The existence of a worldwide crisis is undeniable; yet
the colours of hope and change have been raised and are still floating in the
air.
Denis Bricnet, Philosopher and Communication Consultant, recently presented
useful reflections on the topic. The following paragraphs capture some key
points that Mr. Bricnet developed in a recent seminar.
Hope is a positive force that points to the future and is easily aroused.
However, fulfilling hope is very challenging as it takes efforts. We can not
dream or expect change to simply happen: we must feel responsible, and act to
produce it.
As philosophy in the classical manner teaches, the problems that we face are not
external to us: the world we build is a projection of what we are within. As a
consequence, change is to be generated first in men and women, through their own
transmutation, that’s to say, a global deep transformation.
To make of the crisis a success story, we must question the system, that’s to
say, the mindset that prevails today. We all are the system, with a set of
beliefs, assumptions, and feelings that determine how we interpret and respond
to situations.
In order to change the system, we must have or acquire a number of
prerequisites:
1. Clear understanding that we, as human beings, are the result of the past, and
the builders of the future.
2. Firm determination to accept our responsibility
3. Clear knowledge of all aspects of the situation: driving forces, mobiles,
true motives.
4. Courage and sincerity to acknowledge and positively regret our mistakes
5. Courage to express our enduring will to correct these mistakes, and to build
a different and wiser way of life
6. Understanding that optimism stands for considering the situation as a
starting point. Change calls for action!
7. The process of change involves learning and practicing different ways of
thinking, feeling and acting based on discernment, actively fighting
selfishness, empathy and sympathy, and reconnect with the rich and luminous
heritage of humankind.
The current crisis gives humankind the opportunity to re-polarize its attitude
towards life, society, and the planet. If we are aiming for a way of life that
is harmonized with nature, we must engage in a path of self-transmutation.
