Personal Qualities That Can Change the World [#8]

On self-care, systems-thinking, and feelings

For as long as I have been aware of the ongoing environmental and social unraveling in the world, I have sought solutions from the outside.

I asked, “What’s the next technological innovation that will help clean up this mess?” or “What business can I support that has a positive impact on the planet?”

Now I realised that one of the most impactful lessons was on the inside: navigating difficult emotions & feeling more at peace with what's happening.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ― Rumi

We know that we are facing systemic problems. S

Systems consist of many humans.

If we want to change the system, we need to change ourselves.

Here are 10 personal qualities to develop that can help you change the world:

#1 Self-Care

This might be counterintuitive.

But you can’t care for others if you don’t care for yourself.

I see these 3 pillars are the most important:

• Nutritious-dense food ideally from the local, regenerative farmer
• 8+ hours of sleep every night
• regular exercise and movement

It’s often seen as selfish, but caring for yourself is practicing self-love.

Don’t let anyone tell you different.

You need to have full batteries to change the world.

#2 Grounding

It’s easy to go crazy, knowing what you know. You need to stay grounded.

Walk barefoot on grass or take a walk in the forest to improve your mental health. Walking in nature releases or clarifies thoughts & emotions

Try to find a supportive tribe with whom you can discuss what moves you.

Start a meditation practice.

Whatever helps you to stay centered and grounded.

Like a rock in the river.

#3 Post-tragic mindset

In the Western world, it is often seen as a weakness to cry. Toxic positivity is omnipresent. Many people hide their real feelings and smile at you.

It might sound a bit harsh, but you need to grieve. If you push down sadness and lock it up, you are limiting yourself.

Emotions are like a scale: you need to experience the bad so you can feel the good.

Pain and pleasure. Sadness and happiness. Fear and courage. Doubt and strength.

Unprocessed grief can clog you up. Release it to feel lighter.

#4 Networked

Social capital will be more valuable in the future than financial capital.

1 Mio EUR is worth very little if the supermarket shelf is empty.

If you can ask your neighbour to share some land to grow vegetables, that is infinitely more valuable.

Invest in your local network.

Visit a neighbour & bring some cake or a bottle of wine.

And down the road, build a neighbourhood group and see if you can share resources and start a project together that increases local resilience - like a vegetable garden.

#5 Co-Regulation

Humans co-regulate with other humans. Being isolated and alone increases feelings of insecurity and fear.

Seek closeness to others. Share hugs. Cuddle. It releases feel-good hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin.

Safety is a feeling. From safety comes strength. From strength comes courage.

We need a significant change in courage to influence the future.

#6 Systems-thinking

What brought us here is a lack of seeing the whole picture.

We adopted a mechanistic worldview and looked at the parts, not the relationships.

We are trained for linear thinking.

You need to understand the dominant system we live in.

Here it is in a nutshell:

We exploit (fossil) energy, materials, and human resources for the least money possible to create products to sell for a higher price in order to make profits.

These profits are then reinvested (meaning more exploitation of energy, materials, and human resources) to make more profit. (e.g., by investing in marketing to make you think you need to buy more OR to buy political influence through lobbying.)

This process is leading to pollution, climate change, biodiversity collapse, polarization, mental health issues, deforestation, and much more. These interrelated crises are what some call the ​metacrisis​.

Why is it?

The incentive of the system is to maximize profits (as measured in Gross Domestic Product), not to create well-being for humans.

Systemically look at things and see how that influences your thinking.

Thinking in systems over longer periods of time is the revolution of our time.

#7 Restraint

As you understand the system, you can train restraint.

You can take back power.

Examples:

• Repair your clothes instead of buying new.
• Cook your own dinner from local food, don't order in.
• Invest your attention in a meaningful project or people, not social media.
• Do nothing in a world that tells you to be productive all the time.

Stepping out and practicing restraint lets you see how little you actually need.

Practicing restraint is growing personal sovereignty.

Minimalism = Happiness.

#8 Status-aware / Status-free

It’s connected to the point above.

We often buy things to get status and belong to a group.

But do you want to belong to a group only because of the things you buy?

Be aware of the status you seek and free yourself.

Seek depth in relationships and internal motivation, not external validations.

Do things because they are the right thing to do, not because they increase your status.

#9 Recognize feelings

If you are anything like most people in the Western world, you are left-brain dominant.

You give more credit to thinking than to feeling.

To build a more beautiful world that our heart knows is possible, we need to incorporate these feelings back into our decision-making.

We can’t just think our way through the world - it is limited. Feelings are equally important to guide us.

If we feel the anger, grief, and sadness caused by the harm and suffering in our world, we develop the strength to do something about it.

#10 Emergence

Now is the time to change the initial conditions for the future.

It might not be in the news, but many people and organizations are working for a liveable future to emerge. (​See this report​ for an analysis of organizations in Europe trying to work on changing the economic system.)

The most exciting part: You can be part of it.

I can’t tell you exactly how.

It all depends on your context, ability, motivation, and options.

It might be as big as starting a neighbourhood repair cafe, joining a local organisation advocating for change, or as little as helping out a person in need or planting a few trees.

You have the ability to plant seeds of change that have a ripple effect that you might not see immediately.

#11 Play & Joy

I know I said 10, but here is one more, and arguably the most important.

The world feels heavy at times. You need to stay light.

Humor is key to staying resilient. It’s more fun to work with a smile on the world's most pressing problems.

For me, it is meaningful to work on systems change and regeneration, but it’s more fun with others while keeping a playful attitude. :-)

I hope this inspires you.

Send me a message if you have any questions.

Happy regenerating,

Jonas