Tag Archives: reflection and action
Living life in the midst paradoxes
“How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one’s culture but within oneself? If there is a stage … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged reflection and action
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Mandela on peace of mind
“I have always believed that exercise is not only a key to physical health but to peace of mind,” wrote Nelson Mandela… Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, reflection and action
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Mindfulness is an outward journey
What’s your idea of mindfulness? A person sitting cross-legged with eyes closed? Peaceful bamboo trees? A serene zen garden? In spite of much research to illustrate the difference between mindfulness and relaxation, mindfulness is still perceived by many as a … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged mindfulness for aid workers, reflection and action
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A Day With Dignity
Amira is the director of a human rights organisation, over the years she’s seen colleagues burnout and she wants to do something preventive about it. While sipping a coffee we discuss the value of creating a caring and learning organisational … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, reflection and action
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Being mindful of power and wealth
In the nonprofit sector power and money are two big taboos. I love the way in this video Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg talks about how we need to ‘stop making power a dirty word’ and stop behaving as if money didn’t matter … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, reflection and action
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War and Peace
‘War and peace start in the hearts of individuals. Strangely enough, even though all beings would like to live in peace, our method for obtaining peace over the generations seems not to be very effective: we seek peace and happiness … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, reflection and action
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Helping others, helping oneself
‘Nowadays we find many people involved in “altruistic jobs”, spending all day helping others and then coming back home, shutting the door behind and throwing themselves on the bed crying, as they feel so lonely and desperate. We do have this … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged reflection and action
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Self-care: selfish or intelligent?
‘Some people have resistance to the whole idea of taking time for themselves. The Puritan ethic has left a legacy of guilt when we do something for ourselves. Some people discover that they have a little voice inside that tells … Continue reading
Posted in Burnout
Tagged mindfulness for aid workers, reflection and action
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‘Don’t take it personally’…a useful advice?
‘Don’t take it personally….’ it’s an advice that I have both given and received. I was wrong in offering it, and in not challenging it when I received it. Akaya Windwood, CEO of Rockwood Leadership Institute, charismatically explains why it’s ok … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, reflection and action
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Emptying my cup
‘Pause to move forward’ generally happens naturally in spring and autumn in my life. With markers and a big sketch-book I write down without censoring: what I’ve done over the past year what I’m doing now, and what I want … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged activism and aid work, reflection and action
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