MIND newsletter: Collection, system, and hope
Happy Saturday everyone! 😉
1. M (Challenge your mindset)
A funny illustration on whether a marriage is more of a collection or a system, which I came across in an article this week, prompted me to reflect on how this question resonates across various aspects of our careers and lives. Consider the organizations you engage with, be it your workplace, educational institution, or volunteer activities – do they merely consist of individuals and departments collected together, or do they function as cohesive systems? Similarly, when you evaluate the relationships you’ve nurtured personally and professionally, do some resemble mere collections of people while others truly serve as your support systems?
As I write this, I look at my indoor plants and contemplate whether I am just a plant collector or a plant caretaker :).
One of the factors distinguishing a system from a collection, as posited by the author, lies in interdependencies. But not only that – what I find interesting is the emphasis placed on human interaction and purpose. The author asserts that adding humanity into any collection can elevate it into a system, with purpose serving as a organizational catalyst.
From a technical perspective, surely any working environment or organization can be classified as a system. However, from a consciousness point of view, some of organizations out there seem to me to resemble more collections than true systems. Often, a group of individuals convenes, each working within their isolated silos, with minimal genuine interactions and a vague, if any, shared purpose.
This, unfortunately, is extending to our broader society as well. A story shared by my lovely client comes to mind: a teenager disengaging from a family dinner at a restaurant table, yet quickly putting a fake smile for a five-second social media post. It invites us to consider the depth of our disconnect – how much more disconnected can we become from each other? Are we just a collection or a system?
2. I (I’m my own coach)
A moment when each and every one of us decides to withdraw from society, to no longer play an active role as a citizen, is a moment that nudges our society closer to being merely a collection. Despite the numerous challenges we face, we always retain the option to choose where to direct our active hope. This concept was introduced by my esteemed colleague, Trevor Lehman. Check his “Cultivating hope” article to read further.
He distinguishes between Passive Hopes and Active Hopes:
– Passive Hopes: These encompass concerns for which you hope to see change, yet you do not or cannot actively work towards bringing about that change.
– Active Hopes: These are concerns that you not only hope will change but are also committed to actively working to create that change.
Trevor’s suggestion is for us to envision two buckets of hope – one for passive hopes and the other for active hopes. What is the state of these buckets for you? Are they full or empty? Moreover, do they align with your current work and how you structure your daily life?
Is there anything in your active hope bucket that provides us with a sense of purpose?
4. D (Do)
Among your active hopes, what is one thing that holds the potential to guide us towards a ‘system’ society, fostering connections rather than a collection of disconnected individuals?
