Research & exploration: Who are the awakened individuals taking action?
Chapter 6: Introduction to my learning journey on Systems Change
As we delved into key concepts related to human behaviour and our connection to a greater collective consciousness, I sought to capture the common traits of individuals who are making their broader mission to protect life and our collective wellbeing.
Often described as authentic, passionate, and brave team players, they show a deep connection to personal values and strive to align these with actions. For them, meaning holds more value than money. Exhibiting a selfless commitment to the cause, there is an awareness that collaboration is essential. Excelling at relationship building, those in leadership roles must be adept at articulating a vision to inspire others.
Within these individuals, IQ and EQ operate hand-in-hand. Cultivating an open heart and a broad perspective on the world provides the confidence to break norms and call out issues and people when necessary. They may feel isolated in some circles, particularly with close family and work relations. Despite this, they are persistent and compelled to share their vision, learn to say no, and let go of what no longer resonates.
It is also true that we are all different and the attempt to ‘package’ the characteristics of a change maker might be far fetching. Instead, we should recognize who and what is missing, to ensure diversity within the sustainability movement. Niels de Fraguier emphasized the need to be mindful of echo chambers. “Do we need people who think alike? I don’t think so. There are not enough young, underprivileged individuals involved. And there are also those who are simply jumping on the trend for the business opportunity.”
The Transformation Journey
Having the privilege to hold open conversations with my interviewees gave me the opportunity to closely observe the metamorphosis each one endured, guided by a deep desire to do something more impactful. I would repeatedly hear “This is my calling, this is what I should be doing.”
These transformative opportunities tend to be connected to passions, places, and people, leading to a transition path that breaks social silos and knowledge barriers.
Kat Eghan started Soul Sessions almost by accident while spontaneously leading groups of women into meditation during workshop events and virtual retreats. These rituals grew longer and transported participants to a more awake state. It started organically, and she wasn’t sure what it meant back then, but the attendees suggested that this should be part of her work.
A similar process happened to Vivian Cavicchioli, who, after suffering from physical and emotional illness, decided to abandon a demanding career in finance to learn and share her passion for Ayurvedic Medicine.
Neil Taylor left a highly recognised marketing role to follow his bliss and escape limiting Western views. He expanded his horizons by joining an NGO in Lesbos to experience the challenge faced by refugees in Greece and later studied food poverty in Africa. He currently works as a Sustainability Consultant focused on the complex challenge of food systems.
Michael Miller describes this flow beautifully: “When you connect with that infinite expression of yourself, the limiting factors dissolve, and the potentiality is revealed. You can recognise what it is that you’re here for. There’s no transformation, it’s about recognition. The whole expression of the Universe, you’re an expression of that. It’s not about your personal evolution, but the evolution of consciousness.”
In the zone
This universal expression can easily flow through us if we remain easy and open. Renata Mariani, a Brazilian triathlon athlete describes the magical feeling of being in ‘the zone’: “When I’m running, I always take someone with me, even when I’m alone. I think about that person, and it feels like it’s them running, as if they take over my legs. And suddenly, it feels lighter.”
This movement was also highlighted by Thaís Gomes, a Brazilian art therapist, who shares a passion for drawing and poetry. She faces the empty canvas and follows her strong desire to write or paint: “the brush comes to life. It moves by itself and deep down I feel that I’m not alone.” She talks about a higher creative energy and believes that human beings are a result of creation. “Somehow, this energy lives within us and we also hold the potential to let this creative force to express itself through us. The access to consciousness is linked to our expansion.”
Degrees of connectedness
When pondering the connection between awareness and action, Martin Koehring drew the simple but insightful matrix below:
A growing level of awareness combined with a strong sense of empowerment might just be the recipe to action. This user research has confirmed it throughout. I would love to hear from you dear reader. What do you think?
In the last instalment of these series, I’ll explore what it means to live sustainably. See you then!
CONTINUE READING
Chapter 1: Diving in to find a way out of the climate crisis.
Chapter 2: What is consciousness and how it manifests?
Chapter 3: Our behaviour as humans (and as a collective)
Chapter 4: What makes us change?
Chapter 5: Our connection to and disconnection from nature
Chapter 7: Living a sustainable life
