The Ecosomatic Process of Change

The Long Story

Change Happens on Purpose

The world is asking a lot from us right now. What is consistent is the requirement that we as individuals, couples, and organizations evolve to be able to live harmoniously in our world. Regardless of our political, philosophical, and spiritual beliefs, we are being asked to better ourselves and our relationship to all living beings. Ecosomatics as a process for change encompasses all aspects of our humanness, leaving nothing behind in the process. Everyone I work with has some level of intention related to what they want to change about themselves. Invariably, one aspect of ourselves affects another aspect, which affects another – on and on. Hence a holistic approach becomes relevant for fundamental, sustainable change.

Living an Ecosomatic life encompasses an ongoing process of embodied change (somatics) with an ecological conscience to effectively live as satisfied and fulfilled individuals, couples, families, communities, and organizations with respect for all life.

A Somatic methodology offers fundamental, sustainable change. A prerequisite to true transformational change, for individuals and organizations, is attending to what is currently being practiced (individually and collectively), and to what degree our practices align with our mission and values. Sounds simple enough, but this is often overlooked.

For Individuals, the “Somatic” part of this change process goes like this:

⦁ Clarity of end results – where are you going, what do you want to work on
⦁ Understanding who you are and how you got to be this way – reviewing the dynamics, processes, and events that shape us, with an understanding of how all my experiences produce who I am today
⦁ Knowing limits and possibilities – how life’s shaping produces possibilities and limitations and how these are practiced
⦁ How limitations prevent outcomes – recognizing ineffective habits and practices related to internal narratives, recognizing how habitual moods and emotions run us, and knowing my relationship to my energetic self
⦁ Begin practices to interrupt unwanted processes
⦁ Since body and self are indistinguishable, reshaping the physical body to reflect the becoming self
⦁ Invent new narratives that align with declared outcomes
⦁ Develop new practices related to who you want to become
⦁ Work with what interferes with the ability to take on and commit to new practices
⦁ Reshape the self to what is essential for the future

This process includes conversations, somatic practices (reveals who you are and builds new skills and abilities), and a form of bodywork that disorganizes old shape so a new shape can more easily come to form.

The “Eco” aspect reveals one’s current connection to life, one’s own and the life around us. As westerners in the world, we vary quite a bit in this connection. Some have no connection whatsoever. Others are deeply in love with nature, though very few fully embody their connection to the natural world and the rest of life around us. To become “fully human,” it is mandatory that we reinvigorate that connection. Basically our culture has lost the embodied memory that we are nature just like the rest of life. From the words of Bill Devall and George Sessions, early Deep Ecology pioneers, this is about nurturing and living an “ecological conscience.”

How this shows up in the coaching:

⦁ Reveal in a feeling way at what level I live this connection
⦁ Employ nature and the natural world as a way to get closer to oneself
⦁ Employ nature and the natural world as a path to clarity within oneself
⦁ Develop practices that will build a deeper and deeper relationship with all life (this includes other people)
⦁ Develop practices that include all life in how one lives their daily life

The Ecosomatic process opens the possibility to be fully human in living the life we want, a life of satisfaction and fulfillment. Learn more about individual coaching.

For Couples and Relationships:

The Somatic component:

⦁ The necessity for the individual processes described above
⦁ Expose expectations without agreements
⦁ Reveal the dynamic of how each individual’s Somatic Shape interacts within the relationship
⦁ Create a vision for the relationship
⦁ Reveal and explore the 12 aspects of a generative relationship
⦁ Create generative practices for being in and resolving conflict

This process includes conversations, somatic practices (reveals who you are and builds new skills and abilities), and often takes place in conjunction with individual coaching for each partner.

And the Eco side:

⦁ The necessity for the individual processes described above
⦁ In what way does the natural world influence the relationship
⦁ How is connection to all life assist in both day-to-day activities and through the life of the relationship
⦁ Especially if there are children, is there a plan to live a family “ecological conscience?” How is this practiced?

The combination of Somatics and personal Ecology change offers the possibility of living fully within a relationship and as a beautiful example for children. Learn about couples coaching.

For Organizations:

In organizational life, an Ecosomatic orientation implies living the mission and values of the organization and reveals the embodiment of the true meaning of triple bottom line in action. This is different than slogans, written values, and heady concepts that sound good but are not truly or fully acted upon.

A Somatic methodology offers fundamental, sustainable change. A prerequisite to true transformational change for organizations is attending to what is currently being practiced (individually and collectively), and to what degree those practices align with mission and values. Sounds simple, but this is often overlooked.

The embodiment of Deep Ecology is revealed by looking at the relationship individuals and organizations have with the natural world. The good news is that more and more people and organizations are realizing the necessity of living this kind of connection. From the words of Bill Devall and George Sessions, early Deep Ecology pioneers, this is about nurturing and living an “ecological conscience.”

