Experiencing a pandemic has got many of us reflecting on what is working in our world and what isn’t. In essence, it has shone a spotlight on our dysfunctions.
Much of what is wrong (or right) with our systems starts with our collective mindset.
A mindset is a set of assumptions, methods, or notions held by a person or group. It’s a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how we interpret and respond to situations individually and collectively. We become so used to our mindsets that we don’t see that our thinking is fixed in this particular way. To us it’s normal.
If you observe behaviours of yourself and others around you, it’s not difficult to identify mindsets. Here are a few examples of what you might discover…
- Sufficiency mindset—There is enough, and I am enough.
- Growth mindset—Life is about expanding awareness and continual learning.
- Thrift mindset—It’s my responsibility to use resources, both mine and the planet’s, wisely.
- Sustainability mindset—What I do must contribute to life carrying on, now and in the future.
Empathy…
Empathy is also a mindset, and the subject for today. Continue reading