Introduction to Hearts and Minds
A New Spirit of Activism and Advocacy.
Introduction to Hearts and Minds
About two years ago, I had a profound realization that I want to make a better effort to shift my life and career in the direction of what I believe to be my life’s broader purpose - to be an instrument of peace and a force for good in the world, especially as these often fraught and challenging times create more disruption, division, cynicism, and conflict.
With that intention, I set out on a writing journey applying thoughts and ideas towards creating a greater awareness around the myriad challenges facing humanity, often lost in the day to day due to the increasing pace of life, content saturation, and the rapid reset of media cycles. I was growing concerned about the influence of our individual feeds, so narrow in terms of their bandwidth, leading to smaller and smaller bubbles of information and engagement, and in some cases, troubling distortions of truth. Frustration was mounting as I further contemplated how we have never been more connected, yet never so apparently divided or distracted, and never so seemingly confused about our common values and what it might be we are striving to work towards as a collective humanity.
Despite this concern and frustration, I started this work with the intention of applying thoughts and ideas towards cultivating a more optimistic point of view, in hopes of building an engaged community through broader conversations around the potential in humanity’s ability to meet our current and future challenges with cooperation and shared vision, despite their anticipated complexity and scope.
Originally, this writing project, made up of my own musings on modernity and the wonder of humanity; questions about our future—where we’re headed and how we’ll handle it; and thought experiments intended to spark further conversations and action, was intended to be compiled and published as a book, and still may be. However, I feel by publishing here in short form content, it might more immediately reach those of you with whom it might resonate.
I believe there are many people out there in this moment who share similar feelings that the task of shaping a more attentive, focused, compassionate, just, and equitable humanity in this age of such rapid shifts cannot be so incredibly daunting that it’s simply a hopeless task not worth undertaking.
We’ve at least got to try.
In a time when we are facing what may be the greatest period of adversity our species has ever seen, we must acknowledge we have the opportunity to embrace the greatest potential our species has ever seen.
We must also be mindful of the potential that exists for innovations which unfold in the very near future to further inequality and division, to distort truth, to trigger social unrest, and to escalate conflict.
I believe, at this time, we each have a responsibility to contribute our voice to the conversation, and to actively participate in securing a better future for ourselves and our planet.
In a world where every issue and its constituent details are increasingly politicized, it is necessary to remember, and to advocate, that regardless of party affiliation, nationality, or ideology, everyone must be capable of acknowledging a shared interest in ensuring the survival and well-being of our species, as well as the countless species which make up the entirety of life as we know it on this planet.
It doesn’t matter your political affiliation. Or nationality. Or ethnicity. Or ideology. We all share the same future. The direction of change must be decided by us, the collective humanity.
The connected collective humanity.
Power of people is the greatest power. We define our own purpose. Both individually and collectively. It’s so important at this time for us to take time within ourselves, come together, and get clearer about what that purpose is.
We can either let go and acquiesce that changes in humanity are completely out of our control, and let the chips fall where they may…
Or
We can understand that we do have an opportunity, at any time, to choose to be involved and play an instrumental part in shaping humanity’s future, rather than losing ourselves in an overabundance of content or any of the other innumerable modern trappings and the stagnation which they create.
I want to cause a disturbance in that stagnation. Now.
If Not Now, When?
Considering the kind of future we’re moving towards with regard to: climate and environment, unprecedented technological advances and discoveries, content and information, misinformation, globalization, resources, escalating international conflict, new weapons systems, education, forward leaps in medical science, longevity, new social class and economic systems, surveillance, privacy, connectivity, neuroconnectivity, augmented reality, and the significant changes within our own unique consciousness and intelligence as a result; I believe there is a moral imperative for our species to conduct and carry out a kind of thorough self assessment in this moment, this inflection point in which we live.
Now that we have arrived in an era when we can expect: the balance of our planet’s delicately interwoven natural systems to further destabilize if left unchecked; new challenges in the form of technologies designed, in the interests of a very small percentage of human beings, to distort reality and upend current institutions in order to further their own interests, regardless of consequences; and our technological advancement and development to only continue to grow exponentially, outpacing our own ability to adapt to it; we must ask:
Are enough people morally and ethically equipped to take on the kind of shared responsibility and cooperation we’ll need to navigate some of the strangeness, complexity, and ambiguity the future will bring?
I believe enough people may be.
The question is, are enough people engaged?
Are enough citizens, groups, and organizations with a focus on similar goals in tech, climate, policy, and progressive change connecting and working together in as great a capacity as possible to build a greater strength towards moving humanity forward responsibly, ethically, and equitably, despite the massive challenges of the present day—as well as the unknown challenges and discoveries rapidly approaching on the horizon?
