Start with yourself

Our mission is to inspire, equip and connect people to address world needs, starting with themselves

START WITH YOURSELF

Recognising that it will take more than human reason and ability to solve the problems of the world, IofC places the search for inner wisdom at the heart of its approach. When people listen to what is deepest in their hearts, insights often come which lead in unexpected directions. Many understand this experience as guidance from God, others as the leading of conscience or the inner voice. The regular practice of silence can give access to a source of truth, renewal, inspiration and empowerment.

Also integral to IofC is a commitment to:

Start with oneself: An honest look at one’s own motives and behaviour is often the start of personal transformation. Cultural and religious traditions across the world offer moral standards as guides for individual and community living. Of these, IofC singles out absolute honesty, unselfishness, love and purity of heart and action as practical tests for motives and daily actions. 

Listen to others: Honest conversation, undertaken in an open spirit, builds bridges of trust and community between people of similar, different, and even antagonistic, backgrounds. These enable healing, partnership and common action.

Take focused action: IofC’s people and programmes seek to strengthen the moral and spiritual foundations of society and to:

  •  bring healing and reconciliation where there is conflict;

  •  build bridges of trust between different communities and countries

  •  embed ethics, justice and transparency in the global economy;

  • empower leadership to act with integrity, serve unselfishly and be effective agents of   change.

 Quiet time: Silence has long been recognized as a powerful tool for change. In a world of chaos, filled with noises from our phones, work, and other daily activities and commitments, a moment of silence has become sacred. Quiet time has become a practice where one can connect with oneself, think clearly and get in touch with his/her inner voice. In IofC, the practice of silence, as taught by Frank Buchman, is a practice of quiet inner searching, writing down each thought that comes in order to free one’s attention for the next thought.  Many people familiar with IofC practice morning quiet time to get organized, be tuned for the day and pay their attention to their inner thoughts and reflections. 

Quiet time is also practiced in IofC’s activities where the silence is conducted in a group after or before the start of an activity. Thoughts are then shared with people in a safe environment.