Alana Chavez, Author at The Wellbeing Project

Business as a Force for Good Business as a Force for Good

Sustainable Business x Regional Hearth Summits

At the regional Hearth Summits, a dynamic environment of collaboration, innovation, and wellbeing inspires actors in the corporate sector to fully embrace their potential as agents of change.

These gatherings serve as a fertile ground for the growth of a whole new type of business: one that puts the wellbeing of people and planet first, where profit and purpose are one in the same. Here at the Hearth, changemakers in business take in the latest research and insights from leaders and innovators; share best practices and successful case studies; and foster partnerships to drive collective, sustainable progress.

Whether in exploring the wellbeing of employees, in the value chain, or within the company’s social and environmental ecosystem, the Hearth Summits empower businesses to not just learn and share, but to lead and transform as actors of positive social change.

WHEN WELLBEING IS BUSINESS AS USUAL WHEN WELLBEING IS BUSINESS AS USUAL

“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.”

Yvon Chouinard

How to Build a Wellbeing Economy

Session From Hearth Summit Athens

In its holistic exploration of the future of wellbeing cities, Hearth Summit Athens took a deep dive into the concept of impact economies: how can we transform systems to truly value wellbeing? Watch this debate between Lorenzo Fiaromonti, former Italian Minister of Education and Founding Director, University of Surrey Institute for Sustainability, and Conchita Galdon, Vice Dean, Instituto de Empressa.

How Organizational Wellbeing Inspires Welldoing

LEARNINGS FROM THE WELLBEING PROJECT’S ORGANIZATIONAL EXPLORATORY PROGRAM

The Wellbeing Project, along with eight organizations from around the world, the Tavistock Institute, and the Center for Healthy Minds spent five years researching the value of organizational wellbeing and how to foster it. They learned that any organization, public or private, can benefit from promoting organizational wellbeing: it improves employee performance, which translates into improved organizational performance.

Read People & Culture Elder Ricardo Paz’s summary of the research findings, which he presented at Hearth Summit Bogotá, in English and Spanish.

Understanding the Mental Health of Social Entrepreneurs in Latin America

Research from The Wellbeing Project and the Interamerican Development Bank

In Bogotá, Juan Pablo López Gross from the Interamerican Development Bank Lab (BID Lab) presented the findings of new research conducted with The Wellbeing Project on the mental health of high-impact social entrepreneurs in Latin America, ultimately sharing the business case for wellbeing: if the entrepreneurs are doing well, the ventures will do better. Watch the session (in Spanish) and download the research.

Employee Mental Health: From Burnout to Holistic Wellbeing

Research from McKinsey Health Institute

The findings of an international survey by McKinsey Health Institute were shared with participants in Bogotá, which dive deep into mapping and understanding various factors that influence employee wellbeing, offering employers insight into how to best support their employees’ mental health.

Companies That Impact the Wellbeing of Communities | Empresas que Impactan el Bienestar de las Comunidades

Session From Hearth Summit BOGOTÁ

In Bogotá, Gaby Arenas de Meneses, director of the TAAP Foundation, Ashoka Fellow and Co-chair of Catalyst 2030 Latam, invites us to explore how social wellbeing influences our individual wellbeing, and what role companies can play in improving living conditions in their communities. Watch the session (in Spanish).

In Brussels, Isabelle Grosmaitre, founder of Goodness & Co., shared her recommendations on how businesses can transform themselves to make a positive impact; place diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the heart of their work; and foster of a culture of agency to empower all collaborators towards success and wellbeing.

In Brussels, Eleanor Allen explained B Lab’s ethos for making sustainable business the norm — explaining the B Corporation certification process, its benchmark indicators for positive social and environmental impact as well as employee wellbeing — inspiring changemakers to reflect on how profit and purpose can be one in the same.

In Brussels, Hugues Karemera, Deputy COO of Euroclear Bank, and Michel Mersch, CEO of Nestlé Belgium and Luxembourg, explained their companies’ successful approaches to organizational wellbeing, including the feedback mechanisms used to understand employees’ satisfaction with policies and determine new paths for action.

Sustainable Work: From Burnout to Excellence — Engaging Today’s Employees

Session From Hearth Summit BOGOTÁ

In Bogotá, Eleanor Allen, CEO of Catapult for Change, explores how to move from burnout to work-life balance and integration and how this impacts worker wellbeing and retention in companies. Watch the session (in English).

