Peace of Mind: The True Essence of Self-CarePeace of Mind: The True Essence of Self-Care

Stories from the Hearth

This blog was originally published by Talang Dalisay, the Philippines’ first youth-led education- and storytelling-focused mental health non-profit and a co-creator of Hearth Summit Philippines.

When was the last time you felt stressed out?

Perhaps it was when you missed your alarm for your morning lectures, felt disoriented, and ran late. It could’ve been when you were up all night cramming your written paper due at 11:59 pm, which, by the way, was given a week ahead of time. This feeling of panic has overwhelmed you;, your palms sweating, and your whole body trembling, yet you can’t help but feel a sense of familiarity from what you are experiencing. In fact, this pang of stress is something you’re already so familiar with. You don’t feel a tinge of shock at all.

When did it come to this point?

We have all grown so accustomed to these exhausting, tiresome, sentiments to the point where we can’t even tell the difference between a healthy and toxic mindset anymore. According to a report done in 2021 by researchers from VAAY, a German CBD company, Manila ranked as the third most stressful city in the world. The Filipino netizens who were interviewed mentioned how, due to the pandemic, it has become extremely easy for them to lose sight of the ever-present elements that surround and impact them on a daily basis (Chua, 2021). This goes to show how blindsided everyone is when it comes to their own thoughts and feelings, much like a mindless zombie.

So, indulge in my words for a minute. Allow yourself to sit back in any comfortable position and close your eyes. Take a deep breath and silently count to four as you inhale. Hold your breath for seven seconds, and then breathe out completely as you count to eight. Repeat these steps three to five times, and open your eyes. You may have not realised this, but the short breathing exercise you just practised is an easy but effective form of self-care! As you can see, it can be that simple, but that’s what the $450 billion self-care market doesn’t want you to realise.

To them, your vulnerability equals profit. Without this perception of having to rely on thousands of pesos worth of products and treatments, the self-care industry is worth nothing. This is why influence is the most important and crucial thing to them.

Social media has been feeding us this ideology that self-care is spending a day getting mani-pedis, having a huge makeover, going on a shopping spree, or simply anything related to scented candles. Don’t get me wrong, all of the self-help activities I mentioned are great but it’s important to note that this is not all that self-care is. If we continue to chase these “perfect” ideas of self-care but do not actually use them as a way to cope with our daily stressors to support ourselves, then what is the point?

There is no set list of instructions we need to follow in order to practice self-care, as self-care is not one size fits all; what works for someone might not work for you, and what works for you might not work for them, and that’s completely okay. Self-care isn’t simply doing what works for everyone else; it is practising restorative activities to take care of oneself for the betterment of one’s own physical, mental, and emotional welfare. You define what self-care is to you.

From playing with your pets, taking a hot shower, reading a book, and sleeping, to going for walks outside, taking free pottery classes, and working out; all of these activities are just a few of the thousands of other things you can classify as self-care. You don’t necessarily need to follow whatever self-care routines you see on Youtube or Instagram step-by-step. This is just a reminder that we are all separate individuals who have different ways of coping, so setting yourself up to strictly follow other people’s self-care routines is wrong. Self-care is not supposed to be a goal, but a mindset a person acts on for themselves.

“It is not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” Self-care is not self-indulgence, but a form of self-preservation. It is not pushing others aside for oneself either. It is simply taking a step back and saying “me too”.

Sources:

Chua, P. (1970, January 1). Manila was just ranked the third most stressful city in the world. Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved December 18, 2021, from https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/the-most-stressful-cities-index-2021-a00297-20210620

Cabico, G. K. (n.d.). Philippines among most stressed, emotional countries – Gallup report. Philstar.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021, from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/04/26/1912816/philippines-among-most-stressed-emotional-countries-gallup-report/amp/

About Talang Dalisay

Talang Dalisay is a non-profit organization founded in Manila, Philippines centering on mental health for our fellow Filipinos. We are a young community of storytellers and change-makers, opening conversations on the current mental health stigmas in the country as well as aiding in the integration of persons with disabilities (PWDs) as members of our global community.

Our mission upholds the values of empathy, compassion, and empowerment. We aim to focus on action oriented projects that center on moving towards a society that validates the mental health and neurodivergence of Filipinos. We acknowledge that mental health is a systemic issue — it is an ever-changing and controversial topic especially as a BIPOC community. Thus, through our art and stories, we hope to create a higher consciousness and understanding of how to create inclusive spaces for all amidst these intersectionalities.

Our vision as an organization is to become a stepping stone for Filipinos to create spaces of inclusivity. Collectively, we hope to amplify the individual’s potential to shine purely; living in authenticity, truth, and purpose. Through our projects in elevating the mental health discourse, we hope to be one of many facets that encourage others to create more avenues for positive change, always embracing the ability in any disability.

EXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHEREXPLORE THE REGIONAL SUMMITS FURTHER

Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover the Wellbeing Movement in AsiaDiscover the Wellbeing Movement in Asia

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Asia.

How to Rest: Tips and Lessons From a WorkaholicHow to Rest: Tips and Lessons From a Workaholic

Stories from the Hearth

Reflections From:

Akasby Pante

Correspondent, Talang Dalisay
🌍 Parañaque, Philippines

This blog was originally published by Talang Dalisay, the Philippines’ first youth-led education- and storytelling-focused mental health non-profit and a co-creator of Hearth Summit Philippines.

School has always been stressful. It wouldn’t be school unless it made you want to pull all your hair out because of pure frustration. However, this year, we were faced with a new challenge: online school.

This new system has garnered various reactions from all kinds of students, with different personalities and learning styles. Some absolutely loathe it, claiming that they have to learn everything by themselves. Others enjoyed the freedom that comes with it, being able to take more control over how they spend their time. Fortunately enough, I am part of the latter group of people.

You can imagine just how excited I was at the beginning of the school year. I wanted to work out, journal, and read, all these things I thought I would be able to do, now that I had more time before classes. Even so, when school work started piling once again, these plans ultimately fell through. You know, just like every other year. And I thought I could just get on with it. Stick through the sleepless nights and the terrible feeling it left me with the day after. Not be able to work properly that same day because of how tired I was and watch my entire week spiral out of control.

But for some reason, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t force myself to stay up until three in the morning when I knew how it would make me feel later that day. I couldn’t spend my entire weekend working instead of spending time with my family. I couldn’t deal with it.

