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Welcome to a truly heart centred conversation with one of my favourites, the remarkable Lydia Fairhall, a proud Worimi woman whose life’s work spans executive arts leadership, festival curation, producing for theatre and film, and facilitating conscious leadership and spiritual direction. Her journey embodies the integration of love, purpose, and imagination into leadership and everyday life and reflects a deep understanding of how these values can guide us through the complexities of the modern world, fostering connection, healing, and transformation.
A conversation with Lydia makes you feel like everything is as it should be. She is an uplifter.
Lydia’s philosophy centres around the idea that true purpose lies in simple acts of service and that love and imagination are the keys to navigating life’s challenges. In this episode, Lydia shares her profound insights on how we can remain grounded in our purpose while contributing positively to our communities and the world at large.
Imagination is the true vision. When diminished or devalued, we are in deep trouble.
Here is the original chat with Lydia if you would like to listen. Or dive into some highlights below.
Purpose as Simple Acts of Service
Lydia’s understanding of purpose is both profound and simple. She believes that purpose doesn’t have to be a grand, overarching concept but can be found in the daily acts of service we perform for others. Lydia emphasizes, “There is no deeper purpose than to love the wounded... you serve whoever needs serving. And in your spare time, you do the things that refill your cup.”
This perspective challenges the modern narrative that purpose must be tied to career achievements or societal recognition. Instead, Lydia suggests that true purpose is lived out in the quiet, everyday moments of being there for others.
There is no deeper purpose than to love the wounded... you serve whoever needs serving. And in your spare time, you do the things that refill your cup
The Metacrisis and the Peak of Individualism
When asked about the current state of the world, Lydia reflects on what she terms the “peak of individualism.” She argues that our society’s focus on individual success has led to a disconnection from each other and the environment, resulting in widespread anxiety and crisis. “Humanity has hit the peak of individualism, and this is the outcome... this world that we find ourselves in today when we've become so self-focused that we would walk past somebody lying on the street in need.”
Lydia believes that the challenges we face today are a direct result of this disconnection, but she also sees a potential for awakening through these trials, urging us to reconnect with the collective values that once defined our communities.
Fighting the War on Your Street
When discussing how to navigate the tension between living in a world filled with societal challenges and still maintaining personal purpose, Lydia Fairhall offered a powerful perspective: the idea of fighting the war in your own backyard. She reflects on how many people feel overwhelmed by global problems, from climate change to economic instability, but believes the solution starts locally.
“We always have to go back to the micro, right? We try to deal with things on the global level, and it’s too hard. The mountain is too big and so we get overwhelmed, and then our imagination—we squash it. But what we need to do is actually go back to the root and tend to the problem there.”
For Lydia, the solution lies in turning our attention to where we can have the most impact: our immediate surroundings. “If you see a world that is full of war, full of conflict, well then you ask yourself, where is that on my street? And you go to that place on your little—like in my little town, there’s only 80 people that live here. Where is it in this little town? And you tend to it there.”
She emphasizes that by focusing on our own communities and local issues, we not only solve problems at their root but also create the space for our imagination and creativity to flourish. "At that level, the imagination is totally unbridled. And you can actually take the thought and turn it into form easily, but you can't do it on the global level. So we’ve got to come back to that local way.”
Imagination as a Path to Healing
Imagination, according to Lydia, is not just a creative outlet but a crucial tool for envisioning and creating a better future. She explains, “Imagination is the true vision. And that’s why when we live in a society where it is diminished and lost or delegitimised or devalued, we're in deep trouble.”
In Lydia’s view, reconnecting with our imagination allows us to break free from the confines of materialism and begin to heal both individually and collectively. She encourages us to start at the local level, where imagination can thrive, and to use our creativity to solve the problems closest to us.
Imagination is the true vision. And that’s why when we live in a society where it is diminished and lost or delegitimised or devalued, we're in deep trouble.
Navigating the Spiritual and Physical Worlds
Lydia’s life is a testament to the delicate balance between the spiritual and physical realms. She speaks about the importance of being “in the world but not of it,” explaining that true peace comes from letting go of material concerns and focusing on spiritual growth.
You serve from your space of purpose or from your space of values... and when you're not being asked to do anything, you just are. You're just in a state of being.
The Role of Love in Business and Life
In a world where business and love are often seen as mutually exclusive, Lydia offers a different perspective. She believes that love can and should be at the centre of business, just as it is in our personal lives.
There’s no reason why we can’t put love at the center of business. Actually, it’s an organic living organism like everything else, like the neighborhood and the home. It’s the perfect place to do it.
Lydia’s belief in the power of love to transform not only individual lives but also businesses and communities is a powerful reminder of the potential for positive change when we lead with our hearts.
The Wisdom of the Elders and the Importance of Story
Throughout our conversation, Lydia frequently returned to the wisdom of the elders and the power of storytelling. She shared how her own life was shaped by a pivotal encounter with her spiritual teacher, who helped her see a new narrative for herself at a time when she was deeply struggling. “Once you know the truth, you can't live the lie. There’s a jail cell there, but the door is open. And it's only you that can walk out of it.”
For Lydia, stories are not just tales to be told but powerful tools that can change our lives. By shifting the stories we tell ourselves, we can transform our realities and move toward a more fulfilling and connected existence.
Final Thoughts
Lydia Fairhall’s insights remind us that love, purpose, and imagination are not just lofty ideals but practical tools for living a meaningful life. In a world often dominated by fear and individualism, Lydia’s message is one of hope and reconnection. She urges us to return to the basics: to love, to serve, and to create, using these as our guiding principles in both our personal and professional lives.
Lydia’s journey is a beacon of light for those seeking to navigate the complexities of the modern world while staying true to their deeper values. Her wisdom encourages us all to slow down, to reconnect with our purpose, and to use our imagination to create the world we wish to see.
More about Lydia Fairhall
She was previously the dual recipient of the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship and the Australia Council for the Arts Community Arts and Cultural Development Fellowship, where she formed much of the work she does today in facilitating conscious leadership, spiritual direction and next economy transitions for both companies and individuals. She has a BA in Social Science and is currently completing a Masters of Divinity, as a formation student called to the Priesthood within the Anglican Church. She enjoys a continued arts practice as a singer/songwriter and freelance writer, creating two back to back albums True North and The Narrows in 2019/21. Most of her free time is spent either in the ocean or the bush, and outside of her work she enjoys a simple, quiet life with her partner and two children.
Connect with Lydia Fairhall:
LinkedIn: / lydia-fairhall-663737143
Facebook: / lydiafairhallmusic
Instagram: @lydiafairhall
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