WISE Network Archives - The Wellbeing Project

Bilal Ghalib

Bloom.pm

Beirut, Lille, Detroit –
Lebanon, France, Michigan/USA

Bilal Ghalib is the co-founder and Head of Research at Bloom. He has 18 years of experience working with social enterprises and organizations in the USA and MENA. He helped found Bloom in 2016 with the vision of creating positive change by facilitating personal and professional development for social entrepreneurs in the Middle East and Africa. Bilal holds a Master’s degree from the Universite de Paris in Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research and Education. He applies his expertise at Bloom by conducting research and development on applied positive psychological frameworks for creating a community-oriented, online learning environment for startups. Furthermore, he manages team development, builds organizational partnerships, and co-facilitates online accelerator programs.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you?

Inner wellbeing is a state of equanimity that arises from patience and acceptance of what is. It means to have the knowledge and skills to be able to take care of the challenges and stressors that life brings.

How would you define wellbeing in one word?

Balance.

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

Alongside meditation and journaling, I find that building rich and vulnerable friendships support my wellbeing.

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

The ripple-down effects impact every level of society. Firstly healthy minds and hearts are their own reward. Secondly, there are many impacts from the reduction of stress leading to less costs of healthcare, to a person’s okness changing(reducing) their consumption patterns, to more effective teams, to confidence in choosing vocations which support a healthy person and a healthy planet. It seems wellbeing, where ever it manifests, is both the reward and the way to a more positive future.

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

I loved the onbeing podcast. Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, the Quran. A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer. Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown. An Everyone Culture by Robert Kegan and many others

Connect with Bilal Ghalib on social media :

Personal website

Bloom's website

Lisa D. Hobson, PhD

Special Assistant to the President: Partnerships and Initiatives
Professor of Education, University of North Texas at Dallas

We arrive at points in life where we have rewards, blessings, immense joy, and satisfaction. On the converse, there are times we feel blindsided, defeated, broken, crushed, and/or simply torn and worn.

Subsequently, we approach each day, sometimes to just make it through that day. Sometimes, we attempt to not only survive and get through a particular day, but seek healing, advancement, and evolution whether in a thriving or challenging phase of life i.e. figurative winter and summer seasons. I traveled to Bilbao with that latter purpose while, in some respects, being in both seasons simultaneously depending on the area.

I arrived in Bilbao wanting to flourish, develop, grow, and learn more! I received much more participating in The Wellbeing Summit and WISE Gathering.

I have expanded networks and forged new relationships with wellness seekers and experts from all over the world to really do something important, meaningful, and beneficial. I left wanting to do more and be more to impact my space in the world and connect with others doing the same.

At first glance, WISE is an acronym that means Wellbeing, Innovation, and Social Change in Education, however, it also equates to flourishing, development, growth, and learning. The WISE Gathering afforded me those four constructs. I arrived and received what I sought.

The activities and events were perfect for me, giving me what I needed to heal, advance, learn, and evolve in different areas. All experiences were actually perfect for me, providing me with what I was to encounter and live in that period of time and beyond! I am compelled to be more intentional, engaged, reflective, patient, sensing, and tolerant. I am inspired to return to my institution to work with my colleagues to enhance and better the goals we collectively pursue.

Wishing everyone “Wellness Always and Wellbeing for Life,”
Lisa

About Lisa

Lisa D. Hobson, Ph.D. is a member of The WISE Network, an educator (community and university), researcher, artisan, thinker, and mother! She has worked in K12 and higher education for 28 years. She believes in the communiversity model and wants to bridge communities (degree and non-degree seeking) with higher education resources and opportunities.