“True education is the birthplace of dreaming.”
– Georgie Howson
Recently, I posted on our private Facebook group: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/liveandkicking/ ) asking our community what they would say and what changes they would make if and when they had the platform and influence to do so.
The post addressed a limiting belief that I (and many others) have battled with around worthiness. Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that we are unworthy of chasing our success when there are so many others suffering. In truth however, chasing our success and becoming the biggest versions of ourselves that we can be, enables us to give more and change more than we ever could have before. In this month’s blog, I talk about the dreams I have and the things I would say if given the chance. This is a dream so big, I have no way of knowing how it could ever happen. So indulge me if you will and if nothing else, I hope that in reading this, you feel that no dream is too big or absurd.
When I was younger I learnt about democracy in school among other forms of governance. Democracy was about everyone having an equal say. I was taught that we were lucky to have it and that the right to vote was a privilege not everyone around the world yet enjoyed. Consequently, I grew up believing that I had a voice and that it mattered.
I was excited to grow up, and dreamed that one day I would be in a position to affect positive change but when I got there, my dreams were met with rules about what I could and couldn’t do. “That sounds like a great idea, but you can’t do that because…”. Perhaps not these exact words, but this attitude was all too familiar. I felt like the system boxed me in as well as the people I wanted to help. But I wasn’t the only one. I was surrounded by people who could see solutions but felt as though their voices couldn’t affect change. At university we were able to observe the impacts of “the system” but of course it was out of our jurisdiction to propose changes to “the system”. It frustrated me so much that the people working on the ground could see what needed to change but were largely powerless to change it.
Formal education for a large part felt like we were being presented with; the way things were and why we should accept them, rather than; teaching us how things were so that we could improve them. Originally, “education” comes from the word “educo” meaning to evoke or to draw out from within. Much of my academic experience was about what is known. But today I invite you on a journey into the unknown. This is a journey into my wildest dreams.
From where I stood, democracy did seem like a good system compared to dictatorships, communism and other systems we learnt about. After all the “majority ruled”, so how bad could it be? Yet something about that has never sat right with me. Metaphorically speaking just because my skin is the largest organ on my body, doesn’t mean my heart health is any less vital. Similarly, as far as I am concerned, we as a society are only as healthy as the sum of our parts. Said another way, one size has never fit all and even two sizes would still leave us with a lot of naked people.
Like parents, the government play a strong role in regulating the environment in which we as a society grow. At the moment, our parents preach democracy. So what does this mean for us as its children?
Democracy hasn’t taught us good manners, but rather that the child who screams the loudest wins. We have learned to fight each other and compete for our needs. We exclude one another for having different opinions because we live in fear that ours might be overlooked. But don’t hate the player hate the game. Some of us have learned to cope by sparing ourselves the disappointment and disengage from the process entirely. If democratic society were a family I would send them for therapy. Democracy stands for the voice of the people but on election day, in short, we are asked to choose from column A or column B and are expected to feel lucky. Yet, I know that I have more to say than that and I hope you do too.
With the US election coming up, and celebrities getting on social media, urging people to vote I can’t help but wish for a Column C: this system is broken, let’s try something else. But of course anything outside the box means that our voices are not heard. How are we to create change when we have no voice to do so? That doesn’t sound like having a voice to me.
Majority doesn’t rule and nor should it. That mindset is quintessential to social injustice. If majority ruled, black lives would not matter, the dyslexic child in the classroom should not receive special help and gay marriage wouldn’t get a look in. But we are a society who does care about the unique needs and inclusion of others. Beneath the desperation to be heard seen and loved we have a lot of love to give.
When we believe our voices will be heard I believe we are more likely to be able to accept and celebrate each other’s differences. Which is why I believe the only way we can truly stand united is if we are allowed to stand apart. By this I am suggesting that any system where we have to fight to have our needs heard; where there are winners and losers; will never lead to peace or prosperity.
We live in an abundant world but we seem to have forgotten the fact, distracted by the fight. There is enough for all of us. We are all just stuck in the illusion of lack fuelled by competition. There is another way.
Do I believe that those working in government are trying the best they can? Of course I do. They are doing the best they know with a system that was never designed to satisfy all of us. Good is the enemy of best. Democracy has been comparatively good but when did we stop hoping for better? When did our hopes turn to prayers for “anyone but Trump”?
“Focus a little less on how things are and think about how you would like them to be.”
– Barbara Marx Hubbard
So where to now? I’m not trying to start a revolution here. I don’t even believe I have the full picture, but as someone who believes in refraining from criticism unless you have something constructive to add, I believe I have something constructive to add. Or rather I was inspired by someone who had something constructive to add, may she rest in peace.
Barbara Marx Hubbard tested a model she called syncon or synergistic democracy among university students in the late 1900s. Rather than a room full of ministers and shadow ministers who debate and decide on behalf of the people, one issue at a time as we now see in government, Hubbard worked on a model of 12 groups representing different sectors of society. This meant that no one was responsible for all the power, but rather that people shared expertise and were involved in a process of co-creation, within and across disciplines. Rather than fighting, the syncon model promoted sharing and binding together to meet needs.
In her trial, Hubbard found that by the end of the workshop everyone had found someone to work with towards a solution. This model fostered a sense of community, sustainability, (and need not be limited to only 12 groups).
I believe this type of model would lend itself to increased productivity on less funding. The flow on effect to greater society would see a shift in attitude. Namely a dis-engaged and entitled people would transform into a re-engaged, passionate community. The benefit of this sort of government in a real-world situation is that with greater diffusion of power, there is less chance for abuse of power, less concern around saving face and poll booth popularity and increased efficiency. Society could once more feel as though they had a voice because more governing groups and more experts means more ears to hear. Numerous governing groups able to meet at a time, as opposed to one, would mean more timely decisions. This model of governance is not about win-lose but rather lends itself to win-win solutions. Governance would simply become a series of experts, informed by the people, working to meet all the different needs of the people simultaneously. I believe we have the capacity for this sort of system and I think it would benefit our health. For example currently, we have an aging population who as a whole are dismissed and undervalued after the age of retirement. Many of them suffer from loneliness. A model of governance like this calls for greater community involvement and could singlehandedly solve loneliness in aging populations (an issue that probably doesn’t even see the light of day in parliament).
To me this is the definition of an abundant and thriving society where we could all truly do, be and have more.
So today you have read my wildest dreams. I am aware that for some people, it might seem like I am asking for too much, have my head in the clouds or that I am a perfectionist. I am aware that I have high standards, high hopes and big dreams but if that is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
Someone like me who does not watch the news is not qualified to comment on many things, politics being one of them. The reason I don’t watch the news is that it will only tell me what has happened. It is unlikely to inspire hope and it definitely won’t tell me what is going to happen in the future.
It takes courage to go after what you want, especially when there is no guarantee that you will get it. But that is exactly the sort of world that I want to live in. Let’s rebirth the courage to voice our desires even if we get told “no”. Let’s be courageous and not allow the fear of losing stop us from even making the start line. If this blog has encouraged you I would love to read about the change you have a passion for in the comments section. Maybe we can be a source of encouragement for each other.
If you feel like commenting about how my dream is impossible I first invite you to pause and think about how this thought pattern might be impacting your own ability to dream. Then comment as you wish. Know that I value your voice and above all that I will continue to dream and I hope you do too.