Differentiation in Vocational Fields

One of the accepted realities of those who see development, for the most part, as I do, is that there is a consistency in how we move from one major stage of development to the next. In general, we solidify a self-identity and personal experience at one stage, then we begin to differentiate from that stage as we become increasingly aware of the nxt. Following differentiation from one stage and what can look like a fanatical--or at least very focused emphasis on the one following--we reintegrate the earlier stage into our self-identity. A good analogy is when people change religions or move to a new country. You have to put a lot of energy into getting out of the old and into the new. It initially takes a lot of focus to sort of fit into the new place. Then, once you're somewhat settled, you really start to realize just how much of you was shaped by what came before. At that point, there is some chance of integrating history and the present situation.

I've also talked about how this process can be experienced as moving from impulse (the initial dissatisfaction with one's current situation or stage) to effort (the effort to change) to intention (like intentionally integrating the multiple stages or aspects) to grace.

Grace seems rare enough. As we shift our weight from effort to intention, we realize that we can't simply spend our whole lives struggling, and with that realization can come too much of a rejection of struggling. We need to struggle or commit whoeheartedly to necessary effort when it is necessary. But effort alone won't set us up--at least not in this economic environment--for longterm success and wellbeing. Now, if we actually make an attempt to shift our weight from intention to grace, it is possible to reject intention and the ability to hold onto one's intention too much. This may seem obvious in the meditators who want to simply, "Let be and let free."

While we have a reasonable number of role models who have moved from flat-out physical and emotional effort to a basically intentional and thoughtful sense of self-direction, we have fewer successful role models of grace. But there is a real value in "letting go" to a greater extent once one has mastered a general field or specific business. IF we can retain the willingness to put in effort when necessary, and IF we can maintain consistent intention while looking for something more, THEN it is worth relaxing one's focus to take in more of the environment. Taking in more of the environment allows for more flexible, more fitting changes as the environment changes.

Today, I am impressed with just how easy it is to drift away and forget or simply lean away from effort and intention in teh search for grace.