A relevant metaphor for our current age is that a new humanity is being born.
We’re a globally interconnected society learning to function as a whole. Humanity is essentially a super-organism, with every human being a cell.
This means if we don’t learn how to cooperate for the highest good of all, the body (humanity) will die prematurely.
Yet if we do learn how to cooperate and create synergy, we’ll be a part of a thriving super-organism with potentials beyond our wildest imagination.
This tipping point might be closer than we think. Yet higher order is often preceded by intense chaos.
Humanity is in a time of transition, which shows up as massive disruption and instability. No one knows what to believe, many are enslaved by their own fears and traumas, emotional reactivity is rampant, our sense-making faculties are impaired, the global information ecology is severely distorted and both religion and science are impaired by dogma.
These distortions are all occurring within a globally interconnected society, which makes it completely unsustainable and even dangerous. That means there’s a pertinent need for mutual understanding on a collective level.
Humanity needs some common understandings to function and thrive as a collective organism. These mutual understandings need to be self-evident and directly verifiable by anyone, not based complicated theories or dogma.
Common understandings create the ground for mutual respect and cooperation. This will allow humanity to up-regulate into a cohesive, synergistic super-organism.
With synergy comes emergent properties that simply weren’t possible before. We may very well be on the brink of mind-blowing potentials here. If you pay attention to the trajectory of spiritual awakening on the planet, for example, you’ll get a feel for what’s on the horizon.
To sum up the intro here in light of a global, technologically advanced humanity:
- Mutual understanding & cooperation = A quantum leap upward for humanity
- Conflict = A big mess for humanity
The best choice is obvious when you think of it that way. Yet it’s always helpful to make the obvious, well, obvious, especially when it comes to greater context and practical applications.
Now what would common understandings look like that we can collectively agree on and build upon?
Here’s what I propose.
7 Mutual Truths For A Functional Humanity
- Change – Everything in our universe is constantly changing. Change is the very nature of the universe.
- Interconnection – Everything is interconnected on some level.
- Uniqueness – Every human being is unique.
- Observation – We can observe our thoughts, emotions, body, words and actions.
- Choice – We have the power to choose our actions.
- Reflection – We have the ability to conceptualize and self-reflect.
- Mystery – The mystery of existence is infinitely greater than our understanding.
These innerstandings are all directly verifiable by any human being. No need for dogma, rulebooks or manipulative mental gymnastics. These innerstandings are self-evident.
These are the closest things to truths (with a lowercase “t”). They are principles everyone can agree on, and use as a sound basis for interactions and/or systems we create.
Truth with a capital “T” – or absolute truth – is inherently indescribable and unknowable (in a logical way). As Lao Tzu aptly said,
The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.
Let that one sink in for a moment.
Are these understandings the only ones that exist, or the only ones humans should have? Of course not. There are other deep truths too. However, these act as an effective starting point. They address a core level of co-innerstanding in a simple, straightforward way, without the need for dogma.
When these innerstandings are not only learned, but also embodied, it automatically creates a positive paradigm shift for both individuals and humanity as a whole.
Now let’s further explore each of these and why they’re so foundational.
#1: Change
As the saying goes, “The only constant is change.” Everything in our universe is constantly changing. Change is the very nature of the universe.
From stars, to planets, to ecosystems, to plants, animals and bacteria, everything is perpetually changing.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus summarized the universality of change beautifully when he said, “No man steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”
When you accept the nature of change, you can more easily flow and adapt to the moment, instead of clinging to expectations.
With this awareness, we can also create things that trend towards positive change in the future, instead of ignorantly creating negative side effects.
#2: Interconnection
Everything is interconnected on some level.
Who would you be without air? Without water? Without plants? Without the Earth? Without your grandparents? You wouldn’t exist.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson shares this innerstanding. He said, “We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.”
From a quantum physics perspective, everything is energy and the observer is an intrinsic participant in the universe.
Any way you try to slice it, everything is interconnected on some level.
It’s time we really innerstand and live based on that. Because if we don’t realize interconnectedness, we’ll continue to cause harm to people and things we call “other”, not realizing we’re peeing in our own swimming pool.
