Shall We Evolve or Die?
Self-awareness is just one capacity of our evolving consciousness. It is our self-awareness that forms an Identity we like – one that houses our sense of dignity. Most leaders see themselves as both intelligent and considerate and expect to be treated as such.
Yet, conscious awareness looks out as well as in.
We notice many differences in people: how they look, think, and behave. We find they have different motives and interests. They still have an Identity that is home to their sense of dignity. But our vast differences cause discomfort because most of us prefer simplicity. We can also be self-serving.
Unless we override our default, we retreat into what we know and judge others critically.
We all need to evolve our awareness to more deeply understand that everyone has a sense of dignity – and leaders need to collaborate to form decisions and actions that respect this. Tim Shriver developed The Dignity Index (see: www.dignityindex.us). This scale can help us understand where our judgments about others fall, on an 8-point scale ranging from contempt to respect.
Contempt begins with feeling that someone is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving of scorn.
Contempt denies the dignity of that someone. But because we all have a sense of dignity, contempt expressed in words or action inevitably invites counter-contempt. If you doubt this, look around at the mess we’re in.
From bullying on social media to employee relations to domestic politics to geopolitical aggression, there’s strong evidence that contempt draws like response.
So where do we go from here? We are adept at spotting the differences… and we must expand our awareness to move beyond even casual contempt to find commonalities. This is important for all of us, but especially for leaders: contemptuous thinking explains many decisions and actions that serve some people at great expense to others.
The evolution of our species depends on evolving our consciousness – beginning with its capacity for awareness.
The first steps we can take are:
Notice how contempt invites contempt.
Recall your own inner light: a consciousness that has awareness, that created your Identity and feeling of worthiness (dignity).
Recognize that everyone else – absolutely everyone – has the same inner light of consciousness that created their Identity and a sense of dignity that rests on it.
Develop more curiosity about differences than judgment.
Begin to wonder and explore what we have in common.
And that’s The Gist of It™ - Ideas to advance dignity, practice humility, and develop leaders of character and integrity.
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Marilyn Gist, PhD