Growing from “sustainability inside-out” into the emergence of a
relational approach to transformation. The story of the project “A Mindset for the Anthropocene” (AMA)

In this chapter, we reflect on the development and impact of the project “A Mindset for the Anthropocene” a transformative transdisciplinary research process at the IASS Potsdam. The project started as an internal initiative of a few researchers who were interested in the role of inner qualities such as mindfulness and compassion in the context of sustainability. We examine the tensions and boundaries between purpose-driven transformative engagement as researchers, on the one hand, and the requirements and incentive structures of an academic working environment, on the other hand. We reflect on the challenges that the transformative aspiration of the project brought to the members when trying to integrate reflexive practices under the joint umbrella of a transdisciplinary research project. Finally, we evaluate the specific results and more ambiguous changes related to the work of the research project and discuss how these insights have influenced the plans for the next phase of the project.