For a while, I thought that I had become lazy. I was losing my focus and I had to get my life together. I soon realized that my body just couldn’t put up with that kind of torture anymore. It wouldn’t. So I had to come up with a plan to work around it, and preferably soon. Here’s what I came up with and maybe it can help you too.

Step 1: Rest

Drastically changing your workflow will not happen overnight. It takes time and mental energy to change a routine that is probably built upon years of habit. Therefore, if you can, try to take a break from the responsibilities that you can temporarily put off.

Obviously, you cannot let go of school or work, but there may be a few things you can hold off for the time being. Personally, I took a leave of absence from Talang Dalisay for an entire month. The amount of time you take off—as well as the activities you choose to take a break from—are ultimately up to you. For the most part, it will depend on the gravity of these responsibilities, how much time you think you can spare, and how much time you think you need in order to effectively “restart”.

However, the most important aspect of this step is that it will be able to achieve the following. First, it will give you time to rest and recharge. Second, it will allow you to focus on yourself and your improvement with reduced stress.

Step 2: Recalibrate

Now, I mentioned all these things about offloading some responsibilities and giving yourself time to focus on yourself. However, before you take action, there is one important step you need to do first: recalibrate. Change the way you think about your own personal productivity and work. Consider rest and fun as an integral part of your weekly agenda and treat it as if it is just as important as all your school requirements and extracurriculars. Because it is.

If you want to be able to produce quality outputs, the amount and kind of breaks you give yourself must be of the same standard. Doing this will prevent you from getting burnt out and keep motivated throughout the week.

Step 3: Reflect

After changing your mindset, it’s time to think about how exactly you are going to improve your work-life balance. What exactly are you going to change from your current routine and habits?

If you are not sure where to start, try searching online. There are so many videos, blogs, and books out there that can help you and give you a few suggestions. Try listening to their advice and try out their techniques. Reflect on what you think would best suit you considering your working methods, personality, and lifestyle.

It’s important to contemplate upon these things because it will help you realize what you could possibly change about your current working habits. For example, one rule I decided to set for myself is that I am not allowed to work during the weekends unless absolutely necessary (usually when there is just too much to do). This was something I decided to implement after I learned about Parkinson’s law which states that “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”. Therefore, if I set a mindset that weekends “do not exist” then I will be able to finish all my tasks by Friday. Doing so has given me sufficient time to recharge as well as give me something to look forward to throughout the week.

Step 4: Realize

Once you’ve set a break period, changed the way you think about work, and figured out what changes you wish to make, it’s time to take action. Realize your plans. It definitely won’t be easy sometimes because as humans, we are creatures of habit. Consequently, it is so much easier to just fall back into our old routine. Nonetheless, you must remind yourself who you are doing this for. You. No one else but you. And you deserve nothing but the best.
As a notorious workaholic, I always thought that loving my work meant putting it above everything and everyone else. However, if there’s anything that the “reset” period has taught me is that my world must not only revolve around one single thing alone. As cliche as it sounds, there must always be a balance.

Before I end this article, I wish to leave you all with a quote. It is one that a close family member sent me during those difficult times which I also feel captures the essence of this piece quite perfectly: “A friendly reminder that “your best” doesn’t mean pushing yourself to your breaking point. “Your best” means the best you can do while being your best you. Get enough sleep, give yourself breaks, listen to your limits. “Your best” is better when you are happy and healthy.

About Talang Dalisay

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Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover the Wellbeing Movement in AsiaDiscover the Wellbeing Movement in Asia

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Asia.

How I Discovered Wellbeing Through the Arts: Rakhe RahmanHow I Discovered Wellbeing Through the Arts: Rakhe Rahman

Stories from the Hearth

Guest post by:

Rakhe Rahman

Community Affairs Coordinator, Heroes for All
🌍 Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rakhe Rahman, Community Affairs Coordinator at Heroes for All, was a key partner of the first regional wellbeing summit for social change held in Asia in March 2024. In her home country of Bangladesh, Rakhe had a transformative experience learning about wellbeing, the arts, and mental health at The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka.

The mission of Heroes for All is to support children and youth to become morally responsible and conscious global citizen by realizing their fullest potential and building a purposeful life through active civic engagement, informed life choices, and global connectivity. Heroes for All envisions transforming communities through conscious, purposeful and engaged global citizens. It promises to engage its youth to become the best version of their selves through developing their moral values and sense of civic responsibilities; believing in their own potentials; and cultivating positive mindset to improve and build their intellectual, emotional, creative and physical abilities.

Read Rakhe’s reflections from the event and the last impact the arts program had on her wellbeing.

In March 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to attend The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka, a transformative experience that marked my first foray into such an event. My organization, Heroes for All, was a strategic partner, allowing me to engage directly with the summit’s activities and discussions. In the midst of my own struggles with mental health, I felt compelled to reflect on this experience, hoping it might provide some solace.

Mental fitness is a vital aspect of our lives and society, and the Summit emphasized this importance through various activities designed to promote wellbeing. One of my favorite moments was participating in art activities. Despite not being an artist or painter, I discovered a passion for playing with color. This newfound outlet has become a source of joy for me, especially during difficult times. Whenever I feel low, I now turn to colors, and the simple act of creating brings me happiness.

The Summit also featured engaging sessions like an open talk show, where participants shared their stories and insights. These conversations were enlightening and fostered a sense of community, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles.

Despite not being an artist or painter, I discovered a passion for playing with color. This newfound outlet has become a source of joy for me, especially during difficult times. Whenever I feel low, I now turn to colors, and the simple act of creating brings me happiness.

A highlight of the event was the folk song performance during the final segment. I danced with all my heart, embracing the joy of movement and connection with others. Those two days were filled with learning and exploration, significantly impacting my perspective on life and wellbeing.

I sincerely hope The Wellbeing Summit Dhaka becomes an annual event. It has the power to bring people together, foster creativity, and inspire a collective commitment to mental fitness. Reflecting on this experience has helped me navigate my own feelings, and I encourage everyone to seek out moments that uplift and rejuvenate them.

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Dive Into Stories From Around the World

Discover the Arts and Wellbeing FurtherDiscover the Arts and Wellbeing Further

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers exploring social change through the arts.

AT THE HEART OF IT – EPISODE 0

A Declaration of Wellbeing

Discover the mission behind The Wellbeing Project and the power of wellbeing in changemaking

Welcome to At The Heart Of It, a new podcast by The Wellbeing Project. In this inaugural episode, we dive into our mission to revolutionize social change through the lens of wellbeing. Explore who we are, our global network of changemakers, and why wellbeing is central to creating impactful, lasting change. Join us as we share our journey, values, and the powerful belief that wellbeing fuels effective action.

