What is our role and agency in co-creating?

The interplay between intention and surrender

Life is an interesting experience.

Intuitively, we feel that we have some agency, some part to play in the evolution of everything.
Example: We push a few buttons on the laptop keyboard, and words appear on the screen. We do x, and y predictably happens. It feels like some things are in our circle of influence and responsibility.

At the same time, we can’t control everything. Actually, it's very clear that we can’t control so many of the things.
Example will follow.

The ping-pong

Sitting in a cab in London, I had this beautiful conversation with George the taxi driver. Building on Daoism, he used the metaphor of the ping-pong of life: We do our part (’raise our hand’ for a possibility, do the ping) and open ourselves to the response by the universe (the pong). Doing our part wholeheartedly while being curious/open/surrendered to whatever arises. It feels to me a bit like leaning back, sinking into a comfortable, safe and snuggly chair with a deep exhale, or letting go of a grip (vom ‘festkrallen’ zum ‘loslassen - es aus unseren Händen in die Hände etwas Grösseren geben’).

The ping can be anything. From a word that is spoken, creating powerful ripples to actions taken.

All we can do is serve ‘the ping’ with all our hearts and the highest intentions. Then, open up to ‘the pong’ from the universe/god/higher self/life.

When we design, we have the chance to remember and embrace this: our agency and responsibility in the co-creation with the universe and the humble understanding that we can’t control outcomes.

How does this relate to co-creating new worlds that are life-friendly, caring, and celebratory about our diversity?

Work in progress. To be co-created.

To explore

Alan Watts: We are creating everything and nothing at the same time
Examples: We can’t engineer/strategise/manage a particular outcome
The metaphor of the seed: Plant it with love and the highest intention, but don’t take it out of the soil daily to check if it has grown roots (Philipp Aeschlimann)
Include the conversation with George
Include the notes from the conversation with Jonathan