Welcome to Unit 4: Sources of self-care
As introduced in the video, in this Unit we will give our minds a pause – after all the concepts, frameworks and practices explored in the previous ones – and try to get in touch with our bodies, our emotions and our values.
The purpose is to look inward and reconnect with our inner sources of purpose, wisdom - to nurture self-care and self-appreciation. It is important to remember ‘what gives life’ (using Appreciative Inquiry jargon), or in simpler words, what is most important to us, gives us energy, and makes us feel that what we do is worthy.
Following the framework of Theory U, we are now in the stage of ‘Presencing’, so at the deepest bottom of the U (should you wish to remind yourself on how this MOOC uses Theory U, you are welcome to revisit Unit 1). By now, we have ideally gone through a series of learning experiences that have opened our eyes, hearts, and minds. Now we should prepare to open our will, and acquire the confidence to step into the future.
The exercises proposed in this Unit may open up the floor to questions of belonging, vulnerability, and self-care. They might require a leap of faith from you to step into the unknown and follow the process proposed in the exercises. Not everyone feels comfortable with engaging with the emotional and value-laden part of ourselves, and that is normal (!) as most of us are not trained to do so in our professional lives, or even trained not to do it. Therefore, before getting into the core of the Unit, we would like to ask that you first revisit here on some of the invitations we proposed in Unit 1. Namely:
PUT ON YOUR CURIOSITY GLASSES and try to approach the exercises with an open mind, being open to what comes, without putting too much expectations on the outcomes;
ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE SURPRISED, by what you might discover in yourself and in others. Take off your judgmental hat, and try to see what you can learn from what you are experiencing, whether you like it or not;
GO AS DEEP AS IT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU, and decide for yourself how far you want to engage with your emotions and values.
Please find blank Unit 4 worksheets below should you like to use them for this Unit.
