Basics | ProxPatterns | Growth Model
Key Points
Quick
The proximity consists of elements related or potentially related to a situation, in physical, mental and other ways.
E = Element
R = Relationship
Green = Related to the Situation and Part of the Proximity
Blue = Potentially Related to the Situation and Part of the Proximity
Gray = Not Related to the Situation and Not Part of the Proximity
Note: As the green shows, elements don’t need to be physically near each other to be related to a situation and therefore part of its proximity. There are many ways to be related.
Complete
Most simply, the proximity consists of elements and relationships. Perhaps more usefully, the proximity consists of elements related or potentially related to a situation, in physical, mental and other ways. The ways in which elements may be related include physical, mental, emotional, temporal, logical, intuitive, historical, social, and any others. Proximate elements may be known or unknown. Proximate elements may actually be close, like along dimensions of space or time. Or, proximate elements may seem close in some way, such as mentally, emotionally, logically, etc. So whether such elements are actually close, or only seem close, it makes sense to consider them as proximate since they make a difference in how we relate to our situation. The proximity is usually not completely fixed or given, so we can often choose some elements and relationships.
Yes, the Proximity is Flexible
An important part of the definition above is our ability to choose some elements in the proximity. We can often make some choices about what to consider related to our situation.
Proximity Compared to Situation
You may think of the proximity when you talk about a situation, but they are not the same thing. One difference is how changing what you consider to be the proximity, can change how you deal with the situation. Another is that often a proximity can relate to many different situations.
Proximities (Plural)
Since the proximity is flexible (see above) for a situation, and there are many situations, there are many proximities.
Multiple Situations
Some proximities may relate to multiple situations.
Proximity to ProxSets
From the proximity, we create ProxSets.
Each Defined by Other Two
Elements, relationships and proximities are woven together. In a sense, each is defined by the other two, and all three relate to situations. More details here.
Advanced Points
A few advanced points about proximity follow on this page.
Tip
One way to consider changes to your proximity, is to think about the proximities of related situations.
Questions
• What elements are related, seem related, or are potentially related, to your situation?
• What elements are related to your situation in space, energy or time?
• What elements are or seem related to the situation, in your mind, feelings, in other ways or in other dimensions?
Examples
Home
What you consider the proximity in your home can vary related to different situations. The proximity might include different rooms and objects, memories, time of the day or week, family members, plans, projects, neighbors, ideas about what makes a home, and various decisions.
Project
The proximity of a proposed project (situation) involving work might include alternative plans, potential tools, possible team members, various projected timelines, and other unknown but potential elements.
Vacation
The proximity for different situations during a vacation might include potential activities, various logistics, people, transportation, maps, memories, flexibility, accomodations, a sense of adventure, possible locations and other elements to be discovered.
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