Why We Need Inner Development to Build a Better Future

Today's world is often described as VUCA—volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. The acronym captures the unpredictability of modern life, where everything from climate change to geopolitical tensions is at play. In such a context, stress and uncertainty are not just personal experiences; they have global repercussions that touch every corner of society and as to a UN report seem to be increasing on a global level.

The Planetary Boundaries Crisis

According to researchers, we have already exceeded six of the nine planetary boundaries—the limits within which humanity can safely operate.

From climate change to biodiversity loss, human production and consumption have pushed our planet beyond its limits. Despite global initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), progress has been sluggish.

According to the 2024 UN report, with just six years remaining till 2030, current progress falls far short of what is required to meet the SDGs:

"Without massive investment and scaled up action, the achievement of the SDGs — the blueprint for a more resilient and prosperous world and the roadmap out of current global crises — will remain elusive. The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions and growing climate chaos have severely hindered progress."

A Paradigm Shift is Brewing

The good news is that a shift seems to be underway. In business and society, there is an emerging realization that we need to change course, moving beyond "business as usual" toward more sustainable and purpose-driven approaches. But not everyone is on board yet—many still ignore the pressing challenges of our time.

So, why are the challenges of our lifetime ignored by so many?

One explanation could be that our brains are hardwired to respond to uncertainty with fear, which activates the "fight or flight" and stress response. This has been crucial for survival throughout human history, but in the modern context, chronic stress and anxiety can impair our ability to think clearly, make rational decisions, and foster healthy relationships. Instead of thriving, we get caught in cycles of reactivity and fear.

Can we use this evolutionary human feature for our own good?

Disorienting Dilemmas: The Call for Growth

The idea of embracing disorienting dilemmas may be an answer.

Jack Mezirow, the father of transformative learning, introduced the concept of "disorienting dilemmas"—moments when life no longer makes sense, challenging us to grow beyond our current mindset.

Robert Kegan's work also supports this idea, emphasizing that the complexities of modern life are demanding more of us than ever before—more than many of us are currently equipped to handle.

These disorienting dilemmas are opportunities for transformation. However, they often come with emotional pain—anxiety, fear, and even grief—which can either hinder or catalyze our growth.

An interesting study by Alis Anagnostakis conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic found that leaders who were able to embrace their difficult emotions, rather than push them away, experienced significant growth. They learned to meet their "edge" emotions with curiosity, treating these emotions as signposts for personal development:

”Not all leaders confronted with disorienting dilemmas, transformed. Some even shrank into smaller versions of themselves, reverting to less, not more mature mindsets and behaviours. That seemed to happen because disorienting dilemmas come with very difficult emotions. Anxiety, confusion, fear, grief, shame, guilt - a whole panoply of flavours of pain. If left unexamined and un-managed, these emotions become stoppers for growth... Most people, as would be expected, naturally step back in the face of emotional pain. They reject the pain and, as it turns out, with it they unconsciously refuse the learning. A few, though, do something counterintuitive. They get curious about the pain. They choose to allow themselves to feel it fully and inquire into what it might teach them. They treat those hard emotions as indications that they’ve reached an ‘edge’, beyond which more personal growth awaits. Those were the people who experienced vertical development from the turmoil. For them, the best way OUT was THROUGH.”

Curiosity as a Catalyst for Growth

The study mentioned above interestingly concluded that emotions and curiosity together are key factors in transforming emotional pain into a source of power:

"Interestingly, curiosity did not make the anxiety disappear, but it did something remarkable: it made it bearable. What these leaders did was to create an inner space… where pain/grief/fear could co-exist with curiosity and allow them to step towards that which scared them most."

Hence, leaders who approached their fears and anxieties with curiosity were more likely to grow and develop vertically, expanding their capacity to deal with complexity and ambiguity. Why? They created an inner space where fear could coexist with curiosity, allowing them to explore new ways of thinking and being. This internal work enabled them to experiment with new behaviors and adapt to challenging environments.

This is excellent news for all of us! But, how can we make inner development something that more people explore with curiosity? I believe the Inner Development Goals may be the answer.

The Inner Development Goals

The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) offer a framework for building the inner capacities we need to face the disorienting dilemmas of our time. Rooted in interdisciplinary research, the IDG Framework consists of five dimensions and 23 skills essential for human growth and development. These dimensions include qualities like self-awareness, resilience, and empathy—all crucial for navigating a complex world.

The challenges we face today demand more than technical solutions; they require inner change. As adults, our capacity to grow—often called vertical development—enables us to understand greater complexity, embrace multiple perspectives, and integrate our inner experiences with the outer world. This journey can enhance leadership capacity and wisdom and create a deeper connection with the world.

Ultimately, we are being called to "wake up, clean up, grow up, and show up," as Ken Wilber aptly puts it. This means recognizing that the crises of our time are not just external; they are also internal, requiring us to look inward and develop the capabilities needed to create meaningful change.

Let's Embrace Growth with Curiosity

The disorienting dilemmas we face are opportunities in disguise. Whether it's the climate crisis, geopolitical tensions, or the stresses of everyday life, each challenge invites us to step into our discomfort, grow, and ultimately become better equipped to contribute to the world in positive ways. Through curiosity, resilience, and other inner capacities, we can catalyze the outer change our world desperately needs.

The clarion call is for us to wake up, clean up, grow up, and show up to meet the challenges of our time (as described by Ken Wilber). Because the path forward begins within.

Are you ready for it?

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Learn more:

UN Human Development Report 2021-2022

Progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2024

Vertical Leadership Institute article "The Way Out is Through"

Inner Development Goals

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