Why Thirdways?

Thirdways is a distillation of numerous influences that encompass my views on learning, development, and performance. Two ideas, however, stand out.

The first is the idea of options. There are often more options available than first thought. Different ways of approaching something, viewing something, doing something. A delicate balance exists between trusting what we know, and trusting what we don’t. As artist Max Weber says, “In carrying on my own humble creative effort, I depend greatly on that which I do not yet know, and upon that which I have not yet done.”

Call it what you will – development, growth, maturity, integration, coaching… I believe the task is the same. To assess the currently reality of what, how, and why we are doing what we’re doing, and to hold it lightly enough to be able to let go if it no longer serves us. 

Thirdways is about uncovering other options.

The second idea is more challenging to encapsulate, but my efforts have landed me on the following word… trust. The ‘third wave’ or ‘third force’ in psychological thought was the humanist movement. It made the case that we didn’t have to be shackled to our current state, our life scripts, or our conditioning. That within us lies the desire to actualise and fulfil our potential. To express our gifts and talents in the spirit of generosity and contribution. Embedded in this notion is the idea that we are best placed to identify our strengths, desires and potential. All we need is the right support to recognise these. And then to reach a place where we trust our ‘self’, and act accordingly.

Thirdways is about learning again to trust.