Laurie Herrick was recently a guest presenter at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in St. John, US Virgin Islands. Her talk was about being Possibilitarians. Over the next couple of months, we’ll share three excerpts from her talk on how you, as a not-for-profit leader, can begin to scale up what is possible in your organization.
As we welcome the new year, I know many of us are feeling a mix of emotions. Some are excited about fresh starts and new possibilities, while others are carrying apprehension. Questions about politics, global conflict, climate change, and the struggles many face, weigh on our hearts.
News headlines can be daunting. We need to remember that negative headlines are designed to sell newspapers and news services. Our fight or flight instincts have us gravitate to this drama. Yet, this is typically how we find out what is going on in the world and in our communities! How do we navigate this negativity and uncertainty?
I’ve caught myself longing for “simpler times”—those so-called “good old days.” But when we idealize the past, we risk overlooking the immense progress humanity has made. In fact, right now there are plenty of positive things happening that are truly worth celebrating. Steven Pinker, a Harvard psychologist and Cognitive Scientist, highlights remarkable improvements in life expectancy, literacy, and global poverty (check out his TED Talk, here!). These are a few highlights of progress around the world that Pinker mentions:
Reduction in Violence and War
- The rate of deaths from warfare has decreased dramatically. In the 20th century, deaths from war averaged 300 per 100,000 people per year during the World Wars; since 2000, it’s fallen to fewer than 1 per 100,000.
- Violent crime rates have decreased in many regions, particularly in Western countries.
Health Improvements
- Deaths from infectious diseases have fallen significantly due to vaccines and antibiotics. For instance, smallpox, which killed millions, was declared eradicated in 1980.
- Polio has been reduced by over 99% globally since the 1980s.
Literacy and Education
- In 1820, only 12% of the world was literate. Today, over 85% of adults can read and write.
- The proportion of children enrolled in primary education has risen to nearly 100% worldwide.
Increased Rights and Freedoms
- Democracy has expanded; more people live in democratic societies now compared to the early 20th century.
- Rights for women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals have improved significantly across many parts of the world.
Environmental Progress
- In wealthier nations, pollution levels (such as particulate matter) have decreased due to better regulations and cleaner technology.
- More regions are working toward renewable energy and sustainable practices.
Access to Clean Water
- In 1990, only 76% of the global population had access to clean drinking water. By 2015, that number had increased to 91%.
While we know there are threats to many of these, that makes this conversation today even more important!
Amid the flood of negative headlines, these stories of progress remind us that change is possible. By shifting our focus, we can re-frame how we see the world. And as you’ll see in the next blog, this shift of focus is imperative to making the change we want in the world. This year, I’m committing to seeking out stories of abundance—where progress and hope thrive. Will you join me? I’d love to hear where you see possibility… send me an email! And, if you grant me permission, I’ll take your possibilities and share about them in the third blog in this series.
If this way of thinking resonates for you and you want to bring more ‘possibility’ and resource abundance to your organization, consider joining us for one of our upcoming free Primers. During these Primers, you’ll learn about our breakthrough Culture of Philanthropy work and how to shift the culture of your organization to one that fosters generosity, giving, and abundance.
Sign up for a date here!
