Navigating Invisible Currents with Dr. Stephen Schuitevoerder

Nov 28

Have you ever wondered how invisible patterns and rhythms within our interactions shape our understanding of the world? In this episode, I explore this question with Dr. Stephen Schuitevoerder, a distinguished international consultant and facilitator. With expertise in individual, interpersonal, and system development and change, Stephen has made a significant impact in over 20 countries across various sectors, including healthcare, academia, banking, and notable organizations like the United Nations and the Esalen Institute.

Listen in as we dive into race relations, political transitions, and crisis management, from Eastern Europe’s shift to democracy to racial tensions in South Africa and Australia. We also discuss the perils of self-righteousness in social justice, the nuances of transformative leadership, and the importance of self-awareness and constructive dialogue in addressing today’s political polarity and social challenges.

And as with everything I share on the podcast, this is what I believe based on what I’ve read and researched. But please don’t take my word for it. Keep what sticks, discard the rest and for goodness sakes, go out and test drive it!

What You’ll Learn In Today’s Episode:

The dangers of self-righteousness in social justice movements.
Transformative leadership and reconciliation.
Why we are so often resistant to change.
How to recognize and overcome internalized oppression.
The importance of self-awareness in social movements.
Political polarity and the need for constructive dialogue.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

“Our attitude towards it has a moral superiority that wants to decimate the other, and unconsciously we become them.” – Stephen Schuitevoerder

“How do we create eldership and wisdom in a place which so often lacks it?” – Stephen Schuitevoerder

“The reflection for each of us, is to what degree do we get caught in the reactivity as opposed to a depth of vision of what we would like to create in the world around us?” – Stephen Schuitevoerder

“No one wants to see that part of ourselves, that is our shadow. It’s much easier to see that in other people.” – Stephen Schuitevoerder

“I choose not to act on it – that’s the idea of awareness.” – Stephen Schuitevoerder