Have you ever found yourself having to make a decision between doing something quickly or doing it right? In our world currently, it seems as though expediency holds more value than quality. Bigger, better, faster, stronger. Always pushing for quick results without necessarily considering the long-term outcomes of acting quickly with no regard to the future sustainability of change.

In order to create a more peaceful world for ourselves and the ones we love, we must "flip the script". By slowing down and being more thoughtful in our decision-making processes, it's more likely we will develop solutions that both have a high likelihood of working and being maintained over time. When we stop worrying about the speed at which we START acting, and focus more on the QUALITY of the actions we take to solve the most pressing issues in our lives, we find the courage to do what's right in the face of pressures to react quickly.

Taking Action to Create a More Peaceful World

The first course we offered in 2020 was designed to aid n the development of skills related to creating a more peaceful world in their personal lives in the service of creating a more peaceful world for all. The following quote from Etty Hillesum illustrates the power of finding inner peace: "Ultimately we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world."

When we take the time to care for ourselves and address the inner-turmoil which causes us to feel pain and suffering, the more likely we are to take effective action to create peace in the worlds of others. As individuals who work in the "caring" professions, it is incumbent upon us to ensure we're managing ourselves in a way that maximizes our ability to continue caring as hard as we must to make a difference. This is the purpose behind Action for a Peaceful World: teaching others to create peace in their own world, so they are more likely to create world peace.

Psychological Flexibility and the 10 Flips

The inspiration for the first course came from the written works of one of my professional idols Steven C. Hayes (A Liberated Mind; Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life) and my personal colleague Coyte Cooper (Flip the Script). In their books, I found the path toward my own inner peace and the courage to act in the service of supporting others on their paths to finding theirs as well.

While we're no longer offering this course, we encourage you to read the three books on which this course was based as they serve as a wonderful foundation for personal and professional change efforts.