Turn Your Climate Concern into Confident Action for a Better World

FAQs

• What will I actually walk away with at the end of the workshop?

  You’ll have new skills to manage distressing thoughts and feelings about the state of the world, enabling you to feel strong and confident that you are living how you choose. You’ll also have a personal plan for small uplifting actions—practical, manageable steps you have decided to take in your daily life to contribute to a better future. We hope you will also feel relaxed and energised by an interesting day spent with like-minded people!

• I already do a lot and sometimes feel overwhelmed. I don’t want to do more!

  It may be that you are already doing too much, and choose to do less or to focus your energies better. The workshop will help you to feel less overwhelmed and more in control of how much you do. Connecting with like-minded people helps energise and settle us too.

• Why is the cost so low?

  We want it to be accessible to everyone. The facilitators are donating their time, and other costs are supported by the One Mindful Breath community group (for detail see https://events.humanitix.com/host/one-mindful-breath).

• What makes this workshop different from a typical environmental talk?

  Most environmental talks focus on the "outer" world—data, politics, and policy. This workshop focuses more on the "inner" world—our emotional and psychological responses to the outer world. It is a good complement to other learning you do.

• Do I need to be a climate science expert to attend?

  Not at all. The workshop is for any adult who cares about the future. We don't spend the day looking at data; we spend it in short presentations and small-group discussions (2–4 people), learning ways to thrive and contribute to a better future.

• Is it part of a religious or political programme?

  No. It is hosted by One Mindful Breath, a Wellington meditation community, but the workshop itself is fully secular (non-religious) and not sponsored by any faith group or political party. It is designed to be inclusive for people of all faiths or no faith at all, and for a wide range of political beliefs.

• Isn’t it depressing to talk about what’s going wrong?

  It can be, so the workshop doesn't dwell on what's going wrong, but focuses more on how we can respond positively to our concerns. It feels uplifting to be with like-minded people, acknowledge how we really feel, then shift our focus to wise ways to respond to these feelings.

• Do I have to share my private feelings or thoughts with the whole room?

  No. We create a safe environment where your privacy is respected. Most of the discussions happen in very small groups or pairs. Even in those discussions you can say as little or as much as you feel comfortable sharing.

• What happens if I get ‘too emotional’ at some point?

  The process is designed to make this unlikely, but if you do then the facilitators are experienced in supporting people through big conversations. We don't try to "fix" or talk you out of your feelings. You will be supported, not judged. We see grief or anger about the world as a healthy sign that you care.

• What is the "Work That Reconnects" mentioned in the flyer?

  It is a programme originally developed by Joanna Macy in the 1970s, and now taught all around the world. It helps people move from feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world to a place of resilience and creative power. The name refers to connecting us to our caring for the world, and to others who feel the same way.

• The flyer mentions the book "Active Hope"? Why is that? Do I need to read it?

  No. Updated in 2022, the book is one of the most recent overviews of the Work That Reconnects. We mention it in case people want to learn about the workshop in detail before or after they attend, or instead of attending. But it isn’t necessary because the workshop is useful by itself.

• Is Active Hope and this workshop about just "staying positive"?

  No. Active Hope is a practice, not a feeling. It doesn't require you to be optimistic. Instead, it involves three steps: first, taking a calm clear look at the reality of our situation; second, identifying the direction we personally want things to move in; and third, taking small manageable steps towards that, either alone or with others.

• My question hasn’t been answered above. How can I contact someone?

  Click the “Contact host” link and ask us your question there. We will get back to you as soon as we can, but sometimes it may take a couple of days, so please be patient.