Reflections on 2024: Spiritual Sparks, Scientific Marvels, and Managerial Insights

As the year comes to an end, I find myself drawn to personal reflection. Some may argue that LinkedIn is not the typical place for such introspection, but here I am giving it a try.

One of the things I am thankful for in 2024 is the spiritual, religious - some might say philosophical - wisdom or guidance that emerged, supporting me in whatever comes next on this journey called life. During my business trips this year, I had the privilege of meeting people who are deeply religious but also remarkably tolerant and open. They taught me a lot about Islam, and I look forward to learning much more in the coming years. From these encounters, I discovered the moral foundation that a religious belief can offer through both good and bad times. Indeed, faith and morality often go hand in hand, and I believe it is easier to uphold moral standards when one’s belief system is robust. If we look at global religions without any bigotry, the core values often revolve around love and compassion.

Deep Discussions and the Spark of Curiosity

In 2024, that initial spark of spiritual interest was ignited through in-depth conversations with these highly religious individuals, some of whom have become friends. But my internal fire was further fueled by my PhD research into consciousness and AI. There, I found myself fascinated by how little science truly knows about consciousness - something so fundamental to our being.

My research also led me to quantum computing and, by extension, quantum mechanics. Reading about phenomena like quantum entanglement underscored just how interconnected everything might be at a fundamental level. Amid these explorations, I saw a captivating documentary on Netflix, The Invisible Universe: Inside the Gut, which examined how our consciousness and mood might be tied to the microbiome in our gut. As I delved into each of these topics - consciousness, quantum mechanics, and biology through the gut-brain axis - I realized in 2024 that everything seems connected in ways we barely understand.

The Mystery of Water and Star Origins

If anyone doubts this sense of cosmic connectivity, just consider the origin of life: water. Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen, and the very oxygen we breathe is forged in the hearts of stars. Reflecting on the fact that we humans are about 70% water - a substance literally born in stellar processes - gives me pause. It highlights how we carry within us the remnants of ancient cosmic events, bridging the grand scale of the universe and the intimate scale of our own bodies, to much much smaller things like quantums.

Discovering Daoism and Zen

This sense of awe about universal interconnection found resonance in my spiritual explorations when I stumbled upon Daoism (or Taoism). Originating hundreds of years before Christ, thinkers like Laozi (Lao Tzu) and Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) articulated a belief system celebrating the idea of a force that connects everything - a believe or phenomena modern science is researching today in different disciplines. An indescribable essence called the Dao.

Intrigued by these texts, I embarked on a journey to learn more in 2024. I remain a learner, and I suspect I always will be.

Studying Daoism also led me toward Zen Buddhism, a branch of Buddhism deeply influenced by Daoist ideas, primarily developed in Japan. Through Zen, I started discovering Buddhism’s roots, its teachings, and the broader notion of interconnectedness. My belief continues to grow the more I read and learn - especially as I integrate meditation into my daily life. Although I’ve practiced meditation for a few years to manage back problems, in 2024 I began meditating as part of a spiritual journey. Research supports the idea that mindfulness and meditative practices not only help with pain like in my back but can also enrich one’s emotional and spiritual well-being. My own experience reaffirms how the mind and body are connected in ways we are still trying to understand, again supporting the conceptual idea of the Dao.

A Winding Spiritual Path

Like many roads, the spiritual path can be winding, sometimes climbing uphill before descending again. My own spiritual journey began long ago, but 2024 was the year I became consciously aware of it. I do not expect it to end any time soon. Maybe it is a journey for eternity.

Being a general manager of an international holding company, I think that this evolving spiritual perspective could make me an even more empathetic and insightful leader. Daoism’s principle of wu wei - often misunderstood as passivity - can actually lead to more effective outcomes when managing both business processes and people. This view is also supported in some managerial literature.

In organizational settings, wu wei can be interpreted as a form of strategic non-interference: allowing teams and systems to adapt and flourish with minimal coercion, ultimately fostering trust and creativity - qualities increasingly needed in today’s rapidly changing environment.

Beyond AI and robotics, organizations now contend with labor shortages, shifting demographics, and geopolitical uncertainties, all of which compound the pressure to evolve swiftly. Research suggests that demographic changes, such as aging populations and skill gaps, can disrupt traditional management models (McKinsey Global Institute, 2020). Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions can alter supply chains and market access, demanding flexible leadership styles responsive to sudden upheavals.

In the face of these multifaceted challenges, wu wei encourages leaders to adopt a form of “active non-action,” providing necessary direction without micromanaging. By leaning on employees’ intrinsic motivation and expertise, managers can nurture an environment where adaptive problem-solving and resilience emerge more naturally. Such an approach avoids the rigidity of top-down directives that often fail amid unpredictable shifts in markets or global policies. Instead, wu wei offers a means for organizations to remain agile, capitalizing on change rather than being overwhelmed by it.

2025 and Beyond: AI Governance, Ethical Questions, and Connectivity

Looking ahead, I plan to continue my PhD research, delving also deeper into the ethical implications of AI governance - especially when dealing with decentralized but interconnected AI systems. If someday these systems exhibit properties akin to consciousness, what ethical, moral, and legal consequences would emerge? In a world where everything seems to be linked, how might AI fit into this web of connectedness? These are questions I expect will loom large in 2025 and beyond.

I remain grateful for 2024, the year that truly lit the spark for me to notice just how much everything seems to be intertwined - whether our consciousness, the water in our bodies, the cosmic dust we harbor within us, or the spiritual path we tread.

I hope that by sharing these reflections, I might inspire others to broaden their perspectives - moving away from purely materialistic "LinkedIn" pursuits and seeking deeper meaning in life. Likewise, I encourage everyone to try to become better managers and better humans through love and compassion, which may be needed more than ever in the years to come between nations, religions, and humanity as a whole. I feel like I am still only at the beginning of this journey, striving to learn every day, and of course I know I’m far from being perfect - and perhaps never will be. Nonetheless, I eagerly look forward to the years - and even the lifetimes - to come, continuing down this path of discovery and awe.

I am optimistic for 2025 and the years ahead. Despite the challenges we face - whether technological, geopolitical, or societal - I believe that with openness, resilience, and a commitment to empathy, we can harness innovation and progress for the greater good. By embracing curiosity and collaboration, we can continue to evolve, both personally and collectively, toward a brighter future.

References

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Disclaimer: This text was refined with the assistance of ChatGPT. All ideas, perspectives, and conclusions expressed here remain solely those of the author.