A Pathfinding Process
I’m sharing here a method that’s been emerging over the past few months. I’ve been assembling it as I work through my own explorations of personal purpose, vocation, outlook on the world, and pathways to doing good. The purpose for designing this is to create a coherent and fairly comprehensive scaffolding that makes room for the deep meaning of life all the way through to planning our work and daily practices. It’s a prototype, so I welcome responses and critiques.
It is composed of six layers, each one inviting different ways of describing our place and connection in the world.
– 1) Root connection (our bond with life and existence)
– 2) Commitment (to doing good)
– 3) Forecast (of where we came from and where the world is going)
– 4) Dream (of what positive futures are possible)
– 5) Plan (for how we will make our contribution)
– 6) Practice (for how we will operate each day)
The invitation is to explore and articulate our relationship to each layer. By the “end of this process” one should have fairly clear statements on each of the layers and ways by which they can touch and invoke them.
Under the description of each layer is a list of Vectors of practice. These are modalities or outlets that could bring each of the layers to life. Everyone’s vectors will be different so think of those merely as examples.
I’ll describe each of the six layers in a way that anyone could progress through with their own views, goals, and circumstances. I’m also going through this process myself, so I’ll be able to report on what it’s generated and where it’s led me.
1 – Root connection
At this layer we are visiting our contact points with the nature of existence. This place is as deep as life itself. Talking about it will always quickly defy language and give way to the unspeakable depth – as it should. This place may invoke words like rapture, ecstasy, awakening, enlightenment, satori, God, creation, divinity. This layer may evoke appreciation for being alive, for being a tiny, momentary musician in the grandest symphony.
In the context of what we're doing here, this layer forms the umbilical cord connecting you to the unbroken lineage of all life and the universe. Here, it reminds us that the efforts we make in this life can arise from a place of depth and strength as profound as the phenomenon of reality itself. May it inspire humbleness, awe, patience, and a reverence for the ever-changing nature of all things.
Vectors of practice
spiritual practice
meditation (daily practice, extended immersion)
vision quests and mystical journeys
fasting
spiritual study
love
sexual union
states of flow
surrender
parenthood
psychedelic trips
nature
prayer
sickness, birth, and death
2 – Commitment
Here is where we affirm our commitment to do good in this lifetime. This is the pledge on which the rest of these layers sit. Not everyone will want, care, or be able to do this, but for those who do, it means embracing this as a calling.
We know that many hard questions will come with this pledge, that there may be sacrifices, small and large. We don't need to know all the answers. And we don't have to worry if we're worthy, if we're sufficient superheroes. It is everyone's right to care for and contribute to the greater good. No doubts or judgements should diminish the significance of committing to being an agent of good.
Some people’s commitment will burst into the world as a grand display, inspiring others and becoming the stuff of inspirational tales. Other people’s commitment to good will be more subtle, quotidian, and blended with everyday-looking lives. At this layer, the important thing is that we wholeheartedly make this commitment and continue renewing it as our lives go forward.
Vectors of practice
ethical precepts and vows
moral philosophy
defining our credo
theories of altruism
fostering concern and the commitment to help
3 – Analysis & Forecast
Here we are articulating our outlook on the world around us. Where did we come from, where are we now, and what lies ahead? We all have our intuitions and opinions on the state of the world, but have we written these out in a comprehensive way?
In the framing of this exercise we are building toward having a theory of the future that lets us prioritize causes, risks, and areas of action. Doing good shouldn't rely on following our passions alone, but should consider where the biggest risks lie, where the most suffering is happening or may happen. This is important. It matters where we put our energy.
Taking the time to build a theory of the future lets us tread into areas we might not otherwise go, where others may not be going. We can build a scaffolding of evidence and independent thought. Equipped with this, we can carry out seemingly small actions that are tied to larger structures.
This also gives us something to test with others. We can put these ideas out there and invite critique and counter arguments. By humbly airing our conclusions we help them grow stronger and more accurate. We attract others with similar outlooks. Maybe even more valuable: we find people we can constructively disagree with! And we perhaps open people's eyes to new ideas or have our eyes opened.
As I’m sitting down to write my analysis and forecast, I’m starting with a brief history of everything: a timeline of the universe, of the Earth, of life on Earth, of the emergence of humans. Then I’m turning toward civilization – what are the most consequential changes in the world over the past 1,000 years? Over the past 100 years?
Then to the present. Where do we stand today? What are humanity's most salient strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats? I have headings for the topics that I think about the most (environmental issues, social justice and racism, peace and war, political instability, poverty and hunger, the role of economic systems and markets, technology and science, mental health, and others. I’m not spending a year writing this, so it needs to be brief – that’s okay. The aim is to take an informed view and a thoughtful stance on the issues we think are most consequential.
And finally, the future. We draw up our outlook on the possible future of the world around us. What will you see in your lifetime? What will your children, nieces, and nephews see? What will the world look like in five years, ten years, 25 years, 50 years, 100 years, 1,000 years, 2,500 years?
What risks and threats have the most harmful potential impacts? Rank them in order (consider importance, tractability and neglectedness). What future possibilities do you find most intriguing or promising? What are the most promising things that few people are talking about?
Place some bets: what are the chances of five major things happening?
We know we won’t be right about everything, but it's worth trying to push our forecasting abilities. This is the discipline of forecasting, world-building, and futuring. This all sounds like the domain of researchers, analysts, pundits, and academics. But I argue that informed and engaged citizens should feel empowered to be thoughtful forecasters – how else can the people participate in building the future they want to see?
