“The world is changing, everyone needs to get used to it and change with it.”
These were the words that popped out of my amazing 9-year-old daughter’s mouth as we were discussing going back to school during the pandemic and planning out our Fall in a way where we can stay safe and enjoy a quality of life.
It makes me wonder...
- What is changing in your world?
- Are you getting used to it?
- What will support you to change with it?
With all the changes, it is easy and natural to sometimes get overwhelmed. At the same time, these circumstances offer a great opportunity to create the change and world we want.
What history teaches us when we’re at a significant crossroad...
These are two snippets I find helpful from the past when addressing change:
#1: Give more attention to the world
Did you know that many great ideas that led to cultural revolutions have started with observing the Earth?
For example, the assertion of Copernicus that the Earth revolves around the sun led not only to a scientific breakthrough, but also started a cultural revolution in how people viewed themselves and the universe.
Observing nature and developing an intimacy with our environment also fosters personal transformation and the birth of new ideas.
For example, the assertion of Copernicus that the Earth revolves around the sun led not only to a scientific breakthrough, but also started a cultural revolution in how people viewed themselves and the universe.
Observing nature and developing an intimacy with our environment also fosters personal transformation and the birth of new ideas.
#2: Give more attention to cycles
Did you know that many scholars who study the rise and fall of civilizations and cultures around the world point to the cyclical nature of these big changes?
Apparently during the disintegration phase of any given culture or civilization, there is increased polarization and conflict, less creativity, and more aggression in response to challenging situations. The difference between cultures and civilizations that thrive rather than die off is quite simple…
Drum roll please…
In every culture that goes on to thrive (after a disintegration phase), there is a creative minority that takes a solo retreat from society and reconnects to their values.
When they return, they respond to the change, conflicts and challenges based on their values.
Apparently during the disintegration phase of any given culture or civilization, there is increased polarization and conflict, less creativity, and more aggression in response to challenging situations. The difference between cultures and civilizations that thrive rather than die off is quite simple…
Drum roll please…
In every culture that goes on to thrive (after a disintegration phase), there is a creative minority that takes a solo retreat from society and reconnects to their values.
When they return, they respond to the change, conflicts and challenges based on their values.
Addressing change by focusing on values and nature
My take-aways are that two ways to focus our efforts in our particular crossroads are to spend more time with nature and get crystal clear on the values that are important to us.
Then the hard work and tenacity of living out our values in our moment-by-moment choices begins.
I believe this is the time, more than ever, to reconnect to our values, each other and our world. In my experience, these are the three foundational ingredients to building a genuine culture of belonging so that together we can leverage all our strengths to address our priority social issues and environmental challenges.
Please Comment Below:
As you consider what is changing in your world, I invite you to also consider...
- What values do you hold that you want to commit to strengthening as you navigate our rapidly changing world?
- And, as my daughter suggests, as you get used to these changes, how will you change with them?
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Essential Worldview Skills For A Rapidly Changing World
If you want to join an awesome community to explore your values and worldviews in a way that can be part of a deeper cultural revolution, please join us.
My overriding values are justice and honesty. I don’t want to change with the world; I see the world becoming more and more dishonest, more and more able to ignore suffering.
I’m with you. For me its being grounded in my values so that I can draw on my values in how I respond to our increasingly turbulent world. I agree a lot of the issues in the world are a result of the erosion of values that are important to me. Responding based on my values seems like the most powerful response. Thanks for such clarity in your comment.