Let's dive right in!Let's dive right in!

LISTEN TO EPISODE 0

ResourcesResources

From This Episode

FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTFULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to At The Heart Of It, a new podcast from The Wellbeing Project. We’re the world’s leading organization advocating for the wellbeing of changemakers and for wellbeing in changemaking. We’re on a mission to change how we do social change, and we’re really happy you’re here.

You may have some questions already, like why wellbeing?

Or what’s a changemaker?

Maybe even, wellbeing?

Don’t we have more important things to talk about?

All good questions, but let’s just start with who we are.

The Wellbeing Project is a global network of thousands of individuals and organizations who all share one common belief that wellbeing inspires welldoing.

Our partners are social entrepreneurs, doctors, humanitarian workers, researchers, therapists, Indigenous leaders, elected officials, caregivers, teachers, frontline workers, people from all walks of life who see the power of wellbeing to make our world a better place.

Since 2014, we have been emerging as a co-creation from some of the world’s biggest social impact organizations, like Ashoka, Synergos, Impact Hub, Skoll Foundation, Porticus, and Georgetown University.

We’ve added many more institutions along the way to this collective effort. All of these institutions work with incredible changemakers from around the world, and they were starting to see something really troubling among them.

The people who had so much love for the world – for their communities, their countries, the planet – so much love that they were dedicating their lives to serving others: they were struggling. They’re facing chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, depression. They were facing traumas in their personal and professional lives. They were feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders. Fighting for change in their outer worlds, as well as on the inside. They were doing all of this alone. In silence. Because this was the culture of social change: to give every part of yourself in the service of others. To work yourself to burnout. To put your work first and your health last. This was the norm. And to share your struggles was taboo. A sign of weakness. A sign of failure.

And wellbeing? Who has time to think about wellbeing when you’re trying to save the world?

The Wellbeing Project was born out of the growing recognition that changemakers need wellbeing to be their best selves. Not just successful leaders, effective activists, and hard workers, but their best full selves: community members, parents, siblings, individuals, dreamers, creators, human beings.

In 2014, we accompanied dozens of seasoned changemakers on a journey of inner development to understand their struggles and help foster their wellbeing. What we and these changemakers saw was nothing short of transformation. A whole new way of being. A whole new way of leading. A whole new way of driving change. The ripple effects of inner wellbeing were felt in their organizations and in their impact, and it was clear: wellbeing inspires welldoing.

So since 2014, we have been working to share this message of hope in the social change sector, to educate, inspire, and guide changemakers on a path to wellbeing, and strengthen their approach to welldoing.

If wellbeing inspires welldoing within an individual and an organization, what about our societies? We are now seeing a monumental drive worldwide for our economic systems, political structures, and legal frameworks to enable the wellbeing of people and the planet. We have seen wellbeing become the driver and the destination of social change itself.

But while we’ve seen such an inspiring transformation in this space, we still have work to do. We recognize the growing complexity and intensity of the world today. We’re facing social and environmental battles from left to right, north to south. We’re facing political division, economic instability, social inequality, environmental destruction, injustice, and trauma.

Our world needs social change more than ever. And at the heart of it, we need wellbeing. So welcome to our podcast, where we’re telling stories of wellbeing changing the world. We’re meeting the changemakers whose own journeys of wellbeing inspire the welldoing, digging deep into what this has meant to them and understanding the influence of wellbeing in their lives.

You’ll hear stories of inner development work like self-reflection, personal growth, and healing. You’ll hear stories on key topics like human rights, climate change, and leadership. And you’ll hear stories of social change like advocacy, education, and community service.

But what you won’t hear is a definition of wellbeing because we believe in the emotional. We believe in the unique. And we believe in wellbeing that’s defined by individuals, that’s defined in different regions, based on the land, the culture, and the history.

Together, we’re bringing individual colors to a global mosaic, a collective painting of our shared commitment to wellbeing. We asked thousands of people to help us capture the spirit of our movement through words, resulting in a declaration of wellbeing.

Here’s Jazmine Williams, reading it at our first-ever global summit in 2022.

Good morning. My name is Jazmine Williams and I’d like to share with you all this morning a declaration of wellbeing written by Anne Mortifee.

A spirit of promise is calling us inward to see ourselves clearly, to heal what needs healing and bring harmony back to the earth. We feel it in the depth of our nature and rise to the call of life’s urge to evolve. We are Pathfinders. Caregivers, weavers of dreams, pilgrims on a journey to discover the self from every walk of life.

Every faith, race, and culture, the sounds of our footsteps are heard. Inspired by the ones who traveled before us, we press on for the ones yet to follow. Moved by an ancient vision of a more compassionate world. We seek wellbeing for all of creation, for love and justice. Peace and truth to thrive and enliven us all.

We have learned that the light which ignites the stars is the same light that flows through all things. And through all things flows wellbeing.

So let’s jump in, let’s dive deep, and let’s get to the heart of it.

Thank you for listening to this episode of, At The Heart Of It. For more news research and stories about wellbeing and social change, visit wellbeing-project.org. The Wellbeing Project is the world’s leading organization advocating for the wellbeing of changemakers and for wellbeing in changemaking. We believe wellbeing inspires while doing. Thanks for listening and see you next time!

Healing From Trauma: The Leadership Skill You Didn’t Know You Needed Healing From Trauma: The Leadership Skill You Didn’t Know You Needed

A CONVERSATION WITH:

Benoît Legrand

Business leader, psychogenealogist, former CEO and Chairman
🌍 Paris, France

As the conversation around the impacts of trauma in the social change sector continues to grow, changemakers can take an opportunity to reflect on how their wellbeing impacts their leadership skills.

Last November, TheMerode Club brought together seasoned executives from the government, business, civil society, and academic sectors to reflect on wellbeing at the individual, collective, and planetary levels.

Benoît Legrand, a visionary business leader with over 25 years of experience in various C-level positions in the European financial sector, joined The Wellbeing Summit Brussels to share reflections from his career in business and newfound venture as a psychogenealogist.

Speaking on a panel about the impacts of intergenerational trauma with The Wellbeing Project’s co-lead, Aaron Pereira, and Katherine Milligan, Director of the Collective Change Lab, Benoît encouraged changemakers to connect the individual with the organizational by asking themselves: how do my traumas impact my leadership style?