Many of us agree these are very uncertain times, so it may be harder than ever to try constructing pictures of the present and outlook on the future. But uncertain times may be the most important times to go through this kind of exercise. On the one hand, we don’t want to get lost in the hopelessness we ingest from the news cycle. And on the other hand, we want to avoid complacency in moments when are attention and involvement are called for.
Vectors of practice
research
study
writing
discussion
schooling
mentorship
conferences/lectures
probability modeling
forecasting
political science
futuring frameworks
cause prioritization
world-building
4 – Dream
At the dream layer we explore two horizons of what it means to have a dream for the future. First we contemplate what it means for dreams to be realized. Then we embrace our own central dream.
I define dreams as remarkable changes to the way things are that make the world better. On my list of realized dreams are: the eradication of smallpox, the accomplishments of the American Civil Rights movement, bringing down apartheid in South Africa, the healing of the ozone hole, the Internet, the halving of extreme poverty worldwide. And there are many more.
A potent exercise here is to list and study the history of realized dreams. Above I listed some of the biggest and most beautiful, but dreams of many shapes and sizes have shaped the world for the better. We can become students of dreams, learning how they started, moved forward, and what their impact has been.
The second horizon to inhabit is our own dream, our courageous vision for the world we believe should be. It is here that we remind ourselves that indeed we MUST be willing to dream of wonderful futures. This dreaming is one of the most consequential and moving forces of humanity. People set their hearts and minds on something that seemed (and probably was) impossible. But “impossible” is negotiable.
Dreaming is not a meek act. When people say "dare to dream" they're talking about the courage it takes to dream boldly and sincerely. Dreams are fragile and especially when young can wither at the cold breeze of doubt and ridicule.
Our dream doesn't need to be unique or have a special twist. What it needs to be is bold and sincere. Some dreams that have inspired recently me are: That the majority of the world’s children will grow up in loving and peaceful households. That people with the financial means will give away as much of their wealth as they can to reduce suffering and death. That mental health care will be normalized and available throughout the world. That the values of compassion and altruism will be built into the decision-making processes of government. And that emotional intelligence will be taught widely in our education systems.
There will never be universal agreement on what a good dream is: we live in a world of opposing dreams and always will (I imagine that to the Nazis their rise to power was a dream come true).
As we explore our dreams we can notice that a dream is bigger than any one movement, campaign, organization, or leader. Finding ways to contribute to a dream can be the work of a lifetime and may involve much searching, trial, and error.
And while we want to honor the great dream leaders, I think it's important not to fixate on the charismatic figureheads – this isn't about worshipping the dreamers or creating a dreamer persona for ourselves. Dream movements often have visible heroes, but movements are collective acts (and honest leaders will be the first to tell you that), so let's not get blinded by the spotlight that illuminates the heroes too much, and look to the groups who carried the dream on their backs.
So here we are. What can you dare to dream? How beautiful can the future be? Are you willing to envision this? Are you willing to contribute to it, even if its arc outlives you by many generations?
Vectors of practice
cataloging and analyzing dreams realized and the movements behind them
articulating the dreams we are inspired by most
creating physical symbols and altars to dreams
metta meditation
prayer
connecting with others with shared dreams
designing ways to invoke that dream each day
seeking places where pieces of that dream can be lived
5 – plan
A plan of action comes next. Tangible and concrete, set out a series of checkpoints to work towards. This is the plan for how to work in the direction of the dream future you hold in your heart. I ask: how can I contribute to the realization of my dream? What's my job? What might I build? Where can I find resources for this? Who else believes what I do?
We are reminded that a plan can mean committing to chip away at one manageable pixel on the horizon of the dream. We choose our leverage area, informed by the big picture, but right-sized to our abilities and willingness to contribute.
Vectors of practice
Mind map of action paths
Networking
Sharing your writing and thinking with others
Landscape surveying
Research into organizations, causes, schools of thought
Evaluating further education
6 – Practice
The final fold of this method is a practice that we use to invite it all into our mind, heart, and workbench each day. We want it to be both practical (enabling enjoyable sustainable productivity), and aligned with our principles and vision. A daily practice is a series of rituals and resources for aligning ourselves and summoning the forces we wish to interact with.
The importance of this layer is that it brings everything else to life over and over, making it part of daily actions – not merely a series of writing assignments from months ago. The might take the most real courage. But like any transformational practice, we pour ourselves into it over and over.
Everyone’s daily practice will be different, and everyone must craft their practice as it serves them. But it should summon the five previous layers: connecting us to the universe, to our commitment to practicing good, to our view of the world and forecast of the future, to our dream for glowing possibilities, and to our plan of approach.
Daily practice can shape how we “begin our day” and how we move through it. And it can make tools available for thinking, working, and solving problems. Consider a morning meditation. A morning checklist. Journaling. Time management. The movement of the body throughout the day. Connection with others and accountability. Study and learnings.
A simple practice I suggest is, at the start of the day, sitting down and centering the self. Then moving the mind through each layer of this process: dream, commitment, forecast, dream, plan, and into the daily practice. I find this works both pragmatically (directly reminding myself what I value and the commitments I’ve made) and subtly (sewing seeds in my awareness below the level of consciousness).
Vectors of practice
Morning meditation
Physical location
Sequences of activities
Checklists
Project and task management
Micro time management
Micro time management
Testing, iteration, and revision of daily practice
Accountability and connection with others
Physical movement
Food and drink
Dashboards, thinking tools, rubrics
Journaling
