Zen’s Sporadic Blog

Considering we’ve all been through one of the most challenging years in recent history, there’s an opportunity in the challenge to ascend from the pandemic. What does it mean for us individually and/or collectively?

The Great Reset is in process and hopefully those smarter and wiser are facilitating a new normal that fits a sustainable outlook for our future. We really cannot afford to become engrossed with conspiracy notions now, however true they may be. We’ve got to learn how to work together for a brighter, sustainable future.

There are many perspectives to consider. In doing so, my wife and I decided to read Klaus Schwab’s book, COVID-19: The GREAT RESET. We found at least a couple of interesting questions he presented that just make sense to address. In spite of adverse perspectives presented in a ‘globalist’ mindset, it’s just a perspective. We can learn from anything or anyone who seeks a better future. We all have different ideas as to what that might look like, and some amalgamation will occur.

Individual Resets

Schwab is the Founder and Executive Director of the World Economic Forum, and just might know a thing or two. We found something of great interest in his exploration of individual resets, speaking of the forced isolation, whether in an apartment or palatial mansion:

“A variety of such observations have prompted not only social commentators but also the general public itself to ponder whether the pandemic succeeded in bringing the best out of us and in so doing triggering a search for higher meaning. Many question came to mind, like: Might the pandemic give birth to better selves and to a better world? Will it be followed by a shift in values? Will we become more willing to nurture our human bonds and more intentional about maintaining our social connections? Simply put: will we become more caring and compassionate?”

So this ‘new normal’ caring and compassionate side of things does sound a bit like a globalist (a person who advocates the interpretation or planning of economic and foreign policy in relation to events and developments throughout the world.), and transhumanist (a philosophical movement the proponents of which advocate the enhancement of the human condition by developing and making widely available sophisticated technologies able to greatly enhance longevity, mood and cognitive abilities.) approach.

Most of us cannot comprehend the level of people, planning, strategy and wisdom necessary to map out a future for a planet of any kind, let alone a sustainable one. We can and will move forward; just how well we do it will depend on how mindful we can become toward the needs of people and planet. It’s a much different mindset than we’ve enjoyed in the industrial and even beginning of the information age. Digitization and virtual environments have shifted how we work dramatically.

A recent TV series that has both British and American versions, UTOPIA, presents many ethical and moral dilemmas needing to be faced regarding a sustainable future. Like many conspiratorial perspectives, the series shows the behind-the-scenes activity that could exist, and in some form probably does. The gist of the theme is the development of two proteins (one in meat substitute and one in a vaccine) that, when combined in the body, produce sterility in 95% or the population for 3 generations. Like an agenda for population control, we’re faced with the reality that it could be in process with a ‘plandemic’ that offers opportunity.

Complex Systems

Schwab further define areas of focus to include Interdependence, Velocity and Complexity. Schwab states that one word that distils the 21st century would be ‘interdependence,’ and that tech progress and globalization creates the velocity of it. He makes a comment about complexity that I took issue with, but from a different perspective. Complexity doesn’t matter when we start from very simple models, micro-versions with repeating patterns everywhere.

Complex systems are often characterized by an absence of visible causal links between their elements, which makes them virtually impossible to predict. Deep in ourselves, we sense that the more complex a system is, the greater the likelihood that something might go wrong and that an accident or an aberration might occur and propagate.

Regarding the latter, there’s a ‘new normal’ counter-offer and it flies in the face of the modern physics’ concept of entropy. Schwab states a belief system, imho, and we accept it as true. However, from an aware and centered perspective there is a greater likelihood that something will go right and propagate. My life examples that, unless I’m living in some parallel world. Many are experiencing a shift in things going right, simply because they’ve enjoyed the forced isolation and sequestration and looked inward.

That also deserves attention, that good can be propagated just as well. Perhaps it’s a matter of whether we see something from an inner perspective, coherent and connected, or an outer perspective that is overwhelmed by the complexity and feels disconnected. It’s like the glass half full or empty thing. It doesn’t matter when you have the pitcher and refills are unlimited.

For now, let’s remain emotionally distant from judgment. This is just an exploration, a thought experiment if you will. We’ll get into options in a moment.

Advanced Reset

It seems that in order to find harmony in any kind of great reset, we need to understand that the two perspectives are valid and may indeed be a key to understanding the Tao. As we learn to ask better questions, perhaps considering the bridging of the two is worth some effort. How else can we look at or perceive the situation? Is there an expanded view we can take?

When duality is perceived, there is a fine line within the Tao. When we attempt to perceive the oneness, the line disappears and we begin to experience harmony. Harmony isn’t the absence of chaos, it’s the effective integration of it. Chaos naturally reveals order in more complex systems, not necessarily as a result of entropy. It’s there for us to learn how it fits.

The reality is we’re in a very complex system that has grown to global proportions out of interdependence and velocity of change as well as expectations of delivery in the get-it-now age. We don’t understand how it all works, and many don’t care as long as it does. Where does the care and nurturing of human beings in the ‘new normal’ fit in?

Does it? We’re in the midst of a huge change in behavior, moved not so much by climate change now, which is a true crisis, but by economic, social and health concerns governed by corporate interests driven by the profit over people agenda we’ve had for decades. Seems our greatest fears of a dystopian future are being thrown in our faces for review and re-negotiation.

I don’t know, but I suspect, that the great reset will include an inner revolution brought about by the self-hygiene turned inward. People are questioning their values, morals and ethics more than ever, or at least they appear to be. I’ve questioned my ethics, moral and values over my lifetime, so it is nothing new. I’ve grown to know the value of being considerate, kind and observant way beyond the normal ego-centric perspective.

