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Roots of Resilience: A One Day, Online, Active Hope Workshop - 14 November 2025

Roots of Resilience

Roots of Resilience explores resilience not as a personal trait, but as a living web of connections that sustains us.

Drawing on Active Hope and The Work That Reconnects, the workshop invites participants to move beyond the idea of resilience as “bouncing back” and instead cultivate practices of collective courage, mutual support, and shared meaning.

By grounding ourselves in community and the wider living world, we nurture the deeper roots that allow us to face challenge, complexity, change, and uncertainty together, by opening our eyes, minds, and hearts.

Together we are stronger.

What is Active Hope?

Active Hope is based on the teachings of eco-philosopher, teacher and activist, the late Joanna Macy, and the work of Chris Johnstone, activist and resilience specialist.

“Active Hope” is a process we can apply to any situation – there are 3 key steps:

  1. We take in a clear view of reality

  2. We identify what we hope for (desired direction or values)

  3. We take steps to move ourselves or our situation in that direction.

The guiding impetus is intention – and we let intention – not the perceived likelihood of the desired outcome - be our guide.

Underpinned by the Work that Reconnects, it helps us to revive our strength, discover new perspectives, gain clarity and find our purpose. And it helps us to appreciate that we can each play a meaningful play in the transformation of our world.

“Active Hope is a practice.. it is about becoming active participants in bringing about what we hope for. ” Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone

How can it help?

These are complex times in our lives and they are stirring up a lot of powerful feelings in people - anger, anxiety, confusion, guilt, overwhelm, powerlessness, isolation, indifference, ambivalence, hopelessness or more.

For many it’s a crisis of meaning, of purpose, of everything - and without attention, these feelings can leave people unable to make sense, feeling stuck, and sometimes burned out.

Or sometimes it’s quite the opposite - keeping busy, spinning lots of plates, yet feeling we’re not getting anywhere.

And it can feel lonely too, particularly when friends and family don’t want to talk about what’s happening in our world.

All these feelings are understandable, and quite normal.

So by acknowledging them, and working through them with others, we can rebuild our motivation, creativity, courage and resolve, and move from a sense of isolation and confusion towards a greater sense of participation and purpose.

Summary

  • We will explore the “Spiral” – four stages of a transformational journey that support us to move gently from grief, despair, avoidance, or any other painful state, to a deeper, calmer, sense of purpose and agency - to a place of “Active Hope”, which is underpinned by intention and agency, not by naive optimism.

  • We’ll consider the “Three Stories of our Time” - Business as Usual, the Great Unravelling, and the Great Turning - that help us to make sense of what is happening in our world so we can become clearer about our intentions.

  • We’ll look at Deep Time and the Three Dimensions of the Great Turning, which offer us a way to appreciate that there are many ways to be a part of the Great Turning, individually and collectively.

  • We’ll learn of 5 key factors that help teams to thrive, and how you can apply these in your own team or group setting to make a positive impact as you navigate change and complexity together.

  • And we’ll draw on evidence-based individual and collective resilience practices including compassion, mindfulness, effective communication, nourishment and rest, and more.

  • You will leave with new insights, frameworks and tools you can use, every day, and in many ways, bringing you greater clarity, purpose, and a deeper realisation that in this, we all matter. We may not know the outcome of our efforts, but we can build stronger bridges as we walk on them.


Who is this Workshop for?

  • People feeling alone, seeking a shift towards a sense of purpose and agency when “making a difference” feels impossible or futile when we are so small and what we face is so big

  • Changemakers wanting to find ways to stay resilient AND to support and inspire others to come on board for the change we can be in the world

  • Coaches, therapists, supervisors, consultants, facilitators and trainers supporting others on their journey, to explore new ways to bring connection and agency into individual and group sessions, with ease.

What’s the Format?

The day will blend a balance of input about the key ideas, practices and philosophies that underpin the Work that Reconnects, with many opportunities for connection and discussions in pairs, small group and the whole group.

Exercises that facilitate exploring your thoughts and feelings will include drawing, journalling, short meditations, prose readings and guided exercises that invite deeper experiences.

Being online (on Zoom), we will have plenty of short breaks.

All activities are optional and there is no pressure to share anything you do not wish to.

Reading suggestions will be sent before and afterwards, along with a selection of exercises for you to use for yourself and with others.

It will be confidential and will NOT be recorded.

Cameras

I ask that have your video camera on during this workshop if you are able and willing, as for many people it aids in creating safety. However if it doesn’t for you, please send me a message and we can explore ways of making it work for everyone.

NB: This will be a profound and valuable experience but is not intended as a substitute for personal therapy. If you’re experiencing extreme anxiety please contact me via here for a confidential discussion about how you can get the support you need.


Fee per person:

£175 (corporate ie paid by your employer)

£135 (standard, self funded rate for the self employed)

£65 (subsidised rate, for those on a very low income, not through choice)

There is no VAT.

There are just 12 places available.

(If you are not able to pay anything you will be very welcome to attend any of my free, frequent, Active Hope, Thinking Environment or other offerings - sign up for my newsletter below or check this website).

Optional - 1:1 Follow Up Coaching / Mentoring session:

After the full day in person workshop if you wish you can book a 1:1 online session to have some personal time and space for reflection and deeper pathway building with me. The standard fee is £150 for 1.5 hours.

Comments from previous Active Hope workshop participants:

"If you are looking for a way to develop or find some new meaning in your world I can recommend this as an antidote to despair and cynicism. It is a lovely, meaningful way to reflect with a few like minded people and take stock. Linda is an experienced facilitator and coach with the knack of leading you to discover new ideas and insights for a changing world."

"It really helped me to find some resilience and a sense of personal agency around the climate crisis. It was a wonderful day, with wonderful people, skilfully and sensitively facilitated by Linda in a Thinking Environment of course. I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you’re feeling overwhelmed in the face of the climate crisis and world events, perhaps a bit lonely in your feeling of “why is no one doing anything?” and want to take some positive action, I doubt there are many better places to start."

“This offered a beautifully held and welcoming space to connect with each other and reconnect with ourselves. I loved the journey through the spiral, coming away with a greater sense of possibility for our lives with this earth.”

“Good coaching has to be ethical in a sensitive, connected way that enables insightful communication and clarity of curiosity that has a truth and braveness to it. This too is the approach that will bring a truly determined energy to change our business as usual world of human pretence at life into being real life. This workshop has that energy.”

“This was a brilliant introduction to the Work That Reconnects. The mix of theory and practical exercises allowed us to fully experience the work for ourselves, whilst also understanding some of the underpinning theoretical framework. At the end of the day, I felt reconnected with my interest in environmentalism, in a way that was both gentle and powerful.”

“.. a fantastic opportunity and experience, to connect with others, reflect deeply and make sense of my own personal experience in the world today. It was challenging but equally beautiful in the sharing of wonderful conversations with great people. I really appreciated my own learning about gratitude and considering the contribution I can make to a life sustaining society. Super facilitators. Thank you!”

“Linda is a wonderful guides to this empowering and profound work. If anyone is thinking about giving this a try, I would encourage you to just do it - you won't be judged and you will definitely connect with others and be both reassured and inspired.”


NB: This will be a profound and valuable experience but is not intended as a substitute for personal therapy. If you’re experiencing extreme anxiety please contact me via here for a confidential discussion about how you can get the support you need.


To Book a Place:

Please read our Terms and Conditions including our cancellation policy before you book, then complete the form below and we will be in touch.