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Meet Five B Corps That Put People and the Planet First

At Brussels, Eleanor Allen highlighted five companies around the world with some of the highest scores in B Lab’s social and environmental benchmark. Read about the following B Corporations and why their models for employee wellbeing, sustainable production and consumption, and positive social and environmental impact can inspire other entrepreneurs:

BioCarbon Partners, Zambia
Caravela Coffee, Colombia
Namaste Solar, USA
Seetec Business Technology Center, United Kingdom and Ireland
Tridos Bank, The Netherlands

Paving the Path to an Inclusive, Home-Grown Dairy Market in Senegal

The STORY OF LA LAITERIE DU BERGER

In Dakar-Thiès, changemakers learned about La Laiterie Du Berger, the very first B Corporation-certified company in Senegal. Since 2005, the laiterie has been collecting milk from more than 1,400 smallholder dairy farmers in Senegal to collectively sell them under a single brand, Dolima. By integrating them into the mainstream dairy market together, it has been able to revolutionize the Senegalese dairy market, which, in 2005, imported 90% of its dairy products as powdered milk. As a result of the company’s mobilization and collective action, more than 3,000 families have benefitted from a steady income, improving their business ventures, quality of life, and the wellbeing of their community. Furthermore, the support of these smallholder farmers has helped preserve traditional veterinary and agricultural practices as a cornerstone of the Senegalese economy.

Hear from director general of La Laiterie du Berger, Bagoré Bathily, in our Voices of Wellbeing series.

EXPLORE WELLBEING AND BUSINESS FURTHER EXPLORE WELLBEING AND BUSINESS FURTHER

Dive Into Research, News, and Stories on Sustainable Business

Regional Hearth SummitsRegional Hearth Summits

Igniting a Pan-African Wellbeing Movement

Calling all African changemakers to the Hearth! The regional Hearth Summits in Africa are igniting a beacon of hope and transformation across the contient as they unite social change leaders to become champions for wellbeing.

Grounded in a spirit of innovation and collaboration, a celebration of the continent’s rich cultural diversity, and an enduring hope for “the Africa we wish to see”, these transformative gatherings are the heart of a truly African-led wellbeing movement.

Join a diverse group of participants — from activists, policymakers, faith leaders, students, academics, medical professionals, artists, and more — to co-create the future of social change in Africa!

Join Us at These Regional Summits in 2024

Relive the Regional Summits Relive the Regional Summits

The Regional Summit ExperienceThe Regional Summit Experience

In Their Words

Amos Leuka

Director, Living Culture and Climate Alliance (LCCA)

🌍 Loita Maasai community, Loita, Narok County, Kenya

Listen to Amos’ journey of learning, inner reflection, and motivation as he shares his reflections on attending The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès 2023.

Magdaline Majuma and Matar Toure

Msichana Empowerment Kuria and Save the Children International

🌍 Kuria, Kenya and Dakar, Senegal

Read Magdaline and Matar’s thoughts on their time spent at The Wellbeing Summit in this blog post from Girls Not Brides, who sponsored their attendance.

Axum Team

Organizers of Hearth Summit Nairobi

🌍 Nairobi, Kenya

Read the Hearth Summit Nairobi organizing team’s reflections after a successful first regional summit in East Africa.

Dive Deeper Into More StoriesDive Deeper Into More Stories

From the African Hearth Summits

Testimonials Testimonials

From Our Attendees

A Space for Experiences A Space for Experiences

Discover the World of Wellbeing and Welldoing in Africa

Read stories of how African changemakers are gathering at the Hearth Summits to explore key issues through their unique regional lens:

Teaching, Learning, and Co-Creating Teaching, Learning, and Co-Creating

The Science of Wellbeing x Regional Hearth Summits

How does wellbeing “work”? What can we learn from ancient wisdom and contemporary research? The regional Hearth Summits are on a journey of head and heart — fueling a curiosity for the science of wellbeing!

Around the Hearth, leading academics, researchers, elders, topic experts, and holders of traditional wisdom serve as guides to:

Bring intellectual depth to the transformative experience of the Hearth Summit

Encourage a holistic understanding of wellbeing that respects different types of knowledge

Share best practices, methodologies, and case studies

Unite qualitative and quantitative sources of knowledge

Spark new, multi-disciplinary, and cross-cultural ideas and innovations

With plenaries, collaborative dialogues, workshops, and interactive sessions, changemakers are equipped with key knowledge about how wellbeing works and why — helping to inform their work as drivers of social transformation.

