Exploring the IDGs: Being & Relationship to Self
The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are a non-profit and open-source organization established to bring the power of inner development to global challenges faced by humanity. The IDGs believe, as do I, that personal development is necessary for societal change. The IDGs can help. They are a blueprint of the capabilities, qualities, and skills needed to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. As a personal bonus, these can also create a pathway to your developmental roadmap to discover more meaning, fulfillment, and purpose in your work and life.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll look at each dimension of the Inner Development Goals and share some questions and ideas to help you identify skills that can bring focus to your developmental goals and commitments. And I’d like to start with the category that is the foundation of my coaching practice.
Relationship to Self
Relationship to self involves cultivating our inner lives and developing and deepening our relationship to our thoughts, feelings, and body to help us be present, intentional, and non-reactive when we face the complexity of our relationships and world today.
Relationship to Self pertains to your inner compass.
Your sense of integrity and authenticity.
Your curiosity, your growth, and your learning mindset.
Your self-awareness.
Your ability to remain open and present.
We can start by just asking ourselves a few questions.
How do I experience my inner compass? How does it guide me in my choices?
Can I identify my top values? Do I live my life guided by my values and purpose?
How well can I recognize and name my emotions? Am I aware of them as they arise? Can I manage my emotions as the situation calls for and respond rather than react?
Do I have a willingness to be vulnerable and work on self-development without a driving and unforgiving self-improvement agenda?
Do I make time for reflection and discovery to better know my own thoughts, feelings, and desires?
Do I live in the present, the here and now, without judgment?
Spend some time reflecting on these questions. If you have time, write down your thoughts.
What next? The IDGs offer a free online toolkit. This is an emerging library of tools to explore the IDGs in practice and help people and organizations accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is a beta version and is based on research from the free app 29k. 29k is a non-profit organization and community on a mission to make personal growth available for everyone, for free! Note, the 29k app is moving to the Aware app after May 31st, 2024.
I’d also like to give you a values exercise you can practice on your own.
For more communication resources, including lists of feelings, needs, and values, visit the Center for Non-Violent Communication (NVC). I also recommend the local Portland resource Wise Heart, which combines mindfulness and NVC.
I’d love to hear from you if coaching could help support this developmental discovery for yourself. Unlike some assessment approaches, I don’t take a gap analysis or start from a place of deficiency. We start where you are and explore the threads together. Reach out if you’d like to chat.
Is this coaching for you?
You want to pursue a dream, goal, or vision and want support in the process.
You have a longing to step into the next version of yourself.
You want to advance your career AND find more meaning and purpose.
You are a committed nonprofit, climate, or DEI leader, looking to deepen your resilience, integrate joy, and expand your leadership for effective change.
You want to develop as a leader in your workplace or community and be of service.
You are at a crossroads or feeling stuck.
You have received feedback or are noticing patterns and behaviors that you’d like to change.
Values Exercise
The purpose here is to define your values as a person. What drives your motivation, thinking, and decision-making?
Take a moment to read through the values below.
Choose 10 values that resonate the most with who you are as a person and note why these are important to you.
Narrow the list of 10 values to 5 values.
From your 5 remaining values, choose your top 3 personal values.
Once you have your 3-5 value words, perhaps share them with someone who can discuss how these words reflect their perceptions of your values and how they see you living these values.
Subsistence and Security
Health
Movement / Exercise
Rest/Sleep
Wellbeing
Security
Predictability
Reliability
Order/Structure
Peace
Trust
Freedom
Autonomy
Responsibility
Spontaneity
Relaxation
Fun
Ease
Rejuvenation
Pleasure
Connection
Appreciation
Closeness
Companionship
Harmony
Relationships
Partnerships
Family
Love/intimacy
Nurturing
Support
Tenderness
Warmth
Acceptance
Care
Compassion
Respect / Self Respect
To be seen & heard
Belonging
Communication
Cooperation
Inclusion
Community
Participation
Self-expression
Meaning
Authenticity
Competence
Dignity
Growth
Challenge
Efficiency
Healing
Honesty
Integrity
Self Acceptance & Self Care
Self Connection & Self Knowledge
Understanding
Awareness
Clarity
Focus
Curiosity
Discovery
Efficacy
Learning
Excitement
Aliveness
Wholeness