In conditions of planetary limits and interdependence, being more generous and understanding of win-win solutions serves your self-interest, as well as the benefit of others, because cooperation is better than competition.
Increase physical contact with infants and young children to 60-90% of the time, similar to early societies. This fosters a physiological and psychological mindset conducive to interdependence, community, and cooperation.
Offer children intimate and reflective emotional connection, ensuring their needs are met, rather than relying on superficial gifts or avoiding difficult interactions. This prevents deficits and cycles of dissatisfaction from early life.
Engage in meditation and mindfulness practices for personal growth and transformation. Individual change is essential for broader collective behavioral shifts in society.
Supplement meditation with other modalities like therapy or coaching to gain deeper insights and foster maturation. Meditation alone may not be sufficient for comprehensive self-understanding and growth.
Recognize moments of crisis, like a pandemic, not just as something to fear, but as an opportunity to embrace wisdom.
Develop the ability to look at things from a distance and with a long-term view, rather than focusing only on the short term. This is a key aspect of wisdom, allowing you to see the whole picture.
Consult the wisdom of nature, as it provides guidelines, laws, and information. This approach views evolution as a wise process and natural laws as sources of insight.
Integrate practices from traditional, pre-industrial societies, such as operating in equilibrium with nature, having less mind-body dichotomy, and closely integrated social systems, into modern society. This helps adapt to planetary limits and foster interdependence.
Develop a cooperative and interdependent relationship with the planet and other species, moving away from an exploitative one. This is necessary to adapt to planetary limits and ensure survival.
Shift the measure of success from economic growth (dollars and GDP) to the enhanced well-being of human beings and the planet. This is crucial for evolving beyond unsustainable market-based systems.
Use the pandemic’s reduction in carbon emissions and fossil fuel use as a learning experience. Explore ways to live lives with less energy consumption and less frenetic activity to reduce planetary exploitation.
Actively challenge the cultural emphasis on rugged individualism, ‘me first’ attitudes, and short-term thinking. These values have proven to be weaknesses with huge negative consequences.
Consciously adapt new values and strategies to go forward and assure human survival and well-being. This is a necessary response to uncertainty and danger, moving away from past approaches.
Increase awareness of your basic emotions and bodily functions to achieve a more unified state and reduce the incorporation of stress. This is a fundamental aspect of future societal well-being.
Consider therapy that includes deeper emotions and bodily experiences, beyond just talk therapy. This approach is essential for a certain level of growth and depth of change, as emotions reside within the body.
Work towards creating a society that minimizes early traumas and deprivation for children. Reducing these experiences will foster a more cooperative society.
Support and implement flexibility in the workplace to allow individuals more time with their children. This reinforces positive family values and experiences.
Utilize good therapy and meditation to ‘undo and unwrap’ the character and body armor developed in response to hurt or assault. This process helps access a more vulnerable and authentic self.