Discover what changemakers are learning at the Hearths around the world. For more research on wellbeing, visit our research hub.

UNDERSTANDING WELLBEINGUNDERSTANDING WELLBEING

“Whoever teaches learns in the act of teaching, and whoever learns teaches in the act of learning.”

Paulo Freire

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COMPASSION, ALTRUISM, AND ECONOMICS

WITH PROF. DR. TANIA SINGER

In Brussels, Prof. Dr. Tania Singer, a world expert on empathy and compassion, led changemakers on a journey from inner work to a more caring economy by explaining how motivation psychology and neurobiology can inform economic models. In fostering pro-social behaviour, she explained, we can enable the impactful collaboration needed to solve our world’s biggest problems, such as climate change, social injustice, and economic inequality. The research offers decision- and policy-makers a new look at how the individual and the collective interact in order to create more sustainable macro-economic environments.

martin-pilette-production-x-2023-11-16-et-17-wbs-285-sur-436

EMOTIONS, HEALING, AND PEACEBUILDING

WITH DR. OLGA KLIMECKI

In Brussels, Dr. Olga Klimecki (pictured above right), Senior Researcher at the University of Geneva, spoke on two panels to bring a neuroscience perspective to conversations on healing and peacebuilding. Citing a new research project from the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, she explained the growing understanding of the role emotions play in conflict resolution. Through a mix of behavioural and neuroscientific experiments with field studies in conflict areas, the work seeks to aid and inform peacebuilding and diplomacy efforts.

HEALTHY MINDS AND WELLBEING

WITH DR. RICHARD J. DAVIDSON

In Bogotá, Dr. Richard J. Davidson from the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison shared his pioneering research on the neural bases of emotion and emotional style and how they relate to inner and organizational wellbeing. His work explores how brain function is related to wellbeing and mental health, particularly through the study of contemplative practices such as meditation. Through neuroimaging and behavioural techniques, his research captures the neuroplastic changes that occur and thereby enhance emotional resilience, reduce stress, and promote positive health outcomes.

Neuroscientific Dimensions of Wellbeing

SESSION AT Hearth Summit São Paulo

In São Paulo, Dr. Raquel Tatar, Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Center for Healthy Minds, shared the dimensions of wellbeing as seen through a neuroscientific lens. Take a deep dive into how the brain works and influences wellbeing, as well as the emerging Healthy Minds Framework. Watch the session (in Portuguese).

ARTS AS THERAPY

WITH ALESSANE SECK

In Dakar-Thiès, art therapist Alassane Seck shared learnings from Fann Hospital, where the Moussa Diop psychiatric clinic is home to Senegal’s first arts therapy programme. Alassane opened the L’Atelier d’EXpression (“The Expression Workshop”) in 1999 aiming to provide holistic care to the clinic’s patients. Engaging with the arts can help alleviate symptoms of many psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment and dementia, and autism, in an alternative, non-pharmaceutical approach.

In the specific case of L’Atelier d’EXpression, Alessane explained that only does the programme help patients self-reflect, understand their emotions, express themselves, it also helps shift cultural attitudes towards mental illness in Senegalese society. The participants’ art creations are also often exhibited in various forums and exhibitions, including the regional summit hosted by Tostan, promoting social inclusion and empathy while sharing the story of mental health with wider audiences.

NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES

WITH RUBAIYA AHMAD

In Dhaka, animal welfare activist and educator Rubaiya Ahmad led a workshop on nutritional sciences for changemakers, explaining the physiological relationship between diet and mental health. Conversations about inner wellbeing are incomplete without considering one’s physical wellbeing, she said, as she covered topics such as nutrition, physical exercise, and emotional relationships with food.

As the founder of Bangladesh’s first vegan eatery, The Bangu Vegan, she also shared the human and environmental benefits of eating plant-based foods. She also explained the cultural relevance of plant-based diets in Bangladesh, noting the presence of vegan and vegetarian elements in many authentic Bengali dishes.

