TRIAD Foreword

Foreword

For at least 40 years I have been actively involved with the process of personal development and community building. For about 20 of those years I have known Bruce Beach. Countless times over these years I have received an urgent call to come and hear about a new idea he has encountered, a new insight he has gained, and invariably the new project he is implementing to add another dimension to his complex plan to contribute to building a peaceful world community. Walking with Bruce has always been exhilarating because of the spirit of search that characterizes his life. Bruce and I share the same ultimate goals so it has been joyous to have a companion to imagine with, to think with and to experiment with. But Bruce earns my greatest respect because he not only envisions and talks but he acts. He never fears failure because he is aware that he will always learn. The latest summons from Bruce was to hear about how a process of working together in groups of three had fired his imagination. Shortly after our first meeting where he outlined his idea to write a book and begin a blog to promote this concept, Bruce asked me to write this foreword. One of my first responses was to suggest that this was an inappropriate request as it was obvious that it needed to be written not by one but by a TRIAD. He agreed; so while the end result may bear my name - you can be sure that it has been a collaborative effort. Bruce's work is always guided by a few fundamental, divinely inspired principles. The TRIAD process supports, and is supported by, more than a few of them and include: Mankind is essentially good and we all work in our own way to improve life on the planet. Groups of people acting together have much more power and energy to move forward. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The art and science of group problem solving and decision making must be learned. Our relationships are the arena for our most important life lessons. Why is this an idea whose time has come? For forty years I have worked with others to learn and practice what we have usually called ‘consultation’, with mixed results. Sometimes we achieved wonders, other times we were bogged down and the result was not bigger than the sum of its parts but likely matched the weakest of the parts. So I would say that any time is the right time, but there are other reasons why we need to experiment with this concept now. We live in perilous times and, at the very least, we know that we face circumstances on this planet that we have never had to face. For the first time in our recorded history it appears we have the potential to destroy life as we know it. If we continue in a mode of competing self-interest we are not likely to find creative new solutions to guide us successfully through these challenges. Many of our thinkers and elders suggest that our success in facing the challenges of this time will depend largely on how well we work together. The TRIAD is presented as more than a problem solving technique. While we are using it to address whatever challenge or celebration we are engaged with in our lives, the process of collaborating with our two cohorts can be teaching us some truly valuable lessons about supportive relationships. Bruce's book suggests that there is a key for our individual and societal growth in this very simple idea of working with a group of three. It suggests to experiment with this process. His blog is a forum for timely sharing of learning about both what is working and what is not working. His book is an invitation to all of us to join with two others and open the door to the possibility that together we can create a better world for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. Is it possible? Can this simple process make a difference? We will never know if we do not give it a try. My suggestion is that you look upon this as an experiment: get together with two like-minded individuals and choose an issue, apply the technique to make a plan of action, carry it out, and finally assess the results. Bruce always signs off with the phrase "Peace and Love". There is a great wisdom in this. If your current experiment is not bringing peace and love into your life, some part or perhaps all of that experiment needs to change. Rae Smith