The Wellbeing Project is an initiative that reflects and connects what wellbeing means to us as individuals, organizations, and as a society.
We had the pleasure of participating in the first edition of The Regional Wellbeing Summit Brussels, which took place at The Merode.
As the day approached, some of the attendees were preparing to participate in the last day of the summit. Each of us selected a series of sessions and workshops that we wanted to attend, without knowing which one’s others had picked. A surprise was about to be unveiled. We started the morning by taking the train from Liege to Brussels together, and the conversations began. After a few minutes, silence overtook our seats, signaling a moment of rest while we awaited our destination.
Upon arrival, we grabbed a coffee and headed to The Merode. The façade was stunning, and we received a warm welcome from their staff. That’s how it all began—a series of sessions and workshops that provided us with valuable lessons and prompted us to reconsider aspects of our lives.
Some knowledge and lessons from this experience:
The way individuals currently choose to show and give love is not equal; we tend to give it based on our own judgment and treat certain people because they fulfill specific characteristics we desire. However, we need to be people of love and treat everyone equally, regardless of their background, sex, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion. Perhaps, this will be the most challenging action we can take as individuals— to move on, heal ourselves from past actions, and not carry the weight of the consequences of trauma or adversity. At the panel where Prof. Kinzang Lhendup participated, he highlighted the vital role professors play in shaping future generations. He emphasized that it’s not just about imparting knowledge, but also about educating with love, encouraging the consideration of the broader impacts of our actions.
“Professors play a vital role in shaping future generations. It’s not just about imparting knowledge, but also about educating with love, encouraging the consideration of the broader impacts of our actions.”
Among the key takeaways from the session “Thriving as a Leader: The Holistic Approach to Workplace Well-being” is to take the time to evaluate where you are allocating your time, as this is where your priorities are.
It was also discussed the concept of “experience job”, where the value is focused on the tasks that matter, rather than on the number of things that the team member is doing, and the relevance of conscious leadership and psychological safety in workspaces.
Another important discussion was around the decision-making process, and the importance of being at peace, when you already made a decision, trusting your process, and letting go of the pressure.
“When the decision is taken, it is taken”
Also, the message from Shadille Estepan, the Creative Manager from Lady Gaga’s foundation, deeply resonated with the proactive social responsibility. Her call to action emphasized the urgency of not waiting for others to initiate a change but to become changemakers ourselves. Moreover, Shadille emphasized on being healers for our society as there’s much work ahead for our planet even if the impact of our actions might not be seen by our generation, is crucial for the well- being of future generations.
We express our appreciation to The Merode for extending the invitation to the EMMIE program.
Article by Joshua Armando Nieto Pineda, Irma Hilary Arizmendi Sánchez,
Maria Josee Reyes Briones and Constanza Manosalva.