SOCIO-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

WITH BRAC INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In Dhaka, a team from BRAC Institute for Educational Development (BRAC IED) introduced changemakers of all ages to Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL). In the hybrid session mixing instruction and interactive play, participants learned the basics of SEL and how its five core competencies — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making — relate to fostering wellbeing individually, collectively, and in the workplace. Through games and reflective conversations, the session also looked at how these competencies are taught, exercised, and perceived in Bangladeshi culture.

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Dive Into Research and Knowledge From Around the World

Welldoing Tips Welldoing Tips

Creating Inner Wellbeing

Our Ultimate Guide of Practices to Try Today

Co-created by The Wellbeing Network

What do you do for your inner wellbeing?

Here at The Wellbeing Project, we don’t define “inner wellbeing” – it’s something that means different things to each of us! We do share, however, practices and rituals that help us all along our individual wellbeing journeys.

We asked members of The Wellbeing Network – our global coalition of individuals and organisations championing the wellbeing for social change movement – to share their favourite practices that help them create a sense of inner wellbeing.

Take a deep dive into this growing list to find your next wellbeing practice.

This list is growing – help us add to it! Do you have a wellbeing practice to share? Did you try something on this list and love it?

31 Practices for Creating Inner Wellbeing 31 Practices for Creating Inner Wellbeing

1. Spend a few moments with your breath

By simply tuning into your breath, you can bring yourself into the present moment, ease stress, and create a sense of calmness. It’s a small act with big rewards, boosting your mood, energy, and overall mental clarity. Next time you need a little pick-me-up, just take a deep breath and feel the difference. Get started with our 5-minute guided meditations.

2. Express gratitude

When you pause to acknowledge the things you’re grateful for, whether big or small, you’re shifting your focus to the positive aspects of your life. This simple act can instantly uplift your spirits, cultivate a sense of contentment, and even improve your relationships. So, why not take a moment right now to think of something you’re thankful for? You’ll be amazed at how it brightens your day.

3. Move your body

Whether it’s a quick stretch, a brisk walk, or a dance around the room, getting your body moving can instantly uplift your mood and energy levels. Physical activity releases endorphins, those feel-good hormones that can help alleviate stress and boost your sense of happiness. Plus, moving your body improves circulation, reduces muscle tension, and increases your overall vitality. Need more pros? This podcast episode on a “Playful Approach to Fitness” hosted by Jameela Jamil lists them all.

4. Ha-ha-have a good laugh

Laughter has this magical way of brightening our days and lifting our spirits. When we laugh, it’s like a warm embrace, filling us with joy, connection, and a sense of pure delight. Whether it’s a hearty belly laugh with friends or a giggle shared with loved ones, laughter reminds us to savour the simple pleasures of life and find beauty in every moment.

5. Explore your creativity

Itching to use your hands? Have you always wanted to learn a new artistic skill? Find a space to practice your creativity, such as an art class or a DIY project at home. Not only does exercising your creativity feel fulfilling and spark joy, but using your hands is a proven way to increase feelings of satisfaction.

6. Journaling

Journaling can significantly enhance wellbeing by providing a structured outlet for processing emotions, reducing stress, and gaining clarity on thoughts and experiences. Through journaling, we can track patterns, set goals, and reflect on personal growth, leading to increased self-awareness and resilience. Don’t know where to start? This podcast episode hosted by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee may provide some guidance.

7. Enjoy playtime

Play isn’t just for kids! Adults need to have fun too. Spending time playing – having fun for fun’s sake – can be an antidote to stress, increase feelings of joy, promote imagination and creativity, and build bonds and empathy with others.

8. Learn a new skill

Have you always wanted to know how to cook? Speak a language? Build something? Learning new skills is a great way to introduce novelty into your life, build self-confidence, and meet new people. Watch how-to videos on platforms like YouTube, Udemy, and LinkedIn or ask someone in your community to teach you something new.

9. Spend some time in the sun

Humans are just like plants: we need sunlight to grow and thrive too! Making sure you get a daily dose of Vitamin D (or bright light if the weather is darker) can be one way to boost serotonin levels, strengthen your immune system, and support your wellbeing.

10. Enjoy Ma (間)

Ma is a Japanese philosophical concept of the space between a beginning and an end. In enjoying Ma, we take time to pause, be mindful, and reflect on what has begun and what has ended. The result is an intentional, slow moment that can help quiet the mind.

