Change enables Awareness

The weather in the Bay Area reminds me of my visit to Australia earlier this year—it feels like an apocalyptic inferno. With three fires happening in the surrounding area, you can’t really go outside, and it feels slightly claustrophobic. But then I guess with Covid less people are going outside in general.

So many things have changed with the lingering of this disease. Many people who have been lucky to keep their jobs are now working from home, so there is much more exposure and thus understanding regarding remote work. Because Covid has changed each industry differently, it’s enlightened many people (including myself) as to how each industry functions. I feel I have a more basic understanding of different industries because I’ve seen how they have uniquely been affected by the pandemic. It seems the economy is top-of-mind to more people, because so many have lost their jobs and we’ve witnessed firsthand how supply chains and cashflows have been disrupted.

And hopefully this epidemic has sparked more empathy within all of us. The United States is so vast and so diverse; I can see how Covid is affecting the South Bay Area, but I have no idea how Baltimore, Maryland has changed. I’ve never even been to Baltimore. There is so much outside our limited field of perspective, and it’s important to remember that. In that way, the coronavirus has been a great teacher. 

We will beat the fires here in the Bay and we will beat this virus around the world. But let’s not forget the lessons of awareness that we’ve learned throughout this entire pandemic. We may have different life experiences, but we are one people. All these changes have heightened our awareness. Let’s remember them as we move forward.

Species Case Study

With Covid-19 having affected basically the entire world, many people are becoming more globally aware. We still talk about containment strategies in units of countries, because that is the degree of soverignety we are able to maintain around the planet. We group ourselves into nation states because that is the level of organization we have thus far developed. It is our current stage of development. 

But really, this disease is affecting one large group—humans. Different approaches to solving this crisis have been taken in different areas of the world, but this virus truly shows that we are all one species. It doesn’t infect certain people because of the nationality listed on their birth certificate or passport, it infects us all. We have an interesting meta-analysis of various prevention, mitigation and elimination procedures, nothing more. 

If there’s anything positive about our predicament, it’s the clear demonstration of the importance of global consciousness. We are connected through our global economy, through the planetary environment, and most pertinently, through our biology. One day we may no longer draw imagery lines in the sand. One day, we may recognize and embrace our oneness. The coronavirus is, one way or another, raising our global consciousness. It may very well be putting us on the path of uniting humanity. But it’s up to us to inspire change.

Judicious Application

I’ve been contemplating my screen habits recently, and while listening to a podcast today I heard a scientist recommend being ‘judicious’ with your social media use. It got me thinking about the meaning of the word: having, showing, or done with good judgement or sense, from the Latin word judicium (‘judgement’). Proposed synonyms are wise, sensible, prudent, shrewd, astute, thoughtful, and percipient. Good word, right? To be judicious with a decision is to be deliberate, to have care, to consider.

And then I thought, how many of us actually apply this concept to our everyday lives? Our species has built this great society over thousands of years, in which, in today’s world, most people do not have to fear being killed on the street, starving to death, or dying in a meaningless accident. We still have several major problems to work out of course, but overall the world has become more stable with time. Because those of us living in 2020 didn’t necessarily do that building, and potentially only merely benefit from our perch on the shoulders of giants, have we left the trait of judiciousness behind? How often are we making thoughtful daily decisions, and how often are we on autopilot?

Perhaps a way out of our current troubles—the disinformation online, the abrasive, polarized political landscape, the struggling global economy—is to focus on being more judicious in our decision-making. To be more sensible in our selection of tools, friendships, and habits, to be wiser with our time. This is something every single coherent adult is capable of improving. It isn’t easy, but it is simple. A little consideration goes a long way, in so many ways. Let’s focus on our daily judiciousness. Let’s all do our part to keep improving our world.

To an Angry Nation

Is it possible that there is so much wrong with everything but also so much to be thankful for? Our world has serious problems, and when you talk to someone about them, you can feel the pain. On one hand, all we know is what we’ve experienced, so the situation does seem grim at best, dire at worst. But on the other, we are capable of looking beyond our own suffering, of examining the landscape in a clearer way. It’s what makes us human. And we need to remember that. We are all human. Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg are human, your next door neighbor is human. The starving children in Africa and the displaced families in Yemen are human. What is the solution, the light at the end of the tunnel? The million dollar question. But the start of the answer, the beginning of the way there, is asking that question. And listening to others’ answers. We will change the world, one life, one moment at a time, but it will require everything that we are. Such is life. Would you trade existence on this planet for anything else? 

