Pre-Conference Workshop

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
Polarity and the Attention Paradox (How to get better at anything)
with Liz Monroe-Cook and Tim Hurson
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 1:00 – 4:30pm
Ringling College of Art and Design
Larry R. Thompson Academic Building
Explore the paradox of two core states of being: the Experiencing Self, which loves to dive into the moment, and the Observing Self, which steps back to reflect on those moments. We’ll examine how these two states form The Attention Paradox and how you can use Polarity Thinking™ to manage their push and pull. Get hands-on with tools like polarity mapping, interactive exercises, and real-world examples. Learn how this paradox shows up in your life and work. Build on the pioneering insights of Ruth Noller, Daniel Kahneman, and Barry Johnson to examine the upsides and downsides of each state, learn the early warning signs of over-focusing on either one, and build practical strategies to stay in tune. Whether you want to enrich your personal growth, creative projects, or professional life, you’ll leave with a new approach to get the most out of your two paradoxical states of attention.

Learning Objectives:

  • Apply the concept of the Attention Paradox and the interdependency between Experiencing and Observing.
  • Recognize early warning signs of over-focusing on your experiencing self and your observing self to help you manage the Attention Paradox.
  • Apply Polarity Thinking to manage the upsides and downsides of these paradoxical states in personal and professional scenarios.

$100 per person
The Pre-Conference Workshop is complimentary and included in our leaders’ registrations.
All other attendees are invited to add-on this Pre-Conference Workshop.
Refreshments and a snack will be provided.

Example of Bio #1: Marcia Berkey

Marcia after many years of teaching at traditional universities and corporate training, now teaches full time online in the IT department for South University. She has a wonderful time living and learning and applying the many concepts learned from everywhere. She has presented a variety of e-Creativity sessions for both education and business. Marcia also consults on Word, PowerPoint, Access databases, and Excel spreadsheets.


Example of Bio #2: Jane Goldwasser

Jane Goldwasser is President of New Directions Consulting, Inc. a qualitative research company specializing in new product development. In her spare time, she is on the Board of Directors of a newly re-aligned Girl Scout Council and chairs both their Fund Development and Board Development committees. She is a CPSI alum who, having completed the Integrating Creative Leadership program, has put it to work in leading both PACE sessions and in working with CPSI Youthwise™.


Example of Bio #3: Art Emrich

Art is certified as a Master Practitioner and Trainer of NLP and Hypnosis by the 4 major hypnosis organizations in the US. His practice includes (a) medical referral clients who experience distress not relieved by traditional treatment, (b) the mental game of sports success (such as tennis, golf, and baseball), (c) academic excellence for peak performance in study and testing, and (d) enabling creative solutions for the challenges of life. Art is the HEAD Coach and Founder of U-Solutions LLC in Sarasota (the “U” stands for unconscious, where the most creative solutions reside).

 

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Example of Workshop Description #1: Christine Alexander

Join Chris for a day of exploration through improvisation and theater games…no acting experience required! In this safe, small group setting, you will have opportunities to be both on the stage and in the audience. Through the experiences, discussion, and your reflections, you will find new insights into communication, relationships, and yourself. This is a wonderful opportunity to allow your inner voices to speak to you and to discover the possibilities that come from living in the NOW.


Example of Workshop Description #2: Jane Goldwasser

This is a workshop for people who have dreamed of starting a business, solving one of society’s great problems, or pursuing any dream that has remained elusive for years. Often the biggest challenge to undertaking an audacious, wonderful goal is leaving the security of the known to go out into uncharted territory. If you have such a dream, join Jane Goldwasser for a day-long opportunity to translate this wish into a detailed plan for action. Use Jane’s D.A.R.E. model – D. (Decide), A. (Analyze), R. (Reality Check), E. (Execute).


Example of Workshop Description #3: Ann Bracken

Do you find yourself saying you don’t have enough time? You can’t squeeze in enough space for fun or creativity? What if you could make time expand or contract at will? In this workshop, based on the book Creating Time by Marney Makridakis, you will use journaling to kick-start your ideas and create an art-inspired time-tool to help you flip your day so that you and time can become partners in your creative work.

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Example of Learning Outcomes #1: Christine Alexander

  1. Participate in a variety of Improv exercises and theater games
  2. Take time to reflect and discus experiences and insights
  3. Identify strategies to improve communication
  4. Make connections between ‘play-acting’ and one’s real world POSSIBLE

Example of Learning Outcomes #2: Jane Goldwasser

  1. Translate a dream into a major goal
  2. Develop a plan to realize this goal
  3. Learn to move beyond stumbling blocks

Example of Learning Outcomes #3: Ann Bracken

  1. Identify and describe your relationship to time for creative pursuits
  2. Use a series of structured journaling and visual-arts prompts to identify problems and brainstorm solutions
  3. Pair-share solutions
  4. Create an arts-based clock-face reflect new relationship to time
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Example of Possible Applications #1: Christine Alexander

  1. Add new improv exercises and theater games to teaching, group facilitation or training
  2. Build on the insights gained in the workshop through continued reflection
  3. Discover a passion for the stage and become involved in community theater or beyond

Example of Possible Applications #2: Jane Goldwasser

  1. Implement the plan for action and achieve a major goal
  2. Apply the D.A.R.E. planning tools to other goals

Example of Possible Applications #3: Ann Bracken

  1. Make effective use of reconfiguring time to accomplish important tasks (prof/self)
  2. Use art as a means of goal-setting and track progress in achieving goals (self/prof)
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Example of Possible Applications #1: Christine Alexander

  1. Add new improv exercises and theater games to teaching, group facilitation or training
  2. Build on the insights gained in the workshop through continued reflection
  3. Discover a passion for the stage and become involved in community theater or beyond

Example of Possible Applications #2: Jane Goldwasser

  1. Implement the plan for action and achieve a major goal
  2. Apply the D.A.R.E. planning tools to other goals

Example of Possible Applications #3: Ann Bracken

  1. Make effective use of reconfiguring time to accomplish important tasks (prof/self)
  2. Use art as a means of goal-setting and track progress in achieving goals (self/prof)
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