A New Story
Jeff McAuliffe, MA, ACC
Climate Change Agent and Principal at McAuliffe Consulting Inc
It’s hard to believe that this is the 50th edition of 52 Weeks of Earth Day! ?The format for this newsletter usually includes three primary elements – some new information or data on an aspect of climate change, some story element to engage the imagination and some action that the reader can employ to shift from climate change bystander to change agent.? If there’s one thing I’ve learned over this past year, we have no shortage of information, data or actions.? The answers are readily available.? I believe our collective deficit is imagination.? Guest writer Schuyler McAuliffe wrote a March edition of 52 Weeks (Stories of our Future) on this very subject.? What we need is a new shared story.
Everyone is chock full of stories.? At one level, we have the stories that have guided us from our families of origin, often summarized in short aphorisms: “Waste not, want not.”? We put those stories to work, moment by moment, creating and reinforcing other stories about how the world works and why people do what they do.? That’s how human beings are wired – we are meaning making creatures.? It’s not enough to simply notice that, while driving, a car sped by you and then pulled right in front of you.? You will likely have an emotional reaction and then start creating a story about the negative attributes of the driver.?
At a collective level, we also have “meta” or “uber” stories.? Joseph Campbell was noteworthy for studying stories and myths from around the world. ?Through his most popular book, the Power of Myth, and his PBS interview series with Bill Moyers, Campbell described the “Hero’s Journey” as a foundational collective story.? The basic pattern of this story follows a person’s initial call to adventure, resistance to the call, answering the call and starting the journey, finding allies and enemies.? On the road, the hero (or heroine) faces countless barriers and trials leading to a sense of lonely failure.? But then they finally prevail through support from allies and the sacred marriage of the outer and inner.? Now comes the long road home – transformed hero, transformed world.? The journey is both an inner journey and an outward journey.? Sound familiar?? George Lucas was the first film producer who claimed Campbell as his source for Star Wars with Luke Skywalker as the hero.? Since then (1977), how many Star Wars prequels and sequels have followed?? And what about the endless Marvel and DC superhero movie releases every year with the same damn theme?? Yes, there is value in finding inner resources and achieving great things in one’s life.? We all want to be the hero in our own story.? However, it all comes down to the “great person” – the resourceful individual against the evils of the world.? Campbell himself even mused with Moyers on the world’s need to move on to a new story – the time of the individual hero had run its course. ?
In the United States, we have our own distorted image of the hero – the rugged individual, the steely cowboy; think John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.? Our very democracy has been imperiled by a resurgence of this hero worship and the “Great Man” theory of leadership (note: this was not titled “Great Person” – another problematic meta-story).? This early 20th century theory asserts that leaders are born, not made; that we simply need to do the right job of leader selection, give them the power they need and all will be well.? We don’t need to be active participants in shaping our world, that’s the job of leaders.? We just follow and they provide safety and protection.? The resurgence of autocrats around the world signals the need for a new story.
I believe we need to collectively write this new story.? No single individual is going to write it.? This story may have many permutations, but it will have a pattern or some fundamental assumptions (Campbell’s original book was entitled “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”).? Here is my attempt at a starting list of foundations for this new story:
领英推荐
What would be some of the attributes of this new story from your perspective?? Please add your thoughts – let’s make this a dialogue!
Dear reader of 52 Weeks –
As we reach one year of weekly publications, I am reflecting on next steps and determining whether to continue this effort.? I would greatly appreciate any feedback you could provide on this newsletter.?
Thank you, in advance, for your feedback.?
Vice President at Integrated Work
1 年Jeff, I read every post and particularly enjoyed this one. I hope you keep writing them so I can continue to read and share! The thing I find most useful is your mix of optimism and realism. The links you share ground the content in data and give folks like me helpful places to dig deeper. I really like the starting list of foundations and have been thinking about what I might add. So far everything I come up with is covered in these 4, but I'll keep going, it's a great exercise! Thank you for 50 weeks and counting!
Leadership Development Specialist
1 年Thanks Jeff. I just came across this short film that's given me a way to begin to imagine "A New Story". Thought I'd share the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjOQB608ylQ To be continued...
Leadership coach & educator | Organization development
1 年Howdy, Jeff. I think I've read almost every issue of 52 weeks. I think you do a great job bringing in data and context--but most of all giving suggestions of what we might do. I have taken several actions you've suggested. Your newsletter is making a difference in my life and in the lives of the people who sit still long enough for me to share your work. I particularly love the empathic quality of your writing. You don't pull punches, and yet it's not "blamey." That's a fine balance, and you nail it. Thanks for your guidance in this existential issue!