Your Spark is needed now more than ever.

Earlier this year we kicked off our Spark Sessions for Changemakers events to explore whether there was an appetite for people to come together around a common goal to change the world in some way.

The idea was simple – how do we create change for the next generation, supporting people to find their Spark and put it into action, while creating a community of likeminded people, as an antidote to the endless misery-and-fear news cycle and general doom-and-gloom?

The mission of the Spark is pretty huge – we want to create the systems, spaces and tools for children to thrive at a soul level, supporting parents, educators and changemakers to ignite the light within every child.

Once I’d launched The Spark I realised just how a big a goal this is. It involves the simple task of recreating a centuries-old education system, reaching millions of parents to help them experience a relationship with their child from a new perspective, and bringing new understanding to children and young people themselves. And to boot, all of this is still pretty new to people. The idea of talking about children’s inner beings or relationships to self, or how egoic our education systems are, or the level of consciousness of our systems…well, it’s pretty out-there for many.

Starting With What Feels Right

So where to start? On a personal level, I’m learning to use my gut and intuition as a guidance system, rather than my mind. And so, while my mind said that it was bonkers to start with changemakers (surely that would come last once we knew exactly what we wanted to change?!) I felt strongly that it was the right thing to do.

This has been a huge lesson in self-trust, because of course, my instinct has been proven right. These events are creating momentum already. But it’s not really about the ‘what’ of the events – the structure, the content, the speakers (although all of those elements help) – it’s about the people. These events are about as far away from the usual networking, schmoozing and business-card-exchanging (do people still use business cards?) that you could get.

When people connect with their Spark – that energy within, the essence of who they really are – they create a space for others to do the same. People talk with honesty and authenticity and that creates vulnerability. In that vulnerability is huge power. It’s transformative – it allows people to feel safe. It makes people feel seen and heard. It opens something up inside of us – a sort of channel of possibility.

Don’t get me wrong – some people come to these events for a glass of wine and a chat with friendly faces and that’s enough. For others, it’s an invitation to believe in that part of themselves that wants to be unleashed into the world.

Changing Ourselves to Change the World

While it sometimes feels as though the world has gone to hell and society is a crumbling mess of angry, judgmental people waiting to tear each other down, the truth is the absolute opposite. People are kind, friendly, warm-hearted and generous and they want to help others and the planet in some way. But here’s the catch: we can’t change the world until we change ourselves.

When we try and change the external without any shift internally, we don’t get very far. We bring all of our old beliefs and values and past experiences, which often means we end up recreating the past. We try and ‘make things happen’ through forcing, pushing, willing and using our external energy, and we often end up depleted and frustrated. Why? Because all change externally happens internally first. When we shift our energy, we start to see new possibilities. We acknowledge the blocks within us that are holding us back. We feel a sense of passion which allows us to rise above our own fear of doing that thing we want to do most in the world. Then we act, from a new position of energy and intention.

So if you want to change the world in some way, here are my main learnings and take-aways from the Spark Sessions:

• Everyone has something burning within them that wants to be unleashed. EVERYONE. Yes, including you.
• Most people tend to get in their own way, until they find that lever which calls them to be bigger than their fear. It can be hearing one simple sentence, but it creates a window of opportunity that catapults us further.
• People are good. They are kind, caring, generous and creative. Don’t believe what you hear on the media and social media about a very small minority. The more you orientate yourself towards the good, the more of it you will experience.
• When we come together with like-minds the potential to create something new is exponentially more powerful than when we try and do it alone.
• Changing the world is really just about changing ourselves. Healing that thing from our past or overcoming that limitation we feel we have, and when we do it for ourselves, we do it for others, too.
• It’s supposed to be fun. What if this were all a game? Wouldn’t you want to play it with enthusiasm and joy?

So are you in? Are you willing to let go of some of those mind-made limitations that are stopping you from doing that thing you feel passionate about? Are you ready to be inspired into positive, Spark-fuelled action?

Join us at the next Spark Sessions for Changemakers event on Thursday November 23^rd at Tramshed Tech in Cardiff. Book your free ticket here!