Inside Out: Strengthening Inner Resilience and Community Ties in the Polycrisis
Ecological, economic, political, and technological upheavals are reshaping the conditions of life in profound and often unsettling ways. These shifts exacerbate climate catastrophe, strain our systems, and erode social fabric. As a result, change-makers and climate professionals are often the first to experience extreme burnout, overwhelm, anxiety, conflict and isolation. Because of their commitment to the persistent and extraordinary work of preserving a liveable future, folks on the climate and community frontlines rarely have time to care for themselves and each other in ways that make their work feel rejuvenating and sustainable.
The challenge is not simply one of individual wellbeing. The quality of our relationships, our ability to navigate conflict, stay connected through uncertainty, build trust and make collective decisions all shape our capacity to respond effectively to the stressors of collapse. At a time when many change-makers, activists and community organisers are already stretched thin, creating the conditions for emotional and relational resilience is as essential as the practical work itself.
Several organisations in the emergent field of climate-mental health are joining together to collaboratively reimagine what wellbeing, care, resilience and flourishing–within ourselves, our relationships and our communities–looks like in an age of urgent ecological and societal collapse.
Join the Climate Care Collaborative, Force of Nature, Inner Climate Response Alliance, Six Seconds, The Resilience Project, and Youth Climate Collaborative at London Climate Action Week for an interactive workshop that bridges inner and outer climate work. This session is designed to offer a soft place to tend to yourself, build resilience, meet allies, and nourish connections with other change-makers.
In this 2 hour session, we will practice somatic grounding, group sharing, and collective imagining. We will also make time to ask questions about how we can best show up to support the well-being and inner resilience of folks working in climate and community action, as well as what and who is missing from these spaces.
As the temperature in London this week is predicted to climb to 38C, we are reminded that living in unprecedented times forces us to practice the skill of pivoting quickly. Because our organisations’ missions are deeply rooted in community care, we want to ensure everyone stays safe and healthy, and have thus decided to shift Wednesday’s workshop to a fully virtual format. The irony of needing to make a climate-related adjustment to a climate-focused event is not lost on us; nor is the realisation that most of London Climate Action Week is continuing with business as usual, all while hosting events that encourage the disruption of business as usual.
We look forward to connecting with you safely online to talk about what a commitment to collective care looks like in an increasingly chaotic climate. We appreciate your flexibility as we practice adaptation in real time.
This event is being supported by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund.