Empowering Voices: Action for a better world

Last night Lara Sheldrake and I held a discussion which challenged the role of wellness in social change and activism, and explored how we can use our voices, platforms and privilege in a way that provides true solidarity.

OUF - yes. Big topics! Challenging topics. Uncomfortable at times. We heard from speakers about their lived experience of war, generational trauma, suicide and racism. We also heard from allies who set the bar for what it means to show solidarity.

So what did we learn?

👉 The wellness industry has immense potential - and responsibility - to speak up for marginalised voices. To move away from solely 'love and light' and ask ourselves; what role do I play in collective wellness, as well as my own?

👉 Speaking up for social injustice and 'getting it wrong' is likely to happen. However, the reframe is that every mistake you make leads to a learning (or an unlearning!) which allows you to be more inclusive moving forward.

👉 "Something magic happens when you have no choice but to act", a quote from Yasmeen Jabri on her lived experience of the revolution in Lebanon. Despite the horrors everywhere, there are always people showing incredible kindness in community.

👉 Feeling powerless about world events is natural, but deceiving. We have so much more power than we think, through what we read, buy, share and consume. We need to use it!

👉 Activism can happen in whatever way feels good to YOU. We do what we can with the resources, time and energy we have spare. This could look like going on marches. It could look like boycotting products. It could look like regular donations to a charity that speaks to your heart. Those with privilege must support those without it.

👉 When it comes to inclusion, there's a difference between being welcoming, and belonging. To truly be inclusive we need to ensure people feel safe in our spaces through representation and self-education.

👉 True wellness isn't about being happy all the time and blocking out things that upset you. It's about feeling an appropriate response what's happening in the world and not becoming desensitised.

I could go on! And I will share more as I digest over the next few days...

A huge thank you to our speakers; Kevan Smith, Hema Patel, Yasmeen Jabri, Calli Popham and Megan Cooper for you time, energy and perspectives. Thank you to our amazing host Roisin Skinner too.

Thank you also to PLATF9RM and Silicon Brighton for your ongoing support of Brighton Wellness Festival and our mission.

Finally thank you to Found & Flourish / Lara Sheldrake for being the very best collaborator on this project.

🙌 We're delighted to have raised £500 for War Child... more to come! 🙌