With Great Opportunity Comes Great Accountability

Just received this message from Richard Barrett, founder and chairman of the Values Centre. He has done and is doing some great work around the intersection of individual and corporate values. The excerpts below focuses on the opportunities arising from the current financial meltdown:

We are exactly where we need to be. The pain heralds a new era - the era we have been waiting for. It is a time for all conscious individuals to rejoice. As Leonard Cohen sings - there is a reason why there is a crack in everything…it is to let in the light.

It is becoming abundantly clear that we cannot solve our current problems of existence with the same levels of consciousness that we created them.

But the pain had to be felt in the rich countries before it could be remedied in the poor.

What we are witnessing is the beginning of a global species shift…in consciousness.

For this to happen, we had to totally deconstruct the paradigm of greed and self-interest that has characterized the past 50 years by doing away with the arrogance of assumed privilege that has permeated the rich nations and affluent societies of the world - both financiers and politicians.

We must move beyond nationalism. We must move beyond self-interest. We must individually and collectively embrace the common good. We must move beyond short-term thinking to consider the impact we are having on future generations. We must move beyond being the best in the world to becoming the best for the world.

We are learning that we live in a web of connectivity that goes beyond national boundaries. We are learning that sovereignty has no meaning in an interconnected world. We either come together as a species in a field of common values to make the concept of humanity palpable, leaving behind our national identities or we will remain separated by our beliefs and allow the suffering to deepen into chaos and mayhem.

It is going to get much worse before it gets better. But, I say again, rejoice in this pain. Rejoice in the crumbling of the old era, because from the ashes of this so called modern civilization we will create a new world built on…the principles of equality, empowerment, accountability, responsibility, and continuous learning. We must create a values-driven society. Beliefs always separate. Values always unite.

Just as atoms learned how to bond together to form molecules, and molecules learned how to cooperate to create a higher order entity called a cell; and just as cells bonded together to create organs, and organs learned how to cooperate to create a human being, so now it is time for human beings to learn how to bond together in democratic nations, and for those nations to learn how to cooperate with each other to create a new higher entity called humanity.

Thankfully, we are ready. We have the models and the tools to make the evolution of consciousness, conscious. The world is calling you at this time to make a difference in the world.

Richard Barrett, Founder and Chairman of the Values Centre

I agree there is great opportunity as we remake our financial and economic systems and relationships. And, while I, too, would like to hope that we are entering a new paradigm based on values of commonality, inter-relationship and inter-connection, I don’t believe this will just happen. 

As leaders, practitioners, mothers, fathers, grandparents and parents of the future we must intend and consciously create this paradigm. Innovation takes inspiration, discipline and whole lot of hard work. We must have the desire, commitment and accountability to be and create the change we want to see in the world. That change, to the limit of our awareness, understanding and effort, must focus on sustainable practices, systems and processes for all of us. 

What is the Real Work of sustainability?

 

• Having the awareness to see what could and what needs to be done. 
• Having the discipline to facilitate what needs to be done into concrete actions and effects.
• Creating waste free cycling of energy and materials.
• Maintaining the commitment to this process of innovation and capacity evolution.
• Creating communities that support and generate ongoing development and innovation.
• Nurturing the next generation to exceed and expand upon the good work we are doing NOW.

 

Tags: capacity evolution, Richard Barrett, sustainability, values