Study Circles
A study circle is a small group of people (approximately 8-10) who meet to discuss topics of interest. It is similar to a book group where people meet in each other's homes or at a cafe. The study circle is a free community based initiative which runs itself once the group is formed. A typical study circle might meet once per month.
Study circles can:
- promote dialogue, share ideas and knowledge
- embrace diversity
- examine issues from a variety of viewpoints
- create community
- assist in generating solutions
Study circles are popular in Denmark where there is a culture of life-long adult education. Denmark often shows up in happiness research surveys as one of the happiest countries in the world.
Inquiring Minds supports the development of study circles in Melbourne. Many of the Inquiring Minds workshop topics and the books and articles cited in the resources section would be appropriate subjects for study circles.
Suggested topics:
- Happiness - What is it?
- Contemporary Culture - materialism, consumerism, advertising, television and media
- Eastern/Western approaches to lifestyle
- Community - the decline in community involvement, community attitudes, social changes in the last 40 years, strategies for community building
- Work/Life balance - community norms, corporate interests and personal decisions
If you would like to be part of a study circle, send your name, email, suburb and area of interest to info@inquiringminds.com.au
Once 8-10 people have registered interest in a particular topic, they will be notified and invited to form the study circle.
Topics generated by the group to discuss at future meetings:
What would life be like if everyone lived by the "golden rule" (do unto others)?
People are as happy as they make up their minds to be
What are things we can do to improve our own personal lives (e.g. self management, time management etc)
One's own perception of life
What has prevented you achieving some of your life's goals
Making connections in a society which has high levels of social disconnection
And plenty more discussion on things like influence of media, relationships, use of time.
If you would like to come along, please email for details.