In 1994, I was a business analyst working out which parts of human relationships could be programmed into a product called Lotus Notes. Our early conclusion was stark: only interactions that could be quantified were suitable for digital adaptation. This meant focusing on social connections defined by the acceptance or rejection of presented content.

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My path eventually led me to work with young people who experienced social connection largely through the lens of rejection. Rather than helping them to be accepted, I provided opportunities to experience life as a series of connections within an interconnected whole.  

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Years later, I encountered the work of Dr. Iain McGilchrist, which offered a profound lens through which to view the unintended consequences of our early explorations. In 1994, we couldn’t have foreseen the rise of the internet and mobile technology as we know them today. Now, connection—both online and offline—has often been reduced to a rapid-fire series of yes/no decisions: scrolling, swiping, accepting, and rejecting what’s placed before us. Our attention is on what can be deconstructed and reconstructed—essentially, what lies within our control. We begin to view everything through the lens of cause and effect: some people act in certain ways because they desire specific outcomes. This leads us to believe that we can know all that is necessary to engineer our lives. We become oblivious to the fact that we are unaware of the intricate relationships and connections that reach across the space between all things. Consequently, we cease to perceive our environment as a cohesive, interconnected whole. The true opposite of love, friendship, fellowship, is not rejection; rather, it is thinking we are parts of a machine.

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Throughout this journey, the term "Gestalt" came up quite often. Initially, I overlooked it, associating it solely with therapy. However, as its mention became more frequent, I dedicated time to understanding its meaning. In doing so, I found a description of my work and my identity. Eventually, I discovered John Leary-Joyce and his book, *The Fertile Void - Gestalt Coaching at Work*. From John's work, I learned how to articulate the three essential skills of Gestalt for sports. I shifted to GestaltTrainer.com