11. Say “hello”

Research in the U.S. showed that adults who said “hello” to their neighbours self-reported higher rates of wellbeing than those who didn’t. Who in your community can you start saying “hello” to?

12. Stop to smell the roses

By slowing down, being mindful, and keeping an eye on the little things in life, we can invite a certain quietude, peace, and happiness into our hearts. Taking time to notice and be delighted by shōkakkō – a Japanese term for little joys in life – can be a beautiful practice for mindfulness, gratitude, and happiness.

13. Try meditation

Meditating is a practice of mental calm and focus. There are many ways you can meditate. You can start a practice entirely on your own, or you can even download guided meditations from our Meditation Hub or any of your favourite apps.

14. Visit an art museum

While creating art can be incredibly therapeutic, so can simply observing and contemplating it. Alain de Botton and John Armstrong’s book, “Art as Therapy”, explores how viewing art from a new point of view can help us with our wellbeing. The book offers several techniques for using art as therapy, but you can also venture out on your own to see how spending time in museums and galleries makes you feel. Here are some tips from the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

15. Dance in a group

Dancing with others is an integral part of many cultures. Whether by partaking in a traditional dance or just spontaneously busting a move, dancing is a great way to move the body and connect with others. Look for dance classes in your community, collective dance experiences like flash mobs, attend a concert, or participate in dancing rituals in your community.

16. Drink some extra water

We need to stay hydrated to stay focused and energized during the day. Have trouble drinking enough water throughout the day? Try setting a timer or setting out your cups of water in the morning to remind yourself to drink up.

17. Stretch it out

When you take the time to stretch, you’re not only releasing tension and tightness in your muscles but also increasing blood flow and flexibility. Plus, stretching can help improve your posture and prevent injuries, allowing you to move through your day with greater ease and comfort.

18. Speak to a therapist

Talk therapy offers a compassionate and supportive space to openly explore our thoughts and feelings, leading to improved self-awareness, healthier coping strategies, and increased resilience. Research consistently shows the effectiveness of therapy in reducing psychological symptoms and enhancing overall wellbeing, highlighting its importance in emotional healing and growth.

19. Spend time with a furry friend

Study after study confirms what humans have felt and known since the dawn of time: animals have this incredible power to heal and uplift us, making our hearts lighter and our spirits brighter. Just being around them can wrap us in feelings of comfort, companionship, and pure, unconditional love, making us feel truly connected and supported. Even if you don’t have an animal at home, you can visit a friend’s pet, watch animals in a park, or volunteer at an animal shelter.

20. Take some time off

Ah, taking some time off! An invitation to step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in moments of discovery. Whether you’re exploring far-off lands, reconnecting with loved ones, or simply indulging in some well-deserved rest, a sabbatical or holiday is a precious gift to yourself. On top of being a chance to refuel your spirit, recharge your energy, and return to life feeling refreshed, inspired, and ready, it’s also believed to extend your life expectancy!

21. Eat well

Eating well is like a love letter to your body and soul. Every bite is an opportunity to show yourself kindness and care, to honour the incredible vessel that carries you through life’s journey. Whether it’s savouring a colourful salad bursting with fresh veggies or indulging in a decadent piece of dark chocolate, eating well is a celebration of the abundance and goodness that surrounds us.

22. Cultivate your friendships

Whether it’s catching up over a cup of coffee, or simply being there for one another in times of need, cultivating friendships enriches our lives in countless ways and even extends our lifespan! It’s about creating a network of love and support that sustains us through life’s ups and downs, reminding us that we are never alone.

23. Let it go

A study conducted by the University of Frankfurt found that singing releases oxytocin, a hormone linked to bonding and social connection, which can elevate mood and reduce feelings of loneliness. Singing offers not only a source of artistic expression but also a powerful tool for enhancing mental, emotional, and physical health. Meaningful songs, like those used in special rituals or just your favourite tunes, can help bring you closer to yourself and others.

24. Saddle up

Spending time with horses, either informally or through Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT), can be incredibly therapeutic. As sacred animals in some cultural traditions, like the First Nations communities in North America, spending time with horses can invoke the historic, spiritual connection between humans and this majestic animal.

