I literally listened to 3 min of this and knew I needed to share it with you! Scientists have been measuring the effects of Spiritual practices for more than thirty years, and there are now thousands of papers in peer-reviewed journals showing that people with a regular spiritual or religious practice tend to be healthier, happier and longer-lived than those without one, whatever they happen to believe. Spiritual practices work, and this is not a matter of opinion. Rupert Sheldrake looks at the practices themselves rather than the arguments around them: gratitude, meditation and prayer, mantras, ritual, holy days and festivals, sport, and pilgrimage. Most of them cost nothing and require no prior belief system. The thread running through all of them is CONNECTION. Meditation and prayer are complementary rather than rival, more like breathing in and breathing out. Rituals and festivals connect people to each other and to those who did the same things before them. Even sport, which is usually thought of as a supremely secular activity, brings people into the present more quickly than almost anything else. This talk was recorded live at Hollyhock on Cortes Island in British Columbia, 2026. What are the 5 things you are grateful for this week?

While in Montreal over the weekend I had the good fortune to meet @Adle Ong in person. We have been in global practitioner calls together for about 3 years and it was easy to spend the afternoon discussing, eating, laughing and eating some more 😁. I learned that Adle - is the top 1% of foodies for TripAdvisor, not surprisingly - launched her consulting and facilitation company 2 years go - has all sorts of interesting projects in the pipeline - Speakes mandarin and is learning cantonese! I love meeting community members and hope to continue to meet with many more!

Most organizations say sustainability matters. But not all organizations think about sustainability in the same way. In reality, there are four very different sustainability mindsets — and where a company sits often determines whether it survives disruption or leads transformation. 🔹 Compliance Mindset "What do regulations require us to do?" Sustainability is treated as a legal obligation and a risk to be managed. The goal is compliance, reporting, and avoiding penalties. 🔹 Traditional Value Mindset "How can sustainability improve efficiency?" The focus shifts to reducing costs, improving productivity, and increasing margins through eco-efficiency and operational improvements. 🔹 Risk Mindset "What future threats could impact our business?" Climate risks, supply chain disruptions, water scarcity, and changing regulations become strategic business concerns rather than environmental issues. 🔹 Growth Mindset "How can sustainability create new value?" This is where sustainability becomes a driver of innovation, new products, new markets, and competitive advantage. The most successful companies are no longer asking: "How much will sustainability cost us?" They are asking: "What opportunities will we miss if we ignore it?" The transition from compliance to growth is more than a sustainability journey. It is a business transformation journey. The organizations that view sustainability purely as a reporting exercise may protect yesterday's business. The organizations that view it as an innovation engine are building tomorrow's. The question for every leader, board member, and executive team is simple: Which mindset best describes your organization today — which mindset will define its future? This is where inner development makes ALL the difference. Source Sustainability Circle

Where do you find yourself in this moment of systems transition? Are you pioneering the new? Hospicing the old? Supporting the in-between? Systems change happens in an uneasy space—between what’s fading and what’s yet to fully emerge. While we see glimpses of a regenerative future, extractive systems still dominate. So, how do we navigate this transition? 👉 Enter the Berkana Two Loops Model Developed by The Berkana Institute, Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze, in the '90s this model maps out how systems change. As one system declines, another slowly emerges—not through sudden transformation, but through intentional transition. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the old system doesn’t go quietly. So, who drives the transition? 🚀 Pioneers emerge first, those brave enough to experiment with new ways of thinking and doing. Without connection and support, those pioneering voices can easily be drowned out by the dominant system. THIS is why community matters. Pioneers need networks—to share, to connect, to recognise they’re not alone. 🤲🏽 Protectors, meanwhile, are those working within the current system—they nurture the new ideas, they carve out space for them to grow. But it's not only about innovation. Some fulfil the role of hospice workers for the old system—gently guiding it to a close while composting what’s worth keeping. 🌱 It’s about holding onto the best of the old, while gracefully letting the rest go. Where do you find yourself in this moment of transition? What would your role be within the Berkhana Two Loops Model? Let us know in the comments! 🌍✨ Thank you commonland for the reminder!

Imagine going back to school and being able to create your own curriculum. What would your ideal curriculum look like? And, why would you choose these subjects? Photo credits go to Erik Karits on Pixabay