Convergence

These are transformational times, as most of us would agree in light of the multiplicity of events at the collective level, in which our future feels quite unpredictable. Perhaps we called it upon ourselves: by repeating the mantra for years that "change is faster than ever before".

The natural consequences of the exhorbitant speed of change are of course that we can't make sense of it. Change is faster and more multi-faceted than we are. And while some bright minds may attempt to explain how we got there, it is truly hard to explain why this is so, without resorting to simplistic explanations.

Owning up to our ignorance

What is abundantly clear is that we are converging towards a point in which we will increasingly witness systemic collapse (I won't get into the details of that here as it is a whole article in itself, but if you're wondering what I'm referring to: here's one view on how to tell that society as we know it is falling apart).

The way we organised ourselves, the way we behaved, the way we shortsightedly focused on quantifiable metrics are all starting to become part of the past. Things we did in ignorance (naive or intended) of the impact and consequences.

It is not something that happens from one day to the next, like flipping a switch. Undeniably though, we reach a point in which we cannot (conveniently or otherwise) ignore the consequences of our decisions and our actions. We need to own up to them.

Collapse is relentless and perhaps inevitable if we cannot adapt to change to the full degree that is necessary. It can be painful and it can be chaotic. But the space created by the collapse of systems and structures is also the starting point of a new paradigm.

Converging realisations

The consequences of the past and the impact of our decisions about the future converge at a single point in time. Right now.

Today is the day in which you shape (y)our future. And it is also the day in which the past is reckoned with.

There is no passing the buck. There are no externalities. There is no planet B. It is up to us, starting right this moment.

A creative process

Transformation is a creative process. It starts with the realisation that we must change. It engages our curiosity and capacity to ask new questions, in search of new answers.

And transformation involves taking the next step in awareness. It is not about jumping from where we are into the void of the unknown, for that would render us powerless. It requires vision and courage.

Emerge & See

So we must roll up our sleeves and address the unknown, by joining forces, perspectives, ideas and capacities. We are in a state of emergency. It will take all of us, each of us, to transform our world and our systems. As Robert Frost candidly worded: "The only way out is through". We must address the issues of our time, we must transit through the portal of convergence, so that we may emerge on the other side as we co-create together.

We must engage with the courage that emerges from within us when we connect with our creativity and ingenuity, in order to create a new, kinder, better, more sustainable world for us all. Transformation is -as the word suggests- about changing ("trans-": across, beyond) the structures ("-formation": form, shape, organization).

Topics like sustainability, inclusion, diversity are arising to the mainstream as a sign of this emergence. We are seeing, together, that this is what we must pursue, what we must put on the agenda, what we should work towards jointly.

Each of us needs to rise up to the challenge, to emerge. And help us all together see a future that is boundless in its potential and real in its possibilities. To help us all be conscious of the impact of our choices, to accept that we have a responsibility for what we decide and for what we do, to see beyond today by realising that the point where the past and the future converge is the point where we can change the world. Every single moment we are given that choice, again and again.

Authenticity

It takes courage to stand our ground, to act from an authentic concern for a kinder, better, more sustainable world. Change is so fast that it blurs our vision of the future. So fast that it might cause us to doubt whether it is worth trying to make a meaningful difference.

There is chaos around us. And we will continue to see collapse of systems and structures. But fear not. This crumbling of outdated and inauthentic systems is making room for authentic, connected, versatile new ways of doing that we are still to create, invent, and improve together.

This is a time of convergence. A rebirth, or renaissance. A coming together of forces of all kinds. A convergence of change: which stretches limits to the point of breaking. Like the crest of a wave, which feels powerful and daunting. A pivotal point.

But also convergence of change-makers. A coming together of true, authentic leaders. The brave ones who appear in the presence of the void that is caused by change. Those who can see that waves can bring in new energy, can allow us to surf and reimagine and unfold in new, fabulous ways.

All creative acts demand convergence and authenticity. Convergence of ideas, to connect the dots in new ways. Convergence of thinking and doing, to bring ideas to life. Convergence of people and intentions, to make things happen. Convergence of determination and purpose, to do that which is best for all. And an authentic, real, engaged attitude for each of us to be the conduits of new forms of expression.

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About the author

Carola Verschoor is the founder and chief creative at Transformational Studio where she integrates decades of industry practice, design-driven methods and innovative approaches into participative, interactive and provocative consulting services. 

Through her work she helps transform perspectives, businesses, brands, people & teams through design leadership, authentic strategies, innovative interventions and creative boosts. Her aim through her practice is to (r)evolutionize change in a complex world and help embody the transformation we wish to see in business today.

Carola is the author of Change Ahead, which is recognised as a leading book on the emerging practices at the intersection of business strategy, research and design.