The more voices and coalitions we have which are engaged and contributing to the conversation in the present, the better chance we have to effect transformative change together in the coming decades.
I’m of the belief that as an intelligent species, the only choice we have to evolve towards a more advanced society is by creating a more peaceful and stable society.
Innovation will find us arriving in an age where more advanced technology, along with better access to, and management of resources, offers us a real chance to improve and streamline society at large—it’s just a matter of what we do with ourselves then.
It can only be reasoned that the sole path an intelligent species can take to advance its society is through cooperation and action towards elevating every member of the species to new levels of productivity and innovation in themselves, thereby contributing to a more productive and innovative society.
Hearts and Minds — A New Spirit of Activism and Advocacy:
My vision is to co-create an organization, or movement, which functions as a kind of cross-cultural, worldwide, non-denominational ministry.
Here, I use the word ministry in a very general sense (I don’t like using exclusively christian terminology, as I myself don’t identify with any particular faith), and by which I mean an organization or movement which focuses on broadening its reach by continuously putting energy towards outreach and messaging which promotes the betterment of humanity, with a focus on our virtues and our potential, so that we might begin to conduct ourselves as a collective with more compassion and solemnity.
Let’s imagine what that might look like.
Imagine building a movement promoting acceptance of the fellow human being for the sake of what is good and true of all the faiths of the world, with an overall message of understanding and compassion, emphasizing the key tenet of all ethical traditions: the golden rule.
Imagine a movement with broader reach focused on breaking up the stagnation of the polarization and division and distraction we see today, which is only to our collective detriment, by emphasizing the golden mean—a philosophical principle of moderation that advocates for finding a balance between extremes.
Imagine creating a platform promoting messaging empowering ordinary people to understand how their own sustained focus and attention, as well as their ability to both discern and adapt to the rapidity of content and information in the near future is of paramount importance.
Imagine a future humanity which has achieved success through technology and innovation in tandem with a shift in culture and lifestyles to restore balance to the planet and its ecosystems.
Imagine a future society which has been able to cultivate a more thoroughly moderate existence in terms of both its consumption and its conflict.
Imagine a present humanity prioritizing finding ways to shift society and align our values across cultures in such a manner as to find consensus in terms of what may be best for our long term survival and advancement?
Imagine creating a platform to serve this movement which curates and amplifies connected communities, provides access to actionable resources, and facilitates in-person organization and advocacy towards highlighting the virtues and values that will help us move forward as a species.
It’s an ambitious vision, but I believe it’s achievable.
With enough people working together with sustained focus, dedication, and strategy, the possibility exists to build a movement that gains traction in a better effort to reawaken humanity’s sense of shared purpose.
Again, I believe there is a moral imperative which must be acknowledged in these times of such nuance and delicacy. We should be thinking and acting with real intention about what kind of world we want to create now in a better effort to steer us in the direction of making decisions of such gravity with a sacred approach and a devoted care.
How might we restore and instill a sense of awe and reverence for humanity in ourselves and each other through being mindful of what we have been so capable of achieving in our species’ time on this planet—as well as being more mindful of what we have been so capable of taking for granted?
How do we mature in a way which brings us to new levels of care for each member of our species in a way that creates a more nurturing and stable society?
How might we someday ensure that we are, each of us, performing at our best?
Given our potential in this moment, what might we be able to change in our institutions and governance to help human beings in the world achieve, below the bar of greed and excess, a state of optimal satisfaction and happiness, and ultimately, increased productivity, trust, common courtesy and respect as a result of that improvement in health and lifestyle.
How might we prepare to transition to a society like that?
I believe deeply in our responsibility to take action now. As an intelligent species, the only path to true advancement is through cooperation, compassion, and collective action. Together, we can co-create a movement which catalyzes that change and helps humanity take the next great leap forward.
Let us now ask:
What do the beginnings of a movement like that look like?
Thank you for taking the time to read this. As this publication grows, I’ll be regularly posting notes and short essays designed to foster deeper contemplation, engagement, and connection.
I’m currently seeking like minded folks so that we might network and learn from each other across fields: nonprofit leaders, tech developers, community organizers, content creators, and anyone with whom this resonates. If that’s you, I want to hear your thoughts, collaborate on ideas, and work together. If it’s someone you know, please share this publication with them and encourage them to engage.
I’m particularly interested in working with people who can help bridge divides, connect existing movements, and develop language and messaging that resonate with everyday people outside academic or activist circles.
I hope to be instrumental in bringing about an age of greater enlightenment with my work. That’s not to say I hope to be solely responsible for that, but to be a contributor in the direction of it.
I just want to know that I did what I could.
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