25. Tune in

Music can have a healing, therapeutic, and mood-boosting effect on your mental health and wellbeing. When you listen to music that you enjoy or are familiar with, your brain produces the happy hormone (dopamine) and lowers the stress hormone (cortisol). Listening to your favorite music can not only make you feel more joyful but it also can relieve stress and anxiety. Turn it up!

26. Enjoy a light (or strong) touch

Massage therapy is one way to cope with stress and improve your physical and mental wellbeing. When one gets a massage, their body releases serotonin, which eases feelings of depression and sadness, and lower cortisol, a stress-related hormone. One could consider a massage like “an hour-long hug” where physical touch and contact give space for both physical and mental relaxation and rest.

27. Head to the great outdoors

Exercising outside can improve mood, self-esteem, and physical health. Research has shown that there are psychological benefits of physical activity in natural environments. Being outside within nature can offer a restorative environment for when we feel a sense of mental fatigue. Find rejuvenation in Ecological Belonging.

28. Dancing

Dancing is a form of exercise that engages multiple body systems at the same time – the heart, lungs, muscles, and brain. Your brain also releases endorphins when you exercise which can have a mood-boosting effect. Don’t have time to attend a dance class? Can’t find a group to dance with? Get moving on your own by just turning on your favourite music and busting a move at home.

29. Art therapy

Art therapy is a healing process centred on art-making and psychotherapeutic creativity. It can help reduce distress and build emotional resilience. Whether conducted individually or within a community, art therapy can provide a space for meaning-making, which can contribute to an overall improved sense of wellbeing.

30. Slip into full-body bliss with yoga nidra

Yoga nidra, or yogic sleep, is a powerful meditation technique for relaxing and rejuvenating the body. Each short session, taken lying down in the savasana pose, gently guides you through a deep dive through the different layers of the self. You can emerge feeling rested, restored, and ready to go: some say a 45-minute session can lend the physical effect of having slept for 3 hours!

This list is growing – help us add to it! Do you have a wellbeing practice to share? Did you try something on this list and love it?

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Dive Into Stories and Resources From Around the World

Wellbeing Wisdom From India: An Interview with Dr. Mala Kapadia on Intergenerational Trauma and Ecological Belonging Wellbeing Wisdom From India: An Interview with Dr. Mala Kapadia on Intergenerational Trauma and Ecological Belonging

A CONVERSATION WITH:

Dr. Mala Kapadia

Director, Anaadi Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Anaadi Foundation
🌍 Tamil Nadu, India

What can traditional Indian Knowledge Systems teach the world about wellbeing?

Dr. Mala Kapadia, director of the Anaadi Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems at the Anaadi Foundation, shares knowledge and practices from the Indian sciences of Ayurveda, Yoga, Aesthetics, and Poetry, around Ecological Belonging and intergenerational trauma.

Watch the full video for her teachings, or read the highlights below.

“In India, I realized that the ideal could be that India becomes the voice for humanity — where you see the vibrancy of people practicing Ayurveda, practicing Yoga, living their civilizational, cultural values, which is slowly happening post-pandemic. It is slowly happening.”

WHAT ARE THE SCIENCES OF AYURVEDA AND YOGA AND HOW DO THEY RELATE TO WELLBEING?

Ayurveda, as they describe it, is a manual of life skills. It’s not just a medicinal system. It’s Veda- knowledge of ayu. Ayu is life. Ayurveda actually describes Life, and the beauty of Ayurveda is that it is for everyone. It’s not only for Indian people. It’s not for the people from a certain region, but the Sages talked about humanity at large. They say that our life has purpose and meaningfulness and to achieve that, there are paths, right?

The path begins with dharma, a Sanskrit word coming from the etymology Dharayati Iti Dharma. Meaning, anything that sustains you, holds you together, is dharma. I feel it’s a beautiful way to look at our life. It’s only psychology that has taken more than 200 years to reach positive psychology where Martin Seligman and others are talking about meaningfulness. And here there are sages many, many millennia ago who wrote about how life has to be meaningful for us to be healthy and happy. They describe life as Hita, beneficial to self and others, because they always saw life as a continuum: we and the Cosmos, we and everyone else, are interconnected. And only when we are leading a life which is interconnected and integral, can we be happy. And happiness is, not the pursuit of happiness that we understand today in a modern language, but it’s all about the State of Being. With the wellbeing crises that we see today, I realize that Ayurveda beautifully connects the wellbeing of the planet and wellbeing of an individual.

