The Importance of Balance

How Gestalt can help us understand the world

Author: James Moore

(Less than 5 mins reading time)

These short thought articles will hopefully challenge us in our thinking about ourselves, our lives and our societies, with the aim of helping us make "work" better. The reflections use a range of experiences and reflections with a focus on Gestalt. Primarily, they deal with achieving a better balance.

The Importance of Balance

Gaining and maintaining balance often may seem like a golden elixir for many of us. The competing priorities of our daily and often hectic routines prevent many of us considering our own meaning and unique contribution to the world. Without knowing this, we are flotsam in what might feel like an unmanageable torrent. Finding balance in polarised societies increasingly driven by binary AI algorithms may seem like a hopeless cause. Yet, for many of us, finding a better equilibrium is incredibly important, especially with the catalyst of the Covid Pandemic.

It is often not until we are able to find the pause button on our lives and take moments to reflect, that we can recognise if we are out of kilter and by how much. "Getting away" from our routines can take many forms, which I will explore later, with a Gestalt lens being a helpful approach.

What is Gestalt theory & how can it help us?

Gestalt is a branch of psychology with a common description describing it "simply" as our ability to live by seeing the whole as greater than the sum of our parts. This may seem obvious to many, but it is often not until we take moments to fully raise awareness of ourselves and our ecology to consider this that we might recognise that we have only focused on some parts of our lives.

One of the most useful philosophical and practical reflections I have found is to consider that human life is fundamental a constant dynamic tension between the needs and wants of each of us as unique individuals versus what groups want and need (which normally also includes every individual!). Seeing that this as being and/both rather than either/or may well be the most helpful starting point for many of us. Ensuring that the mid point of the rope is not overbalanced one way or another is critical, for being out of balance either means individuals stop being themselves so our individual differences, diversity and contribution are not valued or it means that the needs of the whole group are not met leading to a lack of collective cohesion.

So in reality…?

The following lenses and examples may be a helpful way of considering this:

Starting with ourselves, Gestalt practices highlight the importance of creating space to raise awareness of our own realities to help make sense and then make the best possible choices for ourselves. Whilst we can all find time to create space (particularly when we’re feeling “resourced” such as when on leave, doing something in “nature” or just creating some “me-time”), it is often the role of counsellors or fellow coaches and learning and development colleagues who help us. Many use some form of "wheel" to ask clients to consider their lives in a series of segments such work, family, self and score satisfaction with each to enable a reflective discussion. These are often sub-divided such as aspects of work, behavioural aptitude and relationships. This can help us visually make sense of what's within our circles of control and influence. By having time with some externalised internal dialogue, we can be more fully aware of our options.

Pausing, breathing and dialogue with others is a critical part of Gestalt. Creating the space to surface issues allows us to understand what our families, friends, communities and colleagues (indeed any relationship!) want and need from us and equally importantly what we expect from them. In this dialogue, we are able to describe much more honestly and safely the impact of someone's behaviour/actions in a less subjective way. The more normal we make these breathing spaces, the greater the impact on the relationship. This is often the key point where leaders get interested as we know that the outcomes of the tasks (whatever they may be) are built on the quality of the relationships between the individuals and the group as a whole. The ability to know and like each other (enough to get the "job" done), is increasingly recognised as the most important determinant of any relationship (family, community and work).

#£As with most concepts and research, many parts of what you will have read and hopefully considered is unlikely to feel new or radically different. Pausing, reflecting and discussing may feel like the basis of any change and improvement. I suggest that where Gestalt can be very helpful is the importance placed on recognising that as people we constantly change through every interaction we have, our relationships with ourselves and others need regular reflection and dialogue. We are organic, so our ecology is organic. The more we understand ourselves, the impact we have on others and create space for dialogue, the greater the balance we can achieve. This is fundamental to our wellbeing, happiness, valuing diversity and, ultimately, productivity (however we describe this for the situation). #Coaching #AdvancedFacilitating #ODExpertise