by Rik Hoevers

A paradigm is a way of seeing things, of perceiving reality and ourselves. A paradigm is not what we perceive, it's the categories and framework we identify and classify our perceptions with.

We aren't normally aware of our paradigms because we use them all the time and don't stop to study or question them. We are intimately familiar with our paradigms since they color everything we see and do. At the same time we are amazingly unfamiliar with them since we hardly ever know about our paradigms consciously.

We are submerged in a technological world that is the incarnated form of our collected paradigms and mindsets. We can see how the patterns that rule our perceiving and action get reflected in everything we create, including our technology.

This situation has arisen gradually, moving from an natural environment to our present situation, a development including the invention of language, trade, urbanization and the technological revolutions. The amount of natural, untouched by human hands environment is minimal for western children.

What does a paradigm look like? How to identify and define a paradigm in one's mental makeup? The way it seems to work is that for every paradigm there is a central theme, a crystallizing center, a mantra, that catches the mood and intention of the thing. This is used to guide and structure a complex of different believes and values. This system of connected beliefs tries to align all input along its internal structure, which is crystallized along the pattern of the original core.

In this session Rik Hoevers will let you experience a selection of his sustainability mindshifts. This will be a palpable experience of something in your mind shifting, even if you've studied integral sustainability for quite a while. Once a mind-shift happens, the mind will never return to its original way of perceiving a situation and approaching problem-solving.

Now, being more familiar and aware of the possibility of creating a mindshift and the effect it can have on the design of our technology, we will ask “How can we apply the art of mindshifting to our own collective and individual work of co-creating a more green, just, and beautiful world?” You will come away from this session with your mind shifted and your spirit lifted with inspiration to start applying mindshift techniques in your work and communication.

Would you like to be present at this beautiful, inspiring event? Here's a link to the registration page...