I loved reading this, it’s easy to feel so crushed by what is happening in the world right now - let alone just trying to get by day to day! But this is such a good reminder. Thank you for this encouragement!
I love this approach to tackling wicked challenges that span generations. I'll crosspost to #sustainwhat. Your process resonates with my conclusions after 40 years of trying to report on the "complexity monster" stalking climate and sustainability policies. https://revkin.substack.com/p/how-to-defeat-the-climate-change
Thanks Andy! And thanks for the cross-post! I need to use that feature myself. So glad it resonates for you, given your sustained excellent contributions to communication in this space!
“I went to work on this boat, the most like a fool that ever man did who had any of his senses awake. I pleased myself with the design without determining whether I was ever able to undertake it; not, but that the difficulty of launching my boat came often into my head; but I put a stop to my own inquiries into it by this foolish answer, which I gave myself - “let me first make it, I’ll warrant that I’ll find some way or other to get it along when it is done.“ This was a most preposterous method; but the eagerness of my fancy prevailed, and to work I went and felled a cedar tree.“
It seems to me also that if you approach one damaged system at a time, often because systems are interrelated, another system will be affected towards healing. Or so we would hope.
So we can hope :) But yes, agree most of the time. Although one could argue a systems change perspective is also needed much of the time. But we need to start somewhere. Positive action has knock-on effects.
We need to see: From one extreme to another. Small to large. Invisible to seen. On all levels of science, including the psychological interaction of human beings.
Generally, people think only in terms of isolation and looking outside of themselves. No matter what is involved. From one extreme to another. Small to large. Invisible to seen. On all levels of science, including the psychological interaction of human beings.
One foot in front of the other, rinse and repeat, is the only way to get anywhere. Every system and structure we have now was built that way, so naturally it's the only way we'll get ourselves out of the mess.
I loved reading this, it’s easy to feel so crushed by what is happening in the world right now - let alone just trying to get by day to day! But this is such a good reminder. Thank you for this encouragement!
Thanks Gabby! So glad to hear that. It’s tough times right now. Seemingly tougher by the day right now for many.
This is lovely: a recipe for anything in life worth achieving.
Thanks Lana! Indeed.
I love this approach to tackling wicked challenges that span generations. I'll crosspost to #sustainwhat. Your process resonates with my conclusions after 40 years of trying to report on the "complexity monster" stalking climate and sustainability policies. https://revkin.substack.com/p/how-to-defeat-the-climate-change
Thanks Andy! And thanks for the cross-post! I need to use that feature myself. So glad it resonates for you, given your sustained excellent contributions to communication in this space!
There is actually one incremental step that will have a huge impact on all these issues.
Making a different choice on what to have for lunch.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00795-w
Definitely — reducing meat consumption is something we can all contribute to.
Wonderful post, thank you. Gabby Holm is exactly right: "this is such a good reminder." Everyone needs to be reminded to breathe, and go bird by bird.
Thank you Wendy! Glad to hear that!
Thank you for sharing your positive thoughts about how change occurs!
My pleasure!
“I went to work on this boat, the most like a fool that ever man did who had any of his senses awake. I pleased myself with the design without determining whether I was ever able to undertake it; not, but that the difficulty of launching my boat came often into my head; but I put a stop to my own inquiries into it by this foolish answer, which I gave myself - “let me first make it, I’ll warrant that I’ll find some way or other to get it along when it is done.“ This was a most preposterous method; but the eagerness of my fancy prevailed, and to work I went and felled a cedar tree.“
Daniel Defoe - Robinson Caruso (1719)
Seems apt.
Very! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure. Good piece.
Thanks!
It seems to me also that if you approach one damaged system at a time, often because systems are interrelated, another system will be affected towards healing. Or so we would hope.
So we can hope :) But yes, agree most of the time. Although one could argue a systems change perspective is also needed much of the time. But we need to start somewhere. Positive action has knock-on effects.
So I missed the point in the last reply.
We need to see: From one extreme to another. Small to large. Invisible to seen. On all levels of science, including the psychological interaction of human beings.
100%, Lyn! Action at all levels is required given the complexity and scale of the challenges we're facing. Thanks!
Generally, people think only in terms of isolation and looking outside of themselves. No matter what is involved. From one extreme to another. Small to large. Invisible to seen. On all levels of science, including the psychological interaction of human beings.
Small steps knowing its a system and so the step itself is not the fix. Nice and exactly the thinking shift we need. Thanks Jonathan.
Thanks John! Precisely.
One foot in front of the other, rinse and repeat, is the only way to get anywhere. Every system and structure we have now was built that way, so naturally it's the only way we'll get ourselves out of the mess.
Too right, Dave! Thanks for reading.
Absolutely, and a truth we need to be reminded of again and again. Every precious act of good changes things for the better.
Well said, Stephanie!