‘The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking. If we want to change the world we have to change our thinking…no problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew’.
Albert Einstein
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We start to create our own world from the moment we are born. We build our identity and sense of self , first in relation to the caregivers around us and then in relationship to the wider world we encounter. We develop our own sense of direction and moral compass. We learn quickly what behaviour receives approval from our family members, social groups, institutions and communities. Sometimes our world undergoes a radical rethink as we navigate our adult lives.
Our complete life experience contributes to the shape and colour of the lenses through which we see the world. These lenses determine how connected we feel, how much we care and how much we want to change things. This is our consciousness, our subjective experience of being ‘me’. And each lens is different, giving each of us a unique perspective on how the world looks and feels and what it is to be human.
There can be no doubt that our human activity is damaging the beautiful, abundant and medicinal environment that planet Earth provides us. Yet how can we mobilise each and every human on the planet into having an awareness of equitable and sustainable living? What will it take for that level of change to take place?
We need to change the lenses we wear to see the world differently. Instead of those trendy tortoiseshell frames, why not try a pair that are recycled or sustainably-sourced? How does the world appear when you see it from a different viewpoint?
This shift in consciousness is how we start to perceive the world anew. And if enough people commit to changing the way they see the world, if Einstein got it right, we can shift the consciousness of the entire Earth community.
For everyone – from politicians and corporate leaders to individuals in towns, cities and villages – the journey of conscious transformation begins with a change in understanding at the most personal level. Only then is wider transformation possible.
Learning to see the world anew takes courage, commitment and community. Yet if we can shift our thinking – or alter the lens through which we observe life – if only by a tiny degree, we can reap unimaginable benefits.
Cosmic Jive 