I used to think that our public policy was an accurate reflection of our populations’ progression. For example, if we didn’t get voting rights bills passed, it was because not enough of the population thought it was important. But seriously, that’s just...
At the beginning of the year, I often think about myths we need to let go of. It might just be because it’s the dead of winter here in snowy Minnesota, but the one that’s swirling about in my brain is the myth that organizations are frozen in time. When...
Our most-read blogs of the past year have centered around five main themes: Purpose, Hope, Energy, Connection, and of course, Change. This is not surprising, as these elements of living systems are vital to designing strategies that will accelerate the changes we need...
We are now headed into our third year of a global pandemic if you start the clock when COVID-19 appeared in China. This prolonged time of adaptation has tested us on so many levels. It has caused us to see the fragility of our health, education, economic, social, and...
More than 99% of the animal species that have lived on Earth are now extinct. The less than 1% that remain today are survivors and thrivers who have evolved and adapted over centuries of massive change to survive. These animals create conditions to help their...
The sounds of nature serve many purposes. They provide information about weather, the species that occupy the local ecology, communication between and among species, signals on what is happening around them, and signs of danger or opportunity. Sounds are omnipresent...
There is wonderful research on the benefits of gratitude in our lives. When we take time to name the things, people, and events we are grateful for — it helps us in a number of ways. It helps to strengthen our inner resilience, increases feelings of happiness,...
I have over 10 large, old oak trees in my yard and the mighty oak has things to teach us about letting go. We are having a windy day where I live and a six-foot-long, 3-inch diameter branch from one of my oaks just dropped in my driveway – this is typical of oak...
Usually, we think of ROI in financial terms. Are the investments we make measurable and worth what we are spending? This kind of thinking has some background assumptions that limit how we generate costs and benefits of spending choices when it comes to less tangible...
Our two previous blogs were designed to help individuals find and strengthen their own active hope, especially in a time of widespread disruption. Now let’s focus on how we help and inspire others build more active hope in their own lives. Why does inspiring...
