Personal Mastery and Persons with Disabilities

Personal Mastery is a process of living that involves some specific points. Creative tension, emotional tension, conflict, vision, honesty, openness, shared vision, and complexity are all parts of personal mastery. I approach the parts of personal mastery in relation to persons with disabilities in this section of my paper. While reading about personal mastery, I found myself thinking, "this could really be a tool for persons with disabilities." I think that personal mastery can help persons with disabilities find direction in life, and help them achieve goals.

For persons with disabilities, mastering ourselves to the greatest extent we can is essential if we are to teach the people and organizations around us who we are and what we can contribute to society. Personal mastery begins with competency and skills.

The first thing we have to do on the road to personal mastery is to define what is truly important to us instead of spending time coping with the problems we all face in our lives. Some of the competencies and skills involved in personal mastery include:

• Clarifying what is important

Persons with disabilities are often frustrated by the situation they find themselves in. They see the prejudice that nondisabled persons have toward persons with disabilities, the lives persons with disabilities live on Social Security income, the medical troubles persons with disabilities face, and the lack of available opportunity. Perhaps one of the first steps out of this cycle of unhappiness is through figuring out what is really important to persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities can benefit from knowing what they truly want in life. (Senge, 1994)

• Learning how to see current reality

Knowing where we are currently as persons with disabilities, without any veils on, is another part of personal mastery that persons with disabilities can benefit from in a large way. Knowing where we are helps us to understand our current reality, but along with the knowledge of what we most desire, it becomes the basis for bringing creative tension into our lives. If we can see where we are now, and what we want in the future, we can begin to work for our dreams.

• Learning how to generate creative tension, and sustain it

We can generate creative tension through awareness of where we are now and what we truly desire; a powerful ability. Sustaining creative tension involves acknowledging that our current reality and vision, or what we truly desire, will change as we move toward success in personal mastery. We can maintain creative tension by keeping an understanding of where we are now and our vision as it changes over time.

• Expanding the ability to produce the results we truly want in life

As we reach for personal mastery through generation of creative tension, we can learn how to improve the ways we produce the results we want. Practice makes perfect. Moving toward our goals is a learning process; we become better at what we do through practice and time.

• Lifelong learning

Changes in where we are and what we desire present continual learning opportunities in life. Whenever we encounter some change in the process of generating creative tension, we also encounter more opportunities to learn about where we are now, what we truly want, and ways that we can reach for understanding and fulfillment. Pursuit of personal mastery is a lifelong learning process. (Senge, 1994)

• Attaining and maintaining a level of personal and/or professional proficiency

As we move toward greater proficiency in personal mastery, we become more professional or proficient about the process. We become more committed to the process of personal mastery. We have more initiative, and a more profound sense of responsibility. We also learn faster.

Persons who work toward personal mastery live in a constant learning mode. They have a sense of purpose that supports their vision and goals. For persons pursuing personal mastery, a vision isn't simply a 'good idea', it is a calling. They see their current reality as a friend, and have learned how to see and work with change instead of against it. Personal mastery brings with it the desire to see current reality more clearly and also brings a sense of being connected to life and other people. Personal mastery helps people to develop emotionally, which in turn helps them to reach their goals. It is a process of living that builds confidence and helps people to see that the 'path is the goal.' (Senge, 1994)

If we drift along through life, with no clear idea of the reality we live in, we cannot work with what is real. For many of us, seeing reality is inescapable on a poverty or medical level, but what about the world around us? Once we have a clear idea of what it is we want in life, also called 'vision', as well as an understanding of the reality around us, we have brought forth something called 'creative tension'.

Creative tension is a force that is caused by the tendency of tension to find some form of resolution. Personal mastery is learning how to first generate and then sustain creative tension in relation to our lives. Once we have some creative tension in our lives, we can pursue life-long learning, and this expands our ability to make the results we want for ourselves. Knowing what we want for ourselves means that we are capable of teaching organizations who we are, to the benefit of everyone. (Senge, 1994)

Creative tension is the core principle of personal mastery, the force that comes into play the moment that we acknowledge a vision that conflicts with where we are currently. Creative tension can bring on emotions such as anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, worry or discouragement. These emotions can be dangerous for someone who is depressed or anxious, and must be prepared for if possible. Reaching for help through a friend, family members, or others is something that can help you deal with these emotions as you reach for what you really want in life. Few people build their new home by themselves; asking for help is no shame. (Senge, 1994)

It is important to understand that these emotions are not creative tension, they are known as 'emotional tension', and everyone who pursues personal mastery will likely have to deal with some emotional tension. Extreme emotional tension might be a sign that you should lower your vision a little for some relief. No one says your vision has to include such large things as to make reaching for your vision a process of continual suffering. Your vision will change as time passes, and you will gain satisfaction from reaching the goals you set.

