Managing change (personal/emotional)
Hermione (host), Kevin, Janet, Nicola, Adrienne, Benno, Paul, Chloe
What’s going to happen to us on an emotional level, individually and as a society as we undergo big changes, if we’ve not built up emotional resilience? It’s a recipe for anarchy.
A strong emotional base is a pre-requisite for change.
How do we facilitate that development within our community?
How can we start to understand sacrifice (giving things up) in a positive way in an era of self-indulgence and addiction?
In our society most people will not voluntarily give things up while they can afford them.
If people feel comfortable about changing, things will be easier, eg giving up our washing machine for a laundrette – replace with community, eg Women at the Well
We must make a film about this dialogue.
Our true nature is aware of all this but it has been covered up.
We need to create a different story – giving up is not negative, but can be totally positive, we need a new language.
Personal growth vs economic growth, personal expansion, freedom though giving up.
Power up (inner) for power down (outer).
We need a statement we can collectively refer to – one of cooperation, not competition and resource wars.
The world has enough for everyone’s need, not everyone’s greed.
We want to envision a future that is based not on competition for resources, but one of taking greater responsibility for the human endeavour.
Giving up (oil) is an addiction process analogous to smoking etc.
Facilitators can share skills and exchange experiences among themselves – have an open source attitude of sharing know-how and taking them to groups.
Most people won’t change unless they actually feel pain/hurt – but climate change is too distant to make people feel that pain.
The Dialogue process helps people change, build community and helps people not feel alone.
There’s no need to put up with hurt if there’s an alternative vision of something better, that’s readily available.
We need to articulate a vision so that the alternative to hurt is available – Kevin offers to take responsibility for this.
Ways to communicate: hhysical dialogue/circle, online forum, conflict resolution, mediation.
There are powerful archetypal forces at work, both supporting this process and blocking it…
How can we facilitate personal change and support each other? Psychotherapeutic (soul) work – personal reflection/ with professional support/ reconnecting as a community.
Subonfu Some: Building Communities
Community: we need it to talk about feelings/ what’s happening/ our relationships. Some kind of forum, circle, sharing group, where we feel held and heard.
Family constellation/ healing in the community/ family soul/ past life and personal story work.
If we want to change the world, it starts with ourselves. Nicola: offered to help facilitate this work.
There are already many spiritual groups in Lewes supporting psychospiritual development: Subud, Quaker, Sanga, churches – could we take this work to these groups? – this is the work of the Heart and Soul group of TTL.
Taking small steps can help people do change. Behaviour and thoughts feedback and build on each other.
‘One of the best ways to help TTL is to join the choir’
Get involved: contact hello [at] TransitionTownLewes.org.uk
