The Art Compromise/mindell

Mindell, A. (2000). The Leader As Martial Artist: Techniques and Strategies for

Resolving Conflict and Creating Community. (5th ed.). Portland, OR: Lao Tso Press.

The primary idea of this text is that we are all accountable for our universal structure and the whole of our community and societies. Mindell outlines ways of working with different cultures that require people to rise above some of their own mental and cultural programming to see the larger picture: The programming that has been created due to our individual experiences and histories. We know that awareness increases when we are understanding the values of others from different backgrounds.

Mindell introduces a way of approaching people from other backgrounds other than your own and to read the signals that are expressed nonverbally to interpret rather than to judge (33). He would assert the need for curiosity about other viewpoints while remaining open to influence. Again, once that we have become aware of our own biases that keep atmospheres and environments conflicted via individual psychological growth.

As psychologically growing people is when it becomes our responsibilities to stop the cycles of history, with the objective of helping the world become whole (5). Even choosing to interact with awareness in the usual continuing conflicts of everyday life

(i.e driving to work, relating to others, in our business lives, or studying), we participate in the world’s self renewal (7).

It impresses me when Mindell describes a certain scenario in a group process. He claims that when defensiveness arises, to simply let it play itself out. If the attitude begins to wane without resolving, Mindell teaches to even take that