Creating Inner Peace
Helping communities understand the role they play in peacebuilding, Dr. Houda Abadi, founder @TransformativePeace, is empowering lasting change.
Dr. Houda Abadi
Houda and I met at Luther College, and two decades later, I am in awe of her accomplishments and unwavering focus on creating meaningful change. In 2018, as part of her role with The Carter Center, she invited me to join her in Tunis, where I had the opportunity of a lifetime to work in collaboration with her. She was leading a series of transformative workshops with a cohort of NGO leaders, journalists, and scholars on preventing violent extremism, and it was there that I was able to watch her in action.
“Take Action; Make Peace.” This is just one statement from her story that I think sums up the work she lives and breathes every day. Her workshops, panel discussions, policy research, and publication contributions create global waves that enact real shifts for communities, policymakers, and executive leaders.
Self-Care Leads to Big Success
Following our conversation in 2020, Houda has continued to raise awareness, introduce new perspectives, and spark critical dialogue in inclusive peacebuilding. From convening conversations on dismantling Islamophobia, increasing women’s meaningful participation, enhancing religious peacebuilding, and preventing violent extremism to delivering guest lectures, chairing roundtable meetings, and facilitating global capacity-building workshops—including a panel discussion hosted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime—she makes every minute count.
In my research to uncover her contributions, I also uncovered her policy paper for UNESCO, fundraising efforts for the Morocco earthquake, and Libya flooding relief, along with her work as a guest lecturer at Emory University, The Carter Center, the University of Edinburgh, and IOM Morocco.
“Peace is not just the absence of war, but the presence of justice, equality, and opportunity.”
Houda’s Top 3 Tips for Creating Inner Peace:
Find work that aligns with your passions (your true calling).
Taking care of your body and soul brings true happiness.
Don't be afraid to say no or not right now.
A few of my favorite insights from Houda
0:00 - Introduction
1:11 - A peace-building practitioner
3:28 - Choosing to start a business
6:50 - Finding the right community
9:00 - Finding the right projects
10:49 - Going back to basics for self-care
15:19 - Finding work/life balance
16:13 - Finding balance in saying no
17:15 - Creating boundaries around media consumption
19:16 - Letting go leads to better outcomes
21:16 - When politics are personal
22:14 - How to create sacred space
24:18 - Living in a time of transition
29:08 - Being conscious of your emotions
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houda-abadi-ph-d-855739b1/
IG: @houdarose22
About Houda
After a 15-year career in nonprofit management, peacebuilding programming, academia, and policy, Dr. Houda Abadi wanted to push the boundaries of her work in new ways. Her commitment to pursuing conflict resolution, preventing violent extremism, and building inclusive peace processes has taken her all over the world. Transformative Peace is a mission-based consultancy that specializes in inclusive peace processes, women, peace and security, and human rights-based approaches to preventing all forms of violence.
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