There’s a new reason to develop your consciousness: global security

**The external complexity of our global challenges – captured by the SDGs – requires we develop our internal complexity**

TL;DR

The size of our impact and our ability to collaborate at scale to address the most pressing global challenges arguably – climate change, disease, nuclear war, and AI – requires that we upgrade our internal systems, the lens of consciousness through which we perceive and navigate the world.
The external factors that are barriers to solving these problems are complex. When the outer world becomes more complex than our inner world, we cannot navigate the landscape successfully. So, we seek to reduce the environment to what we can understand.
By reducing the environment, we will never learn to innovate or collaborate within the level of complexity demanded by the external environment.
Developing our internal capacities – individually and as societies – will shift these external roadblocks and empower us to embody the visionary mindset that we need.
Given the urgency of the top five global crises, it’s imperative we begin inhabiting this mindset sooner than later.
A framework for upleveling our individual and collective consciousness exists. The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) are a framework that outlines the 23 skills and qualities we need – individually and collectively – to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to move the needle on the world’s unsolvables.
Sign up today to create a tailored curriculum for your organization, with both individual and group trainings, based on the official IDG toolkit and additional evidence-based tools, to help individuals and collectives grow and expand their capacities in all 23 areas.

THE WHAT & WHY

The complexity of our world has astronomically evolved since the advent of modern humans: a succession of technological revolutions manifested in various forms, including the development of tools, the transformative power of harnessing fire, the invention of writing, the establishment of cities, and the pivotal industrial revolution. More recent technologies that have shaped our social realities and the ways in which we live include computers, the internet, and mobile phones to name just a few.

With each evolutionary shift, there is an accompanying shift in human consciousness. New mental frameworks or “worldviews” of reality are required to help us make sense of the world. For example, the worldview during the Enlightenment shifted from religious dogma to science and reason. We coined the phrase “The Age of” to differentiate the transitions. So, we have The Age of Renaissance, of Reason or of Materialism.

This deepening social consciousness allowed mankind to navigate the increasing complexity, rather than trying to reduce the complexity of the world to fit into the level of current understanding.

Today, we are at another divergence point. We have the choice to either expand our consciousness to solve the unsolvable social challenges such as climate change, nuclear warfare and global disease by finding expanded perspectives, new ways of collaborating and innovative methods to address these issues, or we retrogress into intensified conflict and war in a world plagued by disease that can no longer sustainably support us.

Solving the unsolvable social challenges of the 21^st century, hinges on the size of the gap between the complexity of the external world and our internal worlds. Let’s upgrade our operating systems.

The takeaway

The size of our impact and our ability to collaborate at scale to address the most pressing global challenges arguably – climate change, disease, nuclear war, and AI – requires that we upgrade our internal systems, the lens of consciousness through which we perceive and navigate the world.

An example

Below, using the specific global social challenge of poverty, I illustrate how shifts in our consciousness have changed how we address this problem over the last 75 years.

1950

In the 1950s, the world’s approach to global poverty was framed by a paternalistic mindset. Developed countries often viewed impoverished nations through a lens of charity and aid, emphasizing direct assistance and sometimes even economic exploitation. The consciousness of the era predominantly believed in one-way benevolence, with limited consideration for long-term sustainable development. While well-intentioned, this approach frequently perpetuated dependency and inequality.

1990

By the 1980s and 1990s, the mindset towards global poverty began to shift. International organizations and governments recognized the need for more comprehensive strategies. Consciousness evolved to emphasize development as a partnership, focusing on market-oriented reforms, debt relief, and poverty reduction programs. This period saw the rise of microfinance and the belief that impoverished communities could be agents of their own change, fostering empowerment and grassroots development.

2023

In the 21st century, the mindset and consciousness surrounding global poverty have undergone further transformation. Contemporary approaches are increasingly rooted in systems thinking, sustainability, and social justice. There is a growing emphasis on addressing not only economic disparities but also social, environmental, and health inequalities. The global community is working collaboratively to create systemic change, recognizing that solutions must be holistic, inclusive, and rooted in the voices and agency of those affected by poverty. The focus has shifted from charity to empowerment, from short-term relief to long-term development, fostering a more equitable and sustainable future.

2043

Looking forward, the mindset that will likely dominate the response to global poverty in 20 years will be marked by an unprecedented level of interconnectedness and global cooperation. In this future, the consciousness of individuals and nations has transcended borders and ideologies, understanding that poverty is a challenge that can only be eradicated through collective action. Technology, harnessed for good, has enabled the creation of a global network for resource allocation, ensuring equitable distribution and access to opportunities. Poverty is no longer seen as a distant issue; it’s considered a shared responsibility. Innovative, sustainable solutions, informed by advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence, are implemented swiftly, and a renewed commitment to social justice ensures that the fruits of progress are equitably distributed. This future mindset views poverty as an affront to human dignity and a shared global goal, and it actively works to build a world where everyone can prosper and thrive.

