Joanna Macy developed The Work That Reconnects in the 1970s to help activists reconnect with what is important and take action to improve the world.
The Work That Reconnects is a set of practices and tools which offer key insights into how we can work together to support a shift in our hearts and minds and ignite systemic change. It’s a way of working against the contextual challenges we may find ourselves in, and help us discover our connections to each other, moving through pain, despair and grief into an inspired and collaborative action to effect change.
There are four key stages to the Work that Reconnects:
- Coming from Gratitude – reflect on what we’re grateful for, helping us to become more present and grounded
- Honouring Our Pain for the World – develop and experience compassion and empathy
- Seeing with New/Ancient Eyes – feel the desire for change, and be informed by our learnings and connections from past and future
- Going Forth – moving into action to create change, with innovation, courage, and creativity
The Work that Reconnects is a way in which we lean into system change and system knitting needed to tackle inequalities head on. We use it as a thought leadership tool to help us bring more information and awareness into group consciousness, and supports us in different ways of thinking and doing. It is also a facilitative practice used in meetings with partners, colleagues as well as delivering sessions as part of the tailored Fearless Leadership courses.
