MANDALA LAB SERIES | ENVYMANDALA LAB SERIES | ENVY

Can feelings of envy be transformed into tools for collective growth?

Envy and jealousy are difficult emotions but they can be converted into powerful transformational tools for our growth and healing. In this episode, exploring the Breathing Alcove in the Mandala Lab, Zainab Salbi and Dr. Richard J. Davidson discuss how we can turn feelings of envy, jealousy, and competition into tools for self-improvement and collective growth.

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Alessandra Gatti

Hearth Summit Director at The Wellbeing Project

Madrid
Spain

Connect with Alessandra Gatti on social media:

Alessandra loves to create experiences that inspire, surprise and enrich those who take part to them. She conceives an event as a performance: starting from a concept and clear objectives, one has to craft an holistic experience in which every element is meaningful and relevant, each detail is thought of and the rhythm is carefully paced. She believes that when you design an experience with intellectual and emotional care, people engage in a honest and deep way. And from this encounter, magic happens and the event becomes a memorable, authentic and fulfilling experience which brings joy and wellbeing.

This vision comes from 15 years of experience in event design, management and organisation, both in the cultural (theatre, music and literature festivals) and corporate (L’Oréal, IBM, Heineken, Hendrick’s Gin, …) sector and from her personal experiences when attending events, especially arts festivals, which are her big passion.

In her free time, when she is not at a festival or attending some cultural event, you can find her in her bookshop in Madrid (a literature adventure she shares with her husband and friends), cooking for friends and family, walking up the Swiss mountains (her country), slow travelling around the world or making some plans for the next adventure.

After the first edition of The Wellbeing Summit, held in Bilbao in June 2022, she is now working, together with the rest of the team and many other collaborators, on the next edition and is excited and curious about where this beautiful creative process will lead.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Feeling grounded, present, and connected

How would you deine wellbeing in one word?

Harmony

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Meditate, walk, observe the sky, have fresh flowers at home, have converations with friends, read, go to the theatre and to art exhibitions, spend time in the mountains.

Why is it important that we prioritize individual, organizational, and societal wellbeing?

Because it is the basis for belonging, mutuality and connectivity at all levels.

Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote or educate on wellbeing and related items?

I have several references and I’m happy to share two recent ones. The podcast “Stepping into the Liminal – A talk by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee” and the book “The consolation of the forest – Alone in a cabin on the Siberian taiga” by Sylvain Tesson.

sandrine woitrin

Sandrine Woitrin

Co-Lead at The Wellbeing Project

Madrid, Spain

Connect with Sandrine Woitrin on social media:

Sandrine has a degree in Economics and Business Management from the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve (with an exchange at ICADE, Madrid). She has worked for ten years at Grupo Vips a Spanish restaurante and retail business and was part of the team that opened Starbucks Coffee in Spain and France. In her last stage at Grupo Vips she developed the Corporate Social Responsibility department. She then studied Naturopathy at Unisalud in Madrid and decided to use this knowledge to promote the health of her family and friends.

Her interest in the social innovation sector has led her to support different organizations in various roles. Since 2015 she co-leads The Wellbeing Project, a global project that aims to catalyze a culture of wellbeing in the social innovation sector. She is also a member of the board of Chillida Leku and of the Carlos de Amberes Foundation.

Aaron Pereira

The Wellbeing Project, Co-Lead

Paris,
France

Connect with Aaron Pereira on social media:

Aaron recently came across an old and slightly dusty high school paper and was more than a bit surprised to see it explored the connection between inner lives and social change. It was lovely to (re)discover that his work in the Project touches on a life long interest alongside other wonderful things in life like travel, meeting people, reading, and hosting dinner parties or really gatherings of all kinds.

Aaron’s mom got him involved in social change work (some time before the high school paper) and it stuck. The key thread in much of his work is exploring the way we live together. Sometimes that’s taken the form of pop up experiments, boards, or running an organisation. A few other times he’s been a co-founder such as with CanadaHelps. CanadaHelps, one of Canada’s leading charities, engages over 3 million Canadians to raise over $400 million a year for social causes across Canada and around the world.

Taking time for a morning cup of tea helps his day start out gently and well. It started as a (gentle) daily ritual sometime during a 7 year walk-about which was all about taking time for and re-centering his inner life. Something the cup of tea helps with every day. He loves being based in Paris and continuing to spend a lot of time in India.