Shifting the emotional tension downward by modifying your vision is ok, but if you do it repeatedly you may lose the creative tension you generated, and have to start the process over again. If you are unwilling to live with some emotional tension, your goals will erode over time. I think it is just fine to start over a few times, as long as you do start again, and then pursue your vision to the degree you can. (Senge, 1994)

Becoming proficient in the use of creative tension changes how you look at the concept of 'failure.' Failure is a shortfall, and points to the gap between your vision and current reality. It is an opportunity to learn about inaccuracies in your picture of current reality, or strategies that didn't work. It helps you to clarify your vision. Failure isn't about being powerless or unworthy. Understanding your current reality is equally important as a clear vision. It is also important to understand your limits.

Interestingly, the closer you get to reaching your vision, the more your current vision pressures you to stay. You may lose energy, or even question whether you really want the vision you set for yourself, but it is beliefs that you are unaware of that tend to create this struggle. Feelings of powerlessness or unworthiness can keep you from going the final distance to your vision. Some people just 'let go' of their vision, and let it fade away; a poor way of dealing with conflict in the final stages of reaching for a vision, in my opinion. (Senge, 1994)

Some people try to manipulate the conflict by creating more, artificial conflict. An example of this could be avoidance of the conflict. Many people focus on what it is that they don't want, such as antidrugs, antismoking, antinuclear weapons or power, and so on. People might focus on getting off of Social Security, when what they want in their vision is a job.

Some people wind up concentrating more on conflict manipulation instead of reaching their vision, but others move into a state of emotional tension, such as anxiety or fear concerning their ability to reach their vision. Some people worry about losing what they have. Others try to use willpower to deal with resistance from the creative tension process. It sounds to me like a lot of people have trouble 'letting go', after reaching or getting close to their visions. 'Letting go' of your past reality enables you to move forward. Persons with disabilities need to be aware that upon reaching a vision or getting near to it, they need to acknowledge what they have done, rejoice in their achievements, and then work on another vision. The process of personal mastery is a lifelong one, and dealing with success is just as important as establishing a constructive view of failure. (Senge, 1994)

The idea of creative tension is an essential part of personal mastery. Creative tension springs into being when we realize that there is a difference between our vision and the reality we are experiencing. Creative tension can lead to emotional experiences like anxiety, discouragement or sadness. These emotions are not creative tension, they are emotional tension, distinguishing between the two is an important skill in personal mastery. Living with emotional tension can be difficult for people, but this doesn't mean that they are incapable of personal mastery. People are individuals, and each person should pursue personal mastery to the extent she is able. Persons can actually use the 'gap' between vision and reality to make the energy they need to create change.

People who work toward personal mastery find that failure is just a shortfall, and that it points out creative tension. Failure is definitely not about our being unworthy or powerless. Failure teaches us how to pursue life a little better than we had before. Our limitations are what they are – but this is true of all people, disabled or nondisabled. (Senge, 1994)

Without a vision for the future, one involving what you truly want from life, it is easy to give up. Ask some people with disabilities what they want and they may tell you something like, "oh, it would be nice to have an extra week's medical supplies, so I don't have to worry about whether or not I'll make it through the last couple of days of the month." Some might say, "I'd like to live in a better neighborhood." The focus they might have instead is on their 'ultimate' desires, the main life-goals that can change their lives for the better, not just secondary goals. A vision springs from a person's beliefs concerning why she is alive. A personal vision pulls you forward and makes the work you put forth to reach that vision worthwhile.

