Our Shared Future Ahead: Finding Inspiration Even in the Midst of Darkness

from a million points, arose a Flock
and from a flock came a face
which breathed in the rising storm
and flew, still and silent, against the glossy grey

silent but for the wind, the sky grew Dark
and from the dark came thunder
which spoke with poise to earthly eyes
and kissed, with soft fingertips, the weary ground

droplets fell like tears, lost within an autumn rain
and rain washed away failing humble dreams
which breathed out their remaining flames
and flew, like the flock, silently away from here.

The tragic events of this week in Belgium, the tragic events in Paris earlier this year, the barrage of news of violence inflicted on civilians around the world – it can create a troubled sense of encroaching darkness. At the same time the news of financial turmoil in different parts of the world, of growing social and economic divides, that jobs are being replaced by automation – all add to a gnawing sense of bad storms ahead.

1. A Phone Call and a Hello

A friend on the phone earlier this week asked me whether trying to push for anything “good” in this world was worthwhile. Do individual humans have any influence on whether outcomes in this world a benevolent or not anymore?

My reply was whatever concerns or troubles presenting themselves on the world stage – or more locally in our lives – are exactly the spark needed to rally positive “change agents” to make a difference. With absolute certainly each of us as individuals can extend ripples on the global pond and make a contribution that can shift the world’s future fate between a longer-term brighter (or darker) future ahead for us all.

By most measures, our world has never been more interconnected than it is now. Events half a world away can be shared at rapid speed producing torrents of information. This can magnify a sense of looming troubles compared to potentially “simpler”, earlier times when the lack of connectivity allowed us to be unaware of all these issues. At the same time we should recognize the important spark that we are now increasingly aware of these issues, though perhaps more context and different perspectives are dimensions that could be improved.

The beginnings of global awareness can itself can be a rallying call to reflect and determine what each of us can do.

Now is the time where societies grapple with an interconnected world. Now is the time we confront the definition of what it means to be human: both as individuals and as a world of 7.3 billion going on 8 billion people in the next six years.

2. Finding Opportunities to Make a Positive Impact

We need not be passive bystanders as the world rushes by; we can pick a niche to make a positive impact. Whether we choose a vocation or avocation to make a difference, we can be those ripples on a pond and add our energies to others and make a benevolent difference.

This doesn’t mean we’ll approach solutions in the same manner, and this might not even mean that we agree on the definition of what’s a “better” solution for others. These are the challenges of human societies, human beliefs, and human ideologies. There is no simple answer as to whether something is benevolent or not as a course of action to take in the midst of darkness, however if it provides multiple benefits to multiple parties and minimal downsides to anyone then that’s usually a good indicator.

Perhaps our world needs to draft a version of a large-scale Hippocratic oath:

Seek first to do no further harm, then seek to stop the sources of “bleeding” if they exist, and finally seek to improve the conditions of as many people as possible?

Yet even then, sometimes stopping bleeding sometimes requires some harm to stabilize a patient or get the situation better. Humans are as diverse in their perspectives, beliefs, and actions as there are combinations of letters to form words. What words do you want to embody with your thoughts and actions?

3. Inspiration Even in the Midst of Darkness

Circling back to my friend on the phone, my reply was absolutely yes now is the critical time in which what each of us chooses to do matters. Now and the decade ahead is a pivotal time when our interconnected world grapples with the reality of these connections and what it means to be human both individually and collectively.

There are no easy answers when faced with darkness. Yet confronting darkness should serve as a rallying call that what each of us listens to and reflects upon, what each of us says and communicates, what each of us does while – like a million birds in flight – shape the direction our world takes.

What contribution do you want to make?

we are all in the darkness Together

using our hands, to feel;
nearby, our eyes to try
and make out images
from shadows –

with voices to call; hello.


p.s. Last week the World Economic Forum named its 2016 Young Global Leaders; congratulations to all the "change agents" named and I'm humbled to be included. It's my hope that positive change agents everywhere, including the millions working today on efforts not recognized yet for their endeavors, can work together towards a more benevolent and shared future for everyone.

Here's to more ++#ChangeAgents for our exponential era ahead.