Mind the Gap

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Today, the World we live in is constantly changing. Thanks to the progressive movement, and with the help of advances in science and technology, today more people have the opportunity to connect than ever before. Massive progress has been made on many fronts, especially within the realm of equality, with Civil Rights, LGBT and Race issues taking center stage over the past century. On these fronts progress has been made, and progress has been good. Some would argue that as a society we have evolved as judgment based on your sex, sexual preference, or race no longer stand in the way of someone seeing you for you. Well, that’s not all true because judgment still exists, but there is no doubt we can all agree we have past the tipping point on these issues. Continued progress on these fronts moving forward is certain.

But as one World continues to evolve past such issues, there is another that continues to regress in many other fashions. Although there has never been a time in history with such equality amongst living humans, there has also never been so many sick, diseased, ugly, fat, dumb, or poor within our society. The gap within these two Worlds has never been bigger. The gap between the 1% and the 99% continues to shine brighter than ever before. The gap grows larger each and every single day. In evolution, the species that adapt, survive. The ones that don’t, don’t. It’s quite the simple formula. It was Einstein who said: “Humanity as we know it shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.” This beautiful World we all live in must change if we, as a collective people, are going to prevail.

Lifestyles of the Rich and the Poor

The gap that exists is between the rich and the poor. Do not mistake this for a political outcry over people with money and people without. This is not that. Money is not an accurate indicator of success in life, only success in business. “The Rich” and “the Poor”, within my definitions, are those rich in life and those not. Epicurus once said, “A cheerful poverty is an honorable state.” I disagree, because, as Seneca stated in response to this claim, “if it is cheerful it is not poverty at all. It is not the man who has too little that is poor, but the one who hankers after more. You ask what is a proper limit to a person’s wealth? First, having what is essential, and second, having what is enough.”

Nature beautifully showcases this vision daily, and has for hundreds of years. The redwood tree, for example, only takes as much soil as it needs to grow, leaving the rest to other trees. Trees work together for the success of their culture; they co-operate with one another and thrive because of it. What would happen if they did not? What would happen if a tree took more than what it needed? There’s actually a word to describe exactly this: cancer. Cancer takes more than it needs and extinction of species follows. Another simple formula. Trees unite in their vision for the success of all.

As a collective people of this World, what is OUR vision? Do we have one? Is it for the success of all? To be honest, in this present moment I am unable to define what the unified vision of our people is. I am unsure if one exists. This scares me, scares me a lot. “When there is no vision, the people perish.”

How have we got to this point right now? What has lead us here? Albert Einstein once said brilliantly: “The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” The world in its present state exists because of the way we think about the world. To change the world, we must change how we think about it. The gap that exists within our society is a gap in the way we think about our world, socially. The world is a social place. Every aspect of our lives is social. We are a product of our environment, and our environment is shaped by the way we interact with it. Our environment consists of the relationships we choose to surround ourselves by. These relationships shape our whole entire life in all ways imaginable. And there is no relationship more important than the one you have with yourself, as it too, is a social relationship. We talk to ourselves all day long. We are talking to ourselves. It’s a social relationship.

If we could improve our understanding of relationships, I believe that would lead to the change we need to see in the world for our species to survive. Take poverty for example. World Hunger states that in 2010, over 925 million people went hungry. 925 MILLION. That is 14% of our total world population. But why is this so? Is there not enough food in the world to make sure nobody goes hungry? Is there enough money to make sure this does not happen? Both answers without a doubt are absolutely yes. I don’t believe hunger occurs because there is a lack of resources, only a lack of sharing. We don’t have a hunger problem, we have a sharing problem. Flawed understanding of our social relationships has lead us to this crisis. That is the root of the problem.

Understanding Social Dynamics

Social Dynamics solves the question: “Why can’t we all just get along.” It completes the social relationship equation. Social Dynamics states that relationships are an exchange of value. Value is the result of the emotion that occurs because of it. Value is relative to the individual’s perception of value, and comes in only two forms: internal and external. Value is not to be exchanged similar to a calculated game of chess. It is not an eye for an eye. You give value freely, expecting nothing in return at all times. You should never take value, that only leads to resentment and, over time, hate. On the other side of the coin, you fall in love with the things that give you the most value.

Understanding Social Dynamics leads to developing healthy relationships, with others and yourself. A movement of Social Dynamics is what will lead to more sharing in this world, more happiness, more passion, more love. Social Dynamics is what will change the world.

The Power of One

Social Dynamics starts with you. As you bring value to yourself, you become a better person. You become a person that makes a difference. As you become aware and assertive within Social Dynamics, your life will change, and through that, so will the world. Consciousness is the way things change, after all. In marketing, word of mouth is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. One person tells someone about a product, and they tell another, and quickly word has spread like wildfire. This is the power of one. “There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” Henry David Thoreau

Let each of us be that one striking at the root. Let each of us be that one minding the gap. Let us, together make the difference for this world.

“We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it. I still believe we can act even when it’s hard. I still believe we can replace acrimony with civility, and gridlock with progress. I still believe we can do great things, and that here and now we will meet history’s test.” Barack Obama

So how do YOU change the World? One person at a time. Nobody said it would be easy. Everybody said it would be worth it.

Tomorrow, February 7th, 2012 the Second Edition of our online magazine “Kingpin Culture” will be going out to all of our e-mail subscribers for FREE. To make sure you get your copy, make sure to sign-up below. Don’t miss out.