My Last Big Leadership Winter

Dear ,

My name is Fhatima and I’ve been a part of Ayni since 2017. I have been leading trainings and programs related to personal transformation, leadership development and support for ancestral wisdom over the years (think Mending the Heart, Community Counseling, Seeds Program, etc)

I came into Ayni during what we call a Winter in my leadership. My energy was low for anything related to others (facilitating conversations, conducting meetings, running campaigns, etc.), and I found it difficult to deal with my emotions - everything felt so raw and the rollercoaster felt exhausting. I was taking a break from being a leader.

I knew I did not want to leave the world of social change, but I also knew I could not stay in the same role. My body was physically reacting to me taking on anything more complex than simple logistical tasks. When I left my last organizing role in Movimiento Cosecha, I made the right choice, but I still felt lost when I could not do the work anymore. I did not know what to do or where to go to process everything and get better.

It took some time for me to become aware that what I was feeling was a natural part of the cycles in my leadership. Our energy wanes, but we push ourselves over and over again, “Just this one campaign, event, work deadline, or emergency, and then I can rest a bit.” When we cannot push ourselves anymore, many of us feel a sense of guilt because we cannot contribute when the world, from the perspective of social change, is always on fire. Since my last big Winter, I have connected with many who have also felt this sense of guilt.

Through trainings, reflections, and sharing space with others I have learned a lot about the seasons I have been in. If, like me, you have had your ebbs and flows in your leadership, but need the time to reflect on what you’ve been through, to honestly face and process where you’re currently at, and to prepare for your journey ahead, our Seasons of Leadership framework will be key for you. It will support you in taking a step back, to look at your leadership journey through new eyes (without so much shame, guilt, and judgement), to ground yourself, and to prepare for what’s to come. This journey of social change is full of challenges and tensions, don’t you want to connect with others to ease some of those tensions and be better prepared for the future?

Below are our offerings (workshops, resources, etc), with a particular focus on our in-person Seasons of Leadership Retreat in April because we don’t want you to miss out on this special gathering, whether you’re familiar with leadership seasons and cycles or not. We’ll be at The Watershed Center in upstate NY, where we’ll eat delicious food, be closer to nature, and have room to slow down together. Space is limited, so apply as soon as you can!

In Reciprocity,

Fhatima & The Ayni Team

APPLY TO THE RETREAT

Seasons of Leadership Retreat April 10-12th in upstate NY

We will be diving deeper into the frameworks by mapping the seasons within our leadership journeys, and dealing with what it means when your organization is in a season that feels difficult to sustain. We will take time to emotionally process the season we are in, and learn strategies and techniques to deal with the anxiety, stress, frustration, and rollercoaster of emotions that we face while doing social change work. In particular, we will gain a new perspective on leadership Winters and learn techniques for how to go through them. We will take the time to slow down and reflect, to commune with each other and nature, and to be better prepared for the season we are in and our future leadership cycles.

Key Takeaways

The Location

The retreat will be located at The Watershed Center. We have hosted various iconic trainings there (the Long View, our Seeds Program, the 1st Movement Ecology, etc.) and encourage you to take advantage of the beauty, peace, delicious meals, and time away from the bustle of the cities many of us live in.

APPLY HERE

Seasons of Leadership Additional Resources