Life Journey Map® author.

About Scott Bristol

Creating educational settings in which all participants, including myself, can approach learning and change with a sense of curiosity and support, is my essential focus as an educator. I especially enjoy helping others apply their learning's to making their work lives and personal lives meaningful. I call myself an educator.

A number a years ago I left a corporate job as Director of Training and Organizational Development. Part of my reason for leaving was accepting my limited ability to create learning settings where I could be my most meaningful self.

After reflecting on this experience I came to the conclusion that the dialogues I participate in define me. It is through dialogue (verbal, written, and non-verbal) with others that I manifest the values that give me meaning and define me. In retrospect, what I felt was a frustration at my own inability to effect meaningful dialogue- dialogue that was rich in content and process and able to address our team's pressing problems.

Having worked professionally as a therapist, experiential educator, group process consultant and having worked on a number of creative and productive teams, I'm well aware of specific skills necessary for rich dialogue, creative problem solving, and continuous learning.

What I have learned through my work in values is a more realistic way to align with and appreciate an individual's, team's, or culture's present potential for change... vs. my need for them to change.

If I extrapolate on my learnings, then my biography is a history of the conversations that have influenced me. Here are some of the people and dialogues, past and present, that define me:

My wife Michaela, who reminds me to exercise, laugh, and with whom I share a life mission of being 'guardians of hope' to the marginalized.
Isadore From, a Gestalt Therapist, who I studied with and who taught me how to be "present". And who I still talk to, with amusement and intellectual rigor, even though he's dead.
Learning how teams work and how I can use authentic disclosure to facilitate problem solving is a 40 year conversation I been having with my professional colleagues at NTL Institute. NTL is a organization I'm proud to be a member of because of our commitment to human rights- freedom, justice, and equality.
'First Communion' songs and voices of hope and prayer: St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Soweto, South Africa; August, 1987.
Rinpoche Tara who spoke in Tibetan, but who through an interpreter taught me about compassion and Mahayana Buddhism.
Listening to, my mother, Barbara's excitement, compassion and dedication to teaching students to read. She went back to teaching school in 1998, at age 71.
My father, Dale introduced me to meditation. As a young boy and teenager fishing and hunting with my father, saying little while sitting, surrounded by the wonder of outdoor silence, was a language of its own.
Laughing at the outrageous antics of 'Calvin and Hobbes' while reading years ago to my daughter's- Mirar and Nigel.
Learning about diversity from, my son, Dalyn's life and suicide and his 18 year struggle with mental illness.
My professional education and experience.
My passion for books, good science, and different fields of study.

Current Projects and Interests

LJMap.com is a growing project that challenges me at many levels.
Making the Life Journey Map® available in more languages.
Ball room dancing... still learning to be a good lead and get up to courage to dance in public.
Moutain biking, swimming, hiking, and staying healthy.

Contact Information

Scott Bristol, Ed.D.
Phone: 831-457-3117
Email: scott@LJMap.com