Institute for Zen Leadership

Loving the invitation by IZL collaborator extraordinaire Nicola Jackman (Performing Heartist & Joy Catalyst) to take part in the first ever Global Joy Dance! The event takes place on 𝐀𝐮𝐠 𝟑𝟏 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝐀𝐌 𝐔𝐒 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 (5PM SAST). The event is organized by THE UPLIFTMENT PROGRAMME of Cape Town, South Africa, which is dedicated to sharing joy, growing hope, and transforming lives through socio-emotional UPliftment. Members of the IZL community (Ginny Whitelaw, Emily Alpert, Jasleen Kaur, Kelly Bannister and others) are overflowing with gratitude at this opportunity to support and celebrate 20 incredible years of catalyzing joy by Nikki and her team. Help us UP the JOY across the globe by sharing and inviting others! For more information, just sign UP and THE UPLIFTMENT PROGRAMME team will be in touch with you! - https://tr.ee/gjd31Aug

The world can use more joy. Join in Nikki Jackman's Global Joy Dance on August 31 and let it come through you! Register here: https://tr.ee/gjd31Aug

Michael Basil, one of our newest upcoming Zen Leader Coaches, shared the story of how he discovered IZL and the impact it has had on his life. Conflict comes up in everyone's life. Read more to find out how to flip from chaos to clarity. If you want to receive a monthly boost of Insight from our community, use the sign up form at the end of the article. https://lnkd.in/gW4ZjV3W

Here's sharing this month's Forbes.com article on politics and resonance and how you can use the same principle.

Our 4-day 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 felt like a wondrous, diverse coming together of wisdom, practices and communities across the world to experience and share the “no separation” that enables deep resilience. Here’s how some of the participants described their experience and learnings: ▶️　𝘈𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘹 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴! ▶️　𝘖𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘐 𝘨𝘰,  𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵/𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.   ▶️　𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 ▶️　𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦 ▶️　𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. ▶️　𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦. ▶️　𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵! And finally, as one participant noted, the learning doesn’t have to stop now. “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩!” You have that opportunity, too. Compiled with additional, curated resources into our 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲, the video package is available at our special summit price - and you’ll also be supporting free events like this. If you didn’t have a chance to participate in some of the sessions you would have liked, or if you were so refreshed and moved by some of the sessions (as we were!) that you’ll want to watch them again, the video package is for you. Need a refresh on the schedule and session contents? If so, you can view that here - https://lnkd.in/dnpRS9Zz Thank you again for considering the video package and/or joining us as you could. Together, let us heal into the deep resilience that can weather any storm. 
If you have any questions about the Summit video package or future programs at IZL don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

“What a summit!” as one of the participants said of the 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩. Our Goal with the summit was to bring you wisdom, practices and communities that help you cultivate the deepest possible resilience. From the warm and wonderful feedback we’ve received, we hit the mark. If you didn’t have a chance to participate in some of the sessions you would have liked, or if you were refreshed and moved by some of the sessions (as we were!) that you’ll want to watch them again, we have a video package for that, and you can get it here - https://lnkd.in/dhwduMPb Compiled with additional, curated resources into our 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲, the video package is available at our special summit price. People are already telling us it’s a resource they’ll return to again and again.  Plus, you’ll be helping to make events like this accessible to all. Our 4-day summit felt like a great and diverse coming together of wisdom, practices and communities across the world to experience and share the “no separation” that energizes and sustains deep resilience. Need a refresher for what was on offer? You can view the schedule here - https://lnkd.in/dnpRS9Zz Thank you for joining us as you could and/or making the summit live on with purchase of the video package.  Together, let us spread and deepen into resilience that can weather any storm. If you have any questions about the Summit video package or future programs at IZL don’t hesitate to reach out to us. #deepresilience

This 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 was a gift of presence by people from across the globe who gathered to connect, listen and practice together in ways that would deepen our individual and collective resilience. The words of 20 experts who generously shared their knowledge, insights and methods built from decades of experience are still echoing: “You can’t heal the earth by depleting your earthly body. … When we embody ourselves more deeply, we re-source ourselves more deeply” - 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗲 “Relationships are the active ingredient to create health and resilience.” - 𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶 𝗖𝗿𝘆𝗺𝗲𝘀 “Resilience grows through shocks and trauma as we come together, rather than fall apart. … We can make challenge our friend, and each time we’re triggered, a chance to practice.” - Kosha Joubert “The Elders say the most unselfish thing you can do is to heal yourself.…If you listen to your heart, you’ll be able to access the gift you were born with.” - Ilarion (Larry) Merculieff “We’re coming together, learning what it means to live as a conscious conduit, waking up to being human.” - 𝗘𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝘆𝗮 𝗧𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝗯𝗮𝗸𝗿 Leading with the heart, putting relationships first, doing our own healing work, understanding challenge and disruption as opportunities to deepen our resilience. Part of the truth-telling of the Summit is that the separation of head from heart (as well as separation from spirit, others, nature, and reality) erodes resilience. And this comes about from trauma–from not wanting to remember what we have done and what has happened to us–not only in our lifetime but ancestrally. The Summit helped us remember and re-member that unwinding this trauma is practice-able, practical and important work. Many insights shared by Speakers converged on the need for easily accessible practices that can build resilience in our daily lives so that we have a depth to call on in our times of need. And what are practices for this  healing? For reconnecting head, heart and hara? For experiencing no separation? The summit was filled with many practice-able exercises, which are easy to learn, and adapt in our daily lives. The offer to watch it for free has ended but the video package can be still purchased for the low summit price. If you would like to invest in your resilience, here is the link to view the sessions and purchase the package -  https://lnkd.in/g4kVm9x9

