The Most Important Shift of the 21st Century
In my last article, I highlighted the 6 major human development stages based on the latest scientific evidence. We concluded that being aware of our own mindset is the foundation to become effective leaders. We basically need to take off the fictive glasses that we wear every day that filter everything we sense. In this article, we look ahead. Once we become aware of our mindset, we become aware of our most crucial limitations. But what’s the next evolutionary stage in human cognitive development? What kind of new thinking will bring us the skills suited for the task of the 21st century?
The Great Leap Forward
What scientists know, is that the next consciousness stage is particularly momentous in the human journey. Several authors have tried to characterize this stage. Ken Wilber names it Integral, Abraham Maslow called it Self Actualization, Frederic Laloux labels it TEAL. While the names differ, the characterization of this stage is similar. In the following, we highlight the key elements of people with the most advanced mindset known today.
Recognition of Evolution in Human Consciousness
While all previous mindsets consider their own worldview as the only valid one („everyone else but me is mistaken“), people at the latest evolutionary stage can now — for the first time — accept that there is an evolution in consciousness. That there is an evolutionary development towards an ever more complex and refined way of dealing with the world. It’s like the fish that is able to see water for the first time. Seeing our own worldview allows us to find a new perspective and to disidentify with the old one.
Awareness of our the Ego
What do we find when we start looking inwards at our own mindset? We find out, that it is not our own. It has been given to us by our parents, teachers, friends, communities. Since day one of our life, we are observing the world around us. It’s how we learn e.g. to walk. And it’s also the way we learn to think and what to believe. I have been raised in Germany, in a culture that highly values security, leading to risk-averse behavior and the need to control. If I would have been raised in California, I most likely would believe in a completely different story. We rise when we start to make our own choices: Do I want to believe in what has been given to me by society, by my parents? Do I want to make every decision in my live from a place of unconscious fear, the need to control, or the desire to fit in? Or do I choose a life of trust & abundance? Awareness development of our ego is difficult. But if we chose that route, we are rewarded by the greatest power there is.
From Outside to Inside
Most people are driven by external factors. Most are driven by conformity to social norms, by the narrow yardstick of what society defines as successful (more stuff, more money, more power), or by the need for harmony and belonging. When I make decisions on external drivers, I can never be more than reactive. As the previously mentioned authors found, is that people at a higher consciousness level have in common the ability to shift the yardstick from the external to the internal world. The question of concern shifts from „what will others think“ to „am I being true to myself and my choices“. It’s a completely different compass of life. And a much more powerful one. The ultimate goal in life shifts from „being loved and successful“ to „becoming the truest expression of myself, to live with authenticity, and to become a servant for humanity“.
Wisdom beyond Rationality
Our brains have two „sides“. Left is rational, logical. Right is creative, intuitive. Although people use both sides of the brain, one side or the other generally tends to be dominant in each individual. But people tend to stay in the “comfort zone” of their dominant hemisphere and process every situation according to either a right or left-brain preference. As Abraham Maslow said,
He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail.
We live in a primarily left brain-dominant world, where words and measurement and logic are king, and the more creative, intuitive aspect of our nature is often subordinated. Many of us find it more difficult to tap into our right brain capacity. But people at the next evolutionary level are able to easily tap into both domains of the brain. There are insights to be gained from the logical, analytical side as there are from the emotional, intuitive one. I myself have done a coaching program for 12-month where we regularly trained the intuitive dimension. It’s like a muscle that gets stronger the more often you train it. Intuition basically honors the complex, non-linear nature of reality. We unconsciously connect patterns our rational mind cannot. Intuition allows us to connect to deeper sources, where we find answers that can’t be reached by the rational mind.
Wholeness with Life
As shown in my previous article, humans try to separate everyhing in their minds in order to make sense of the world. We stay with people that see the world as we do and that have the same values. Everyone else is a heretic. We can clearly see it today in the discussions COVID. You are with us or you are stupid, not able to read „the“ facts. And it’s exactly that separation need of us that drives the progression of polarization in our societies, the loneliness of individuals coupled with increasing numbers of suicides, and disconnection to nature leading to its destruction. The new evolving mindset allows us to form again relationships with people and planet. We recognize that we are rich not because of the things we own, but because of the social relationship and wonders of nature that nourish our souls.
To me, these above five characteristics are the major ones of the next big leap of human evolution. There are more. If you are interested, check out the books from the authors I mentioned before. Or contact me if you like to know more. I like to finish that article with a quote by Abraham Maslow:
What a man can be, he must be.
This quotation refers to the goal of the highest level of Maslow’s Pyramid: to realize one’s full potential. Maslow describes this as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be.
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Gregor Braun is a Sustainability Scientist and Consultant in Switzerland. He works closely with firms to develop actionable sustainability strategies and change programs. Gregor writes about change, innovation & sustainability regularly on his website gregorbraun.org. Feel free to connect to him here.