With the wellbeing crises that we see today, I realize that Ayurveda beautifully connects the wellbeing of the planet and wellbeing of an individual.

WHAT DO AYURVEDA, YOGA AND OTHER INDIAN SCIENCES TELL US ABOUT NEUROSCIENCE, EMOTIONS, AND HEALING?

What Yoga, Ayurveda, and the science of Aesthetics are talking about is being rediscovered and not just rediscovered, it’s being validated scientifically by some modern theorists. Today a lot of scientists talk of neurotransmitters, et cetera, but they look at only the brain. If you revisit our biology or anatomy from a Yogic perspective, our physical body that can be seen and studied or x-rayed is one reality, but we are also energy sheets.

So we are still stuck learning biology and anatomy from a Newtonian or Cartesian perspective dividing body and mind. But what is mind? People are still struggling to understand it. While in Ayurveda and Yoga, the body-mind continuum is very beautifully described. We have seven chakras, the major chakras, and many minor chakras. And I’m glad today chakra, like mantra and dharma, is a word in Western vocabulary as well. These are what Georgetown University neuroscientist Candace Pert talks about nodal points of neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters on those nodal points of the chakras are either blocked or they are open. So when they are blocked, naturally the energy flow is restricted and therefore the energy or Prana does not reach those organs which are connected with those nodal points. She was one of the, I think, first Western scientists to say that body and mind is a continuum.

HOW CAN THIS KNOWLEDGE HELP US WITH HEALING FROM TRAUMA?

So when I go back to Yoga and Ayurveda as ancient sciences as I said, “If we all are integrated, we all are connected, then my energy and the world’s energy is somewhere merging together, right?” Energy, we all know, cannot be created or destroyed. It needs to be transformed. So when we look at trauma, trauma is an energy block as I see it personally. If it’s a blocked energy, then which chakra is it impacting? Is it impacting your security? Is it impacting your relationships? Is it about your power or victimhood? Is it about your heart experiencing gratitude or is it about your heart experiencing a closed xenophobic existence where you switch on to a survivalistic mode? This is what scientifically people talk about trauma and the response to trauma as fight, flight, or freeze. But that fight, flight, freeze is not just limited to the brain. It travels all over the body. So, if my mind is in every cell of my body, then my trauma response is also coming from every cell in my body. It’s not only a cognitive skill.

This is where Yoga and Ayurveda come into play because they have a lot of practices which can help you dissolve these traumatic emotional imprints without wanting to bring them up to the brain, which is not able to cope.

And they can be dissolved with a lot of Ayurvedic treatments, Ayurvedic lifestyle guidance meditations and Yogic lifestyle. And when I say Yoga, it’s not just exercise or breathing exercises or physical postures. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, one of the oldest texts of Yoga talks of Yama and Niyama, which are the behavioural codes at the individual level and collective level. So unless we practice them, doing breathing exercises and doing postures will not give us results.

DO INDIAN SCIENCES TELL US HOW INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA AND ECOLOGICAL BELONGING ARE CONNECTED?

In all ancient indigenous cultures, I found one thing common is, apart from being connected with nature, they’re also connected with their ancestors. Our history, our ancestors, are living within us, not just genetically, but psychologically and spiritually. Ancestor healing is a major ritual in most of the indigenous cultures, including India. In India, we have birth charts. The moment you are born, depending on the time of the birth, a birth chart for every child is created. Most of the birth charts have a problem with ancestors. It’s called Pitru Dosha. Pitru are ancestors and Dosha is some problem. Now, obviously, we really don’t know what our ancestors were going through, right? Beyond a certain generation, we don’t even know our ancestors. And we don’t even know what their life was. We don’t even know what trauma they went through. But whatever their trauma, we have inherited it and the trauma of Mother Earth. That’s also an ancestral trauma. There are a lot of rituals connected with the five elements – the element of sky or ether or Akaash; the element of air or Vayu; Fire; Water; and Earth – because many ancient indigenous cultures believe that the entire universe and our body all are made up of these five elements.

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN INDIAN PRACTICE ONE CAN DO TO WORK ON INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE HEALING?

One ritual we have is ending all the prayers with saying, “Shanti hi, Shanti hi, Shanti hi.” Shanti means peace. Why do all prayers end with saying peace three times? Just one time could have been enough. The three “peace” is invoking peace at three levels: one, individual, me and myself; two, collective, which is the community around me, society, Nature around me, my nation; and three, the global level and Universal level.