Habits for a New World

I can’t help but feel that this is the opportunity for all of us to recalibrate our lives and build strong habits for the future. With lifestyles and economies significantly disrupted around the world, a lot of us are spending a lot more time at home, or at least doing things differently than we did last year. Business as usual will return, some day. But we are also now living in a different world. What steps are we taking, as individuals and as a society, to place ourselves in a good position in the future? If we fortify our collective operating modes now, we will be better prepared for the world’s future, and inevitable, problems. A proactive approach to improvement will serve us well. What habits are we building?

Contribution Contemplations

How much do you think about the concept of contribution? The mark we leave on this Earth after we’re gone…that seems to be the true testament of our lives. I firmly believe we all have a contribution to make—regardless of our social identity, profession, age, or location. If we are employed in a specific trade, our duty is to be the best we can possibly be at that combination of skills. It is our responsibility, and one of the greatest contributions we leave for this world, to raise strong children and develop strong families. Frederick Douglass said “it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” So simply profound, because it’s so profoundly simple. It’s as if Adam Smith’s ‘invisible hand’ applies to more than just economics. When we construct our best selves, and live our best lives, it in turn passes on to the others around us, and especially our children…making the next generation that much better equipped to capitalize on the giant’s shoulders upon which they stand. To achieve all of this, we first need to conceive it, to be aware, as the great Muhammad Ali once put it: “if my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it.” So let’s allot some time for ourselves to ponder the particularities of our individual contributions. The coronavirus has given a lot of us the gift of more time. Let’s use it. Let’s hone in on our contributions, our legacy, our mark. This Sunday, consider what yours will be.

Embracing our wildest dreams

I’ve been reflecting a lot about my life since my birthday on Tuesday. I’m making some changes to my morning saying, and I’ve set a few big hairy audacious goals for my 32nd year on this planet. The most important: to fully adopt a one world paradigm—the same perspective shift I advocate for in my upcoming book. My updated morning saying will incorporate and reinforce this notion so that I live with this conviction every single day. Because the reality is, we all live on this one floating sphere together. Everything we know, everything that has ever happened in the history of our species, has occurred here on Earth. In the 13.8 billion year timeline of our universe, I happen to be alive right here, right now. When you accept these facts, it becomes obvious how ludicrous it is to dream small. To not live our best life. None of us knows how much time we have. Let’s make the most of it; let’s change our species, our future, and the world. 

Seeing Time

Time is the ever constant force that presses against us. As our consciousness moves continually forward, our perception of it changes; how we feel about things in our life changes. When I first sprained my ankle I was upset about my immobility and I was overwhelmingly frustrated. I’m a fairly active person and suddenly not being able to walk or hike or run or work out was difficult for me to handle. Several weeks later, as I continue to rehab the same ankle, I feel more self-confident and hopeful because of how much it’s improved. I always knew it would get better and that it would just take time, but because I’ve dealt with it for weeks now, I look forward to the other end of this train of time. I’m more better than hurt, and I’m more eager than frustrated. That’s what happens. Because I’ve dealt with similar injuries in the past, I knew I would experience this whole cycle… but I couldn’t quite get myself to trust it when I first got hurt. I believe true wisdom is the ability to appreciate and respect time.

We need to wise up now. Social media and the engineering of dopamine loops through the accessibility and addictive nature of our news and information is harming us as a society. We refuse to act on climate change because it’s not something we can visually see. We are unable to perceive other members of our society’s experiences because they are not our own. These monumental challenges will not resolve themselves. If we can look upon our lives within a larger framework, perhaps we can come together and solve our messes. Each of us only has 80 years or so. What will we do with that time? Will we use it to exploit everything possible for a pleasurable 80 years? Or will we take calculated risks and make measured sacrifices to improve the 80 years that come after we’re gone? Before we can make that choice, we need to see it.

Considerate Interactions

I believe it’s important to make an effort with your friends and family members that you don’t see often. You may only see them once a year, perhaps less, but they are your loved ones and you will fondly appreciate the time spent together on death’s door. 

And in these trying times we are all enduring, what if we embrace the same attitude in all our interactions with “strangers?” Now more than ever, we can empathize with the circumstances of others. We might not understand exactly what someone is going through, but in today’s world we can better imagine. 

Let’s be kind to one another. Let’s make the effort, no matter how small or brief the interaction. Let’s continue to change the world. 

Changing Minds

One of the best interview questions I’ve ever been asked was, “What’s something important you’ve changed your mind about recently?” It didn’t pertain to the role per se, but evaluated me as a person, whether I was a good fit for the company. I thought it was a good question because it requires you to give a personal example of critical thinking. 

