Quadrant theory is something my tutor introduced me to back at the beginning of this course, as a way of ensuring that we are developing holistically. Very basically you map out 4 quadrants/areas of growth and then look at what you are doing within each of those spaces. You can then see where you are unbalanced and look at ways you could make sure your life is well rounded and developing in all ways it can be. The theory is that to ensure whole and holistic health and progress, we need to make sure we are developing ourselves in a balanced way.
There is a lot of writing on this subject, but I've found a lot of it to go over my head, as often these kind of papers do. I did see that this method is used in many different ways, often for business, so that managers and the like can find new ways to develop their companies.
Ken Wilber has written what is apparently a very good and thorough book on the subject, called A Theory of Everything. I would like to read this book, as he seems like a very amazing man, and I get the feeling that this is the kind of stuff that can change your life, if you let it. You can read more about Ken Wilber on his Wikipedia page here.
Basically, the four quadrants are as follows;
This is going to be an ongoing investigation for me, but as I delve into this I'll share what I discover here.
There is a lot of writing on this subject, but I've found a lot of it to go over my head, as often these kind of papers do. I did see that this method is used in many different ways, often for business, so that managers and the like can find new ways to develop their companies.
Ken Wilber has written what is apparently a very good and thorough book on the subject, called A Theory of Everything. I would like to read this book, as he seems like a very amazing man, and I get the feeling that this is the kind of stuff that can change your life, if you let it. You can read more about Ken Wilber on his Wikipedia page here.
Basically, the four quadrants are as follows;
- the upper left (UL) is concerned with the 'I', the interior individual, things like your emotion, vision, logic and sensation. The subjective- truthfulness, sincerity, integrity and trustworthiness. The 'working on myself' kind of stuff, the internal workings.
- the upper right (UR) deals with the 'it', the exterior individual, the things I do in the world, the skills I have, the observable things. The objective - truth, correspondence, representation and propositional. The things I do in the world.
- the lower left (LL) deals with the 'we', the interior collective, my place or role within the community. The inter-subjective - the rational, mythical and magic. Justness, cultural fit, mutual understanding, rightness. My culture, and it's affects on me.
- the lower right (LR) is about the 'its', the social exterior collective, tribes, nations, states and families. The inter-objective - functional fit, systems theory web, structural functionalism, social systems mesh. My interactions on community levels outside of me.
This is going to be an ongoing investigation for me, but as I delve into this I'll share what I discover here.
Here are the notes I made trying to make sense of what should belong in each quadrant. I have been finding it a real challenge knowing what comes under which heading! I think as I read further into all of this, and into Ken Wilber's book, it will all start to make more sense.
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And here I have started to map out my current skills and room for improvement.
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Although I haven't got very far with all this yet, I am really beginning to see the benefit of mapping things out like this. I really struggled to find anything to put into my LR quadrant, I wrote 'P.C. design, connecting with community/friends, and social life'. And I know I'm not putting aside enough time or any priority to any of these areas! This has led me to thinking how I can push my edges in these places.
My next steps
I have made some big changes to the projects I am working on (projects 3 and 4) to reach out and be of benefit to my wider community. I've also naturally begun putting much more time and focus into sharing information through my websites. Just this little insight has really shifted the priorities of my projects, and of my study as a whole really, now as I think of an idea my first thoughts have shifted to include how I can benefit the community as a whole, creating a much greater contribution than just for my own learning. Am really keen to read Ken Wilber's book now I can see what a big impact this way of working will have on me.
I have made some big changes to the projects I am working on (projects 3 and 4) to reach out and be of benefit to my wider community. I've also naturally begun putting much more time and focus into sharing information through my websites. Just this little insight has really shifted the priorities of my projects, and of my study as a whole really, now as I think of an idea my first thoughts have shifted to include how I can benefit the community as a whole, creating a much greater contribution than just for my own learning. Am really keen to read Ken Wilber's book now I can see what a big impact this way of working will have on me.
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I've come to a point now where I'd like to see clearly where I'm developing so have created a space here that can be added to as and when new learnings arise.. Hopefully the information here will grow with each step of knowledge and growth that I go through.
You can see the next chapter in this journey here.
You can see the next chapter in this journey here.
