big ideas
December 2008 
Big Idea: Subject or Object?
Posted on Oct 6th, 2007
by 
Brian
Brian
Subject or Object?
Robert Kegan, in his classic book, “In Over our Heads,” talks about subject-object orientations.
Try this one on:
How you see the world is your subjective perspective.
What you look at through that subjective perspective is the object of that subjective perspective.
So far so good?
Now, here’s the trick:
Can you make your current subjective perspective the OBJECT of a NEW perspective?
In other words, can you step back and “look at” the current way you see the world?
Sounds simple/easy but that’s a really powerful thing to be able to do. When we’re not locked into one perspective on the world, we have the flexibility to shift into a healthier way to see things.
Most of us tend to get locked into our perspective and think it’s the absolute truth. Not so effective.
We need to hold the spaciousness to see more and more perspectives. Make it a game. Have fun. (Might want to make Persona Yoga part of your spaciousness practice. :)
Robert Kegan, in his classic book, “In Over our Heads,” talks about subject-object orientations.
Try this one on:
How you see the world is your subjective perspective.
What you look at through that subjective perspective is the object of that subjective perspective.
So far so good?
Now, here’s the trick:
Can you make your current subjective perspective the OBJECT of a NEW perspective?
In other words, can you step back and “look at” the current way you see the world?
Sounds simple/easy but that’s a really powerful thing to be able to do. When we’re not locked into one perspective on the world, we have the flexibility to shift into a healthier way to see things.
Most of us tend to get locked into our perspective and think it’s the absolute truth. Not so effective.
We need to hold the spaciousness to see more and more perspectives. Make it a game. Have fun. (Might want to make Persona Yoga part of your spaciousness practice. :)
Access: PublicTagged with: big ideas, thinkarete.com, inspiration, robert kegan, spaciousness, subject/object, perspectives
Loving the Big Ideas Brian.
Here's one.
It would seem that every thing is subjective including the idea of objectivity. Could it be that Subjectivity conceived Objectivity after all?
Here's a mind game I play sometimes: If there is form, subtle like a thought form, or gross then you are in the context of subjectivity. It's inescapable as any thought or awareness is subjective. Subjectivity can change easily (or not so) with each form. Could it really be that object, objective, and objectivity are illusory? Form is emptiness and emptiness is form…
…only the Subjectivity of the “I” remains… ???
I AM THAT I AM I guess that could be the ultimate and absolute OBJECT, the ONE.
Mmm, paradoxes are fun!
love it! feel like I just played spiritual twister! right subtle body on green, left gross foot on blue…
yummy paradoxes!
Yeah, my ego joined the game, tried to tell everyone how to play, and “we” collapsed under the weight.
I love Twister especially the grown-up, message oil version my wife and I play. LOL! TMI !!! Yeeeeehaaaaaa!
hehehehehehhe
you make me smile.
and I appreciate that.
hmmmm…gotta go get a twister mat and some oil.
later! :)
yep. i love that book! Kegan hit the bulls-eye on evolution of epistemology. but Scott Adams has more a entertaining take on this though. he calls it, Curious Robot Maneuver :)
~C
curious robot. love it. :)