I recently returned from the most buoyant and inspiring journey called The Do Lectures, a fascinating event that can best be described as a place where TED meets Burning Man meets Where the Wild Things Are. Imagine roughly 100 folks from all walks of life and all around the world converging on fforest farm in Wales and letting go. Willing to let go of every damn rule that binds to discover anew. A passionate and compassionate posse of Doers looking to be inspired, to inspire and to create action around positive systemic change. Each speaker was asked to share their Big Do, something that they were deeply committed to living and breathing and well, yes...doing. My Big Do: shift from things to relationships.
The premise is simple.
Our global issues need not be so daunting and we as individuals can make a difference. The key is to hold the conversations from a point of inspiration versus desperation. My fervent belief is that the issue we face is not climate, poverty, food, land, healthcare, water, energy or even credit. Nope. The issue is that we garner things rather than embrace relationships. We buy things. We do things. But seldom do we embrace, trumpet and herald relationships. Much of what we do lacks depth, meaning and empathy. So what would happen if we began to ask ourselves fundamental questions with every deliberation...Is it compassionate? Does it support the local/global community? Is it courageous? Is it experiential? Can it be trusted?
We can begin by having the wisdom and willingness to quiet our cleverness so that we can see a new world of abundance. We can begin by embracing relationships that suggest compassion, community and courage in every deliberation. Why? If we widen the lens to see the big systemic picture we can clearly see that by shifting our behavior upstream (shifting from things to relationships) we can eliminate most of the less-than-scintillating issues that occur downstream.
Imagine if...
- We supported banks that cared more about supporting community than building their own coffers?
- We joined a CSA farm to experience the true value and beauty of food?
- We shifted our 401K to Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)?
- We hosted 100 Mile Diet dinners with friends every month?
- We supported brands like Patagonia that showed unabashed transparency, honesty and responsibility?
- We inquired where and how ALL things were made?
- We reached out to get to know and support our neighbors?
- We supported heirloom design?
- Nature became a mentor versus a depleting resource?
- We worked (or should I say thrived) in learning organizations that cultivated autonomy, mastery and purpose in a way that human capital was positioned as the best capital?
Candidly, my Big Do is easy to say and yet challenging to execute. My suggestion is to start small by viewing this shift in behavior as a marathon versus a sprint. Start with something like food and begin to ask the relevant questions. Make it experiential. Most importantly, revel in the fact that small steps can lead to big leaps of change!