This article does a great job of further explaining this concept: Everything Is Interconnected: How Spirituality, Philosophy, and Science Show That We Are All One
#3: Uniqueness
Every human being is unique.
Our bodies are all unique, our voices are all unique, our personalities are all unique, and our perspectives are all unique.
We all have a unique expression of genius as well, our own thing that no one else can quite do the way we do it. It might be very blatant, or very subtle. The more we embrace our uniqueness, the more powerful of a force it becomes.
When each of us lives in our uniqueness, honors the uniqueness of others, and collaborates with this in mind, we create a synergistic whole that’s greater than the sum of the individuals.
#4: Observation
We can observe our thoughts, emotions, body, words and actions.
This is a fundamental truth that’s easy to overlook. Yet observation is the foundation of self-awareness.
Any enhancement of awareness, because it’s so fundamental, comes with exponentially positive changes in every aspect of life. The more aware you are of your own thoughts, emotions, body, words, actions, etc, the more ability you have to create positive change in your life and avoid unhelpful patterns. This is mindfulness.
To underscore the importance of observation, mindfulness has such a long and expansive list of benefits, as outlined here: 23 Amazing Health Benefits of Mindfulness for Body and Brain
#5: Choice
We have the ability to choose our actions. We also choose how we respond in any situation.
It’s important to realize the power of choice, because it creates empowerment and allows us to take responsibility for our own lives.
A humanity full of people who shirk responsibility is a recipe for endless cycles of blame and conflict. This is exemplified by the childish stance of, “I hit her because she called me a name.” This finger-pointing mentality only perpetuates cycles of reactivity and conflict, until someone takes responsibility (response-ability) and chooses to act differently.
When we firmly know that we choose our actions, we claim responsibility for our own lives. And when we see how interconnected everything is, we also take responsibility for how we contribute to the whole.
#6: Reflection
We have the ability to conceptualize and self-reflect.
That’s what you’re doing now, right?
We can reflect on the past, think about the future, imagine nonphysical concepts, and even ponder our own existence.
The capacity for reflection goes hand-in-hand with every other truth discussed here. This creates greater self-awareness and allows us to be conscious agents of evolution, which is a quantum leap for humanity.
#7: Mystery
The mystery of existence is infinitely greater than our rational understanding.
When you realize the sheer depth of mystery, you’re humbled. What we know is a sliver next to infinity. Then there’s what we don’t know we don’t know, which is just mind-blowing.
Live with curiosity and wonder. To act like you hold the ultimate truth is like trying to catch the sky with a bucket. And oftentimes, this arrogant ignorance causes more harm than good.
Embrace the mystery of existence. Live embodying this humble wisdom.
Another Way To See This
To further exemplify these truths, take a look at the denial of each:
- Change – Everything is fixed and unchanging.
- Interconnection – Everything is separate. Nothing is connected.
- Uniqueness – Every human is exactly the same.
- Observation – We cannot observe our thoughts, emotions, body, words, actions, etc.
- Choice – We have no ability to choose. We automatically react to every situation.
- Reflection – We don’t have the ability to conceptualize and self-reflect.
- Mystery – We know everything.
Sounds ridiculous, right?
To ignore the 7 principles presented here, or act like they don’t exist, would severely cripple anyone’s ability to live, let alone thrive. That’s how you know they’re fundamental and useful.
All Together Now
What is expressed here is not ultimate truth, or the be-all and end-all. It’s more like a signpost pointing in a helpful direction.
The goal is not to prove anything or establish a system of rules to follow. Not at all. It’s merely to help humanity come to some mutual agreements about life and reality, which will lead to expanded awareness and positive change.
When these principles are learned and embodied, they inherently upgrade humanity on both and individual and collective level.
If you’ve read this far, I invite you to contemplate each of the 7 principles outlined here, and begin applying each in your daily life.
Also, if there are any additional truths about reality you feel are self-evident and directly verifiable for everyone, feel free to share them.
I hope this sparked something for you.
We’re all in this together, and we’re all essentially One.
With Infinite Love,
~ Stephen Parato
