Taking time to reflect and reconnect. This can be done in many different ways, including journaling, regular meditation, going into nature (e.g. vision quest). It is also helpful to create embodied experiences or “rituals” that honour our roots. References: ● Hillman, James. The Soul’s Code: In Search of Character and Calling. New York: Warner Books, 1997. ● Vision Quest: Retrieved March … Read more
Diving into the Unknown Collecting deeper insights by methods that widen your everyday thinking
There are methods and holistic approaches that invite the unknown. They can help to open the potential that is hidden in the subconscious or is already conscious but has not been heard yet. It can be useful to create environments that make it easy to get surprised by yourself others. For example Dyades (structured twin talks), Treshhold walks (in the mirror of the nature), Flirts (process work), Contemplation, Intuitive Painting, Flow writing, Authentic Movement. Diving into this … Read more
Balancing Mind & Body The importance of balancing mind & body to relieve stress symptoms and avoid diseases.
Understanding what stress is and having a daily practice that balances your mind and body system. Stress is a response of our fight or flight system. This mechanism is very efficient when we face an emergency such as a dangerous predator; our sympathetic nervous system is activated, making all of our body alert by releasing adrenaline into our blood. However, if we go through a prolonged period of stress, the hormone released is cortisol, which in the long run becomes a poisonous to our … Read more
Attunement Bringing a group together consciously at the beginning and end of meetings, aligned to the highest purpose.
Taking a minute or two at the beginning of the meeting, either in silence with a few words of guidance offered by the facilitator, to pause and notice that we are in a new space; to consciously connect with the others with whom we are meeting; and to clearly connect with the overarching purpose of the meeting, can radically transform the experience of the meeting. A similar process can be undertaken at the end of the meeting, to bring it to conscious … Read more
The Art of Pitching Presenting in an essential way to make people curious for more
Practice the “art of pitching” craft a short pitch and try it out. Learn through the feedback of peers or members of your audience. Film it and look at the videos together. Learn from the pitches of others, learn from online ressources. When crafting your elevator pitch, you first need to think about who is the audience you're trying to reach. Lead with the information that the recipient / the audience will care most about. It is always good to start with a “hook” a statement or … Read more
TERRITORIAL APPROACH Rooting a project to strengthen its power
The territorial approach is part of a local development strategy, usually designed by a group of stakeholders. The territorial approach is used worldwide in a diversity of situations and sectors, such as Rural development, Food security and nutrition, Climate change, etc. The main elements of the method can be useful for entrepreneurs to design meaningful activities and work in the long run: - Assess material and immaterial resources available on the territory; - Identify needs, which are … Read more
Virtuous Circles for Sustainable Consumption, Production and Lifestyles How to create environments or contexts where the easiest option is to be sustainable
We can build peer groups with shared affinities that build connections and networks to make it easier to find ways of satisfying needs like food, shelter, nursing, finances, energy, etc. there are many examples of such peer groups and they include ood cooperatives, time banks, nursing groups, energy cooperatives, etc. In these groups it’s possible not only to satisfy a specific need (i.e. food via a community supported agriculture system) but also to satisfy other needs like creativity, … Read more
Systems Leverage Points Places to Intervene in a System.
Donella Meadows proposed a list of suggestions to consider as likely areas for systems change. Her list is not, by her own admission, a definitive one and should be viewed as a guide. By considering the possible leverage points we can more easily consider carefully where we might intervene. Caution must be exercised as complex systems are often counterintuitive in their reactions. References Donella Meadows Institute, Leverage Pointsplaces to intervene in a … Read more
Political Influencing Engaging in political reality so that what we think is right and needs to be done actually happens.
To become effective we need to understand how power operates, e.g. how decisions are actually made, how to build alliances and coalitions and how to sense the right moment to act. We need to give up the wish to be popular and understood by everyone. We need to surrender our naivety and be willing to take difficult decisions. In essence, to act ‘politically’. References: ● Exercise: Political Influencing (to be linked) ● … Read more
Negotiation Skills Win Win Win for Everyone
This is a metaskill and used in nearly every human situation where people have to share resources. Some people treat human relations as a war and so negotiation is a war. For others, where ensuring the best possible outcome for everyone is at the heart of the negotiation process, a very different approach is used. You need to listen attentively to what the other person wants. In some negotiation approaches, teachers or trainers suggest you learn as much about the other person before you … Read more
