Our land - an exercise to understand and value what sets us apart

With the world in turmoil and conflict, and the profound suffering that so many people endure, we feel that it is even more important to celebrate the hope that a new year can bring. This hope can be born when we understand and value what sets us apart. Last week, in our year-end reflection, we engaged in an exercise that can aid in this journey (which we also use in Team Coaching).

This exercise is called 'our land.' Faced with a topic where we disagree, each of us learns more about 'our own land'—when we talk about it to the other person, what is important to us about that subject—and also about 'your land'—what is important to the other person in their land, about that subject. Above all, we experience how to be 'good tourists' visiting the other person's land with curiosity, openness, and a sense of adventure. In the end, we explore what is possible from 'our land,' what emerges from visiting the other person's land and welcoming them into ours.

An exercise that can be done in pairs, in teams, in communities, and between countries and regions if we can bring more curiosity and empathy to the center of our lives. We’re determined to continue to explore this path in 2024. What about you?

Happy Holidays and a joyful 2024