Nourishing Conversations: Exploring what's important together

"In the dark time, there is a tendency to veer

toward fainting over how much is wrong or

untended in the world. Do not focus on that.

There is a tendency too to fall into being weakened

by persevering on what is outside your reach,

for what cannot yet be. Do not focus there...

We are needed, that is all we can know."

— Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women Who Run with the Wolves

RESPONDING TO SUFFERING AND CRISIS

We live at a time when there is much personal and social stress. You might be relatively comfortable and content, but many are not. Growing numbers of people struggle to make ends meet, suffer from mental and physical illness, or feel their lives are without hope or meaning.

These conditions, these crises, did not just happen. Loneliness, financial stress, housing insecurity, domestic violence, racism and many other calamities have been brewing for years. Climate change and a nuclear apocalypse could wipe out most of humanity. Despite Australia being one of the richest nations on the planet with ongoing economic growth, despite the promises and rousing rhetoric of politicians and institutional leaders, many of us are distressed. If we aren’t distressed, are we blindly optimistic?

How can we best respond to the conditions we find ourselves in?

Can we rely on politicians to pass legislation and for governments and corporations to design policies that will make for an inclusive and just society?

Will social service providers and charitable organisations take care of us?

Can we hope for renewed family, education, moral or religious values to reverse disadvantage and oppression, particularly among marginal and disfavoured groups?

Or is our best hope to reach out, get to know and support one another? If governments, schools, doctors, the courts and other institutions are failing us, is caring for ourselves and others our best bet?

TURNING TO ONE ANOTHER

Nourishing Conversations is an open forum, a safe space, a simple process for relating with others and learning together. 

There is no intention to teach, sell, advise or persuade. There is no agenda. There are no goals to be reached or solutions to be recorded. 

The tone, the vibe is friendly and respectful to all. Words, emotions, body language, movement and other kinds of information, or data, is being sent, received and responded to by everyone in the room. 

It is not possible to measure this information, but we all know it is very real. We call it “warm” data because it is alive, unlike quantitative data, which is “cold”. 

Nourishing Conversations is a kind of lab or laboratory for warm data.

Listening to and talking with others, sharing stories and dreams, exploring different perspectives on personal and social issues is a wonderful way to meet and learn together. 

An environment that is safe and respectful yields insights and connections. 

New possibilities emerge for action and collaboration. A lot happens within and between people which can be life changing. Change can be immediate, or it can surface days, weeks or months later. I know, because I’ve enjoyed nourishing conversations for years with students, colleagues and friends.

YOUR HOST

Peter le Breton, Thinking Partner & Free Range Elder, Befriend, has a PhD in Transformative Studies and vast experience in education, business and government. 

He is an award-winning teacher who co-creates and co-leads The Possibility Fellowship, and is a certified Warm Data Lab Host.

IS THIS FOR YOU?

• Are you open and curious to explore new possibilities with others is a safe space?
• Are you willing to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon with others?

SESSIONS

Starting Saturday 7th October, 1 pm to 4 pm.
Then fortnightly 
October 21
November 4 & 18
December 2

Come to one or come to all. Invite family or friends (over 15 years). 

It's a small venue and places are limited.

To find out more or book your FREE spot(s), register here or contact peter@befriend.org.au