“Insighting with” and “talastasan”

Groupthink can happen if all members of the group decide to stop with the authentic practice of paying attention to experiences, being intelligent in understanding, being reasonable in assessing, and being responsible with deciding and acting. It would be such a disservice to let groupthink happen because instead of covering each other’s blind spots, the group pretends that there are no blind spots.

An authentic second-person practice, or something I’d like to phrase as “insighting with”, means that we cover each other’s blind spots. The individual members of the group build on each other’s insights, comfortable with dissenting, because the group is a psychologically safe space. I appreciate the Filipino term “talastasan”, which contains the words “talas” or “sharp”. Thus, I interpret “talastasan” as a means of Filipino communication where the members sharpen each other’s insights, and that cycle of sharpening the insights unlocks a surplus of meaning that is greater than the sum of individual intelligence of the group.

This might be an exaggeration to say, but as a member of the academe, it almost feels like a spiritual experience being part of a group that pays attention to each other’s ideas and builds on them. Wisdom, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, emerges from these kinds of interactions, and it is in these moments where I feel that God and science are not a false dichotomy. For it is through insighting with each other that we allow wisdom to emerge, and through a reinforcing virtuous cycle, this wisdom can approximate, even if a little bit, what it means for the Primary Insight to visit our psyche.

Maybe, this is what it means to ascend, at least cognitively speaking.

Matthew 28:16-20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-141: MAY 21, 2023]

Pain points are signals of opportunities

Whether it be dealing with illnesses or seeking growth, we are prone to experience pain points.

Pain points are not necessarily bad; they could be signals that there are opportunities to improve ourselves or at the very least chances to remove ourselves in undesirable situations.

Maybe when we pray, it’s not about asking God to remove the pain, but rather, seeking insight into what should be done next towards our flourishing.

John 16:20-23. A woman, when she is in labour, has sorrow because her hour has arrived; but when she has brought forth the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-139: MAY 19, 2023]

It takes time to brew insights

The pursuit of insight is hardly linear. It is messy and iterative. It is almost impossible to manufacture and it can be unexpected.
It feels like solving a big, tough puzzle. I can’t hurry it or simply make it happen.

For me, it’s like walking a winding path, not a straight road. I stumble, lose my way, and question myself. But within all this confusion, I find my deepest understanding. Insights aren’t instant; they’re like seeds needing time, patience, and persistence to grow. They’re the fruit of slow, careful work.

Insights seem to strike in a sudden ‘Aha!’ moment. Though such moments exist, they’re usually the result of many hours of thought and hard work. This sudden clarity is just the final piece of a long, unseen process.

Insights, I’ve found, prefer company. They grow best when joined with other insights, each one adding depth and perspective. So, I keep exploring, questioning, learning, and growing, knowing that every step brings me closer to the next insight.

John 16:12-15. I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-137: MAY 17, 2023]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions

We must pay attention to our experiences, thought processes, emotions, and biases. It is easy to think that good intentions automatically translate to good means and processes; unfortunately, that is not the case.

Not only must we pay attention to our own self, but we must also pay attention to the context. The authentic exercise of virtues require a back-and-forth between our external and internal context. We must have the presence of mind to adapt and improvise when the context requires.

If we are not mindful or if we are prone to relinquish our agency and go autopilot all the time, the life we are steering with good intentions might lead to a mirage.

John 15:26-16:4A. Yeah, the hour comes, that whosoever kills you, will think that he does a service to God.

3 And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father, nor me.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-135: MAY 15, 2023]

The price of trying to be better

No path towards being better is easy. Progress and change have dips and birth pains.

From a technical perspective, this separates the beginners from the masters. From a values perspective, this separates the hypocrites from the virtuous virtuosos.

And sometimes, the material rewards may not even be worth it. Oftentimes, the world can feel cold (if not downright absurd).

But when we find our authentic identity, purpose, and meaning, we have a better inspiration of who we ought to be. Acquiring that perspective is a gift that keeps on giving and makes life all the more worth living.

John 15:18-21. The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-133: MAY 13, 2023]