Today, when there are wars happening, when there is so much destruction happening, when there is so much human suffering, working on peace and giving it priority is very important. I realized that, unfortunately, most of the Western researchers define peace as an absence of war or conflict. Peace is not seen as a positive construct in itself, which is there in India. In Indian literature, in Indian philosophy, peace is a positive construct. Health is a positive construct. Health is not as opposed to disease and peace is not opposed to war or conflict. So, if peace is a construct in itself, how do you arrive at it? How do you actually start experiencing peace from within? And chanting mantras, chanting simple Om, is one way.

Why do all prayers end with saying peace three times? The three “peace” is invoking peace at three levels: one, individual; two, collective ; and three, the global level and universal level.

YOU’RE DESCRIBING HOW MODERN SCIENCES ARE “VALIDATING” TRADITIONAL SCIENCES. DOES THIS MEAN THEY ARE THE SAME?

We talk of ancient or indigenous wisdom at one level and modern at another. And a lot of people have this misconception that ancient is outdated and modern is more scientific, or modern is the complete know-how. Unfortunately – or fortunately – we realize that what is ancient is being rediscovered by many modern theorists. So we as humanity, we just have to take a U-turn and go back to our own cultural roots, civilizational roots. I realize that most of the indigenous cultures, they were connected and rooted in nNature. I’ve been to Hawai’i. I’ve met some of the Kahunas, the wisdom holders. And one of the Kahuna, I still remember, she held my hands and she said, “You are one of us.” I realized that she felt that and I felt that because of the Mother Earth. We could have lived in different lifetimes. We could have lived in different geographical locations, but ultimately, it’s all One.

I’ve been to Hawai’i. I’ve met some of the kahunas, the wisdom holders. And one of the Kahuna, I still remember, she held my hands and she said, “You are one of us.” I realized that she felt that and I felt that because of the Mother Earth.

IN FACING OUR 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGES, WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK SPIRITUALITY AND THIS ANCIENT WISDOM CAN PLAY IN THE SOLUTIONS?

The industrial revolution has uprooted people from nature. Nature has become a resource to be used and exploited. People became a resource that needs to be used and exploited and we didn’t realize that we ourselves became this resource. This trauma needs to be addressed because today, corporates have to wake up to the spiritual aspect, which is not a philosophical aspect, it is a practical aspect. Most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are far away from being met.

When we are spending so much money on sustainability goals, climate change, et cetera, what we don’t realize is, we just need to bring back that foundation of spirituality, Dharma, in everything we do. And the moment that foundation comes back, everything will fall into place. Right now, we have lost the bigger picture. We are all struggling with pieces of puzzles, trying to fit them here and there. But spirituality is like a bigger picture, and without looking at that bigger picture, we are not able to fit in those pieces of the puzzles.

About Mala

Dr. Mala Kapadia is a highly accomplished scholar and practitioner with a distinguished career spanning research, education, journalism, human resources, and consulting. She is a passionate advocate for integrating ancient Indian wisdom with modern approaches to wellbeing, leadership, and organizational development. Dr. Kapadia is currently the Director of Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems, at the Anaadi Foundation and the Principal Investigator for a Ministry of Education (India) Indian Knowledge Systems Research Project on Wellbeing and Happiness based on Ayurveda. Mala is also a Guru participating in Grateful to Gurus, an initiative by Indica Academy, in which she inspire young minds in ancient wisdom. She is also a member of the Advisory Council of Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems at Chanakya University, Bengaluru, India.

About the Anaadi Foundation

Anaadi Foundation is a spiritual organisation founded in 2015 and located near Palani in Tamil Nadu, India. With key focal areas on Education, Culture, Wellbeing and Sustainability, the Anaadi Foundation focuses on imparting Indian Knowledge Systems through various initiatives including Dharma Gurukulam, IKS-funded projects, publication of books, and training programs. The Anaadi Foundation provides various programs aimed at physical, emotional, and cognitive stability. These include the Mouna Sadhana program, which integrates asana, pranayama, dharana, dhyana, and Bhagavad Gita sessions. The foundation actively engages in sharing and preserving the depth of Indian culture, sciences, and values.

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