We sat down with Benoît to dive deeper into this topic. Drawing on his business and personal experiences, hear from Benoît about why acknowledging and addressing one’s traumas is an essential leadership skill, plus encouragement for leaders to start this important journey.

“It should be part of the essentials of leadership. Because, knowing your own darkness is, I think, the best method for dealing with the darkness of other people. You cannot have change, have people change, and change yourself before you accept that something is really wrong. Right?”

Tell us about the impacts of trauma.

Trauma, for me, is something which we all go through, and something absolutely necessary to be aware of to give the best of yourself and find your place in this world. The idea of “trauma” might give or have a sense of drama, which is of course very true when we think about those very macro-level traumas which have affected large populations or very deep traumas that some individuals can go through. Yet, trauma goes also into more subtle dimensions of things which traumatize you. You can be affected by what happened to you consciously, but also by what happened in your family, school, community, country, continent, or race. These impacts are being inherited, which we see now from an analytical and empirical point of view. So in a way, we are all traumatized. But it’s okay. The point is merely for every one of us to just first acknowledge it, dare to look at it and think beyond everything which we know consciously.

I’ll always have in my mind what Carl Jung said, “who looks outside, dreams, and who looks inside, awakes.” I’ve learned that from this process. I thought just looking outside would make me smart and intelligent. But the awakening comes from looking inside of myself, not being scared and not being afraid. By facing reality, we can unlock a lot of situations.

Leaders care about so many people and they don’t want to let anyone down. But they should realize that if they go down themselves, they let everyone down.

When leaders do inner work, including healing from trauma, how does it impact their organization’s wellbeing?

It’s just essential to face your trauma as a leader. You will notice anyone who’s just going out there and showing his vulnerability, just making himself more human. As a leader, if you effectively radiate this positive energy, then it diffuses around the organization. It’s a bit like a pendulum: if at the very top, the positive radiation is there, the radiation at the bottom will be just proportionate. And if the organization is big, or you go to a company or a country, then the impact you can have is just immense. So it’s our own responsibility to think for ourselves: What do I want to be in this world? Do I want to be an agent of positive radiation? Or do I still want to keep all this hatred and and violence and fear and negative energy in myself and overload the world with that right?

Do you think leaders understand the importance of caring for their wellbeing?

Let’s say, okay, we know it’s important to eat. We know it’s important to sleep. We know it’s important to read good things. But do we take, as leaders, the time to step back to sit with someone and just have a conversation? Get a couple of things out, talk and discuss, just to say, “Well, I’m not alone here, right?” and to take care of yourself? It’s fantastic because leaders care about so many people and they don’t want to let anyone down. But they should realize that if they go down themselves, they let everyone down. So having a preventative strike, taking a step back, breathing it, having a discussion and looking at your psychological health is very important. But that can be very hard for leaders, to say, “I need to ask for help.” I personally have been very bad at this.

Can you tell us a bit more about that?

I’ll just testify what I’ve been through. I was having a very intense business life. I was managing teams all over the world and travelling 80% of the time. I was also under heavy stress, with a new CEO that was misaligned with what I was thinking. There was a combination of things, including me having worked like hell for the last 20 years, going all over the place, with pressure from left to right. And at one point, my body – because my brain didn’t want to understand it – sent the signal: stop. My heart gave me a very strong signal that I needed to stop. I stayed in the hospital for four or five days, where I realized that I went over a limit because I was not sufficiently courageous to face my limits and ask for help.

I kept denying reality. I thought, because I’ve been through so many challenges and successes as a leader, I’m going go through it this time also. I’m not going to ask for help or say I’m vulnerable. But the second problem is once you effectively realize you’re not OK and you might not manage to deal with the situation, there’s some kind of taboo. So you just keep fighting on your own. This is what leaders might face. I know that in France, about one out of two leaders or entrepreneurs is close to being in burnout. One out of two, which is just dramatic.

So what should leaders be doing to care for their own wellbeing, which then will have a positive impact on their organizations?

You, as a leader and manager, have been doing nothing else than daring right? You have been taking risks. This is what you do daily. But there are also risks to take about yourself so you can see a couple of things. It’s okay. You will be more powerful by doing it. And really, what do you have to lose? Even if you’re 40, 50, 60, you still have life to live. What do you want to do with it? So look forward and say, “Is it worth taking the time and challenging myself just to try to be at the best place can be on this planet?” If you take that time, once you’re there, nobody can stop you.

Look forward and say, “Is it worth taking the time and challenging myself just to try to be at the best place can be on this planet?” If you take that time, once you’re there, nobody can stop you.

And the systemic approach is so powerful. We live in systemic environments: whatever changes something which influences something which changes, and so on. Once you start talking about something, you see things happening around you. The power of communication, daring to put things on the table and explain things, starts to unlock a lot of things that can bring a lot of peace.

But do this in a secure environment: bring safety and security around you. It can be hard, but if you do it with the right spirit of care, love, and positivity, it will come right back to you.

About Benoît

Benoît Legrand is a visionary business leader with over 25 years of experience in various C-level positions across multiple countries. Throughout his career, Benoît’s driving conviction has been centered around putting people at the heart of the company. He believes in genuine care for employees and customers to achieve lasting success. Having served as CEO of ING Direct France, Country CEO of ING France, and Chairman of ING France, he demonstrated his dedication to innovation by spearheading ING Ventures, the EUR 300m Corporate Venture Capital arm. After leaving ING in 2021, Benoît now advises organizations on innovation and transformation. He holds degrees in International Relations and Economics. Belgian and based in France for over 10 years, he has lived in 8 different countries and speak 5 languages.

Want to know more about trauma and its impacts?

Watch the first virtual convening in our webinar series hosted by The Wellbeing Project and the Collective Change Lab. You can also visit our new hub for research and stories on intergenerational trauma. Together, we explore how we can move from trauma-informed to healing-centered ways of working for systemic change.

Discover the Wellbeing Movement in Europe Discover the Wellbeing Movement in Europe

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Europe.

How I’m Transforming My Social Change Approach With Wellbeing How I’m Transforming My Social Change Approach With Wellbeing

Stories from the Hearth

Guest post by:

Amos Leuka

Director, Living Culture and Climate Alliance (LCCA)
🌍 Loita Maasai community, Loita, Narok County, Kenya

Amos Leuka, director of the Living Culture and Climate Alliance (LCCA), from the Loita Maasai community in Loita, Narok County, Kenya, attended The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès in November 2023. Listen to his journey of learning, inner reflection, and motivation as he shares his reflections on the gathering.

