What a whirlwind of a week! Just a day after an inspiring experience at Hollyhock's Social Venture Institute I took on the task of moderating a provincial election candidates meeting at my community's Neighbourhood House.
Why share this? Those who know me are aware that stepping into this role is a bit unconventional for me. With the rampant polarization in today’s political climate—intensified by social media—it’s challenging to hold a generative space for dialogue. However, I saw it as a unique opportunity to put my mindfulness "theory" into action, and test my cultivated inner practice in a tense environment. It was a bit wild at times, but incredibly enlightening.
Here’s how I approached the meeting, aiming to disrupt the traditional social architecture of political discourse and infuse it with mindfulness:
Establishing Protocol: I took extra time to set the tone and invite participants to respond differently than they might normally.
Centering Humanity: I acknowledged the difficulty of being a public figure, where candidates often feel the pressure of projecting an image of perfection. I expressed gratitude for their willingness to step into this role.
Encouraging Critical Thinking: I invited the audience to recognize the complexity of our issues, emphasizing that no single person holds "the" solution. True solutions emerge when diverse perspectives come together.
Reframing Competition: I encouraged the audience to view the meeting as a showcase of approaches to solving complex problems, prompting them to identify where they see value alignment, then get more information later.
Staying Humble: I remained open and apologetic if I didn’t meet everyone’s expectations, acknowledging that I was doing my best.
Acknowledging Emotions: I brought the audience back to their somatic experiences, recognizing the emotional triggers present in the room rather than ignoring them.
To conclude the meeting—after discussing some significant issues—I invited everyone to a dance party, encouraging them to shake off any tension and reconnect with their bodies.
This was a valuable experiment, and based on the feedback, it was a better experience than usual. I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow and serve in this way. A big thank you to Fernwood NRG for entrusting me with this task and to all the candidates (Sonia Furstenau, Tim Thielmann, and Grace Lore) for joining me on this journey.
Hay’sxw’qa si’em to everyone who attended!
Photo Credit: Fernwood NRG/Felipe Fittipaldi
The event took place on the ancestral and sacred territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, specifically the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples.
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