The CCT program periodically holds a community open house event on Taking Yourself Seriously. During this participatory event, those attending are asked to take turns sharing a short, informal summary or story of how this idea relates to your ongoing work, life, and learning. See the information below for further details.
Background:
Long-time CCT program director and UMass Professor Peter Taylor, who passed away in October 2019, had immeasurable impact on the CCT and university community and wider world through his work in several areas, including science in social context, reflective practice, and critical and creative thinking. One of his many innovations was the concept of “taking yourself seriously”, which was a base for much of his teaching, coaching, and mentoring of students over the years. This idea relates to the way that we come to appreciate the value of our own ideas, support others, and be supported in creating something that is, most of all, important and meaningful to us personally. In this community open house event, we take time to reflect on what this means to us in our continued directions, and in recognition of Peter’s influence on us as engaged lifelong learners.
Peter’s book, Taking Yourself Seriously, asks the reader to consider what happens in times of true engagement and fulfillment with our learning, life, and work directions. Are you following what is important to you personally (rather than being done to meet expectations of others)? Are you building the support that you and others need? He goes on:
“[To move your vision forward], you need to align your questions and ideas, your aspirations, your ability to take or influence action, and your relationships with other people. These concepts can be shortened to head, heart, hands, and human connections. Bringing these 4H’s into alignment… that is what we mean by taking yourself seriously.”
During this event, participants will engage in a sharing activity that puts the idea of Taking Yourself Seriously into practice.
Preparation:
Consider this question: What is one example of something important to you that you have developed or achieved in some area of your work, education, and/or life that represents you taking yourself seriously? Was there a time in the past when you didn’t imagine or couldn’t have imagined yourself doing this, or had uncertainty about how (or whether) it would evolve, or whether you were the person to do it? What happened between that earlier point and now to get you from there to here?
Each participant is asked to prepare an informal presentation ahead of time (about 5 minutes) where you 1) briefly introduce yourself to others, and then 2) tell the story of how you came to take yourself seriously around this particular area/project/achievement and reach the point where you are now. (You may think of multiple ways to answer this; one example is enough in preparing your presentation.)
During the presentation portion of the event, each participant will join a small group (in person or online) and share what they have prepared. Visual aids that include samples of work, images, or writings are welcome, but not required. Digital files can be shared through Zoom for online participants. All are also welcome to contribute written reflections around this topic, including those who cannot attend the event. These contributions may be compiled into a form that can be shared with the CCT community later.
