In a recent article for the Harvard Business Review, Jamil Zaki wrote that traumatic events like the global pandemic “shatter our assumptions that the world is safe and just … and lay bare how vulnerable we are – how little we control”. The striking awareness that we are not in control of everything in our lives – that the future is not ours to write – is no doubt unsettling, but can also be transformative.  A crisis can call out a greater sense of purpose, and sometimes lead us to renew social connections we have neglected in the hurly burly of our daily lives. Zaki suggests that instead of asking how we will recover from these painful times we should ask how we will be changed by them.

Studies show that people who have faced trauma are more likely to experience positive effects when they have a supportive community with which they can openly share experiences. Organizations can foster that sense of community by giving employees a safe space to talk about their struggles and what matters most to them. In our experience with the Legacy Workshop, convening conversations in the workplace around life’s difficult passages and what gives meaning to our lives is a powerful way to promote growth and resilience. We are seeing people face challenges with greater strength and resolve when they talk about what’s important to them and feel supported in the decisions they make. The Legacy Workshop gives people that safe and trusting space to reflect and write about the values and experiences that have defined their lives, how the pandemic is influencing their sense of purpose, and what they want to leave behind as their legacy to others.

In the Legacy Workshop, people are sharing their stories and connecting with others in a way that is affirming, encouraging and healing. The experience is not about changing the things that have been painful in our lives, but discovering how we can heal and be transformed by them. It is a wonderful remedy for the chaos and distress that circles our lives these days. If you’d like to learn more about hosting or attending a Legacy Workshop, contact us.