We all know it's true. When we talk about the problems of the world, saving the planet or protecting the future, we're really asking the question, "How do we get people to stop doing what they're doing?"
Let's step back for a moment and ponder the problem space, shall we?
Why do people act in all the selfish, destructive, short-sighted ways that they do? My answer is fear. Fear of missing out, fear of losing, fear of not having enough.
Fear is an emotion, so we can't pretend that eliminating the threats that people perceive will eliminate the problem entirely, but it would be a good start, wouldn't it?
So this raises the question, how do we make people feel safe and secure enough that they can relax, make room for others, share their resources, work together, and plan for a future that is good for everyone.
Much has been written on this in the therapeutic context, and that definitely will need to play a part on the individual level, but we also need to account for this on the societal and global levels.
What if the focus of our efforts was to empower people to be their best selves? To solve their problems? To have nice places to live and communities that they enjoy? To find work that they are passionate about and paid enough to not be stressed. How does that change the world?
How many more people would contribute to a better future if they had the capacity to think beyond their current fears and worries? How much nicer would the world be if it was filled with these people? Would this unleash an explosion of problem solving and innovation in to the world?
I believe it would.