This might sound way out there… For me, it’s like taking an alternative view of the Tao. It’s a two-dimensional symbol. What if we added a third dimension? Could there be something we’ve missed? We need to look at ourselves from the perspective of unity in consciousness. What are those core values?

TAO de New Normal

I’m known for looking at things differently. That’s my job as a transformational life coach and supporter of human evolution. In assessing problems and creating solutions, multiple perspectives are needed. Circular thinking takes critical thinking to a new height. Imagine if we could incorporate a kind of spherical thinking, ignited by the insights received through developing an inner connection.

What if the Tao symbol had a deeper meaning, perhaps a cross-section of our DNA helix with the pulses of light caught in a still view?

It’s not practical in a ‘new normal,’ you might say. The argument is that it is the most practical and pragmatic, recognizing the interconnectedness and access to infinite intelligence through cosmic consciousness. It’s really the next bio-spiritual piece of human evolution. We learn how to manage our reality better, furthering efforts toward a Type 1 civilization and growing together instead of falling separately.

Innovation comes through insight, usually, something that just pops into your head after long periods of contemplation. It’s the same thing only we don’t practice the process of getting access. We don’t have a pause button, let alone the ability to pull back and observe without fear. That goes back to Klaus’ comment above, we expect calamity. You know as well as I do, our imagined fears rarely manifest, yet they drive our lives.

Time to let go of that paradigm, eh? Risk management needs to evolve, emerge as reward management – what happens when we do the right things and good things happen as a result. How do we answer Schwab’s question: Can we be caring and compassionate toward one another? We haven’t been. We’ve been very self-centered and separative in our individual lives, especially in developed countries. We let things happen as long as they aren’t in front of our faces, and sometimes even then.

What ‘New Normal’ ?

How do we redirect the self-sabotaging of consumerism? Our current paradigm is that our purchasing power and acquisition of wealth is self-actualization, not self-sabotaging. We have acknowledged that we’re polluting the atmosphere and planet beyond measure, yet we haven’t changed our habits of living. It’s interesting that during the pandemic and sequestration, we learned how to get along with less activity and ‘stuff’ we once thought was necessary for our happiness.

We went from at least feigned trust-relationships to questioning everyone we meet on the street as being potentially infected. No looking each other in the eye, no hand shakes, so hugs in public and heck, there was no public for a time. As we come out of the masquerading (mixed reviews on the effectiveness of masks) in developing a ‘new normal’ and the essential gagging of the voices of dissenters all over the world, how will we incorporate a new path without dragging the past with us?

Does some kind of ‘spiritual’ or ‘progressive thinking’ path have value? Without fail, every transcendent path contains the cautionary tales of carrying baggage onto the flight. We cannot learn to fly with an anchor around our necks, some embedded in the ground so deep we cannot even consider letting go, let alone do it. Yet, we must in order to create a future free of the constraints of the past. It’s all good, we just need to let our history go.

By letting our ‘his-story’ go we make ‘her-story’ available for view. I know that sounds trite, perhaps, yet it is the feminine qualities that bring out caring and compassionate actions toward others. Patriarchal systems are all about dominance and manipulation of people, places and things for profit, whether it’s capitalism or communism – leaders profit greatly. Matriarchal systems, on the other hand, have always been concerned with the care and maintenance of the village through the care and concern for the children. We’ve lost that awareness; fallen into the trap of acquisition over people and planet and thought it ‘good.’

Transformation Life Coaching’s Role

The notion of a ‘new normal’ in which one can transform their life has been around for a long time. We read and see many stories about those who’ve gone from travesty to triumph, tragedy to transcendence. Now we’re in a position where the population would do well to visit those processes that facilitate such overwhelmingly consistent results. Those who’ve turned inward early in life and chosen a path of service are prime suspects for supportive processes and programs.

The core of change is shifting habits, plain and simple. We have habits of activity, of feeling, even of thinking. We cannot recognize those habits on our own, usually. All we know is that our efforts aren’t producing the desired results. We know change is necessary as doing the same things over and over and expecting different results falls into Einstein’s definition of insanity. How do we change?

Self-examination is the first step. Until we are more aware of our habits and processes, we are incapable of change. The foundation for change just isn’t there. We don’t know our liabilities, limitation and excuses until someone can reflect them in a supportive environment. The ability of a transformational life coach to engage, inquire and reflect ignites the process. The goal is to connect the appropriate and necessary behavioral changes with simple action plans and consistent monitoring to ensure their success.

My early goal was to get the education and experience to be able to reflect the process of developing a consistent method for acquiring insight, inspiration and intelligence to lead others on their journey. I’ve been able to continue to grow in my own awareness as I’ve coached others over the last couple of decades. I continue to look for simplified ways of sharing knowledge, again with the notion of Einstein’s view of understanding – if you can’t explain it simply then you really don’t understand it well enough.

Now in my 60s, I feel like my life has been in preparation to assist others with insight and inspiration for meeting the challenges; practical and pragmatic understanding of facilitating people, places and things to achieve goals, especially those aligned with an inspired vision for life. In that light, I invite you to engage me if you feel a bit of resonance in how I’ve presented the possibilities for a ‘new normal’ to emerge from the pandemic in support of our mutual benefit and sustainability in the world. You’ll be amazed at the results you will get. You will be better prepared for any future as a result. Just reach out.