Three lessons for finding your place in climate work
This summer, we launched the first cohort of our experimental Climate Wayfinding program for finding your place in climate work — a five-session virtual course brought to life in partnership with the amazing virtual education pros at Terra.do.
Some participants were totally new to climate work; others had been in climate work for years but felt stuck, restless, or hungry for a deeper sense of purpose and contribution.
Over five weeks, we looked inward, outward, and forward. A few threads emerged along the way.
What helps us find our way?
We’ve collected thoughts from participants who participated in this first experience of collective wayfinding.
Here are three things that stood out as essential ingredients for finding your place:
- Make space to uncover and honor what you already know.
The clarity that can arise from what’s already inside us is potent — sometimes all it needs is space and support.
From one participant: “Climate Wayfinding is the natural energy I didn't realize I needed to remind myself that I already have the intrinsic power and motivation to do climate work for the rest of my life and balance it in order to take care of myself, as well.”
- Don’t hold the questions alone; connect with kindred community.
Our most daunting questions can become generative when we hold them together with other people. Community and collaboration are vital to climate work over the long haul.
From another participant: “Each week it felt more and more like coming ‘home,’ building community, and having a safe space to share what we're learning, feeling, and advocating for, both individually and collectively.”
- Embrace change, and know that purpose is a journey that will keep unfolding.
Wayfinding is emergent — a process that continues and grows as we do, emboldened by new ideas, tools, and ways of knowing.
In the words of one participant, it’s a modality “to tinker with and tune my internal compass.”
And it can grow a sense of possibility, authentic power, and deep joy.
Our team is already hard at work integrating updates for our fall program (details on that below), and in a couple short weeks, we’ll be gathering with our inaugural in-person cohort.
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