Inner Work dialogues.
“If you haven't done the inner work that puts you into a position of being a humble and respectful person, then how are you going to shift big systems? It has to start with shifting this system right here. “
— Melanie Goodchild
In the time that we have, how do we make the kind of difference we really want to make?
The diverse group of individuals that have contributed to the inner work dialogues are a part of a living inquiry called the Transformational Leadership Node (TLN). The TLN emerged from the social innovation field towards the end of 2018 and regularly convened interested practitioners for a collective, nuanced exploration of how transformative change happens. Our intention was to deepen our understanding of the critical relationship between inner change in individuals and outer change in society.
The creation of a series of virtual dialogues and this accompanying written piece was sparked by the interest expressed by the community to raise awareness and share learnings about how inner work strengthens leadership for change.
inner work.
What is Inner Work?
Speakers: Julian Norris, Vanessa Reid
Host: Cheryl Rose
In this session we explore the various ways our speakers understand inner work, and why it is important for our change leadership.
“Everybody that I've seen who I've most admired who has an impact, field level impact, seems in some ways to hold that kind of presence, that capacity to love, that capacity to hold paradox, to hold complexity.”
— Julian Norris
healing.
The Promise of Healing.
Speakers: Kate Sutherland, Melanie Goodchild
Host: Cheryl Rose
How might our individual and collective healing lend itself to more impactful change work?
Artwork by Stina Brown
“You have to know yourself. Know yourself, know your motivations, know your rationale for where it comes from.”
— Christine Spinder
identity.
The Stories We Tell.
Speakers: Tahia Ahmed, Lee Rose, Christine Spider
Host: Saralyn Hodgkin
In this session we explore the link between identity, the stories we tell ourselves and the stories alive in the system and change work.
Artwork by Stina Brown
“Self awareness is inner work.”
— Lee Rose
discomfort.
Dwelling in discomfort.
Speakers: Susan Szpakowski, Alexia McKinnon
Host: Laura Blakeman
Discomfort can be an unwelcome but necessary ally on the path to inner transformation and outer impact. In this session we discuss the role of discomfort in pursuit of personal and systemic change.
Artwork by Stina Brown
“I think as long as we don't get to the deeper structures that we're born into, and find a way to release them, then we're constantly just still defining ourselves by those old structures. We fight racism, but we're really being defined still by those racist structures.”
— Susan Szpakowski