The Power of New Beginnings
The author C. S. Lewis wrote “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending”.
In our first monthly update of 2026 we explore the theme of new beginnings in a number of ways – including our collaboration with Tosú, an Irish organisation supporting new beginnings for people with convictions in Ireland.
Metanoia – a new beginning for our minds
At the start of our 10-year Impact Report we referred to Metanoia – a Greek word that goes to the heart of what transformational change entails. Meaning a fundamental shift in mindset – it refers to radical change that results in, and from, deeper self-knowledge and self-awareness. It is change that causes us to reperceive the world and our relationship to it – so that we can learn, think and act in different ways.
With our evolving understanding of neuroplasticity – we are increasingly aware of the small but significant practices that can help us change our mindset.
Whilst there are many fascinating insights into how we can transform limiting beliefs or change our habits – for example, this recent podcast with James Clear (author of Atomic Habits), the principles have been enshrined in wisdom traditions for thousands of years.
The opening line of the Dhammapada, an ancient Buddhist text, states: “Our life is shaped by our mind, we become what we think”. In the Tao Te Ching, an ancient Chinese text, this is echoed in the 33rd Chapter: “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power”.
Tools such as the Caplor House help to increase self-awareness and shine a light on beliefs and habits that can limit us. Increased self-awareness is essential for all sorts of new beginnings.
Tosú – new beginnings for people with convictions in Ireland
Tosú is an Irish organisation that supports people moving forward after involvement with the justice system. They provide a range of services that facilitate new beginnings for people with convictions in Ireland. These include enabling access to training, education, employment and resettlement. Tosú’s mission is "to make the single biggest contribution it can to break the cycle of offending behaviour, by changing mindsets, transforming lives, and influencing societal and systemic change."
We have worked in partnership with Tosú for three years. Most recently on a Leadership Programme – bringing together approximately 20 people with varying levels of leadership experience to strengthen crucial skills and work together more effectively.
The Leadership Programme has involved a blend of online and in-person sessions covering a variety of topics that help to transform how leaders learn, think and act. These have included:
Knowing yourself and developing your leadership style
Leading change effectively and strengthening agility
Leading from the future and developing new habits
Handling challenging conversations effectively
Recruiting and developing talented people
Developing our 'Leadership Way'
Please do get in touch if you would like to find out more about how we can work with you to co-create a bespoke leadership programme for your organisation.
The Essentials of Transforming Leadership – a new beginning for how we lead in the world
We are delighted to announce our new book – Our Essentials of Transforming Leadership. In her foreword, Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE writes:
“‘Our Essentials of Transforming Leadership’ is a powerful compendium offering a clear, inspiring, and ambitious vision of a form of leadership that is responsible, purposeful, generous, enabling, trusting, honouring of diversity, inclusive, collective, courageous, creative, compassionate, and challenging of unjust systems.”
The full book can be downloaded from the resources page of our website. You can also download the chapters as standalone papers.
In the final chapter of the book, we talk about why transforming leadership is so important for the world at this current moment. Transformation has its roots in the Latin verb ‘transformare’ meaning to ‘change in shape’ or to ‘metamorphose’. Like the butterfly in this image – famous for its metamorphosis – this involves a complete change in form or structure. In this sense, ‘transforming’ involves an overhaul rather than an incremental change or a small-scale improvement to what exists.
As Brené Brown writes: “Transformations are about building and they must start with dismantling”. Dismantling what is not working or serving us is essential before we can build something new and more positive – whether that means enabling new beginnings for people with convictions in Ireland or cultivating new habits that help leaders shift their mindsets.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
– C.S. Lewis
Best wishes,
Kemal, Lorna, Rosie and Ian