The earth’s boundaries have become tangible and the journey to a natural world is in fact a transformation which affects everyone and everything. Continuing as we are is not an option. The ball is in our court, in my court. Change starts with self-reflection. Who am I and how do I live as a person, a consumer, a worker, a citizen, a nature-lover? What could I change in my choices and behaviour to live a more environment-friendly life? Which changes would suit me well? It is a process, not a one-time thing. Asking ourselves those questions provides insight to find the context and the roles which come naturally to us and let us keep our energy high. Lifemaps help to visualise what’s going on, make connections and find new perspective. To choose direction for collaboration, to create a personal compass based on overview and insight, and gather realistic ideas for action.
Lifemaps are an instrument for intuitive self-discovery. At the basis of a lifemap is a scenario, a story about a personal or societal theme or a global issue. Each of the available lifemap scenarios tells its own story and illuminates a different perspective. Following the chosen scenario people each fill in their own map on a table poster to create an overview of the current reality and the envisioned future. The text and symbol stickers for this contain knowledge on the topic and the poster facilitates the self-discovery process. In a lifemap workshop participants, in groups of four, tell each other their own story, using their maps. Together they elaborate on it in a group dialogue about the here and now and a brainstorm about the future. A lifemap experience is a learning journey, individually and collectively.
The lifemap scenario: Developing peace as a person, a citizen is meant for a broad audience. The lifemapping process using the landscape poster is intuitive, intimate. Choosing stickers is easy, since everyone can find their key themes when asked the question: What is most important to you? The beauty of the landscapes inspires you to express what is in you. Making a map of your life, that reflects everything which is important to you, lets you feel good. In a state of peace and quiet you will find areas where you can develop peace, with and for others. Sharing stories in the group will create a feeling of mutual support and trust.
The lifemap scenario: 4 Voices in the city working together as bees in a hive is for people who are interested in exploring the concept of the human hive and who are willing to invest some time in collecting information. How would a profile of the city look like? Which characteristics are unique and which are strengths? What are the key themes for the different voices in the city? Each person in the group creates a map on the poster, representing one of the voices. They listen to each other, without discussion. In a brainstorm they elaborate on how and where they could follow the example of the bees to create honey for the collective and take care of the environment. The whole workshop is a realistic learning experience in practicing with multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The lifemap scenario Recognising the soul in your life is meant for people who would like to know more about the soul in their own life. From a longing for fullfilment or a wish to deepen relationships. Or from a need to discover more about the question: Why? Using different kinds of stickers a multilayered map is created which holds a wealth of information. The map shows what it means to be yourself and how you see your life developing in the future. Symbols tell you about areas where your soul shines through. The group exchange is about exploring how the findings would have positive impact on relationships and collaboration. The whole process gives a feeling experience of what reaching for the source and opening up inside would bring.
The lifemap scenario: Becoming a global citizen in a doughnut economy is for people who are interested to learn about the Doughnut Economics model and the reality of planetary boundaries. For people who would like to discover how relating to these models helps to include the planetary level in their worldview and to find direction for change. First you will visualise your current worldview on the Blue Planet poster. A step-by-step approach lets you include and align with the two models. You will gain insight into where you stand. You will find areas in your life you want to focus on more to discover your own way to adapt to global change. The nature of the lifemap workshop is one of exploration. The group exchanges have an open agenda, depending on what emerges.
Individualism has been a determining factor in the societal model of many wealthy countries. The lifemap scenario: Exploring your life’s work from a collective perspective is meant for people who would like to explore characteristics of that which is of collective interest. Consider your life’s work as a collection of all the moments of your life, valuing everything. Your life course is depicted on the poster. From where you are now, you imagine how you envision your future. We will share which social behaviour patterns we have experienced ourselves and talk about how to cope with those in our own environment. Following that we will let ourselves be informed and inspired by the many possible routes that exist already to find our own answers for the future. Each of the group adds their findings to their own poster.
Youth is a phase in which people are receptive and vulnerable. So much growth and development is going on. The lifemap scenario Sharing what it’s like to be young is meant for generational groups, to reflect and share how life is/was for them, in their youth. Group members go on an intuitive journey through their own youth. In the process they will ponder about the influence of people and events on them. After completion of the individual maps they are invited to share their experiences in the group, with a focus on how they have developed themselves, notwithstanding outside influences. When there are societal and cultural differences, or when it is about the question: how can we support each other and embrace inclusiveness, being in a generational group makes it easier to share with each other.