Musings about Masterminds

Last evening, I attended my phone mastermind with five other success-minded women from around the US. As was typical, we all left the call feeling energized, supported, and filled with good will and ideas for our on-going growth and success. We often speak about how grateful we are that we've connected and how enriching our experience is.

That led to musing about other masterminds that I've been in and how/why the energy has been different and not as rich. In turn that led to wondering about the word "mastermind" itself. "Master" according to my dictionary has multiple definitions, most of which have to do with men and having control over others. That's not what Nerissa's group (identified that way in my mind because she was the impetus behind it's formation) is about.

I proceeded to look up "mind." That word is primarily defined in terms of brain and intellect. One definition makes the distinction between mind and emotion and uses the example: Follow your mind, not your heart. That gave me the insight I'd been seeking.

The experience I have in Nerissa's "mastermind" is far, far richer and more inclusive than the words "master" and "mind" express. When we meet, we bring the best of our very fine minds and extensive business success but we also are giving and receiving from our hearts as well. There is a web of loving connection that nourishes and encourages and enlivens each of us.

What do we do? We have created a place where each of us has the freedom to be honest about ourselves and our lives; there's no need to keep on the "success" face, we give and receive help freely, we allow each other to be in whatever "space" we are in at the moment while simultaneously encouraging each other to be at our most powerful and capable, we laugh freely and cry without embarrassment. We recognize that as a group we each become more.

I haven't yet created a new word that enlarges the sense of this type of group beyond the limits that seem inherent in the word "mastermind." The ones I've played with thus far don't express the richness I feel.

Maybe there's no need for a new word, but something in me wants one. Does anyone have any thoughts?

And now, I'm musing about how wonderful it would be if all human groups interacted from the energies of Nerissa's group. Now, that's an idea I love!