Ambition

[Grace]

Kia ora Adam and others

 

Hamish's thoughts answer for me to some degree your question:  "a somewhat
conserved response to what 'forms' of ambition are 'acceptable' and what do
not 'go' with their notion of the 'spirit of psychodrama'." Can you say more
about this? It might be important for us to clarify what may seem
incompatible with psychodrama's spirit, and what might be wrong
understanding".

 

Just as Hamish observes in the western/commercial world a bias towards
individual (competitiveness) at the expense of the group, I believe there is
somewhat of a conserve in the psychodrama world towards 'community' that is
often at the expense of the individual.   It is a bias that I believe stems
from the majority working in community and therapeutic settings, who would
see that 'making money' from the use of the method as slightly (or more so)
distasteful, and exclusive of those who cannot afford it.   

 

I reckon the 'spirit of psychodrama' is much bigger, inclusive and working
towards the balancing of both of these aspects of human endeavour.  I like
your suggestion Hamish, of looking below the surface to the intention or
essence of the endeavour, and I believe that at the heart of both the above
world views is a similar desire to make the world a better place.

 

cheers

Grace

  

 

 

  _____  

From: list-bounces at grouptalkweb.org [mailto:list-bounces at grouptalkweb.org]
On Behalf Of Johanna and Hamish
Sent: Sunday, 23 July 2006 9:21 a.m.
To: list at grouptalkweb.org
Subject: RE: Ambition

 

Hullo Grace and Peter and others

 

I am responding a lot to this thread about ambition.  Grace I like you
talking about 'being inclusive of all that exists as human endeavor'.

 

Like you I think that Ambition is a facet of spontaneity.  I think it is a
natural human thing to want to become who we can become to dream and make
our dreams real through our actions and creations.  

 

There is a cultural conserve in the western world which encourages
competitiveness - becoming better than others.  In my view this conserve
often kind of perverts or displaces the natural desire to be who we can be,
into aggressiveness and domination of others.  As I work in organisations I
often find myself thinking that people leaving university, getting a job and
desiring to contribute are faced with a system that encourages ladder
climbing and 'being better than'.  People struggling to experience self
worth are offered meaning in terms of getting higher faster.  Sometimes I
have found that underneath the ruthless corporate climbing exterior is a
person wanting a kind of self expression which brings satisfaction,
contribution, using ones talents to make the world a better place. 

 

I think I am privileged in that I generally get to work with people who have
been successful in this corporate sense and then found that their success is
empty and unsatisfying.  So they are already looking for a means to use
their skills and talents for things which feel good to them.  Very often
these things seem to involve contribution to others rather than competition
with others.  To me it is a very natural thing to want to make the world a
better place.

 

Cheers Hamish

 

   

 

Hamish Brown

Director

 

Zenergy

Whole People Co-operating in a Sustainable world

119 Mt Eden Rd,

Auckland

www.zenergyglobal.com 

 

  _____  

From: list-bounces at grouptalkweb.org [mailto:list-bounces at grouptalkweb.org]
On Behalf Of Grace
Sent: Friday, 21 mmmm 2006 2:50
To: list at grouptalkweb.org
Subject: RE: Ambition

 

Kia ora Peter,

 

I too have thought long and hard on ambition.  Here are some thought from
me:

 

When I worked fully in the community and education sectors I always
considered I had little ambition, and I took this as a given about myself.
Having taken the plunge into creating a lifestyle for myself that centres on
promoting psychodrama and Morenian processes in ALL I do, I find that my
ambition to make it work is what gets me up and going in the morning!  It is
also what sustains me when my flaws and foibles get away on me and I don't
manage to create what I am seeking (i.e. I fail).  It also assists greatly
assisting me to identify the criteria for making choices, whether it be who
I associate with, how I construct my support networks, what work I do etc.
Yay for ambition I say!

 

I have found that the tendency for psychodrama to be practiced mainly as a
therapeutic and community-based method here in Aotearoa New Zealand (and
probably Australia) has had a significant influence on a range of factors
influencing in promotion of the method.  This includes, I would suggest with
a little trepidation, a somewhat conserved response to what 'forms' of
ambition are 'acceptable' and what do not 'go' with their notion of the
'spirit of psychodrama'.   I have observed people from other sectors come
into the community and initially become very excited about the potential
application of the method for their own work.  However it seems they tend to
go again after a relatively short period of time satisfied that they have
gained personally but discouraged and sometimes disillusioned that there is
any application in a wider context.  

 

>From my own experience my observation is that ambition is an expression of
spontaneity, not sparked by comfort (a little like spontaneity), nor
nurtured by isolation (ditto).  I have watched my ambition grow as I get
closer to being able to live spontaneously in all aspects of my life.  My
understanding of Moreno's method and his notion of sociatry, is that it is
'inclusive' of all that exists as human endeavour, and when I read his work,
such as Who shall Survive? and the Words of the Father, I feel encouraged
that Moreno saw his method applied widely for the benefit of humankind
whatever the context.  I find this very exciting!

 

I'm not sure if this is the sort of thing you were asking about, but here
you go anyway.

Cheers

Grace 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: list-bounces at grouptalkweb.org [mailto:list-bounces at grouptalkweb.org]
On Behalf Of Peter Howie
Sent: Friday, 21 July 2006 11:47 a.m.
To: list at grouptalkweb.org
Subject: Ambition

 

Hi all,

I've been thinking recently about what keeps me going at times, what keeps
others going and thing of this nature. Watching Frank Lowy in a documentary,
a multi-billionaire Aussie with 180 mega-shopping complexes around the
world, who funded the turn-around of Australian soccer/football and helped
get us to international status, when asked what kept him going he said he
was still full of ambition.

I'm imagining that J L Moreno was also full of ambition, ambition to do many
things, one of which was to promote and teach his remarkable method and to
try and set up systems to support its ongoing practice, teaching,
methodological review and improvement and philosophical development. 

I'm thinking on this and wondering about my own level of ambition.
Psychodramatists with ambition that I know of would be Kate with the Spiral
model work, Marcia Karp, Max Clayton - and there would be heaps of others. I
am not thinking about abilities or skills as a trainer, educator or
practitioner. More about their ambition to relentlessly push forward in
creating a world that they would like to live in, surrounded by colleagues
who support and challenge them and keeping going despite their own human
flaws and foibles.

Anyway - this rises for me as I contemplate doing things a bit differently
around here with how I spend my time promoting psychodrama and Morenian
processes. How much do I have. Ho much do those around me support or
parallel me. Things like this.

So how does this idea of ambition sit with some of you?

Cheers for now

Peter Howie
Brisbane, Australia

 

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