The LCCA promotess culture and climate adaptations in Africa and in particular, Kenya. It enables indigenous communities to promote their bio-cultural rights and supports them to be economically and culturally resilient, capable of managing their land systems and biodiversity. By building this solid base, providing leadership, technical and facilitative support, and using Participatory Video, LCCA creates a space to connect all indigenous communities and enable them to gain influence on climate issues affecting them, maintain their languages and use indigenous knowledge systems to manage their lands, social change and shape their future.

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Discover the Wellbeing Movement in Africa Discover the Wellbeing Movement in Africa

Meet and hear stories from the changemakers championing the wellbeing movement in Africa.

Cultivating a Thriving Inner Landscape Where Our Potential Can Bloom: 7 Learnings on How Mental Health Helps Achieve Social Change and PeacebuildingCultivating a Thriving Inner Landscape Where Our Potential Can Bloom: 7 Learnings on How Mental Health Helps Achieve Social Change and Peacebuilding

Guest post by:

Catalina Cock Duque

Co-Founder and President, Fundación Mi Sangre

Growing up in Colombia, a country with an armed conflict, filled with bombings, massacres, and displacement, I always felt the need to heal our wounds of violence and work towards the construction of peace. Fundación Mi Sangre, co-founded with songwriter and singer Juanes, has been my primary vehicle for pursuing this purpose. Since 2006, Mi Sangre has played a pivotal role in fostering systemic cultural change in Colombia by involving youth and the actors surrounding them as key contributors to personal, community, and systemic transformation. This model equips participants with life, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills, empowering them to co-create positive changes in their communities, including solutions towards peace.

Our work encompasses a multifaceted vision of leadership, emphasizing the development of both individual and collective skills. It involves nurturing awareness, empathy, critical thinking, and curiosity while fostering collaboration. We address the challenges young people face due to living in impoverished and violent environments, providing comprehensive mental health support as a valuable resource for personal and collective transformation. With this emphasis on inner work, mental health, and wellbeing, we have seen positive results not only in our participants’ lives but in the systems all around us.

From more than 15 years of service to young people in Colombia, here are some of the lessons from our journey that have now become integral to our work.

1. We can support the individual through the collective.

In dealing with trauma and other mental health challenges, some specific cases require individual psychosocial support. However, our organization and country lack the resources to provide it individually at scale. Therefore, we have integrated mental health skills into leadership programs, to offer support in a collective setting while integrating a preventive approach. These programs blend self-discovery and introspection, with safe spaces, fostering social connections and a sense of belonging. The mental health dimension of our leadership programs holds a special place in the hearts of our participants. From our retreats, I recall with emotion their warm hugs, the tears of healing they shed, and the laughter that set their spirits free, all within the safe space we helped create for them.

2. Holistic wellbeing – connecting mind, heart, body, and spirit – is essential.

Our programs prioritize a holistic approach encompassing the mind, heart, body, and spirit. Engaging the mind fosters critical thinking, self-awareness, and informed decision-making. Emotional aspects, represented by the heart, nurture empathy and meaningful relationships. Physical well-being, supported by the body, ensures energy and vitality, offering valuable wisdom through a strong mind-body connection. Nurturing the spirit, which encompasses purpose and resilience, provides inner strength to face challenges. Collectively, these dimensions empower individuals to lead authentically, while achieving significant change. Our young participants have successfully created more than 1,800 change initiatives, achieving profound systemic transformations in areas such as violence prevention, reconciliation, gender equity, migrants’ inclusion, and prevention of forced recruitment to armed groups.

3. The creative arts and nature are our biggest allies.

Creative arts and nature are central to our programs. We offer creative outlets like painting, music, and writing to serve as therapeutic outlets, hellping to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Art encourages mindfulness, fostering social connections and deep interactions. Simultaneously, nature provides purpose and tranquility and teaches the vital concepts of oneness and interconnection. Whether it’s a simple walk in the park, incorporating plants, or outdoor experiences in natural settings, these holistic approaches significantly enhance our program’s effectiveness. My heart fills with gratitude when I remember a participant who shared that she had discovered the wisest counselor in nature and had never received such profound guidance from anyone else.

Credit: Fundación Mi Sangre/Alejandro Bonnells

Credit: Fundación Mi Sangre/Alejandro Bonnells

“My heart fills with gratitude when I remember a participant who shared that she had discovered the wisest counselor in nature and had never received such profound guidance from anyone else.”

4. Mental health and wellbeing have to be cultivated.

From our community engagement, it is clear to us that mental health and wellbeing are not static conditions; they are cultivated over time through a combination of self-awareness, self-care, and positive life choices. To help our communities make these choices, we have developed several strategies, including an open-source library with tools and resources, along with trainer approaches and curriculums for parents and educators, on how to develop 17 different holistic leadership skills. To our surprise, this library, originally created for our team, has more than 2,500 visitors per month, demonstrating its regular use. We also don’t limit our mental health support to our participants: since the pandemic, our full team holds weekly online meetings to share various practices, encouraging us to lead by example and embody the change we want to be in our communities.

5. We must shift paradigms around mental health.

Transforming mental health paradigms is a crucial piece to this puzzle, given historical stigma that discourages those who are struggling from seeking support. To help change this dynamic, we have launched grassroots and national campaigns at Mi Sangre to normalize mental health discussions, emphasizing the importance of open, empathetic, and non-judgmental conversations. Recognizing that change starts at the individual and community levels, we are committed to creating tailored approaches to mental health, considering differences in ethnicity, gender, and age while incorporating local wisdom. We also seek to expand the dialogue on mental health to include wider audiences: inspired by the Wellbeing Summit for Social Change in Bilbao, we co-created the Wellbeing Summit Bogotá in September 2023. Mental health was a central topic at this event, which convened changemakers from the social change, business, academic, and public sectors. We aspire to extend this initiative to other Latin American cities, further advancing this crucial agenda for mental health.

