Talking with Pixies on the Road

How to playfully navigate an inner dialogue with Liberating Structures.

Lately, I got ‘pixified’ while driving from Switzerland to Holland. Pixies, legendary advisers and keen observers from the woods and underground, took the form of digital navigation systems in my case.

As I approached Cologne, my built-in navigation system suggested leaving the highway and taking a secondary road. I had my doubts (my inner Protector Pixy made itself heard) about whether that would be a good idea and switched to Google Maps. Google recommended taking A4, which seemed like a better option. However, I consulted another app. “Okay, this is a serious traffic jam, let’s get off A3.”

We took the exit just in time to see the highway jammed. We laughed, saying, “Well done.” I followed the instructions, and quickly, I began to lose orientation.

Suddenly, a “committee of pixies” started chattering simultaneously:
“Take the next exit.” “Drive straight.” “Go left.” “Turn right.“
Until I thought, “But we have already been here!!!”

While one navigation system successfully guided us around the traffic jam, the other brought us right back to it. In a split second, I switched on my inner sense of navigation. We continued our drive without further turbulence.

The stormy moment with the chattering navigation systems reminded me of “Talking with Pixies,” a wonderful structure from the Liberating Structures repertoire that playfully makes the whispering inner voices visible.

Opposing voices tearing you apart

Yet, it’s a fact: each of us has a crowd between our ears. Some of the voices in our heads cheer us on; others put us down. Some whisper to us as we try to fall asleep. It’s easy to overlook our internal conversation in the bustle of life’s duties.
Daniel Stillman

What chatter is filling your head?
What playful mischief are your inner voices stirring up?
What’s surprising you about your inner voices?

Opposing voices tend to get noisy when you decide to change something but then don’t.

You hear the innovative voices encouraging you to be daring, innovative, and fearless and embrace change.
On the flip side, you hear the chatter of reluctant voices highlighting the value of the status quo and holding you back with many good reasons to make any step towards progress.

That is a whole symphony in your head.

For instance, the innovator in me tells me to write abundantly and share my writing on social media. My protector’s voice tells me that it’s all nonsense, and no one is interested in reading my stuff. My daring innovator voice wants me to change my narrative around my Liberating Structures experience; my conservative voice tells me no change is needed.

You can unmask the inner voices with the assistance of Pixies!

Talking with Pixies is a playful yet profound exercise you can do in a group to identify beliefs and assumptions that limit progress. A minimum of 3 participants is required to undertake this activity.

You can also do it solo for personal use.

Here’s how it works:

Remark: There are two options to play this game, in writing or in acting it out. I show you the embodied version.

First, think about a meaningful but unfulfilled goal related to a personal purpose, one that involves considering a change.
Stand up and find a comfortable position in the room with enough space to take a step to the right and to the left. Share your goal and speak it out loud to yourself: What’s a meaningful goal or change you haven’t pursued yet?
Take a step to the right, stepping into the role of the ‘Protector Pixy’ holding a preservation perspective. Share all the reasons why playing it safe and not making progress on your goal is a good idea. What’s great about NOT pursuing it? Say everything.
Step back to the middle.
Now, take a step to the left, embodying the ‘Innovator Pixies’ with a radical change perspective. Convince yourself why you should go for it and make progress towards your goal. What would be possible if you were fully committed? Again, say everything.
Step back to the middle. You have listened to the chatter of the ‘committee in your head.’ Take a moment to reflect: What was it like for you to voice the two opposing voices? What have you noticed? What was perhaps surprising? What are your discoveries?

The little pixy voices in your head, are valuable, they weigh the pros and cons and show you how you think.

My “Pixy Committee’ is quiet, as I made a significant move in my writing practice and took the first steps to change my narrative around my Liberating Structures experience.

What about you?

If you’re interested in exploring more ways to apply Liberating Structures in your personal or team context, I welcome you to reach out for an unhurried exchange.

If you’re eager to delve deeper into the practical aspects of Liberating Structures, including exercises like Talking with Pixies, consider joining our upcoming immersion workshop led by myself and Ewen Le Borgne.

You can find the details on my linktree.

Yours gratefully, 
Nadia

Learning Moments