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. 

  1. How do I experience my inner compass? How does it guide me in my choices? 

  2. Can I identify my top values? Do I live my life guided by my values and purpose?

  3. 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? 

  4. Do I have a willingness to be vulnerable and work on self-development without a driving and unforgiving self-improvement agenda?

  5. Do I make time for reflection and discovery to better know my own thoughts, feelings, and desires?

  6. 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?

  1. Take a moment to read through the values below.

  2. Choose 10 values that resonate the most with who you are as a person and note why these are important to you.

  3. Narrow the list of 10 values to 5 values.

  4. From your 5 remaining values, choose your top 3 personal values.

  5. 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

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Meet the Inner Development Goals

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Exploring the IDGs: Thinking & Cognitive Skills