The call to “Discover the expert within you!” is based on the idea that everyone is an expert, even if you are unaware of it. Through practice, you can become aware of your own expertise and actively apply it in everyday life.
Developing awareness of your own way of acting
Everyone acts in their own unique way. In this way of acting, that person is an expert. The aim is to discover this expert within yourself. One way to do this is for others to discover the expert in you by imitating you.
Here is an example from an Inclutrain workshop in a gardening workshop:
Dorian piles soil onto the seed tray to spread it out. Julia and I stand nearby, watching, and make no move to imitate him until Dorian moves the tub of soil a little closer to us. It’s like an invitation to join in. Yet in the subsequent reflection, Dorian admits that he probably did this unconsciously. Whilst working, he keeps an eye on everything. Almost imperceptibly, his gaze wanders now over the work area, now to the gardening group. When he finishes the job, he places the small scoop parallel to the seed tray. I place the small scoop in the tub of soil, whereupon he points out to me with a laugh how his small scoop is positioned. We describe his impulse to act – that is, his individual way of acting – as ‘moderating while looking around’.
Dorian is not aware of how he acts. This is not unusual. Most people are not aware of their own way of acting. In the exercise, his way of acting is imitated by others and named in the subsequent reflection. Through this exercise, Dorian becomes aware of his way of acting. He has to laugh himself when, at the end of the exercise, he points out the position of the small scoop to his colleagues and recognises his impulse to act in this action.
Creating awareness of one’s own way of acting is one aspect of ‘Discovering the expert within you’.
Empathetic perception
A second aspect of being an expert emerges in connection with other people: everyone has the ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, for example through imitation. Through this empathetic perception, one experiences another person’s impulse to act. This, too, is a skill that many people are unaware of. However, when invited to do so, they can apply it consciously and immediately.
Expressing what has been experienced
One challenge is expressing what one has experienced. One can express one’s experiences through words, and also through drawing or painting, or through music. This is therefore a third aspect of ‘Discovering the expert within you’. The various means of expression can help when working with people who need support, enabling them to engage in dialogue. You can find out how to become more skilled in these forms of expression in other sections.
