Personal
Introduction
Individuals are distinct, autonomous and responsible for their decisions. They undertake self-improvement efforts on their own, in their own mind, often alone and in silence. They make decisions that affect their inner experience and their outer behavior. Self-awareness, self-examination, and self-discipline can lead to personal changes that impact others, for better or worse. Despite the prevalence of corrupt, anti-social, and immoral behavior, down deep most people want to learn how to be a better person, less judgmental, and more compassionate. Individual transformation is an essential element in systemic transformation.
Problems
America socializes individuals to focus on selfish pursuits — hyper-competition, consumerism, “get ahead” of others, climb social ladders, dominate and be acknowledged as superior, submit and conform to the dominant culture, and defeat “enemies.” Cheating has become commonplace in the determination to win at almost any cost. Corruption is widespread. Money is a way to keep score and gain respect. This self-centeredness is often rationalized with the claim that “I have to take care of myself and my family before I can take care of others.” It’s reflected in foreign policy with the belief that national self-interest is primary, which ignores what is moral and legal according to international law.
“I can’t change the world until I change myself” is often a form of self-centeredness that becomes a never-ending excuse for avoiding the difficulties associated with collective, social-change efforts. Moreover, in fact, merely trying to change the world changes yourself, and a better world will nurture personal change. But “What’s in it for me?” is a modern mantra. These beliefs promote win-lose, zero-sum attitudes and discount win-win, positive-sum solutions.
Solutions
Self-examination, prayer, meditation, communing with Mother Nature, dancing, and listening to music are some of the methods individuals can use to deepen their personal awareness and resolve. Even learning how to relax while doing nothing can be broadly beneficial. Individuals, often in private solitude, can improve their ability to form partnerships to serve humanity, the environment, and life itself.
For many people, these are spiritual matters. Multiple faith traditions articulate particular beliefs to explain these mysterious realities and guide behavior. Underlying all of these traditions is a shared appreciation for nonmaterial, invisible realities. The mind cannot be measured. The spirit is necessarily embodied, and the human body is necessarily enspirited. Body and soul are one. Nevertheless, spirit, emotions, and thoughts are distinct. They differ from the rock in your hand, and your body does not control your behavior. You do. You are not a machine. You are free to pursue love, truth, justice, and beauty.
Individuals can dedicate themselves to self-development and compassionate service. Most people see this process as spiritual because it affirms the invisible — the immaterial that’s embedded in the material. When humans look within and go down deep, they discover the ground of being with which all life is interwoven. These discoveries naturally, spontaneously lead to the pursuit of truth, justice, and beauty, and a commitment to serve humanity, the environment, and life itself — the amazing, mysterious, and awe-inspiring force that preserves itself, grows, and becomes more complex as it evolves.
An intentional commitment to personal growth can strengthen efforts to advance social change, which can strengthen personal growth. Changing yourself and changing the world enhance each other. The individual and the community are equally important. Neither comes first. We can avoid both self-sacrifice and selfishness.
Actions addressed in other Systemopedia sections — such as intentional mutual support (Social), deepening knowledge (Cultural), promoting economic cooperation (Economic), nurturing harmony with Nature (Environmental), and improving public policies (Political) — nurture self-improvement. At the same time, a commitment to solitary, private self-improvement is immensely valuable.
The resources in this section present ideas and proposed actions concerning ways to deepen this personal growth, which can provide a foundation for meaningful, supportive communities whose members collaborate in co-equal partnerships to advance holistic and systemic transformation.
Personal Resources
These resources focus on how individuals can advance holistic and systemic transformation by making decisions and taking actions, both inner- and outer-directed, to become more fully human. (To return here after using any of the hotlinks below, use the Back Arrow at the upper left part of your screen – or – “x” out the new window to return to the Systemopedia window.)
The Desire to Dominate
Listening
Mutual Support
Ambition
Compassion
Meditation
Prayer
Self-examination
Nutrition
Exercise
Learning
Reading
Media Literacy
Communing with Nature
Celebrating a Sabbath
Relaxation
Bias
Character
Death
Balance Individual Vs. Community
Undo Internalized Oppression
Life
Morality
Personal Growth/Mental Health
Rationality
Spirituality
Proposed Actions
See Adaptive Actions
Other Actions
Baratunde’s Recommendations — He suggests: Take 15 minutes and write for yourself responses to:
What is your superpower in our fight to make society better for us all? Is it your pen, your voice, your checkbook?
What protects you and who has your back when things get tough?
Who is your beloved community? Your revolutionary pocket? The group you connect most with? The group that will show up when things get tough?
What object or activity grounds you and reminds you who you are?
Where do you find joy and what are you going to do every day to protect that joy?
COMMENT
Would it be useful to start the Personal Introduction with a couple sentences that point out that Individuals represent the ONLY source for Systemic Transformation? If we do not do this, it will NEVER happen. Individuals creating collective action are the only path to transformation.
Would it help expand the Solution section. Something like; Personal Growth must take place at multiple levels: self, relationships with others, collaborative, compassionate partnerships, spiritual?
Should you include your insight that it is hard for individuals to 'grow' on their own -- that it is important for the whole team to support personal growth of one another -- which will also contribute to 'team growth"?
—Larry Walker
At the top, I added: “Individual transformation is an essential element in systemic transformation.” Elsewhere I also added “Personal growth takes place in multiple dimensions: inner (often in solitude) and outer (various forms of interpersonal interaction)… Intentional mutual support for spiritual or self-development is immensely valuable.”
Thanks much for the heads up.
—Wade