And that’s important. Think about how much information we are inundated with on a daily basis. At the start of 2020, I didn’t know anything about police protocol or viral load or economic recovery plans. I’ve learned much about those topics since then, but what I never questioned what I consumed? If I was so rigid in my thinking to never change my mind, I would not be contributing to any meaningful conversation. And I don’t want that; I feel a responsibility to add to the discourse, in whatever small way. 

If we all demand evidence as a prerequisite for belief, if we consistently look at multiple sources, and if we engage in productive debates over issues instead of wallowing in echo chambers, we will live in a better world. A more just and a more free world. It’s up to each and every one of us to decide. 

Fighting Viral Despair

It can be depressing to think about how much the United States has failed during this pandemic. It’s especially difficult to see other countries practically Covid-free, opening up schools, or returning back to normal. 

As I wrote when this pandemic started, we can’t go back to normal. This experience must be transformative. Our citizens must become more aware, concerned, and involved in the political sphere—and we are, I think. Our systems and institutions must be examined, and they are. Our attention must be directed towards the things truly matter. And they are. 

The coronavirus pandemic has caused death and destruction, pain and suffering. But before we turn away in despair, let’s look for any possible silver linings. Let’s not give up on 2020 or the world. We can be better. 

Constitutional Considerations

After reflecting on the many statements from Black Americans about Independence Day, I thought of a radical idea. What if we rewrite the Constitution?

This is easier said than done, no minor undertaking. One of the most important documents ever written, the Constitution has been the foundation of American democracy for more than 231 years. It was designed to be a living document, which is why it has been so difficult to change over the past 2 centuries. There are also so many concepts of governance covered within the text: state’s rights and federalism, separation of powers, electoral process, individual liberty and limitation of government power, etc. To try to change all simultaneously would be foolish and probably disastrous. However, modernizing and clarifying the language, without altering the philosophical ethos of the document could provide a more meaningful code for today’s citizens.

I’m not a lawyer or experienced politician, but I took a stab at drafting changes to the Preamble and creating a new amendment. True alterations or amendments would probably best be undertaken by a chosen committee of people (made up of legal representatives, political and historical scholars, etc.) who would be required to achieve consensus on any proposed changes.

The Preamble could be rewritten as follows:

"We the people of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect Union, uphold the principles of justice, equality, freedom and reason, promote peace, and maintain the general welfare of all citizens and future generations, do decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

As perhaps the most analyzed document ever written, even these relatively minor changes must be heavily scrutinized. However, I believe the principles outlined by the Constitution can be written differently to better reflect the progress of today’s world, as well as our aspirations for the future.

Additionally, in a new amendment, what if we specifically introduce a clause that better defines the aforementioned equality for all United States citizens? Something like this:

"The government of the United States shall make no law that discriminates against any citizen in any way, in order to ensure equality for all citizens, regardless of skin color, ancestral or national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or physical appearance or stature.”

Given the recent visibility of the plight of Black Americans, it feels necessary to consider a genuine attempt to truly ensure equality for all. Proposing changes to the constitution may be construed as blasphemous, treasonous, even anarchist. But if our country changes over the centuries, isn’t it necessary on some practical level to keep its living document updated as well, to better embody the original humanistic principles? What changes, if any, would you make to the Constitution?

World Narratives

Everybody thinks the world is going to shit. You see it all over the internet, people bemoaning 2020, definitively saying the world is falling to pieces. It’s not. Don’t fall into that narrative. People have been saying that for millennia, and they’ve all been wrong. It’s getting better. Overall, things are improving. Progress throttles down to a snail’s pace sometimes, and it often gets messy. We might not notice it all the time or even personally reap the benefits. But someone else might be gaining, and they’re worth it too. To despair is to waste. Be grateful for what has been accomplished, and set out to accomplish something of our own for future generations. Uncover your calling. Effect change. Create meaning through service. After all, there is life after death—for our children. Let’s gift them the opportunity to lead lives we can only conceive in dreams. 

Grateful and Good

Since this blog’s inception I’ve advocated for embracing gratitude. Just about every single one of my corresponding instagram posts has a gratitude hashtag. When we fully appreciate the abundance and awe present in our lives every single day, setbacks don’t affect us as much. Our lives may not be perfect, but there is always so much for which to be thankful. I’ve written about it many times in many ways; you can check it out here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

However, setbacks happen. When I came across Jocko Willink’s video on YouTube I found another "g-word" that can really help us reframe our life experience. He champions a growth mindset and uttering the word “good” aloud when bad things happen. Doing so forces you to think about what possible good has come from the situation, and enables you to reflect on how you can best proceed productively and with purpose.

