Thought-provoking ideas, and transformative tools and training for working with individuals, groups, organisations, and communities.
A time for action – but which type?
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Dear Reader, As the year begins, we think about kicking off into action. New calendars, new intentions, new momentum. The urge to move, decide, change something. Action is a powerful force. So as the year opens, we invite you to slow the impulse just enough to ask a deeper question: what kind of action is actually being called for? Three perspectives on action One lens comes from Buddhism. Right Action (Sammā-kammanta), the fourth element of the Noble Eightfold Path, points us toward ethical conduct grounded in non-harming, compassion, and restraint from actions that create suffering. It reminds us that movement alone isn’t enough, how we act matters. Given the state of the world at the moment, reminding ourselves of this seems like a good idea! Another perspective is more familiar to many of us in therapeutic and facilitative work: aligning our actions with our values. When we take time to reflect on what truly matters to us, and then allow those values to guide our choices, something settles. We feel more congruent, more resourced, and more empowered. This has a ripple effect, for when our speech and actions align, we expend far less energy managing inner conflict. Our work becomes more sustainable. External conflict often softens. And perhaps most importantly, it just feels good to live and work this way. This seems so simple, yet its amazing how often we forget. Neither of these ideas are unique to Process Work. Disturbance as a call to action In Process Work, we pay close attention to what disturbs us. This is not to eliminate it immediately, but to listen. And this matters deeply when it comes to action. Think of a recurring headache. One option is to manage it: suppress it, make it go away, push through. Sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed. Another option is curiosity. Or perhaps there's that niggling habit your colleague does that drives you crazy. What specifically is so disturbing for you? What would happen if you got really curious (without judgement) about it? This might be a calling for an opportunity to learn something deeper about someone, or yourself. If we don’t take the time to understand the disturbance, we never discover its intelligence. Because funnily enough, disturbances are often our own system’s call to action. The first step: following the right signal Whether we’re working with ourselves, our clients, or groups, action begins with following a direction. The clincher is always: which signal do we follow? Which thread do we pull? Process Work teaches that there are always multiple signals, multiple “dream doors” available at any moment. But they are not all equal. Some paths will lead to far more movement, clarity, and transformation than others. The craft of Process Work lies in cultivating awareness first, then learning how to identify specific signals and understand how they relate to the underlying process structure. Once that structure becomes visible, action is no longer forced. We simply follow the process in the way it naturally wants to unfold. In many ways, this is beautifully simple. Walking the path together If you feel drawn to developing these skills - to acting with more clarity, ethical grounding, and responsiveness - we warmly invite you into one of the following upcoming trainings:
And if you are considering your CPD, all of these courses can count toward training points. A small invitation In the meantime, we invite you to pause. Then choose one or two small actions you can take this coming week that bring those values into the foreground. Not rushed. Not forced. Just aligned. warmly, ANZPOP |
ANZPOP
Thought-provoking ideas, and transformative tools and training for working with individuals, groups, organisations, and communities.
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