An example of posters co-designed with local communities, written in Nasa Yuwe, the language indigenous communities of Toribio, Norte del Cauca, Colombia, with an invitation to reach out to mental health support services. Literal translation: “Weaving the good life. Mental health is harmony, source of inspiration and wisdom”. Credit: Fundación Mi Sangre/Alejandro Bonnells

6. Our personal journeys influence our professional work

Leading Mi Sangre has been a profoundly personal journey.My pursuit of inner growth and wellbeing commenced 18 years ago after facing burnout during my first venture. However, this journey evolved recently when I developed a deeper understanding of trauma’s impact on my work, through participation in the Inner Development Program by The Wellbeing Project. In a retreat with fellow change agents, I was transported back to a poignant childhood memory. I overheard the tragic fate of our neighbors, the parents of children my age who were kidnapped and brutally murdered. The re-emergence of this memory unleashed profound emotions, revealing the lasting impact it had on me. This experience unveiled the roots of certain unhealthy patterns in my entrepreneurial drive – a fear of losing what I cherish, an unconscious drive to do everything to survive and protect my loved ones, and a limiting belief that I must accomplish everything now because tomorrow is uncertain. I have undergone profound transformations as a result. When leaders embark on deep explorations of their inner selves, a much deeper layer of meaning emerges about who we are, what we do, how we pursue it, and, more importantly, how we want to pursue it. I have witnessed numerous stories of leaders similarly elevating their modes of operation (and impact!) by embarking on journeys of inner work.

7. Inner work can help heal systems.

In the pursuit of positive social change and lasting peace, inner work stands as a pivotal force that transcends individual growth to mend the very systems that have been fractured by violence and turmoil. The power of inner work is not confined to self-discovery and personal development; it extends to our collective consciousness and societal structures. Mi Sangre’s work involves weaving ecosystems, bringing together a wide array of participants from the public, private, and third sectors – sometimes even including former enemies and victims – to co-create solutions. Through our methodologies, we have witnessed the potential to transcend differences, hate, and fear in order to act collectively towards peace. By delving into the depths of our inner selves, we unearth the empathy, resilience, and wisdom required to reshape these systems.

“By delving into the depths of our inner selves, we unearth the empathy, resilience, and wisdom required to reshape these systems.”

Both through my work and personal experience, I’ve learned to embrace pain and struggles as inherent aspects of life. However, I’ve also seen the potential for leading a life filled with profound meaning, even in the face of persistent challenges. Equipping leaders with the skills to address trauma, support their mental health, and enable wellbeing is essential. In doing so, we are able to help them cultivate resilience, enabling them to reach their highest human potential, foster healthy relationships, and serve life with freedom and joy.

Looking back at the dream Juares and I had 16 years ago – working towards peace – I am convinced that including inner work in our systemic approach has been pivotal in catalyzing extraordinary leadership. Without it, we may have never been able to advance the reconstruction of our social fabric, influence decision-makers, and help heal systems that impact over 2 million people who have undergone profound transformations toward peace-building and social change. I invite you to explore how mental health, healing, and inner work may transform your work in social change – with a thriving inner landscape, there’s no limit for our how our potential can bloom.

About the authorAbout the author

Meet Catalina Cock Duque

Catalina Cock Duque, a seasoned catalyst for systemic change with over 25 years of experience, is a passionate leader in sustainable development, peace-building, and social impact. Distinguished as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and recognized by Silla Vacía in Colombia, she co-founded Fundación Mi Sangre, impacting over 2 million people in Colombia. As a Co-Founder of Oro Verde and the Alliance for Responsible Mining, Catalina played a pivotal role in establishing the first global certification for artisanal gold mining, expanding its reach to over 10 countries. She holds a BA from the University of Maryland and a Master’s from the London School of Economics, complemented by executive courses in leadership and innovation from top institutions worldwide.

Hear from Catalina's experience on taking part of The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá: Hear from Catalina's experience on taking part of The Wellbeing Summit Bogotá:

Exploring Art, Teraanga, and Social Change With Partcours at the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-ThièsExploring Art, Teraanga, and Social Change With Partcours at the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès

Learn about the upcoming collaboration between the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès host, Tostan, and renowned Senegalese art festival, Partcours.

In the heart of West Africa, where the vibrant culture and traditions of Senegal meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world, an extraordinary event is set to unfold: the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès, hosted by Tostan in partnership with The Wellbeing Project, promises to be a source of hope and inspiration for social change across the continent. At the core of the first Regional Wellbeing Summit in Africa will be a collaboration with Partcours, one of Senegal’s leading contemporary arts festivals. In the 12th edition of this renowned event, a new exhibition, “Yoonu ci biir (The Inner Pathway)”, will explore stories of inner journeys towards wellbeing through the eyes of local artists.

Wellbeing in a Changing World

In a world grappling with unprecedented challenges, the concept of wellbeing takes on a profound significance. The creation of art can be an act of hope; an expression of joy, anger, celebration. Art can provoke us to take action, move us to tears or laughter, and the creative process itself can be integral to our wellbeing.

The Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès is an African-led, African-based initiative, bringing together local, national, and regional leaders. At the heart of this summit is the idea of Teraanga, a cultural concept rooted in Senegal. It reflects the belief that we are all interconnected and interdependent. What affects one individual or community has a ripple effect, impacting everyone. This concept will be reflected throughout the Summit through a dedicated space for discussion and action centred on wellbeing in the African context.

Teraanga reflects the belief that we are all interconnected and interdependent. What affects one individual or community has a ripple effect, impacting everyone.

An integral part of this discussion is the critical role of the arts in fostering creativity, self-expression, and wellbeing in diverse African communities. Believing in The Wellbeing Project’s motto – that wellbeing inspires welldoing – the Summit will explore the arts as a key tool for discovering and unlocking opportunities for social change.

Fatim Soumaré, Senegalese artist. Credit: Tostan

The Arts for Wellbeing: Collaboration with Partcours

For this transformative summit, Partcours has teamed together with Tostan to curate an immersive art experience exploring the concept of wellbeing. The exhibition, “Yoonu ci biir (The Inner Pathway),” will feature the work of two remarkable local artists, Fatim Soumaré and Omar Diouf (Yafane), who have taken unique paths to find their creative practice and viewpoints on wellbeing.

“Art allows me to express, without constraints, my hopes of connecting with our ancestral practices and oral traditions. My works not only reflect cultures inherent in African craftsmanship; they also subscribe to an interdisciplinary dialogue. They bear witness to the progress and ingenuity of collective practices to develop and sustain social and economic activity. Through the thread-craft traditions of the women’s collective I created in 2021, I explore the traces of their existence to ensure the collective preservation of their material and immaterial memory.”

