So many people wanted to be in more than one place at a time during our conference workshops, that we are inviting conference workshop leaders to contribute reflections for our blog. We hope that you will continue to engage with our workshop leaders, partners, and allies.
Climate Action: What if it were easier?
That was the title of a workshop led at the PA Interfaith Power & Light Annual Conference in Pittsburgh by Seth Bush, a coach for social change leaders working to heal the climate crisis.
And think about it for a moment, wouldn’t that be great if our work were even just a tiny bit easier?
Seth’s interactive workshop showed participants simple principles for taking climate action with ease rather than struggle, and they went home with a way to practice what they learned with their congregations.
Here’s what two participants had to say about the workshop:
“Being in Climate Justice work for the long haul can be very exhausting. I have felt the heaviness, which is why I chose to attend Seth Bush’s workshop at our Pittsburgh PA IPL conference a few weeks ago. I believe we need all the resources we can muster into our personal toolkits so we don’t get disheartened.
Seth’s workshop did not disappoint. I was able to come away with some simple, concrete steps that I can take away to keep myself from feeling overwhelmed. One tip that I have already integrated into my daily life, thanks to Seth, is to keep a Gratitude journal. I was not aware that the brain can’t handle anxiety and gratitude at the same time. Spending a few minutes every morning journaling has made an amazing difference in the management of the anxiety I was feeling.
When my actions are frozen from feeling overwhelmed, another take-away from the workshop was to break a task that feels overwhelming into a smaller beginning step that I could easily accomplish so I will be able to see a tangible result that will move me forward to the next step.
Seth’s workshop helped change my mind to see that in Crisis, there is Opportunity. I would highly recommend his workshop.”
George Dempsie
Board member Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light
“PA IPL’s workshop with Seth Bush was a huge blessing in my life. The theme of doing meaningful activism with ease rather than struggle hit a chord with me.
Activists often feel alone in their work, especially those working in faith communities. We have such high hopes and high expectations for our communities, but are often let down as complacency and fear of change are realized. Activist minded leaders see a beautiful future, but often struggle to know the small steps necessary to bring a community of people toward those potentials. Seth helped participants recognize the small steps that can be taken with ease to work toward big goals. I’ve already begun using what I learned and am excited to celebrate the small victories that will come as our church pushes, slow as it may be, toward a much greater goal of social and environmental justice.”
John Creasy
Associate Pastor, Pittsburgh Open Door
If any of this has you thinking, “Ease? I could use some of that!”, you might be interested in joining one of Seth’s Radical Support Circles. These by-donation, “drop in” coaching groups provide a space where you can get coaching to see ways to bring ease to your climate activism (and the rest of your life) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about the Radical Support Circles here.
Or schedule a 30-minute interest chat with Seth to find out more about one-on-one coaching, group programs, and workshops.
You can read more about Seth and his work at www.radicalsupport.org/seth.