As Jocko says, you’re still alive and breathing. And when you think about it, you’re probably living a pretty incredible life compared to many. Using “the two G’s” in tandem can be enlightening. There’s a whole lot of good out there, and if we’re grateful for it, we’ll not only accomplish our goals, but enjoy life as we’re doing it.

Fairness, Meaning, and Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter is a manifestation of our drive for fairness, and it provides us meaning.

Meaning can be and often is separate from happiness. The lives of everyone, including black people, are better now in 2020 than they were in 1950 or 1900 or 1850. We are all wealthier and healthier than our ancestors within the same socioeconomic statuses. Overall we’re even happier.

But I don’t think Black Lives Matter is about that. It has more to do with meaning. Yes we are all better off now, but there is still massive inequality that is perpetuated by the very institutions designed to uphold justice. Unfairness is widespread and rampant. There are rules and laws and systems in place that make this so. This is the purpose into which I hope the current civil unrest transforms: to eliminate such discriminatory unfairness, and to create a rising tide that lifts all boats.

It all goes back to where it all started—the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the founding values of this country. These ideals and documents still hold a sway over us, because they are meaningful. We believe in their decrees: that all humans are created equal, that we all have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (We must reword the Constitution to incorporate all of humankind within its declarations, not just men or those who own property.)

I’ve said before, the current civil unrest is good for us. It may be painful, but it’s necessary. It’s making us better. It will enable us to move closer to our fundamental ideals. It will result in a fair society, in which we are truly treated equally, regardless of the color of our skin.

We have serious work to do. Lucky for us, we are well off and have the technology to engage in a nationwide discourse, we have the tools to disseminate information and promote awareness. We are at a pivotal moment in the world’s history, and that can give us meaning. It’s important to remember that. By ensuring our children grow up in a fair world, one in which they have the freedom to be happy, we can appropriate our own meaning and happiness. 

Simple Things

It’s the simple things in life we forget. Being able to walk, spending time with your loved ones, playing with your dog or children, working on a a project you’re passionate about. We forget them so easily until we can’t enjoy them. With all that’s happening in the world, maybe we should really focus on gratitude. We have serious problems right now, but we also have the means to solve them, the courage to solve them, and the freedom to solve them. How far must we go back to a time when protesting would be ended by violence and force? To a time when it was illegal to even speak out against the system, to criticize the government? To a period when no one understood what “germs” were? The answer is not that far, and we can be grateful for that. These luxuries are not granted, they are earned. They may be simple, but they are powerful. By starting from this reference point of gratitude, we can tackle our current and future problems with clarity. Remember the simple things. 

Changing Our Conditions

The very end of my morning saying concludes with the declaration, “I am alive.” From there I think of 3 things to be grateful for, which is the last step of my daily morning routine. This morning, I stayed with that sentiment, because I feel with everything that’s been going on, everything I’ve been thinking about, everything I’ve been writing about with both this blog and my upcoming book… it’s important for us to remember something as simple as that. We’re alive. We have life. We could be dead. We could never have been born. People are suffering right now, people’s spirits are disturbed and violated… but we are alive. We must remember to appreciate this greatest of gifts.

Beyond that, I want to contribute to the conversation about privilege. I am a tall, white, able-bodied, mesomorphic, blonde haired, blue eyed, heterosexual male born into a middle class family in Silicon Valley, California, in the United States. None of these things were earned. That’s privilege, and unfortunately in today’s world, it’s privilege determined entirely at birth. Substitute ‘billionaire’ for ‘middle class’ and you would have a person handed every possible advantage for today’s institutionalized biases. Lucky me, I won the birth lottery. What am I do with it?

I try to make the most of this privilege by breaking down the social constructs that create it. I have lived in 3 very different countries on 3 very different continents. I’ve also traveled extensively around the world. These experiences taught me a lot and exposed me to much of the incredible diversity amongst the human race. This is not an accomplishment or something to brag about, but simply facts to explain my situation, my worldview, the context in which I’m forming opinions. Because the most powerful and plain lesson I’ve learned from my life experiences so far is that we are more similar than we are different. Every single person on this planet wants the same things for themselves and their loved ones. They want to be happy healthy and wealthy. I try to live a life that promotes fairness and kindness, and I encourage others to do the same.

Once we recognize that we all live on the same rock, breathe the same air, eat food and drink water to acquire energy, and sleep to restore, we see that these other “differences" are minute and meaningless. Some people are short, some are tall. Some have darker skin, some have lighter skin. Hair color can vary. Many people are born poor. Some are born in places that give them great opportunities to live a great life, while many others are dealt much worse hands.

