The 12 steps at the Kindness Economy and Kind-Eco meetings

1. Admit the Need for Change: Recognise that the current economic system has limitations and that our communities could benefit from integrating kindness into our economy.

2. Believe in Collective Effort: Come to believe that a collective effort, guided by ethical principles and respect for the planet and its people, can create a sustainable and equitable economy.

3. Commit to Community Betterment: Make a decision to turn our efforts and resources toward the care and betterment of our communities and environment, as we collectively envision it.

4. Assess Community Needs: Make a comprehensive and honest assessment of our community's needs and our available resources.

5. Share Findings Openly: Share our findings and needs with our community members, and openly discuss how we can contribute to addressing these issues together.

6. Embrace Ethical Practices: Become fully ready to embrace ethical practices, sustainability, and kindness in all our economic activities.

7. Commit to Improvement: Humbly commit to removing practices and behaviours that do not align with our principles of kindness, sustainability, and respect.

8. Identify Areas of Support: Make a list of areas and individuals in our community that might need support, and become willing to offer help and resources to them.

9. Provide Direct Support: Provide direct support to those in need wherever possible, without expecting anything in return, except where such actions might cause harm.

10. Evaluate and Correct: Continue to evaluate our actions and their impact on the community and the environment, and promptly correct any missteps.

11. Seek Continuous Improvement: Seek to continuously improve our understanding and implementation of sustainable and ethical practices through education, reflection, and community engagement.

12. Spread the Message: Having experienced the positive impact of a kind economy, commit to spreading this message, supporting new entrants, and practising these principles in all our economic endeavours.

At the Kind-Eco community meetings:

Here’s a suggested structure for running Kind-Eco community meetings:

1. Opening Reflection:

   • Start with a reflection to set a tone of mindfulness and inclusivity.
   • Use the universal reflection: "May we find peace in accepting what we cannot change, strength to foster positive growth in ourselves and the world, and insight to harmonise our actions with the well-being of all beings and the Earth. May our intentions be rooted in compassion, mindfulness, and respect for all life."

2. Review the 12 Steps:

   • Go through the 12 Steps of Kind-Eco.
   • Discuss one or more steps in detail, exploring how they apply to your community’s current situation.
   • Study related documentation or materials linked to these steps for a deeper understanding.

3. Project Updates:

   • Review ongoing community projects.
   • Share progress, challenges, and successes.
   • Encourage feedback and collaborative problem-solving.

4. New Proposals:

   • Introduce and discuss new project ideas or community initiatives.
   • Evaluate them against the Kind-Eco principles.

5. Collaborative Decision-Making:

   • Make decisions on proposed actions, ensuring all members have a voice.

6. Closing Reflection:

   • End the meeting with a reflection on the shared goals and the progress made.

7. Documentation:

   • Record key decisions, action items, and reflections.
   • Update the Kind-Eco blog or community page with the outcomes and thoughts from the meeting.

This structure fosters a thoughtful, inclusive, and action-oriented environment, aligning with the principles of the Kind-Eco model.