Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement
I’m glad I was reading William Ury right then. It's rare to have a book be so directly instrumental in your life. William Ury’s famous book, Getting to Yes, is used worldwide to teach ethical negotiations. I was reading his latest book, Getting to Yes with Yourself. He wrote the book because he noticed people were learning his methods but then losing them in the heat of negotiating. Getting to Yes with Yourself is about taking care of yourself before and during a negotiation. It is a master class in keeping your equanimity at all times.
One of Ury’s principles is to have a “best alternative to a negotiated agreement.” His message? Approach negotiation with your head high and options beyond the present moment. ALWAYS know what you will do if you don’t get to yes.
“Hey, wait a minute,” I thought, feeling like there was a gong going off in my head, “I’m in the middle of a negotiation!” I was applying for a job. We don’t necessarily think of job hunting as a negotiation – but it is. I hadn’t set myself up with a ‘best alternative’ yet. Until I read it, I hadn’t realized how important it was.
I got busy. While I waited to hear back on the job, I applied to enter a certificate program. I had been interested in this program all along. However, the deadline was coming up, so if I hadn’t gotten energized, I wouldn’t have gotten around to it. I didn’t get the job, but I did get into the program! I’m a little giddy about it.
The program will certify me as a Psilocybin Facilitator. I attended my first day of class last week, and I will be ready to take my certification exam in six months.
Here is some information for those unfamiliar with the concept of a Psilocybin Facilitator. Two years ago, the citizens of the State of Oregon voted to allow psilocybin (a psychedelic compound found in psilocybin mushrooms) to be used for treatment under controlled conditions starting in January of 2023. The state has been preparing the regulatory environment for the last two years. Psilocybin facilitators, or guides, are the professionals who will be lawfully administering the psilocybin mushroom. We will be an essential part of this new treatment.
Although I was applying for a more traditional ministerial job, I will be stretching myself more in this new role. Now that I have started down this path, it feels like a good fit. It nourishes that part of myself that is passionate about natural religion. It’s also an adventure, and who doesn’t need an adventure once in a while?
The world of religion and spirituality is changing. In some ways, religion and spirituality are timeless. We, humans, have this need to know our place in the universe. However, in the United States, many people are leaving or never were a part of established religion. At times I think they are abandoning religion too fast. I regret that people are not getting the benefits of a spiritual community. However, no one wants to be part of a religion that is smaller than they are, and many seem very small in spirit these days.
The new law in Oregon allows people to access psilocybin for psychological and spiritual healing. Psilocybin seems to be healing because it can induce spiritual insights. I won’t be establishing a new religion or investing in a new tie-dye wardrobe. I will instead be working at the nexus of healing and spirituality.
My next Natural Religion post will be about Oregon's psilocybin law and the benefits of psilocybin. I will be writing about this unique part of my spiritual and professional life in the future. However, I will also continue to write posts on other aspects of natural religion. It’s all interesting to me, and I hope for you also!