Fatim Soumaré is a Senegalese artist living in the Sine Saloum region who has a deep passion for textiles. She has preserved the ancestral African tradition of falè, the hand-spinning of organic, rain-fed cotton. Fatim’s art is not just a visual experience but a tactile and emotional one. Through her art and home textile brand, she employs a collective of 200 craftswomen, connecting them to their heritage and a source of livelihood.

“Art allows me to express, without constraints, my hopes of connecting with our ancestral practices and oral traditions. My works not only reflect cultures inherent in African craftsmanship; they also subscribe to an interdisciplinary dialogue.”

— Fatim Soumaré

Omar Diouf (Yafane), Senegalese artist. Credit: Tostan

Omar Diouf, also known as Yafane, is a self-taught artist from Mbour, Senegal. A farmer by day, his artistic universe is adorned with diverse and beautifully recycled materials, from shells to mirrors to plastic waste. He infuses his lived experiences in his artwork, bridging elements of sustainability and creativity in his creations.

“For me, art contributes a lot to my community. My creative knowledge and abilities are companions for both me and my community. Art contributes to our African cultural heritage and is an important legacy for the benefit of future generations.”

The art installations, thoughtfully created by these two artists, will be showcased at the Sococim Foundation Cultural Center in Rufisque, near Senegal’s capital, Dakar. The opening night will coincide with the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès, bringing together artistic expression and reflections on wellbeing from an African perspective.

“Art contributes to our African cultural heritage and is an important legacy for the benefit of future generations.”

— Omar Diouf (Yafane)

This collaboration is a unique opportunity to connect local changemakers, artists, and wellbeing practitioners from across Africa to share ideas and experience the profound impact art can have on wellbeing, and wellbeing on art.

As Partcours’ curator Mauro Petroni noted, “Our two featured artists’ inventions explore very different paths. However, both start from their own intimate lives and arrive at the same point.”

In Yafane’s work, he explained, we can see a forward journey from his roots. As a farmer, he lives in a field that is his space and his workshop. Completely self-taught, he accumulates all sorts of things and arranges them to achieve an expression of skilful simplicity. This allows him to go wherever and land wherever – totally uninhibited.

Meanwhile, in Fatim’s pieces, we can see the reverse as she journeys towards her origins. Having set off from another world, she comes to the collective source to rediscover the simple wisdom of tradition. From there, she continues a journey without contradiction into the poetics of woven thread and the social lives of women artisans. She takes us with her, with her lightness and her laughter.

Petroni concluded, “At some point in history, thanks to wellbeing, they crossed paths. Fatim and Yafane will be our guides and our examples, teaching us the understanding and expression of their human experience.”

Fatim and Yafane’s creations will be one part of the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès’ larger programme, which will feature local and regional arts and music to help foster self-reflection and shared connection. West African song and dance, contemporary art installations, and theatre will be woven into the Summit – inspiring a unique individual experience that can lead to collective action and wellbeing for all.

“Yoonu ci biir (The Inner Pathway)” will open on Thursday, 30th November at 17:30 at the Sococim Foundation Cultural Centre, where attendees can meet the artists who will participate in a dialogue on art and wellbeing.

Those in Senegal can enjoy the exhibition from 30th November to 31st December 2023 as part of the collaboration between Partcours and the Wellbeing Summit Dakar-Thiès.

Four Seasons Under One Sky: Arts as a Collective Approach to Creativity and Healing in South Africa Four Seasons Under One Sky: Arts as a Collective Approach to Creativity and Healing in South Africa

Guest post by:

Marlize Swanpoel

Co-Founder & Director, sp(i)eel arts therapies collective (Cape Town, South Africa)

sp(i)eel is an arts therapies collective (including drama, music, dance/movement, and art) of arts therapists, applied arts practitioners, and arts activists addressing intergenerational and complex trauma in South African communities. Over two centuries of colonialism and the oppressive regime of apartheid has left a nation grappling with systemic inequity and intergenerational trauma. Ongoing poverty and high incidences of violence and crime coupled with a dire lack of mental health services are contributing to complex and ongoing trauma, with more than a quarter of South Africans suffering from probable depression (Craig et al, 2022). This mental health crisis our country is facing is a systemic issue, not an individual one, and it needs a collective response. Our approach to mental health is culturally informed and sees people as each other’s greatest resource and source of support. As a result, our ultimate goal is to develop collective resilience that can affect social change.

Our name, spieel, is derived from two words that have different meanings in the Afrikaans language: “to play” or “mirror”. To “play and mirror” speaks to several reasons for our use of art as a healing tool. It refers to the function of the arts as a mirror to society for expression, reflection, and understanding. It also speaks to the therapeutic aspect of art therapies, where an art form is applied as a mirror to Self for exploration and understanding. Furthermore, it is through the playful nature of the arts that we can connect with our innate creativity.

It also speaks to the therapeutic aspect of art therapies, where an art form is applied as a mirror to Self for exploration and understanding.

In South Africa, access to therapeutic arts programmes is limited and not accessible to everyone. We aim to enable accessibility to the intentional use of various art forms to further have a positive impact on general health, wellbeing, development, and transformation for all.

Given our deep connection with the arts, our story and impacts can best be shared visually. This photo essay illustrates the journey of healing and wellbeing experienced through our Families and Collective Futures programme. It is a resilience-focused, trauma-informed programme that applies the arts and creativity to build psychosocial support systems. These systems are created through research (in collaboration with Brunel University), training, and the implementation of arts-based groups for children and their social circles.

The journey of this programme is presented within the frame of one of our core guiding metaphors: the four seasons. It represents the following. Firstly, just like the seasons, our mental health and wellbeing are not in a fixed state. We experience constant ups and downs. By accessing tools such as embodied awareness, reflexivity, and regulating skills, we can support ourselves and each other to navigate through these seasons of illness and health.

Secondly, this metaphor understands mental health and wellbeing in the context of the ecosystem. Communities are made up of people in different seasons of life. Collective resilience implies that the pressure to bounce back from hardship is not the sole responsibility of the individual. When one person suffers, it affects everyone. Everyone plays a role in collective health; as a collective, we are stronger together.

Collective resilience implies that the pressure to bounce back from hardship is not the sole responsibility of the individual. When one person suffers, it affects everyone.

Lastly, the seasons mirror people’s relationship with nature, and offer a platform to reflect on cultural and indigenous knowledge embracing nature as a source of healing.

