When working with a team at the Oregon High School's Summer Bridge Program, there was a moment of new understanding.
It was demo day for the second week system challenge. In a few hours they were going to have to tell a story to others about a project that they wanted to do that would have a systemic impact on an issue that was important to them.
I walked in to find the students disengaging, struggling to find connection between their original intention, to improve air quality, and their proposed project, composting in their high school.
Slowly, we uncovered the connection, one that led us to landfills and methane. But that was only half the task, for we need to find our way back home, to the system that reinforced composting.
In a moment, I sensed it, then gently guided them back. And then there was the moment of closing the loop where smiles broke out on everyone's faces. We collectively sensed an important wholeness, now we had to make sure that it was good, in a way that might delight others.
It was a story that could be told, meaning that could be be named and and shared – a Thought Blanket that allowed them to experience the Potential of Metathinking.
And tell a story they did tell, as they stood in front of community members, not only of that feedback loop but others that they had been able to quickly construct in the precious moments before demo day – each one sharing new, empowering, meaning.