Elements of an Ecosomatic orientation for organizations include:

⦁ Somatic development for individuals, managing their “stuff,” living accountability, the ability to offer powerful and relevant assessments, and clarity and effective request, offers, and promises
⦁ Clarity of values relevant to the mission of the organization
⦁ New practices for the moment to moment living embodiment of the values, not just as good ideas
⦁ Providing the conditions for full engagement for all
⦁ Aligning the needs and requirements of an organization with the needs and requirements of an ecological conscience (see below, Business and the Natural World.)

Click here for more on the elements of Ecosomatic organizational offers.

Read: Business and the Natural World

Business and the Natural World

There are varying degrees of possibility related to business and the natural world. It is encouraging to see the level of interest and actions being taken on many levels in small, midsize and global corporations related to the environment.

Virgin Atlantic: “Virgin Atlantic is embedding sustainability at the core of our business…..This is all supported by Sir Richard Branson’s commitment to invest his profits and proceeds from the Virgin transport companies, including Virgin Atlantic, in biofuels research and development and projects to tackle global warming.”

Microsoft: “Microsoft is working with our partners, customers, governments, and leading environmental organizations to bring the power of information technology and cloud computing to address the world’s environmental challenges.”

Herman Miller: “At Herman Miller we believe the future quality of human life is dependent on both economic vitality and a healthy, sustainable natural environment. We do not see these goals as mutually exclusive, but inextricably linked. Mankind’s future depends on meeting the needs and aspirations of a growing global population, while enhancing and protecting the ecosystem on which all life depends.”

Chevron: “We believe that healthy environment can go hand in hand with meeting the world’s energy needs. We are continually evaluating and striving to improve our processes to reduce emissions and waste, conserve energy and natural resources, and reduce the potential for environmental impacts from our activities and operations.”

Lockheed Martin: “We protect the environment, strengthen communities and propel responsible growth.”

General Electric: “At GE, sustainability means aligning our business strategy to meet societal needs, while minimizing environmental impact and advancing social development. This commitment is embedded at every level of our company—from high-visibility initiatives such as Ecomagination and healthymagination to day-to-day safety and compliance management around the world.”

Nike: “Our North Star is grounded in addressing sustainability at the very core of our business, beginning with design. But it extends across everything we do. Our commitment is to create extraordinary performance products for athletes while managing our business within nature’s limits.”

Patagonia: “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”

As you read the statements above, I would imagine you have more or less faith that words and actions actually match. A good number of companies are following trends and popular notions that have the appearance of care, of doing the right thing, but it only makes good sense related to their marketing, advertising, and profitability. They want to appear to have social and environmental values but actions reveal a lack of competency and sometimes sincerity.

More and more companies are including the natural world in the values that drive their organizations. Both Yale and Harvard currently have programs relating business practices and sustainability, and Benefit Corporations (B-Corp) are becoming more and more popular. B-Corp certification provides a framework and certification for companies wishing to benefit society as well as their shareholders and hold companies legally responsible for social responsibility.

Many companies are sincere in their intent to be “green,” but don’t know how to truly embody those values within their day-to-day operations. All the “right” things are done:

Recycling
Conservation of energy use
Carpooling
Using “green” vendors
Appropriate labor relations

These initiatives within organizations have great value, and also raise the questions of “is it enough” and “do we live this.”

Some organizations take this to the next place: they really want to do the right thing. To live aligned to values of care for people (customers, vendors, and employees), to care for the environment through practices of sustainability, and to run an effective and profitable business. I find this orientation to be useful and fruitful, and also see that many lack the skill of embodiment of these practices. The question arises if the organization’s cultural practices and if the individuals themselves embody these values – that is live them day to day, moment to moment. Many businesses remains inside the current narratives of a capitalist economy (conscious or not), and globalization which have created many of our current global breakdowns.

There are several lines of thinking that suggest one of the reasons that we as humans advance into “the next stage” of our development as the human species is when we respond to current crisis and breakdowns developed within our current stage of development (Clare Graves, Don Beck, Ken Wilber). Technological industrialization with its built-in advocacy of consumerism has brought comfort, safety, good health and amazing breakthroughs. A closer look reveals a underbelly of crisis: human, natural resources, and global effects of runaway technological industrialization. There are many currents of conversations about all this. One of the greatest minds of the 20th century, living on the forefront of this world, Albert Einstein said “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” I question our ability to shift into a world that lives a generative orientation to the natural world (which includes human beings) using our current industrial/technological embodied practices of life. This is not just how embodiment works biologically, physiologically, or psychologically. All developed countries and most developing countries have either chosen to or been forced into being absorbed into the current industrial reality.

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MY MISSION

To further positive change and aliveness in individuals, couples, and organizations for the sake of abundance for all life.

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."
Andy Warhol