Around the World

Workshops for Women

A workshop in action in Malaysia

From April through October, the women of Soka Gakkai of Malaysia (SGM) initiated a series of workshops on coping with change through self-reflection and self-reformation.

The workshops aim to help women realize the extent to which their vision is bound by their concepts, beliefs and ideas of how things have to be. Entitled "Self-reflection and Self-reformation Lead to Spiritual Discovery," they aim to help women realize the tremendous potential they possess as agents of change. These workshops are part of a greater endeavor to establish a new age of spiritual discovery, a long-term objective of SGM in the new century.

A total of 21 workshops has been organized throughout Malaysia with the attendance of 2,500 SGM women. The workshops were designed to challenge participants' mindsets and encourage them to break away from self-imposed mental limitations. In addition, the workshops also stimulated participants to reflect on their inhibitions and motivated them to overcome their fears.

A highlight was the small group discussions where each participant discussed change and techniques of coping with change in the workplace, family and in their personal lives. Team members exchanged ideas on how to recognize and accept change, and how to understand each other better. They learned to listen with empathy and communicate effectively. Many were surprised at their own resourcefulness and creativity, and the innovative ideas they could apply usefully in their daily life.

The participants not only developed friendships but also realized the significance of unity and teamwork which are important in creating social harmony and advancing the larger cause of global peace. Participants left the workshops determined to expand the momentum of change at grassroots levels to create a community, a society and a world that are caring, sharing and daring enough to take on the challenging needs of the new century.

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