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     February 2006 Issue: Lessons Learned from Living from the Heart of Appreciative Inquiry

      

Introduction: Lessons Learned from Living from the Heart of Appreciative Inquiry

by Ilene Wasserman

Since people started learning and applying the principles of Appreciative Inquiry, many of us have shared stories with each other about how AI is
more than a tool: it is a way of being and an orientation toward living.
Now read on.....! (Free download in Acrobat format)

Walking the Talk: The Principles of AI in Daily Living

by Jackie Kelm

In this article, Jackie Kelm presents a simple model she created to help apply Appreciative
Inquiry in daily living. The model is based on the underlying principles of AI as they
apply at the individual level.

Judging a Book by its Cover? Re-Designing Our Perceptions
of Ourselves and Others from an Appreciative Perspective


by Susan Belgard

“Words Create Worlds”, the Constructionist Principle, plays a crucial role in interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. This article reflects on the similarity between our “inner critic” and automatic inner dialogue about strangers and new
acquaintances. It offers some suggestions about removing harsh judgments and recasting self- and other-directed negativity in more positive terms.

 

Can I “Be” AI and Still Feel Pain?


by Joan Colleran Hoxsey

This article focuses on using AI in a complex work situation as well as in a family crisis. While initially not an enthusiast of AI, Joan Colleran Hoxsey found herself drawn to it when she needed a way for people who had polarized to discover their many strengths and pull together as a group. AI also helped her and her husband to create positive meaning out of their experience of facing a painful personal tragedy.

Appreciative Parenting: Immediate Impact and Long-term Intent of an Appreciative Conversation with a Child


by Dawn Dole

Parenting is the most important job we have today. We are raising the next generation to become independent, capable, caring human beings. Through appreciative dialogue with other parents we gain confidence, insight and energy. Through appreciative conversations with our children we help them learn and grow along with us. It is the power of the appreciative questions and dialogue that will change the world.

 

Being a New Mother as my Metaphor for Nurturing Lifegiving Forces in my Work


by Morgan Zantua

When Morgan Zantua became a mother even though she thought she was menopausal, she
started looking at the world through the eyes of her child as well as being ‘childlike’ herself in her work of creating a more peaceful world. These are her reflections.

Strengthening Boundaries And Connections As A Parent Of Teenagers


by Ilene Wasserman


This article summarizes some of what Ilene Wasserman has learned from her own
experiences and from facilitated conversations with other teens and parents. In the first part of the article, she highlights the principles that help her feel increasingly comfortable with her teenagers’ autonomy and independence. In the second part of the article, she sets out the themes and patterns emerging from facilitated discussions with other parents and teenagers on the best of boundaries and connections in teen-parent relationships.

 

Learning To Live AI In Our Relationships While Writing a Book about Living Relationally

     
by Cheri Torres and Jackie Stavros


As Cheri Torres and Jackie Stavros co-authored their new book, they discovered new ways
of understanding what they thought they knew about dynamic relationships. Living
relationally meant not only working that way with each other, but also with the publisher after submitting what they thought was an all-but-final draft.

A Passionate Presence – Appreciating Person Centred Connections


by Julie Barnes

Appreciative Inquiry and person centred practice, based on the work of Carl Rogers, both offer powerful ways of living, being and working through meaningful relationship and connection. This article celebrates and reflects on their separate and combined impact in the life and work of the author.

  Living Our Destiny: One Group's Story of Forming and Living Appreciative Practice


by Amy Steffen, Lonnie Weiss, Nancy Aronson and Ferne Kuhn

The Broccoli Alliance (BA) is a vibrant professional group focused on the practice of AI. Infused with personal quotes and stories, this article describes how a 4D inquiry catalyzed the group to live their positive core. Design choices and ritual practices contribute to succeeding so splendidly in the Destiny phase of AI.