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰 of the 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩 oriented us toward deeply resilient futures with our triad of Zen Roshis: Rebecca Yakumei Ryan, Heather Meikyo Scobie and Ginny Jiko Whitelaw. Among many gems offered, Ryan Roshi Spoke of “intergenerational equity” and shared the “futures triangle,” a series of 3 questions: ▶️　What is it about the past that anchors us to the past? And is that real? ▶️　What or who is calling us from the future? And what is their message? ▶️　What in the present is working regarding how we are bridging the past and future? And what is not working and needs to be released? Scobie Roshi explored the question “what does it mean to be a connected human being?” She shared 3 Zen tools, which she called “human being tools” because they're general principles that everyone has access to: 👉 Breath and posture 👉 Concentration and awareness 👉 Sincere intention Scobie Roshi explained how the interaction of all 3 totals more than the sum of the parts and supports us in being connected human beings. “Remember that you have everything you need, and that you know how. You just need to remember what you need to do, to be a connected human being.” Whitelaw Roshi spoke about how we bring about a future with resilience, which involves clearing out whatever is in the way of our natural condition. She described 3 aspects: 1. No separation - the state that we call samadhi, no thought interjecting between myself and the present moment, that unconditional flow state where we can just be “one with.” 2. Clarity of purpose - sincerity of intent or sincere intention, as Scobie Roshi called it. 3. Agility of means - we need some agility or skillful ways of approaching what we do. All 3 are practicable and help us take away what’s in the way, so we can bring about opportunities that light us up into the present, effortlessly, naturally. In the Closing Reflections, Elder Iya Tahirah Abubakr echoed the theme of the Roshis: “We’re coming together, learning what it means to live as a conscious conduit, waking up to being human.” That’s what these 4 days felt like–a great and diverse coming together of wisdom, practices and communities to experience and share the “no separation” that fuels deep resilience. The summit was filled with many wisdom-based practice-able exercises that are easy to learn and adapt in our daily lives. There is still a bit of time left to watch the recordings for free (ends May 20 at midnight US Central Time. https://lnkd.in/g4kVm9x9 The full edited video package is available for purchase, if this resonates and you want to watch the summit sessions at your convenience. https://lnkd.in/gHwf8aYt

On 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟯 of the 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩, our 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 was opened by Unangan Elder Ilarion (Larry) Merculieff by centering relationships as core to our collective resilience. Kuuyux spoke of his core cultural teachings on being present in the moment, in the heart, and trusting that all would be taken care of without planning everything through our minds. “We have the answer to all of the things we need to do in our hearts. The Elders say, if you can listen to your heart, you will be able to access your gift that you have for the world today. We were born here for a purpose at this particular time, and we need that gift.” Elder Iya Tahirah Abubakr, Elder and Kumu Sabra Kauka, Yael Zeligman-Merculieff and Zen Roshis Heather Scobie and Ginny Whitelaw contributed teachings from their diverse wisdom traditions to expand the circle, and three kinds of questions emerged: 👉 How can the heart help us to cultivate deep resilience? How can your heart help you in this way? 👉 Why did you choose this time to be here? What are you here to do? 👉 What questions help you feel into your resilience? What questions will help you deepen your resilience? Participants were first invited to feel into their own responses, “feel for where there is the most resonance in how your heart can help you with deep resilience.” Participants then formed smaller circles as zoom breakout rooms facilitated by the Elders and Roshis so all voices could be heard and listened to. Encouragement was given from Kuuyux to practice speaking from the heart. “Say what your heart is telling you. What helps you to get to your heart is not thinking about what you're going to say. You just say it. And that answer is something that is coming directly from your heart.” The Circle reconvened to share the wisdom that arose in the smaller circles through the heart-based connections that had been seeded, followed by wisdom to close the circle offered by Elders Kuuyux and Iya: “The Elders say that the most unselfish thing you can do right now is to heal yourself. When you heal yourself, you go to your heart and the answers are there. And that's what we need to do now. We are being called by Mother Earth to do this now.” - Elder Ilarion Kuuyux Merculieff “Love is the greatest power. … I'm inviting you to find your ways to not forget the love that you are, the love that you can become, and we really need your unique love in the world at this time, which is why Mother Earth brought you, whether you know it or not. So tap into that.” – Yael Zeligman-Merculieff 🌎 Not registered? No problem. You can still 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 and watch any replays before end of day May 20. 🌎 Prefer to watch at you own convenience? Purchase the ended video package here - https://lnkd.in/gHwf8aYt

“Resilience grows through shocks and trauma as we come together, rather than fall apart.”  - Kosha Joubert On 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 of the summit, Kosha Joubert, founder of The Pocket Project, described resilience as a capacity to be able to grow through shocks and challenges, deepening our wisdom as we move through these. In her session 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙, she underscored how each time that we are triggered is a moment for us to practice, and an opportunity to make challenge our friend. Kosha led us through 5 aspects of deepening resilience, starting with (1) an ability to turn toward suffering and difficulty rather than away from it. We can more readily do this as (2) we resource ourselves, grounding in our body and connecting with joy. (3) Deepening our connectedness with self and others further enlarges our collective nervous system for facing suffering. (4) Integrating our shadow side lets us expose and process our triggers, rather than getting tripped up by them. Each challenge becomes a chance to practice. Finally, (5) meaningful engagement in the world outside our skin puts us in service of the purposes that resonate most deeply through us. Imagine feeling wholly connected with nature and people, reciprocally supported by reality, body-mind as one, and able to be a healing force in living joyfully and leading on purpose. Together let us create the conditions to do just that! 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿! 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. If you’re just joining us now - welcome! You’ve missed some of the sessions live, but we’ve got you covered. You’re welcome to view any of the recordings free until May 20. We look forward to seeing you then! Sign up Link - https://lnkd.in/dhwduMPb