Inner Development Goals
In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals provided us with a comprehensive plan for a sustainable world by 2030. The seventeen goals cover a wide range of issues that involve people with different needs, values, and convictions.
But progress is slow. How can we accelerate this moonshot for humanity? What can we as individuals and organizations do to be more effective in the work towards greater sustainability and well-being?
An Accelerator for the Global Goals
The driving force behind the project comes from the realization that the world is not changing quickly enough to fulfill the 17 Global Goals. Since the world is a reflection of us, the most important work begins with ourselves. What has been missing is an inventory of the inner skills and capacities that encourage us to grow.
We want to bring the power of inner development to all global challenges faced by humanity. Our aim is to educate, inspire and empower people to be a positive force for change in society and find a more purposeful way to look at our lives.
The Inner Development Goals is an accelerator to reach the Sustainable Development Goals and create a prosperous future for all of humanity. In all we do, we have to epitomize the idea behind the project: openness, learning, collaboration, hope, etc.
Today’s action is Tomorrow’s Future
On April 29, 2022, the first-ever Inner Development Goals summit took place, uniting more than 4000 participants from 60 countries - making this a global movement. By collecting thought leaders and world-leading experts from the academic world and the business sector, an interactive dialogue on what inner development means and how the IDGs can help accelerate the Global Goals, transpired.
The Inner Development Goals represent crowd-sourced wisdom of all ages and all cultures. We research, collect, and communicate science-based skills and qualities that help us live purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives. Our ambition is to spread the tools worldwide and make them as famous as the Global Goals. Find out more here!
The Design Process
Simplifying complex concepts into clear, memorable visuals and words was essential for the SDGs' success, and the same principles guided the IDG design process. Our goal was to make the skill symbols as simple as possible without losing the core meaning. The inner skills are more abstract, there isn’t really an established visual language for thoughts and emotions. Drawing inspiration from Indigenous Peoples' symbols and Carl Jung's work, we deliberately avoided conventional imagery to create something entirely new. They developed five distinct shapes for different dimensions, considering the essence and direction of each skill—whether it is built internally, given, received, or collaboratively created. The result is a dynamic, evolving visual language for the 23 skills, designed to inspire, engage, and grow alongside the global understanding of inner development.
IDG Summit
The Inner Development Goals (IDG) Summit is an annual event fostering personal growth and collective action for global challenges. It highlights the role of inner skills—like self-awareness, empathy, and resilience—in advancing sustainable development. Through talks, workshops, and collaboration, participants explore ways to empower individuals and organizations to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each year, The New Division creates a visual theme reflecting the summit’s focus, incorporating IDG brand elements to unite its message.
Become a Co-Creator of the Inner Development Goals
The Inner Development Goal brings the power of inner development to all your organizational, societal, and global challenges. As a co-creator and partner, you will:
- Get access to tools and methods that advance creativity and collaboration within your organization.
- Get exposure and collaborate with a network of progressive companies and organizations that prioritizes inner growth and sustainability.
- Accelerate the work towards the Sustainable Development Goals and create engagement for your organization’s sustainability work through human growth.
- Learn and work with some of the world’s most famous thought leaders and scientists. Participate at the Inner Development Goals event.
- Co-create the IDG field kit to promote human development and sustainability.
