Integral Wisdom Activist

When you scroll your newsfeed on a given morning it is not a pleasant experience.

We all know that conflict and drama are more attention-grabbing than peaceful or mundane news stories. And though not all news outlets are sensationalist, many tabloids in particular are designed to keep us clicking at the expense of accuracy of objectivity. It makes the world look like an ugly place setting one against the other in highly divisive and polarised ways. And it does precisely nothing to address the truth that reality is complex and multifaceted and that no single perspective, either left or right can capture the fullness of it.

We need integral thinking. (based on the work of Ken Wilber and other integral theorists) because it allows us to see the world in a more nuanced and comprehensive way, and to engage with the world more effectively and skillfully.

At its core, Integral is about embracing and transcending polarities, and recognising the interconnectedness of all things.

By integrating multiple perspectives and dimensions of reality, we can gain a more complete understanding of complex issues and problems, and develop more effective solutions. Integral thinking also helps us to recognise and appreciate the diversity of human experience, and to cultivate greater empathy and compassion for others. At the end if the day we all count. We all matter. And we all right -albeit partially.

Integral thinking is not so much about the subject matter but It’s more if a way of looking at the subject matter. It’s about widening your lens on how many perspectives you’re able to take in the process.

Since we started off talking about media, let’s take reading a newspaper article as our example. A key life skill right about now!

An integral thinker would read a newspaper article seeking to understand the various contexts and perspectives that surround the issue being discussed. They would be aware of their own biases and assumptions, and would strive to see the issue from multiple angles, including the subjective and objective, individual and collective, and spiritual and scientific. They would also be attuned to the developmental level of the issue, recognising that different stages of development have different perspectives and values.

An integral thinker would seek to integrate the information presented in the article with their own knowledge and experience, and would be open to new insights and perspectives that may challenge their own views. Ultimately, they would approach the article with a sense of curiosity, openness, and compassion, seeking to understand and appreciate the complexity of the world we live in.

As Einstein reputedly said ‘A problem cannot be solved with the kind of thinking that created it’