Your Name | Ferdinand Meile |
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Email Address | Email hidden; Javascript is required. |
Cohort Assignment | Europe with In-Person Intensive in Lisbon, Winter-Spring 2024 |
1. What do you see as your primary work at this stage of your life? | I would like to use my diverse professional and life experiences to make a contribution to a greater whole and support individuals, groups and communities in their development. Over the last few years, I have developed a desire to get involved in sustainable and regenerative development in my village and region and thus make a small contribution to transformation. I consider it particularly important to establish a healthy relationship between people and nature and to recognise people as part of nature. This leads to a mindful, accepting and giving approach to the environment in the respective ecosystem. |
2. What role do you see as yours to play? | I see myself primarily in the role of process facilitator. Having spent the last 20 years supporting individuals as a social worker and career counsellor and often being involved in projects and organisational development in social organisations, I now see myself increasingly as a facilitator for the benefit of larger systems around me, such as the community and region in which I live. |
3. What goals or aims do you have in regard to the above? | Last year, I founded the group "Kaufdorf im Wandel - nachhaltige Entwicklung im Dorf" (Kaufdorf in transition - sustainable development in the village), in which I want to live the regenerative approach. The group is just starting out and there are many ideas and visions, such as promoting biodiversity, car sharing, a repair café, a community garden, large solar roofs on farmhouses, a village shop with more local produce, strengthening social networks for a caring community, and organising events for "Education for Sustainable Development", etc. |
4. Where do you feel your next arenas for personal growth are? | I want to continue to learn to recognise and integrate my own constructs, personality traits and inner processes. I strive to judge things less and to judge and partially judge others less. I also want to improve my ability to deal with conflict, especially in close relationships, and address things more constructively. As a committed person both professionally and personally, I could learn to take on less and deal with stress better. In addition, I can further develop my leadership and facilitation skills and become more confident in taking the lead. |
5. And for professional growth? | As a career counsellor, I deal with very different people, whom I support in developing their potential, finding their calling and overcoming career transitions. In addition, I am often involved in the further development of the organisation and its range of services. I am also repeatedly involved in the planning and implementation of internal training programmes for employees. I am currently also involved in the project "Living sustainability at work". I could also imagine changing careers again as a generalist in the field of sustainable development. Unfortunately, I don't have the solution yet. Many specialists with in-depth environmental knowledge in a specific area are being sought in Switzerland - there are fewer generalist positions. |
6. What have you invested in to get you where you are? | It is in my nature to approach tasks intensively and with passion. I am also a seeker, eager to learn and open to new experiences. I have developed a wide range of interests and skills and have completed various practice-orientated training and further education courses. Here is a list of my activities: Apprenticeship as a machine mechanic, technical college studies in mechanical engineering, "fairplay worldwide" course, postgraduate studies in business administration/general management, intensive theatre course, various mediation courses (ZEN, MBSR, etc.), adult education course, social work studies, photography courses, leadership training, training as a professional and career advisor, course in nature/environment/sustainable development as well as various commitments in sports and cultural associations and local politics. |
7. What fields of learning and which thinkers have been important in your life? | I believe that many areas of learning have made me who I am today. I grew up in a rather middle-class, conservative environment in the countryside. My family was characterised by the fact that I have a brother with Asperger's syndrome. I worked in mechanical engineering for 18 years, a male-dominated field where many things are very clear, precise and standardised - a domain that believes it can shape the world rationally and purposefully. I then switched to social work and came into contact with people in challenging life situations and social sciences, a more female-dominated field, as well as left-wing circles, where nothing was clear and many things were questioned and social structures were challenged. I learnt to work with people and psychosocial systems in a process-oriented rather than goal-oriented way. |
8. Can you frame your philosophy or cosmology of life? What role(s) do humans play in it? | I myself regard every living being, including humans, as part of a larger whole. This can perhaps be expressed metaphorically as follows: every living being is one of many leaves in a large tree that grows, withers and is returned to the cycle of life. Spirituality or a connection to transcendence are fundamental feelings and, in addition to relationships with other people and nature, give me a firm foundation in which I am anchored. This foundation gives me strength and support and transcends my limited life. |
Date Created | February 1, 2024 |