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I hear a clock ticking - overpopulation, dying oceans, ozone depletion, and wars to name a few of the global challenges. We have limited time to turn things around if we are to save humanity and the living elements of our planet. I believe we have the resources, both the brainpower and the physical kind, to solve the world's problems. To oversimplify, what keeps us from effectively using those resources is fear. When I look out at the world and see the destructive things that people do to themselves and others, I don't see evil as much as I feel pain. People in pain compulsively act out, using the best strategies that they know in order to protect themselves from feeling pain. Sometimes this leads to tactics such as addictions (to drugs, food, sex, gambling, TV, sleep, whatever) to numb the pain. Sometimes this leads to violence in an attempt for people to protect themselves from more pain, whether the suspected attack is real or a delusional fantasy resulting from projections. When people are fearful, they are usually triggered into reactive behaviors that are less than excellent for solving the problems they are facing. They may first need to heal the underlying pain buried in their minds and then learn to use more effective methods to deal with their challenges. I believe the key to solving the world's problems is education, a very special kind of education. When people know a better way to protect themselves from pain and fear than recourse to addictions and violence, when they own viable skills that they can use to successfully handle problems, they naturally use those more effective means. Personal development is the key – to healing and to owning strategies for effective problem solving. The reason I am so passionate and committed to my work with Forward Step is that I believe our COMPASS program is a highly effective way to make personal development more accessible. I see personal development as the single most critical path to resolve our planetary crises in time. If a sufficient number of people become able to think clearly and creatively, become skilled at problem solving, compassionate communication, conflict resolution, collaboration and other soft skills, many of today's problems would get solved. It is time that these essential life skills and emotional competencies are taught to and learned by as many as possible. This kind of education needs to be made available to everyone so that we can reach critical mass in personal transformation, and create societal change of a kind that will bring us the world peace and prosperity that is possible.
Bibi Caspari
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