Regardless of all of these circumstances, we have the intellect, the technology, and the will to create a new set of conditions for this world. Conditions that equalize opportunity as perfectly as possible, so that people’s lives are determined by empathy, hard work, courage, perseverance, intelligence, and a little bit of serendipity. A world in which prejudice and bigotry are not tolerated. A world centered around character, in which success is earned. A world in which we more effectively conquer new diseases like the coronavirus. A world in which we cooperate globally and congenially to address, slow, prevent, and reverse a planetary peril like climate change.

As I’ve written the past few days, we’re getting there. Just think of life in 1800. We’re working through all these things, and I envision a world in a not-too-far-off future in which much of this is possible, even normal. It’s going to take a lot to make it happen. Can we do it? Can we do it with awareness and compassion and gratitude and love? Yes we can. We can change the world. Let’s go.

Fate is Ours

Chances are if you’re reading this, life is pretty good. While staying in Africa last year I often wrote about gratitude. There is so much to be thankful for. Without doing a full review on my current book, Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker, I can safely say it’s influenced me greatly. We have it pretty good—no matter where we are. Referenced in the book, I can’t help but appreciate Barack Obama’s quote: “If you had to choose a moment in time to be born, any time in human history, and you didn’t know ahead of time what nationality you were or what gender or what your economic status might be, you’d choose today.” It couldn’t be more true. We are suffering globally, but we are also beating this. We need to unite and now focus on the suspected next hotspots, Africa and Latin America, but still… we are conquering this disease. The world’s fastest ever vaccine will be ready, hopefully, by early 2021. There are thousands of people working across the globe to make that happen. My appreciation brings me back full circle to another perceptive quote: “what a time to be alive.” Keep surviving, keep living, keep thriving. We control our fate.

Covid-19 Resolution

Citizens are ordered to stay in their homes by the government. A deadly virus ravages the globe. The media is no longer trusted. The year is two thousand…twenty. It’s pretty surreal isn’t it? Who knew 2020 would be such a drastic departure from normal?

About a month ago I wrote about how, due to the pandemic, people will need to increase their comfortability with 3 things: change, boredom, and data. It doesn’t seem like we’re doing particularly well with any of them.

Not only are citizens protesting against the statewide lockdowns, it appears they are doing so because they are ignoring or incapable of looking at the data. There is collective distrust of science. It's important to remember that it was science that has brought such a high standard of living to the 21st century. It will be science that enables humanity to conquer Covid-19. If you examine the data, you’ll see that 2 strategies have thus far proven effective at stopping the virus: social distancing, and contact tracing.

As the American population is barely capable of staying home, it seems very farfetched we would agree to contact tracing. And why are we not capable of sheltering-in-place? Is it really about freedom? I would argue it’s more about boredom. People want to see their friends and family. People want to go back to their hobbies and leisure activities to which they’re accustomed. We are social creatures; it’s ingrained in our biology. I get it—I really struggle with it on certain days too. Have the people who are protesting taken a true look at their motivations? This is new and different and scary and so much change.

Which is the last variable we need to get better at handling: change. All of this is new. There are probably only a dozen people alive today who experienced the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918, and they were probably too young to truly ‘experience’ it. This has never happened before for any of us. Treating a novel virus is hard. Losing loved ones to a scary disease is hard. Struggling to make ends meet because of the shutdown is hard. Forcing ourselves to be asocial is hard. Perhaps familiarizing ourselves with the data is even hard.

But if we’re too self-centered to protect others from a health crisis we still know so little about, how are we supposed to become more comfortable with data, boredom, and change?

I fully believe we can make it through this pandemic. I believe we can come out of it better—more aware, more kind and understanding, more connected. We completely can. The question is…will we? Let’s resolve to get better at these 3 variables. If we focus on just these 3 things in these turbulent times, we can change the world. 

Make our Grandchildren Proud

Most people want the same things, regardless of where they are on the political spectrum. In general, people want the opportunity to be successful, and they want their families to be safe, healthy and happy. Every single person in the United States can relate to those 2 core desires. Which is why it’s disheartening to see such animosity and outright hatred between liberals and conservatives. We may disagree about the best way to achieve those things, but at the end of the day, we all share the same aspirations.

Times are tough right now, no doubt. But even with the coronavirus epidemic, we are still better off right now, in the year 2020, than we were 20 years ago, than we were 100 years ago. We will conquer this disease, like smallpox, like polio, like so many others. We are strong and we are resilient. Let’s also be kind to each other. We will achieve better conditions for our society as a whole if we do it that way. Progress requires work and sacrifice, but also compassion. Let’s see beyond our own personal perspectives. Let’s make our grandchildren proud.