Alejandra Garza

Networks Advancement Senior Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Monterrey,
Mexico

Connect with Alejandra Garza on social media:

Ale is from a mountain filled city called Monterrey, in the North of Mexico. She started her career in strategic process consulting and project management. She studied Mechanical Engineering, and then worked 5 years in process consulting (mostly supply chain cost-efficiencies and logistics). In 2017 she launched a web platform for connecting volunteers with social causes in their city. This project came to life after launching a pro-bono consulting initiative in the consulting company she was working at, and this was what pivoted her consulting career into the social sector.

To this day, her work and projects have provided the opportunity for her to experience how things work and how people operate in the social sector (in Mexico specifically). She firmly believes that great things happen through collaboration and loves brainstorming ideas to get things done. Ale actively searches for new ways to improve and learn about herself and has taken 2 certifications on logotherapy by Centro OCCRE in Monterrey, Mexico. She is proud to call herself a Viktor Frankl advocate. She sees wellbeing as balance and unity, starting with herself so that that can lead to spreading the experience of wellbeing for all. She enjoys spending time with her family in nature, reading novels and admires horses for the deep empathy they share with people.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

I see wellbeing as balance, unity, and living with ease. Wellbeing means being responsible for myself, for what I am, think and do. Starting with myself, so that that can lead to spreading the experience of wellbeing for all.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Peace

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

I enjoy spending time in nature, going for walks, spending quality time with family and friends, and reading novels. I reflect and give thanks for my day each night, dedicate time to my physical health, whether that be with exercise, meditation or rest, and I also created a playlist a few years back that lifts me up and brings me back to center.

Why is it important that we prioritise individual and collective wellbeing?

They are all related and it is important that we start with ourselves, being congruent in acting how we’d like others to act and be as well.

Do you have any favourite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote or educate on wellbeing and related themes?

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

Los cuatro acuerdos by Don Miguel Ruiz

Sharon Salzberg’s Loving-Kindness Meditations

Balance App for Meditations

Healthy Minds App for Meditations

Sue Griggs

Elder & Poet in Residence

Toronto,
Canada

Connect with Sue Griggs on social media:

The thread throughout Sue’s career has been focused on how to make a difference- whether it be in the lives of children, adults, or organizations. She loves to learn and to help others learn. She has worked as an Educator, an OD Consultant, a Facilitator, a Psychotherapist, and as an Executive coach – with people from the age of three to eighty. She has helped create enriching environments for small children, a more humane working milieu in a large corporation, a space for people to explore deep traumatic issues, and opportunities for people to become their best selves. Her latest position as an Elder with the Wellbeing Project is exciting, fruitful and in many ways highlights everything she has been attempting to accomplish throughout her career. She feels lucky to be able to help social change makers prioritize individual wellbeing so that they can collaborate better, innovate more and create a larger social impact.

Antonella Labroca

Hearth Summit Manager

Caracas,
Venezuela

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

For me, inner wellbeing is all about taking care of yourself in every sense imaginable. Putting yourself first, indulging in your passions, and getting to know and accept yourself – from the simplest of emotions to the most complex ones.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

“Self-care”

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

I am still learning and getting to know what works for me. Listening to calming music and trying to take care of myself physically and not thinking it is superficial are some of the big ones. Others that I believe will take more time consist of shifting my usual negative mindset to a more positive one (takes so much effort), and hopefully continuing to acquire skills that can help improve my self-confidence.
Off the record: Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore albums are my “calm music” haha.

Why is it important that we prioritise individual and collective wellbeing?

If we don’t act from an intention of wellbeing both individually and collectively, the results of our actions can cause long lasting injuries that are later harder to heal. Not impossible, but harder. If we focus on our own (first) and others’ wellbeing, we can work towards growth and not destruction I believe.

Isaque Jesus

Strategy Implementation Senior Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Paris
France

Connect with Isaque Jesus on social media:

Isaque Jesus is passionate about international affairs and social impact, with a special interest in strategy, project management, cooperation and development, with academic and professional experience in project management, EU affairs, strategic planning and community coordination in NGO’s.