We begin our journey in the season of (re)birth: Spring.

SPRING SPRING

Tending to the Soil So the Seedlings Can Thrive

Spieel 1 — Three generations of men raise a baby boy in the air. Cerderberg, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

In a community workshop, participants create an embodied image of Spring. A healing-centered approach to intergenerational trauma in family systems involves the adults developing reflective and regulating skills to take care of their own mental health, so that they are better aware of unhelpful patterns of relating in their families and community.

Burning David’s Root. Cederberg, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

Arts activist Gershan Lombard facilitates a ritual of gratitude at the end of a community workshop, with the small children keeping a close and curious eye. Culturally-informed psychosocial practice includes honouring indigenous knowledge and spiritual practices of health and wellbeing to share this wisdom with the next generation.

Summer Summer

Young People’s Shining Stories

A Summer of Self-expression: Making our stories known. Robertson, 2023. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A group of young women share their story about Summer as a starting point to explore themes of health and wellbeing. It is vital to offer young people multiple ways to share their thoughts and feelings, as words are not always readily available to express their inner worlds. As one participant (grade 11, high school leaner) revealed to us:“You might have noticed that we are a generation that keeps to ourselves, and we don’t trust anyone with our feelings and our thoughts. Especially because we don’t know how to talk about our feelings and our thoughts. You have come to show us that we can also show you through our songs and through our dances how we feel and what we are thinking. And that is freedom.”

Glimmer Boxes shine light on tools for health. Koue Bokkeveld, 2023. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A young woman creates her “Glimmer Box”, a tool that supports participants to explore what resources are available to them to support their mental health and wellbeing. These include positive relationships, safe spaces, and activities that regulate their emotional states. Some of these are drawn, painted on stones, or represented by found objects in nature and placed in the box as tangible reminders of available support systems.

“You have come to show us that we can also show you through our songs and through our dances how we feel and what we are thinking. And that is freedom.”

Autumn Autumn

A Season of Trust and Letting Go

Leaning into each other. Worcester, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A couple rests back-to-back and connects with each other’s breath. Our embodied, trauma-informed practice is drawn from Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory as a way to understand the autonomous nervous system’s responses. This helps us understand our reactions to triggers and to develop tools for regulating and finding safety and connection in the present moment. The couple shared afterwards: “My partner and I are having difficulties in our relationship. This workshop has given us the space to sit and just be with each other, to re-connect, and we were able to talk about things. This had a positive influence on our children and family life.”

Bridging generations. Worcester, 2023. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

In a workshop for mothers and daughters, mothers embody the support of a bridge, coming together to keep a girl above water. This workshop took place during a time of heavy flooding in the area in which some participants had lost their homes. This role-playing offered a way to express the traumatic experience: “The only way to keep safe is when we all look after each other’s children. We are not alone in this world, and your child is my child,” shared one mother. The embodied work where non-verbal communication is encouraged also supported bonding between mothers and daughters: “Girls don’t open up to parents, this exercise helped us to open up to each other,” said a young participant.

“We are not alone in this world, and your child is my child.”

Women’s circles and cycles. Vlottenburg, 2019. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A group embodies the word “women” in Circles of Support, one of our workshops for women. This workshop explores the female menstrual cycle as its four phases are linked with the four seasons, inviting conversations around menstrual and sexual health, menopause, and mental health and wellbeing. These circles are filled with generational knowledge, beauty, hope, and wisdom. One participant expressed her joy: “My experience was that I can be comfortable with myself as a woman. And I can express my feelings and accept my body. To be a woman is great!

Winter Winter

Embracing the Wisdom of the Elderly

Offering stories to the next generation. Cederberg, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

A whole community, including the elderly, adults, youth, and children, are enchanted by a storytelling circle. We witnessed a beautiful moment where the children sat and listened to the stories of the elderly, and asked them questions about the history of their community. Such events where the stories of the elderly are centralized, offer a means to narrate collective and cultural history to the next generation.

Glimmer Maps. Cederberg, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

Elderly men create their own Glimmer Maps to identify their “glimmers”: small moments when we are in a place of connection or regulation, which cues our nervous system to feel safe or calm – the opposite of triggers. They are made by tracing a hand on paper, followed by a symbol of nature representing the Self drawn into the palm. Each finger represents a glimmer with prompts from nature, for example: air for breath, fire for warmth, love, comfort and rest, water for movement, and earth for grounding. Finally, we connect the glimmers to our community, and include the name of a person who makes us feel safe.

Concluding Concluding

One Cycle, Inspiring Another

A core element of the Families and Collective Futures programme is the creative methodology. One participant reflected that the manner in which we engaged with them has helped people to come out of their shell, as “ons mense neem nie maklik deel nie” (“our people do not engage easily”). To help ease our participants out of these shells, we understand several contributing factors help create a sacred and safe space where mental health and wellbeing can be addressed:

A scaffolded approach to introduce arts-based work;

The invitation to engage in any way that feels comfortable;

The knowledge that attendance is voluntary; and

The modeling of respect, tolerance, and kindness.

The above learnings speak to a healing-centered approach to trauma and essentially it is a message of hope. When we work within the ecosystem in a culturally-informed way, it creates space for innate and indigenous knowledge to be heard and received. As a result, when we understand that healing is available to everyone and happens in relation to each other, we can create circles of psychosocial support that are resilient enough to affect social change.

When we understand that healing is available to everyone and happens in relation to each other, we can create circles of psychosocial support that are resilient enough to affect social change.

Glimmers of girlhood: Families and Collective Futures are in our hands. Ganyesa, 2022. Credit: sp(i)eel arts therapies collective

We conclude this photo essay with a reflection of a participant on the theme of seasons and the image of a Glimmer Map, made by a young girl. “Every season produces something for the other season so that, in the end, nature can provide for us. Everything is a circle. And we are all part of the cycle.”

About The Author About The Author

Meet Marlize Swanepoel

Marlize Swanepoel is a Dramatherapist and the founding director of sp(i)eel arts therapies collective, an NPO that addresses intergenerational trauma and co-create community-based models of mental health care that are culturally informed and relevant to the South African context. She serves on the Secretariat of the South African National Arts Therapies Association (SANATA) and is a guest lecturer at the University of Cape Town. She is an enthusiastic advocate for the Arts for Health movement in South Africa that speaks to healthcare from a global South perspective. She loves being in spaces of learning, unlearning and dancing.