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Abstract
Although not a new concept in the field of Organizational Development (OD), self-exploration has typically been seen as an afterthought, if at all. What would happen if it is given priority and done every day? For my sabbatical I travelled to Auroville, a city in India where self-exploration is a purposeful way of life. The objective of this study was to understand what self-exploration practices are used by residents of Auroville, and how those practices affect each person's life. Thirty residents completed a questionnaire I designed using Appreciative Inquiry, and the results clearly indicate that daily self-exploration practices have allowed them to not only aspire to but actually become more elevated, conscious, giving, thoughtful, ethical, and loving in their daily lives. I believe that these practices can be extrapolated to the classroom, and that self-exploration and "starting with the self" are the future path for the Organizational Development field, allowing for more robust, meaningful, and ethical business behaviors and practices.
Keywords: self-exploration, appreciative inquiry, Auroville, Organizational Development
Quieting the mind and becoming more aware of one's self and one's surroundings exponentially increases the potential for sincere, honest contact which can lead to significant, effective self-awareness. It is at this individual, internal level that key global business decisions are made every day. This study is a continuation of my work on how "starting with the self' (Wheeler, 2013a) can positively impact a person's capacity for leadership and his/her ability to work within a system (classroom, organization, or community). I have presented papers (Wheeler, 2011; 2013b; 2013 c; 2014) outlining my use of certain practices that help both me and my students to "get present" and "make contact" in the classroom, then I am able to "challenge their participation" in the process of learning. Finding these practices effective in the classroom, I became curious about how a deeper practice of self-exploration might broaden a person's ability to learn, adapt, and work effectively with themselves and others, either in the classroom, the boardroom, or on a global level.
My continued research on the use of self-exploration practices within the field of Organizational Development led me to a world-renowned community intentionally established in 1968 in Tamil Nadu, India, called Auroville. Auroville fosters and encourages self-exploration as a...