As I work through possibilities for a leadership development program, I have consistently insisted that "experience" be at the core of whatever process we use. I would like to explore the issue of experience through some sources that I think speak to how we learn (change) less through thinking than through "embodying" the change we seek.
Embodiment refers to a structural change in one's life that disrupts the status quo, alters the context, and requires "learning" in order to deal with the new context that's been created. In Moby Dick, Ishmael's decision to go out to sea is an embodiment of change. He is dramatically shifting his context and will be exposed to new rhythms, people, technical skills, group dynamics, etc. What it is Ishmael is hoping to learn from this embodiment of life on the sea may be the subject of another post, but it's clear that he sees values, ways of life that attract and repel him over the course of his adventures. His experience forces him to deal with profound questions of what is most meaningful in life, and how we live a life that is full of meaning.
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