A Fundamental Flaw In Our Formula

The degenerative business-as-usual consciousness that limits our REAL growth

Jul 25, 2024

In today's world, we find ourselves at a perplexing crossroads. On one hand, humanity collectively possesses an unprecedented amount of wealth, knowledge, and technological advancement. On the other hand, individually, many of us struggle to meet our basic needs, find true fulfillment, and achieve a sense of well-being. This paradox highlights a fundamental flaw in our system: we prioritize the financing and growth of institutions—both state and religious—over the well-being of people.

By incorporating the following perspectives (awareness), we can better understand the urgency of addressing these issues and the need for a holistic approach that values human well-being, our place as business stewards as environmental regenerators, and a profound shift in our collective consciousness around how we heal, and what we value.

Financing Institutions over Individuals - the results

The structures that govern our lives, whether governmental or religious, often emphasize the importance of their own survival and expansion. This focus on institutional growth over individual well-being creates a scenario where resources are directed towards sustaining these entities rather than uplifting the people they are meant to serve. The state's vast expenditures on defense and infrastructure, or the church's investment in grand edifices and organizational structures, are glaring examples of this misalignment.

Well-Being as an Index - Futures to Bank On

The question we must ask ourselves is whether well-being is considered a business or institutional index. Are our systems designed to enhance human wellness, or are they merely mechanisms to perpetuate their own existence? The current state of affairs suggests the latter. Children, who should be nurtured and supported to develop into well-rounded individuals, are often reduced to mere numbers in an unbalanced equation. Educational institutions, instead of fostering creativity and critical thinking, frequently emphasize standardized testing and rote learning, further entrenching this systemic flaw.

Check out the better life index here.

The Global Inequality Crisis

Oxfam's latest report on global inequality provides a stark illustration of this issue. The report highlights the staggering concentration of wealth among the super-rich and the widening gap between them and the rest of the population. This inequality is not just a statistic; it has real and devastating consequences for millions of people around the world. As the report underscores, even those with money are not immune to suffering, as the relentless pursuit of wealth often comes at the expense of personal happiness and well-being

It’s A Crisis in Consciousness

Echoing the sentiments of philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, we are facing a crisis in consciousness.

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.

Our collective mindset must shift from one that values institutional growth over human well-being to one that recognizes the interconnectedness of all life. This shift in consciousness is essential for addressing the root causes of our societal and environmental crises.

The Danger of Treating Humans as Numbers

Our current system treats humans, especially children, as mere cogs in a machine. This dehumanizing approach overlooks the intrinsic value of each individual and the potential for personal growth and fulfillment. It perpetuates a cycle of chaos and separation, where true human development and planetary health are secondary to institutional interests. The facade of caring about these issues often serves only to further entrench the power of these institutions, rather than to effect real change.

Leveraging Nature's Institutions That REGENERATE ALL

To overcome this crisis, we must look to nature for guidance. Nature operates on principles of balance, cooperation, and mutual benefit, which stand in stark contrast to the competitive and exploitative nature of our current systems. Biomimicry, the practice of learning from and mimicking nature's strategies, offers valuable insights into creating sustainable and resilient systems . By understanding our true nature and the way energy is exchanged to prosper all species within an ecosystem, we can develop institutions that support the well-being of all life, rather than just a select few.

A Call to Action

The time has come to challenge business as usual in ways that have never been done before. We need to break this cycle and accelerate the healing of our generations to come. Our call to action involves several key steps:

Reprioritize Resources: Redirect resources from institutional growth to individual well-being. This includes investing in education, healthcare, and social services that directly benefit people.
Promote Well-Being: Establish well-being as a key index for measuring success, both in business and governance. Policies should be evaluated based on their impact on human happiness and health, not just economic growth.
Empower Individuals: Create systems that empower individuals to explore and improve themselves. This means fostering environments that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and personal development.
Address Inequality: Implement measures to reduce inequality, such as progressive taxation and social safety nets, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Embrace Biomimicry: Apply nature's principles to our systems, fostering cooperation and mutual benefit over competition and exploitation.
Shift in Consciousness: Cultivate a collective shift in consciousness that recognizes the interconnectedness of all life and values well-being over wealth.

In conclusion, we stand at a critical juncture. The choices we make now will determine whether we continue down a path of collective wealth and individual poverty, or whether we can create a future where every person has the opportunity to thrive. It is time to challenge the status quo and build a world that values people over institutions, well-being over wealth, and life over survival. Only then can we hope to heal our world and leave a legacy of joy and fulfillment for future generations.

If we have the consciousness to co-create a new formula.

Join the Next Generation in exploring that with our EMERGE initiative here.