Understanding Power, Self-Mastery & The Key To Wise Action

This self-mastery course focuses on building the capacity for eldership and in doing so, paving the way towards a better world. Eldership has nothing to do with age. It is about compassion, conscious use of power, wisdom, and wise action. We are in a times of crisis like never before. And in these times, eldership is a key competence that can support us to contribute to what seems to be a new imagined world - a world that is defined by equity and sustainability. Eldership is compassion for all voices, all parts of a system. And compassion is first about recognising we all suffer: I suffer, you suffer. It focuses on the desire and need to alleviate suffering. Over the next 10 days, we will explore concepts, such as power, rank and privilege and how you can use your power for good, how to build resilience and courage in the face of change, "Insight Dialogue;" a relational mindfulness practice, and how to minimise our all too common tendency for reactivity. You and I have this opportunity to think and reflect on how we can contribute in creating a world of equity and sustainability. A greener world.

Leçon 1: What Is Eldership?

In this first module, the focus is going to be on eldership. We will discuss its four primary components. Eldership is about the ability to have compassion for all voices, for all parts of a system. It is about compassion. Compassion is first about recognizing that we all suffer. And more importantly, about the desire and need to alleviate the suffering. The second component of eldership is about conscious use of power. Power is something that all of us have. The third component is wisdom. Wisdom arises when we reflect. From that wisdom, it becomes to take wise action, which is the fourth component.

Leçon 2: Power & Rank

In this second module, we will explore other sources of power that everybody has. We will focus on power and rank. Our objective is to understand our own sources of rank. It is about realizing that all of us do have some form of rank and power and therefore, privilege. It is an understanding that we can build eldership and be a contribution to the welfare of the whole world.

Leçon 3: Getting Smart In Different Roles Of Power

A quote by Arnold Mindell says,"If all the oppressed where to move forward, and all the oppressors were to step down, chances are, the world will not change in a sustainable way. Why? Because one power was blindly replaced by another. It is only when all members of the community grow in awareness of power in themselves and others can true change occur."

This lesson focuses on getting smart on what to do when you're in a role of rank and power, and what to do when you're in a role of lesser rank and power.

Leçon 4: Power, Rank & Privilege

In this lesson, we will explore power dynamics in the workplace. This is also applicable in situations and environments outside work, such as home. We will continue to clarify our sources of rank and how to use rank and power consciously to uplift and make a contribution.

Leçon 5: Change & Edge

This lesson we are going to explore change. It is about understanding yourself in moments of change. Who are you? What do you do to manage change for the results that you want? We will talk about the concept of edge, which is defined as something you cannot bring yourself to say, do, feel, and look at. We will look at examples here, as well as barriers that can stop you from making necessary changes. We will also learn about building courage and resilience to create the change you want in your life.

Leçon 6: Conflict

This lesson focuses on resolving conflict. For self-mastery and efficacy, we need to be competent in conflict resolution. For that, we need to learn a tool that is effective in conflict resolution. But first, we need to accept conflict, whether internal or external, as normal in human beings.

Leçon 7: Responsiveness & Reactivity

In this lesson, we will focus on managing our reactivity. All of us in situations where we are happy or in flow are responsive and have high EQ functioning. However, when situations demand challenges, we go into reactiviity. Reactivity will stop us from self-mastery. The objective of this lesson is to help you identify your habits of reactivity. What do you do? What defense mechanism do you engage in under demands, pressure, and challenges? We will learn ways to go beyond your defenses, so you will be responsive instead of reactive.

Leçon 8: Insight Dialogue

In this lesson, you will be introduced to a relational practice of mindfulness called "insight dialogue", which was founded by Gregory Kramer. This practice creates safety, allowing people to talk about anything that is hard to talk about like race, power and privilege. Our objective is to use insight dialogue to create conditions for our healing, in relation to how we use power and how we relate across different races.

Leçon 9: Using Insight Dialogue To Create Safety

In this lesson we will continue on using insight dialogue to create safety in race-related conversations. Today there are two key questions we will work with. One: What are the beliefs and truths you are aware of in your own family or community about other races? Second: What did you notice and learn about your own race when growing up in your family and community? These will be followed by open dialogue and reflections.

Note: This is a shorter lesson as the teachings are designed to be put into practice in a real life setting.

Leçon 10: Capping It All Off

This lesson is meant to be a review of the work that was covered working with the theme of building capacity for eldership to be able to contribute in the new, emerging world - hopefully a world about equity, sustainability, and looking after this planet. We will also tackle a relevant quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reviews

Thank you. 🪴

Thank you for this course. I live in the United States, and I found this a helpful set of tools for dealing with the current crises.

Amazing course. I highly recommend it.

Thank you Nolitha for a great course! I learnt a lot about Power etc. I think now I am better equipped to take wise action when needed.

Great inspirational and educational course

Useful and timely course. Thank you

Practical and philosophical - this is a grand take on elevated ways to be a human. Important work

very thought provoking course. the question and answer excercise give you a lot to work with

Gained lots of knowledge and wisdom in this course. I will re-visit.

Thank You for the course 🙏🏾

🙏🏾💚💚💚

Excellent! And applicable in many aspects of conflict resolution. I’m going to to ho through the course again. Thank you. ☮️🕉💟🙏🏼

Great course! You’re insightful explanations on the dynamics of power will be a huge asset for me in the next season of my life. Thank You 🙏🏾

Dear wise Lalita, best wishes to only you and everyone for this journey to eldership. ❤

Thank you for the thoughtfully presented course. What a challenge--becoming a wise and compassionate elder. 🌺🌸

So timely and relevant to my life and my work. Thank you.❤️

Superb course.

Thank you Nolitha!!

I cannot say enough about the AMAZING INSIGHTS I gained in listening to this beautiful Course beginning to end in just one sitting❣️
Very THOUGHT-PROVOKING and INSPIRATIONAL. I LOVE the Introduction of the term ELDERSHIP, a term with described qualities that I would love to be able to personally claim. 😊
On my second go around I will take it one day at a time with journal and pen in hand to write new insights and wisdom gained through your teaching.
Thank you for this ENLIGHTENING Course.🙏🏻💕