Arguably, one of the highest achievements in the evolution of human consciousness was the shift from egocentric thinking to consequential thinking. Beginning around 3,000 B.C., humans developed skills in phonetic script writing and shifted from their oral-dominate traditions to literate societies. In this period, historical events were recorded and stories from the past were more accurately transmitted. This allowed the human mind to regularly incorporate the practice of reflection for the first time in our evolutionary history.

Reflection is the unique ability of advanced consciousness that creates the story of self within the story of others. The technological development of writing—on walls, tablets, wood, textiles, and parchment—expanded the human experience to recognize how actions have consequences for self, others, and the natural world. This became the advent of moral absolutes.

For nearly 5,000 years, human civilizations have evolved, advanced, and thrived because they developed fundamental standards for morality—categories of rightness and wrongness, often presumed to be handed down by gods or spirits. While diversified across languages and cultures, humans for the first time reflected on the consequences of their actions, learned lessons from their past, and conceived of a future connected through family and generational bonds. No longer did societies live for themselves and the moment, they imagined a life beyond their time and place.

With this new level of consciousness unlocked, civilizations began to thrive. They did so because they were no longer bound to myopic tribal orders and exploitive practices that prioritized smaller communities based on safety and control over the unknown. Although imperfect, consequential thinking and morality brought order and purpose to a chaotic and dangerous world. 

Today we find ourselves at the fulcrum of a new evolutionary leap. It has the potential to build upon the pragmatic, relativistic, and systematic thinking that has shaped our modern human existence. We stand at a moment where we are beginning to unlock a new level of human consciousness that relies on intuitive-holistic living that will challenge the mythologies of the past, but not replace them. 

In this emerging level of consciousness, humans are universally transcendent, absolute, and fundamentally good. The moral standards of the past that brought order to the world will remain building blocks in infancy, but maturity will reflect a new ethic of interconnectedness and collective empowerment. Acknowledged through the same forces of energy and matter that construct us and the stars, we begin to see and feel ourselves physically and spiritually connected to each other. When this level of consciousness is fully unlocked, a new wave of thinking and being opens, new insights and learnings are realized, and higher standards of care, compassion, beauty, and love come into full view. It will mean that humanity in all its irrationality and beauty will manifest true redemption for each other and the earth.

The physics of a fulcrum cannot be ignored. The forces on either side will dictate the trajectory of the human species for the next millennia. On one side, the scale tips toward an ancient past where egocentrism and consequential thinking of the past create a perception of safety through authority, order, and hierarchical powers. On the other, the scale leans forward into a co-created future where collectivism fully redeems people, societies, and ecosystems through the emergence of intuitive-holistic living. The question of our time is this: who do we hope to become?

If the world is irredeemable, then egocentrism and nihilism have won leaving power and cruelty as the only ethical response to our troubles. However, if the world can be redeemed, then intuitive-holistic thinking will be unleashed moving humanity to a newly created order where violence, evil, and hate are vices of the past, and sustainable creation, goodness, and compassion define our common existence. We have everything we need, but the future is in our hands.

Hope and Justice For All

If you’re like me, you’re looking for compassionate hearts and rational minds in our chaotic world. Hope, change, and justice for everyone, everywhere require thoughtfulness, dedication, and courage to values-based living and leading. I believe that for myself—and for you. Will you join me in this consequential cause? You won’t find ads, paywalls, partner links, or random emails from me. I’m not for sale, and neither are you. However, this work does require support, and with your help, can remain accessible and uninterrupted. Please consider making a donation to keep weekly insights for hope and change available to you and others. Thank you!