I just watched a re-run of Tom Hanks interviewed on Inside the Actor’s Studio. In a discussion with host James Lipton, Hanks commented that,
“The death of acting is self-consciousness.”
Mediation, too. It brings to mind Michael Lang’s text, The Art of Mediation, in which he discusses the ability to reflect in action as well as on action. The tricky part of reflecting in action is to notice what you’re doing and adjust as needed without dwelling so much on self there’s little mental space left to attend to the parties.
What enables you to let go of your own self-consciousness in the mediator’s chair, yet continue to reflect in action? Leave a comment below…we’d love to hear from you.
Last 5 posts by Tammy Lenski
- The Agile Creativity of the Skilled Mediator - August 16th, 2007
- Woodbury Faculty Member Helps Build Bridge Between US, Arab and Muslim Students - August 16th, 2007
- Musings on Being a Mediation Road Warrior - July 19th, 2007
- Accept the Offer and Move It Forward - May 15th, 2007
- The Self-Conscious Mediator - February 27th, 2007
4 responses so far ↓
Barbara Breitbart, Phd // Feb 28th 2007 at 2:03 pm
There is a difference between self consciousness, in the way that Tom Hanks spoke about, and self awareness. Self consciousness in this definition posits that one is conscious of how others are perceiving them and therefore cannot be fully focusing on those things that would be important to observe about others behaviors . Self awareness on the other hand is observing oneself and watching for ones own reactions, during a mediation session, so that one can monitor for example feelings of biasness,etc.
Tammy Lenski // Feb 28th 2007 at 2:06 pm
Yes, Barbara, there is a difference. Self-awareness is generally a good thing, unless it lapses into self-consciousness. My experience teaching new mediators is that they often get stuck in self-consciousness before, with time and experience, they learn how to reflect in and on action in a way that’s effectively self-aware. Thanks for your thoughts and giving me a chance to clarify further!
Yvonne Zimet // Mar 1st 2007 at 1:04 am
When this happens to me, I know I have lost the signal, and have to tune in again to compassion and non-dualism. Is that something we have, or do? Nah — it’s something we are, and I find it infinitely larger, safer, more satisfying and productive than a habitually limited self.
The Actor’s Studio might agree that setting one’s intention this way allows an actor to merge into another being, with no “loss” of one’s self, which is what, after all?
Eleanor Burne-Jones // Apr 1st 2007 at 12:11 pm
Great to find your blog, I look forward to learning!
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