Vision is not a sense of purpose; a purpose is like a general direction. A vision is a specific result that you really want to achieve. A vision is solid; purpose is "being the best you can be". A vision is seeing an African-American woman with a disability as president by the year 2025. Nothing happens until you have a vision, and a vision is simply a good idea. Personal mastery is a process of focusing and re-focusing on your vision, in order to help maintain your creative tension. (Senge, 1994)

For people who have achieved personal mastery, a vision isn't just a good idea; it is a 'calling' to pursue the vision. For them, the reality they find themselves in is a friend because they know how to work with change instead of fighting it. They dig deeper and deeper into the questions they have, and see reality more accurately because of it. Their connections to other people and life are strengthened, and they are a part of the creative process. People with disabilities should pursue personal mastery.

The impact of pursuing personal mastery is intense; people become more committed to their actions, they take more initiative to get things done, and have a greater sense of responsibility in both their life and work. Happiness is a result of pursing personal mastery that is tied to personal fulfillment. For many disabled persons, personal mastery is a way out of the despair of socially enforced poverty. (Senge, 1994)

A commitment to truth is another important part of personal mastery because if you are not committed to truth you will not be able to see your progress through untainted eyes. Being committed to truth means that you relentlessly root out the ways you limit or deceive yourself as you move toward your vision. Question your theories, broaden your awareness; work toward a deeper understanding of the structures supporting events, and revel in the surprises that arise.

Without doubt, some complexity will arise in the search for personal mastery. The subconscious mind is our best friend when faced with complexity. We all do complex things every day, depending on our abilities, such as walking, talking, eating or riding a wheelchair down the street. The subconscious mind helps these things happen. Anything new that we learn requires a lot of conscious attention, but once it is learned, the subconscious mind takes control of performing them. We need to focus on the vision we have and not the things we need to do in order to reach the vision. The subconscious mind retains things we have learned along the way, and by concentrating on our vision we keep our conscious mind free to learn new things which the subconscious mind will retain. (Senge, 1994)

Personal mastery can help persons with disabilities to reach their visions for a better personal and social future. Once we choose to pursue our visions, and learn more and more about what we truly want, we can begin teaching others about who we are. The creative tension that exists between our current reality and our visions for the future is a powerful place which we can use to learn, create, and grow. Through personal mastery we can better define who we are as a people, both individually and politically.

Shared vision is an important part of an organization because it allows people to work together without falling into the trap of self-interest. People want to be a part of something that is larger than them, and to contribute; people like working with each other. The personal visions of many people include their families, communities and organizations. Shared visions create a sense of trust between people, and allow them to be open with one another. Political situations begin to fall apart as shared vision and openness are pursued within an organization. (Senge, 1994)

Being open with each other in an organization, and actively participating in that openness, allows people to share vision. Reflective openness helps them to look inward and question their own thinking. It is important for people in an organization to understand that each individual's ideas are her own, and that they may not be the ones the organization needs to pursue. Leaps of abstraction allow people to see the differences between their own theories and the theories that are being used. The ability to question yourself and others without fear is important to the functioning of an organization. If people are sure or certain about what they are doing, motivation to question what they are doing disappears.

If I am sure that my methods of productivity are right, I have removed any motivation I might have to keep an open mind about those productivity methods. My ability to produce is marred by my fixing my understanding of how I produce. If I am sure that I have written this paper to the best of my ability, and will accept no possibility that there is room for improvement, then my ability to question how I write this paper disappears. (Senge, 1994)

Someone who provides services for persons with disabilities, and chooses to set 'acceptable outcome' in relation to those services, has closed the door to their ability to improve the way she provides those services. Keeping an open mind, and accepting the possibility that services could improve, is vital to growth in the ability to provide those services. Being absolutely sure that you are doing your best, or that you are providing 'acceptable' services, removes your ability to question what you are doing, and diminishes your ability to do your job well.

If you are certain about what you are doing, you diminish the creative tension in your life. Being certain, and closing your mind about the potential for improvement, might leave you in an emotionally secure position. Unfortunately, emotional security is also a sign that your creative tension is decreasing. Keeping yourself motivated and open to change and improvement is important for personal mastery, and one way to maintain openness toward improvement is through others. (Senge, 1994)

We have the opportunity to be open with each other, create a shared vision, and work toward a future that is more supportive to our well being than the reality of today. We have the ability to reach for personal mastery, with all of its benefits. We can learn about ourselves, and then teach others. We can help nondisabled people in America to understand that people with disabilities are able, creative human beings through our own personal mastery and leadership.

By T. Weiss