Implications for Action

The new understanding of human nature as quintessentially creative -- driven primarily by the development and beneficial expression of one's natural abilities, rather than by consumption -- signals fundamental rethinking of every area of our life. Implied in this new conception of human nature is a radical departure from the prevailing notions of parenting, education, work, management, governance, leadership, care giving, and development. To illustrate:

Parenting is more than "paying for college tuition" or providing one's children with the finest things of the marketplace. More than anything else, parenting is helping each child to recognize and to respect the integrity of his or her unique abilities and, consequently, to develop an identity of his or her own, resulting in a solid sense of self and personal worth.
The real purpose of education is not the transmission and acquisition of knowledge, per se. It is enabling each learner to discover what he or she is naturally good at or passionate about and, then, providing him or her with appropriate tools -- including academic knowledge -- to succeed in areas of his or her maximum potential.
The ultimate reason why people work is not pay and benefits, but the opportunity to beneficially engage one's unique abilities and to associate with fellow human beings in an important undertaking that enhances nature and society and that therefore gives meaning to one's life.
Management is not only getting things done through people. It is, also, making work a creative, meaningful, and personally fulfilling experience for each worker and, also, transforming the workplace into a collaborative community of mutually-supporting individuals, contributing their unique abilities and also helping one another to succeed in their various areas of responsibility.
Leadership is not an exclusive ability of only the person (or people) at the top. It can, and should, be contributed from practically anywhere in an institution or organization. Enlightened leadership is concerned not so much with getting others to do what one wants them to do; it is inspiring others to excel and to lead in areas of their unique abilities.
Personal success is much more than the amount of power, possession, and pleasure that one is able to acquire or to "consume." It is, essentially, finding a worthy cause (or causes) -- something that one deeply believes in -- and being able to commit one's life energies to bringing it about.
Care-giving, including counseling, therapy, and medicine, is much more than the treatment of "clinically diagnosed" diseases which, in most cases, are the symptoms of an underlying cause. To be effective, care-giving has to recognize the essential unity and wholeness of the "client" -- an integrated body, mind, soul, and spirit. More than anything else, care-giving should help clients find reason for, and meaning in, their lives.
Social order is only partly and temporarily a function of external structures that prevent people from harming themselves and their society. The other more effective and enduring part of social order is economic, social, political, and psychological conditions in which every life matters and is able to fulfill itself.
Global Development is only partly economic growth and material well-being. The other, and more enduring, part is the degree to which a generation is able to harness the unique abilities of all people and, in particular, to afford every person the sense of participation, inclusiveness, personal worth, and social responsibility.
The destiny of man, the highest aim of human life, is not material possession but self-actualization -- development and practical expression of one's innate potential. To thrive and flourish in the unfolding Age of Creativity, human societies and their institutions necessarily will have to be re-organized toward that goal.
Until we resolve the global epidemic of meaninglessness that is at the root our present unsustainable pattern of consumption, no program of "ecological literacy" or "environmental ethics" is likely going to achieve the urgently needed goal of environmental sustainability.




Implications for Action The new understanding of human nature as quintessentially creative -- driven primarily by the development and beneficial expression of one's natural abilities, rather than by consumption -- signals fundamental rethinking of every area of our life. Implied in this new conception of human nature is a radical departure from the prevailing notions of parenting, education, work, management, governance, leadership, care giving, and development. To illustrate: Parenting is more than "paying for college tuition" or providing one's children with the finest things of the marketplace. More than anything else, parenting is helping each child to recognize and to respect the integrity of his or her unique abilities and, consequently, to develop an identity of his or her own, resulting in a solid sense of self and personal worth. The real purpose of education is not the transmission and acquisition of knowledge, per se. It is enabling each learner to discover what he or she is naturally good at or passionate about and, then, providing him or her with appropriate tools -- including academic knowledge -- to succeed in areas of his or her maximum potential. The ultimate reason why people work is not pay and benefits, but the opportunity to beneficially engage one's unique abilities and to associate with fellow human beings in an important undertaking that enhances nature and society and that therefore gives meaning to one's life. Management is not only getting things done through people. It is, also, making work a creative, meaningful, and personally fulfilling experience for each worker and, also, transforming the workplace into a collaborative community of mutually-supporting individuals, contributing their unique abilities and also helping one another to succeed in their various areas of responsibility. Leadership is not an exclusive ability of only the person (or people) at the top. It can, and should, be contributed from practically anywhere in an institution or organization. Enlightened leadership is concerned not so much with getting others to do what one wants them to do; it is inspiring others to excel and to lead in areas of their unique abilities. Personal success is much more than the amount of power, possession, and pleasure that one is able to acquire or to "consume." It is, essentially, finding a worthy cause (or causes) -- something that one deeply believes in -- and being able to commit one's life energies to bringing it about. Care-giving, including counseling, therapy, and medicine, is much more than the treatment of "clinically diagnosed" diseases which, in most cases, are the symptoms of an underlying cause. To be effective, care-giving has to recognize the essential unity and wholeness of the "client" -- an integrated body, mind, soul, and spirit. More than anything else, care-giving should help clients find reason for, and meaning in, their lives. Social order is only partly and temporarily a function of external structures that prevent people from harming themselves and their society. The other more effective and enduring part of social order is economic, social, political, and psychological conditions in which every life matters and is able to fulfill itself. Global Development is only partly economic growth and material well-being. The other, and more enduring, part is the degree to which a generation is able to harness the unique abilities of all people and, in particular, to afford every person the sense of participation, inclusiveness, personal worth, and social responsibility. The destiny of man, the highest aim of human life, is not material possession but self-actualization -- development and practical expression of one's innate potential. To thrive and flourish in the unfolding Age of Creativity, human societies and their institutions necessarily will have to be re-organized toward that goal. Until we resolve the global epidemic of meaninglessness that is at the root our present unsustainable pattern of consumption, no program of "ecological literacy" or "environmental ethics" is likely going to achieve the urgently needed goal of environmental sustainability.