The Circle of Trust
The Circle of Trust® approach is distinguished by principles and practices intended to create a process of shared exploration—in retreats, programs and other settings—where people can find safe space to nurture personal and professional integrity and the courage to act on it. The Circle of Trust approach provides individuals a powerful opportunity to create community with others and support each other on their personal and professional journey. Parker J. Palmer has written extensively about the power of such communities in his many books, including The Courage to Teach.
In the hands of a knowledgeable and skilled facilitator, this approach has the power to transform individuals, families, workplaces and communities. Participants return to their personal and professional lives renewed, revitalized and re-energized for the work they do in the world.
As a trained facilitator with the Center for Courage & Renewal, these principles and practices of a Circle of Trust inform how I approach my work in the programs, workshops and retreats that I facilitate.
"If we are willing to embrace the challenge of becoming whole, we cannot embrace it alone—at least, not for long: we need trustworthy relationships to sustain us, tenacious communities of support, to sustain the journey toward an undivided life. Taking an inner journey toward rejoining soul and role requires a rare but real form of community that I call a “circle of trust.”
—Parker J. Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness (adapted)
Results of Circles of Trust
Principles and practices from the Circle of Trust approach can be applied to your daily life and work. Participants in a Circle of Trust return to their homes, workplaces and communities, taking important resources with them. People gain greater access to the inner teacher and a new depth of self-knowledge, often resulting in a clearer sense of guidance for their personal and professional lives and a resolve to live closer to their core commitments.
As a result of participating in circles of trust people report:
- a stronger sense of purpose and integrity
- expanded capacity to be fully present to others in ways that affirm and heal
- increased skill in asking the honest, open questions that help others uncover their own inner wisdom
- greater confidence to seek or create communities of support
- increased understanding, appreciation and respect for human differences, based in deeper awareness of the identity and integrity of ourselves and others
- greater capacity to build the relational trust that helps institutions pursue their missions
- more courage to live and lead authentically
- renewed passion for their work or vocation
- a deeper commitment to leadership and service to others