Cooking oil
Popping corn
Iron skillet
Hot stove
Lid
I loved to watch my mom make popcorn when I was a kid. She did it the old-fashioned way, in a skillet. It looked like art to me as she poured the corn oil in the pan with a flair. I listened intently to the loud sound that the kernels made as she dropped them slowly onto the hard surface of the pan.
I can still see the baked-on grease of that old, cast-iron skillet, and the cheap, brown, aluminum lid that barely fit it. I would get so excited as I waited for the first pop. And then the second. And then the third, fourth, fif-six-sev-eigh-nin-millionth corn kernel as it exploded and hit underside of the lid.
It sounded like machine-gun fire to me. And I really wanted to lift up the lid and watch them pop all over the place.
Even Today I Still Get Excited By Popcorn
Not just real, buttered popcorn. I get excited by popcorn facilitation too.
Popcorn facilitation is way of doing The Work of Byron Katie in a group. Instead of answering the four questions of The Work one-on-one with a facilitator, popcorn facilitation lets everyone chime in randomly. Everyone’s answers pop out like kernels of popping corn.
There Are A Lot Of Advantages To Popcorn Facilitation
First of all it’s fun.
And you get to see that other people share similar versions of your stressful thoughts. Not only is this encouraging to know, but it is practical as well.
When other people are answering the questions, they may say something that triggers a new answer in you. In other words, we build off each other as we go. This is great if you’re dealing with a stressful concept that is challenging for you.
It’s also great if you’re new to The Work. You can watch how others answer the questions. You get a real life version of how The Work works.
Finally, popcorn is a great way to meet others who like to do The Work. You may want to pair off with people you meet at a popcorn session, and do The Work privately with them.
So What Is Blog Popcorn?
Normally, popcorn facilitation is done with a live audience, or on a teleconference call. But popcorn is something I’ve never seen done on a blog before. So I’m making it up. And I’m really looking forward to trying it out this week.
Instead of meeting as a group in person, or on a teleconference, we’re going to meet up on my blog. Today, at 4 PM Pacific Time, you’re invited to show up for a half hour and do The Work with us.
The blog comment section will become a miniature forum. And I will lead us through all four questions of The Work and the turnarounds sequentially. And if you come late, you can still add your comments anytime.
What Will We Be Questioning?
We will be questioning the concept, “He didn’t keep his promise.”
Before you start, you should find a specific time and place where you had the thought, “He didn’t keep his promise.” And it’s not gender specific. It could just as easily be a “she” who didn’t keep “her” promise.
But in any case, it should be a time when this was a stressful thought for you. This will be the first thing I will ask, “What is your specific situation?” My specific situation will be from 14 years ago when an employer didn’t pay what we agreed.
For Future Sessions, Please Submit Any Stressful Concepts You Would Like To Bring To The Group
If you have a stressful thought that you think others will also want to work, please send me an email, or leave a comment on the blog.
Next Step
In order to participate, please go to the blog anytime before 4 PM Pacific Time today. You will find a new post entitled, “Blog Popcorn: He Didn’t Keep His Promise.”
When you get there, please leave a comment just to say hi.
I will invite you also to leave a brief description of your stressful situation before we start (one sentence only). And then we’ll go through the four questions, and turnarounds, and examples of the turnarounds. We’ll finish up, if there’s time, with any questions or sharing of experiences.
I’m Really Looking Forward To This Experiment
If you’ve never done popcorn facilitation before, you’re in for a treat. And if you have, I invite you to try out this new way of doing it on a blog. Who knows, it might be a great way to go. We can only try and find out.
That’s what my mom did back in the 1980’s when she tried out a revolutionary new thing called the popcorn maker. And once she tried it, she never went back to the old iron skillet again.
See you on the blog at 4 PM Pacific Time.
___________________________
Todd Smith is a facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie. For private sessions with Todd, please visit his website to learn about his facilitation services.
Recent Newsletters
March 1, 2012: Why Are Questions 1 and 2 a “Yes” or “No” Only?
Feb 23, 2012: The Trip-Wire Method Of Identifying Stressful Thoughts
Feb 16, 2012: How Bias Influences The Work (My Prejudice Against Divorce)
Feb 9, 2012: Are You Tired Of Pretending Everything Is Ok?
Feb 2, 2012: What Exactly Is Balance?
Jan 26, 2012: How Fanaticism Creeps In
To get “The Work As Meditation Newsletter” every week visit www.theworkasmeditation.com.
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