What Needs Doing Now

by Robert Theobald.

My passion is changing as we move toward the last six months of 2000. I realize that I want to find ways to connect and partner with those who are aware of the inevitability of fundamental change. I am also aware that I have very low level skills in doing this. It has been a priority of mine for several years but I have been remarkably unsuccessful.

My growing commitment to this approach stems, I believe, from three factors. First, I think “we” need to know each other better and be more able to call on each other in times of need. Second, I hear similar themes emerging from many of the e-mails I’m receiving. Third my analysis is moving me in this direction.

I hope some of the ideas that follow will be helpful.obviously be interested in your reactions/proposals as to how to be effective.

The clash between stories.

It is my belief that what we need to do today is to see current dynamics as a clash between fundamental story lines which explain how the world works. Obviously the statements below are radically oversimplified.The important thing about these stories, as Bob Stilger has pointed out, is that they determine and constrain the personal stories we are able to tell.

One of the problems about suggesting that the issue is a clash between story lines is that the industrial era has accustomed us to thinking in terms of data, facts and trends and ignoring stories. So what I am proposing is itself contradictory to the patterns to which we have become accumstomed.

Story line 1. Capitalism has triumphed. The economic, social and political theories of the West, and particularly the United States, are right. The failures, such as they are, come from the fact that we have not yet followed through fully on the logic of the market and current political ideologies. Personal story: Each one of us is embedded in a matrix which constrains our actions: we have the ability to gain a high standard of living but we have no real choices about our future. We can aim for larger numbers of toys but not for personal meaning.

Story line 2. Capitalism is the wave of the future but there are problems because it leaves out large numbers of people. We need “capitalism with a human face.” It can be achieved by changes at the margins of current systems. Personal story: Meaning is to be found in current political battles and the struggles between different ways of ordering the capitalist order. It makes sense to be engaged in discussions around the options that exist within current ways of thinking.

Story line 3. Capitalism is the enemy. The multi-national firm is the visible face of capitalism and must be destroyed. The style in this story line is typically oppositional. The energy goes into defining what is wrong and fighting it Personal story: This story line has a strongly attractive mythic element to it. It is the struggle of “good” vs “evil.” It is a place where heroes, and heroines, can achieve wonderful victories and alter the course of history. It avoids the perils of uncertainty.

Story line 4. Humanity is living through the most radical shift in its history. It has to learn how to manage the essentially unlimited productive and destructive power it has accumulated if it is to avoid destroying much of life on earth. Luckily, we are beginning to understand how and why the world and social systems work as a web. This understanding will allow us to learn how to create resilient, sustainable, committed and high-value societies that serve as stewards of the planet. Personal story: Meaning is to be found in knowing one’s own life purpose and mission and meshing it with those of others. This meaning making is done within a universe which understands the fundamental importance of diversity and ecological limits.

Story lines 1 and 2 both see capitalism as viable. Story lines 3 and 4 both assume that it is not. This difference is easy to understand.

Story lines 3 and 4 both see our current concentration on economic growth and unscreened technology as non-viable. But their styles are very different. Story line 3 sees the most effective use of one’s time and energy as battling those who are persuing profoundly destructive routes into the future. Story line 4 sees the need to bring together all those who understand the need for fundamental change so they can collectively perceive the new directions emerging in the culture. Those who believe in story line 4 operate in a dialogue mode. They are also aware of the paradox that their ability to be effective often depends on the pressures being created by those living by story line 3.

Implications of the fourth story line..

Here are the conclusions I have reached about how to play out story line 4 in the context of the current Australian dynamics: I think that much of this approach also applies in North America but I am aware of the greater support for stories one and two in this area.

1. People are Ready. Our priority task is no longer to inform people about the need for change but rather to enable them to express their hopes. There is, fortunately, a rapidly growing awareness of the need to listen and work with those with whom one disagrees.
2. Dream no Small Dreams. We shall only attract large-scale positive energy if we enable people to believe that their actions may make a real difference to their children and grandchildren.
3. See the Whole Picture but Act on a Part of it. Big changes happen when a lot of people do a lot of things a little bit differently.
4. Less is More. The threshold for involvement should be set as low as possible so people can start with small steps.
5. Resilience. This is one word, of many, to express the core skill we need in the future. We must move away from brittle, overstressed systems to opportunities for people and ecologies to have time and space for good choices. This leads to co-intelligence rather than co-stupidity, as Tom Atlee has argued.
6. Care for Others and Ourselves. The transformation now occurring is immensely stressful. We need to use spiritual practices to keep ourselves centered. This challenge is particularly great for those who are committed to being in the “empty center:” connecting people and groups but not controlling their actions. We must, in particular, be aware how our patterns of thought, meetings and actions can exclude others: we must constantly respect the different processes that a respect for diversity requires.

The need for a simple statement within which people can work.

We need a very simple statement which people can accept and understand. It needs to make clear the large-scale shifts that are required. It also needs to leave open as much space as possible for individual and group creativity. Here is an attempt at such a statement: suggestions for improvement are requested:

Positive movement into the twentieth century will be based on an acceptance of the vital necessity for social cohesion, ecological integrity, effective decision making and quality of life in every part of our world. Conversations and actions will need to be based on the primary virtues of honesty, responsibility, humility and love and a respect for mystery.

Most useful actions.

Here are the three types of actions which I believe are the most important. 

There are a number of specific activities developing to achieve these needs in Australia: ask me for information if you are concerned.  I am also very aware of the fact that much is going on in North America but feel a need for better coordination and communication.

We need to support the people who have been most active in moving toward a clear understanding of the world in which we shall be living. Most of them are struggling with inadequate resources and are spending far more time than they should thinking about survival than developing their skills. We also need to find ways to create opportunities for intensive interaction between people in this group. We already know enough about the emerging new era to enable people to learn about it in effective ways. There are, however, far too few opportunities for people to learn the new knowledge. What are the approaches and styles which will enlarge our opportunities to work with each other in new ways and learn what is so rapidly emerging?

We have a broad range of tools and techniques which could permit us to reach the general public with twenty-first century ideas but we generally fail to use them imaginatively: the web and the internet, community TV and radio, smaller, local papers, etc.

More of Theobald's work is available on the Robert Theobald Home Page

You can contact Robert Theobald at: theobald@iea.com