The takeaway

We can’t solve the top global challenges facing the world today – climate change, nuclear warfare, disease or AI – alone. We’ll need to collaborate on a new scale. To do so, we’ll need to shift our collective consciousness: upgrade our internal systems – our minds and hearts.

WHY HAVEN’T WE ALREADY ADOPTED A FUTURE MINDSET?

The visionary future mindset described above that is needed to address global poverty is challenging to achieve for a multitude of reasons. Addressing global poverty is an immensely complex and deeply rooted issue. To start with, not all individuals, communities, and governments fully recognize the importance of addressing global poverty as a shared responsibility. Additionally, the inertia of existing systems, structures, and power dynamics can make it difficult to implement rapid, transformative change. Existing political and economic interests perpetuate inequality and poverty, making it difficult to mobilize global cooperation for systemic change. Many governments, organizations, and individuals tend to prioritize short-term goals and immediate results over long-term, sustainable solutions. This can hinder the implementation of holistic, forward-thinking strategies. Allocation of resources is a major challenge. Geopolitical conflicts and competition can overshadow collaborative efforts, diverting attention and resources away from global poverty reduction.

This article, however, isn’t about poverty, so I won’t go into more detail about that particular challenge.

The takeaway

These are some of the complex external factors that are barriers to solving poverty. All of these barriers are equally applicable to other unsolvable challenges we face today.

To shift these external barriers, we must increase the complexity of our individual and collective internal factors. We must develop our psychological and emotional states and capacities – individually and collectively – to match the external complexity of our world.

Doing so empowers us to embody the visionary mindset our global challenges require.

Given the urgency of our global crises, it’s imperative we begin inhabiting this mindset sooner than later.

HOW DO WE BECOME MORE COMPLEX? WHAT INTERNAL CAPACITIES MUST WE DEVELOP?

To address the barriers that block global solutions for the most pressing global crises today, individuals and societies need to develop emotional intelligence, cognitive flexibility, and moral development. Some of the skills and capacities that are required are listed below.

Empathy and Compassion: Developing a deep sense of empathy and compassion enables individuals to understand and resonate with the struggles of those most impacted, fostering a commitment to positive change.
Global Awareness: Expanding one’s consciousness to recognize the interconnectedness of the world and global issues is essential. This includes understanding how local actions can have far-reaching consequences.
Critical Thinking: Developing critical thinking skills allows individuals to question existing norms and consider a range of perspectives.
Long-Term Perspective: Fostering a long-term perspective encourages individuals and societies to focus on sustainable solutions rather than quick fixes.
Cultural Sensitivity: Developing cultural sensitivity and an appreciation of diverse worldviews and values is crucial to building bridges and promoting unity.
Ethical and Moral Development: Promoting ethical and moral development helps individuals and societies identify values and principles that prioritize social justice, fairness, and equity.
Systems Thinking: Developing the ability to think in terms of systems and recognizing how different factors interconnect is vital for addressing the complex and interconnected nature of global social ills.
Selflessness: Cultivating a sense of selflessness and a willingness to prioritize the welfare of others over personal gain is essential in shifting away from self-interest and toward collective well-being.
Open-Mindedness: An open-minded attitude allows individuals and societies to consider new ideas and embrace change, especially when confronting existing structures and systems that perpetuate social challenges.

HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THIS? WHERE DO WE START?

The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) systematize and categorize 23 skills and qualities into five streams. To make headway on the SDGs, you must simultaneously elevate your consciousness across all 23 of the IDG competencies.

If you and your organization are serious about getting traction on the SDGs, you must upgrade your individual and organization operating systems to match the complexity of the environment in which you are working.

I help you design a tailored curriculum for your organization, with both individual and group trainings, based on the official IDG toolkit and additional evidence-based tools, to help individuals and collectives grow and expand their capacities in all 23 areas.

The takeaway

Developing the required qualities, learning new ways of seeing the world and collaborating to innovatively address our pressing global challenges is possible. The IDGs offer a global framework for upleveling our individual and collective consciousness. Uplevel your personal and organizational impact by upgrading your internal operating system across 23 skills and qualities with evidence-based tools. Map your journey and trace the ripple effect of your impact.

If you are interested in seeing how you could incorporate the IDGs into your organization, let’s talk!