Isaque was also an international trainer in the areas of Project Management, Decision Making and Sustainable Development, delivering training courses in 4 different continents. He enjoys working in an international and multicultural context with space to share and learn. His motivation to work for a more sustainable and prosperous world is based on the genuine interest in creating positive impact in the global community.

When Isaque is not reading or discussing geopolitics, he likes to take photographs of new places and people, or travelling to world wonders.

– What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Inner Wellbeing to me means to feel good about myself, my connection with others, with my passions, my work and the surrounding environment.

– How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Mindfulness

– Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

Meditation, Regular Exercise, Healthy Eating and Active Communication with others.

– Why is it important that we prioritise individual and collective wellbeing?

Wellbeing is an individual and collective journey. One must prioritise this inner-external journey (inner for individual and external for collective – wellbeing), as it is the engine of our interactions, passions, paths and ultimately one’s legacy. It is very difficult to create a positive impact in the world without taking into consideration individual and collective wellbeing.

– Do you have any favourite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote, or educate on wellbeing and related themes? 

Books: Think Like a Monk – Jay Shetty | Principles – Ray Dalio.
Podcasts: Impact Theory – Tom Bilyeu | On Purpose – Jay Shetty.

Samuel Smith

Hearth Summit Community Senior Manager at The Wellbeing Project

Paris,
France

Sam is a passionate community builder with a keen interest in the arts, having graduated in Graphic Design and Visual Communication.

Sam’s first taste of social impact came shortly after; partnering with The Arts Council England on a project to redistribute funding to benefit underrepresented communities. This spurred a keen interest in the power of art and culture to catalyse community development. One of Sam’s proudest achievements was working on the City of Liverpool’s successful bid to become the Capital of Culture, and witnessing the resulting dynamic improvements to the region.

In 2018, Sam returned to the social change sector after working at sea for five years, during which time he was able to travel extensively through six continents. He has since been involved in sustainable tourism projects, as well as contributing to the Design for Good campaign to promote human-centred design.

Through his role as Senior Community Manager, Sam relishes building meaningful connections and engaging networks of dedicated actors within the field of social change.

Connect with Samuel Smith on social media:

Reflections on the Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Carnival in Bangladesh, an event supported by The Wellbeing Project

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Belen Gutierrez

People & Culture Strategist at The Wellbeing Project

Madrid,
Spain

I am an inveterate traveler, a lover of sports and my family. Hard worker and lover of what I do.

Some people define me as a good listener, great sensitivity, strength and good vibe.. but what I like the most is that they tell me that I am also a great human being -full of virtues and defects!-, open to continue learning and growing to be able to leave a positive mark on this world.

PEOPLE move me! Accompany and help both human beings and organizations to find their WHY, their purpose and wellbeing to achieve their essence goals, whether they are life, organizational and/or strategic. It connects me to work with the human and professional being that is inside each one of us to extract the best of ourselves. I have a clear conviction that if we work for purpose based on and connected to our values ​​and strengths, we and those around us will be happier and we will feel more fulfilled.

I am inspired by working with different cultures, environments and ages, learning from them and sharing my own experiences from having worked in different countries and in multicultural contexts. I vibrate with the magic that is generated by challenging ourselves, sharing and leaving our comfort zone because I feel that it is there where we learn and build our own legacy.

I feel happiness and serenity, because I am on the path I have chosen. I have been working in the world of organizations for 20 years, in management and leaderships positions in People and Culture in countries such as the UK, Brazil and Spain and I still have much more to do and learn as a People & Culture Lead in The Wellbeing Project.

– What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

It is connecting with something intimate, sacred and powerful that I need to listen to and respect more

– How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Inner peace

– Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing?

meditation, yoga, breath exercises, mindfulness, journaling, therapy, massages….a lot.

– Why is it important that we prioritise individual and collective wellbeing?

I love and follow our statement “wellbeing inspire welldoing” and also I know as a coach what if I “don´t” care about me is quite difficult to “care of others”

– Do you have any favourite books, podcasts, or articles that you believe support, promote, or educate on wellbeing and related themes? 

One of the first books I read was from OSHO “de la medicacion a la meditacion” and another from John Selby called “Immune-system activation”. Also I love to use different apps like: insight timer or calm. And super super recommend this podcast: “meditate this!”

Connect with Belen Gutierrez on social media: