often. I choose my own ethics and I rarely condemn the ethics of others.

I can learn from any situation. I have many diverse interests and I may not know my goals. I rarely compete or strive to please others. Be motivated and challenge me. Coach me and give me useful information, materials and experiences. I will use whatever I can. I want to learn at my own pace. I am flexible and I want variety. Give me feedback so that I may improve. I may accept your bonuses - and I reward myself.

Sometimes I would like to contribute more to this beautiful and troubled planet. Sometimes I long to participate in complex long-term global projects.

Vision State 7 slogan: "Learn to be Free!"

Vision State 8: Our Planet must Survive!

Our world is a living entity jeopardized by short sighted fixes to fundamental problems. We must find and implement global solutions to ensure our survival. I will work with you to eliminate war, poverty, hunger, disease and oppression. I am a global citizen.

I ignore political barriers and join global networks to find and implement global solutions. I seek order beneath the apparent chaos. We need a new world order that enriches both individuals and communities.

Look for us balancing needs and resources. Find us in global charities and relief agencies. Look for us in the United Nations. Find us in the Bahai religion. Look for us in World Peace organizations. See us in environmental sciences. Find us teaching your teachers. Join us!

At our worst we dream of unrealistic utopias. At our best we contribute to the welfare and survival of our planet as visionary leaders.

Look at life from a global perspective and see each creature as a hologram of our planet. Integrate our interests and ideals so that we may find and work towards a common Vision. Integrate practical and spiritual concepts to enhance global information flow. Use insights from any time or place to preserve and renew our world.

Manage and motivate me by convincing me how your project assists our world. Then give me the resources, and let's move mountains!

Help me co-ordinate multi-level projects. Help me evolve my concepts of a global Vision. Let us work to broaden awareness and set an example!

I am not motivated by respect, security, personal success, recognition or learning, but I can use any of these resources in global projects.

I am stressed by self-serving compulsions. Do not deny reality. Do not enforce short-sighted prejudices. Do not support ideological or political conflict. Do not make excuses. Above all, do not harm living systems.

We want to integrate the religious needs of all societies into an effective, practical whole-Earth spirituality, so we may share wisdom and feedback about the current and future needs and resources of our planet.

I learn rationally and intuitively from all experiences. I contemplate my learning at many levels to find congruent outcomes. I integrate my learning with international networks to benefit our world.

Sometimes I experience oneness with all there is. Sometimes all there is, is love.

Vision State 9: We are Connected!

Our universe is aware. Everything is totally independent yet totally connected to all that is. Being human is a self-aware way to experience love. I can use or abandon any human way of expressing love. I represent a universal system that connects us all. I am fascinated by all life.

Every statement I make is true. All truth is paradox. My words represent shifting ideas. My definitions change whatever I define. Every statement I make is false.

I acknowledge our essence: our essence is love. We can build our lives on this foundation. We are limitless children of the universe, and we are the universe, and we are much more.

Look for me organizing religions and waiting on tables. See me raising my children and teaching yours. Look for me writing books and running large corporations. Look for me in art, hear me in music, read me in poetry and feel me in joy. Find me everywhere.

At my worst I am a hermit and I may not notice you. At my best I am a prophet and I may inspire you.

Everything is a hologram of our universe. I integrate our interests and ideals. I experience spirituality on many levels and may use insights from any time or place so that we may all live love. I do not strive for personal enlightenment and yet it may be the only measurement of progress.

I am not motivated by power, dogma, status, recognition, learning or even global harmony, but I can use these resources to share my love with you.

Be all you experience. Heal conflicts, hate and fear with love. Relate and network with me. We can integrate the religious needs of all societies into a universal spirituality. Let us live and teach this Vision.

Sometimes I want to create miracles and perform instant healing ... Sometimes I want to spare people the effort of realizing who they are...

Copyright © June 1995, 2005 Martyn Carruthers & Janelle Doan All rights reserved

More information:

We hope you find these descriptions useful. Researching them was instructive to us, and we now find it easier to appreciate and communicate with people in Identity States different to our own, and this is part of our Systemic Coach Training.

Systemic Coaching ... Systemic Coach Training