When we drop a rock in a pond it causes a far reaching ripple. Our actions also cause a ripple that spreads and has a far reaching ripple or impact. Drawdown is the by-Product of a better tomorrow. By drawdown, in the book edited by Paul Hawken, they are talking about how to drawdown the carbon emissions that are causing problems.
The actions discussed in the book, “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming“, make a better today and a better tomorrow. Drawdown is the ripple, not the only impact. A way to make a better tomorrow, starting today, has been outlined by Paul Hawken and a great group of colleagues. The book itemizes 100 examples of how to start to make this happen.
Chad Frischmans TED Talk below provides a summary of the 100 solutions provided in the book.
I always thought my work and focus has been about how to create a better tomorrow by discovering the most effective, efficient and sustainable way to get what we want that also benefits the future. The concept is similar to how Rory Vader explains how to multiply time. As he explains, take action today to make a better tomorrow (see Be Fruitful and Multiply – Time That is…).
As I continue to learn, I realized it is “All about the Ripple”. To feel good for doing good, the ripple, or long term impact, must also be beneficial. In other words, to add to Vaden’s goal, to focus actions that can be taken today, that will make a better tomorrow…For Everyone and Everything.”
It is possible to create a better today that also makes a better tomorrow more likely, however traditional ways must be improved. Drawdown is the “Moneyball (also a Movie of the same name)” or better way for the environment, like Upcycle. Better ways have also been found for education, business, industry, health and policy (see Concept: Create More Good, Not Just Less Bad and Create More Good, Not Just Less Bad (described in video). We can ask ourselves, what ripple happens because of the actions taken?
We are not using the ideas outlined by Hawken and Frischman as commonly as we should because skeptics let us doubt ourselves. To instill doubt they focus on the unknown since we can’t answer ever question. Skeptics have been using the idea of doubt to distort our reality for a corporate agenda.
Krugman recently has gotten so frustrated by this he calls the climate deniers depravers. That is he is accusing them of moral corruption. I encourage you read his 11-26-2018 article, The Depravity of Climate-Change Denial: Risking civilization for profit, ideology and ego. I am confused by this approach because doing this means they do not get as many benefits either. These shortsighted approaches leave a lot “on the table”. More benefits will transpire when the aim is to have a positive ripple beyond the initial impact.
What can be done? Dr. Pinillos, a professor at Arizona State University suggests using probability in his article, Knowledge, Ignorance and Climate Change. As he explains, because we can’t know everything and we also know that we don’t know everything, he recommends we “…to stop talking about “knowledge” and switch to talking about probabilities”. As he explains, “…people in the grips of skepticism are often still willing to accept the objective probabilities…”
Plans are not perfect and no matter how smart or educated we are, what we don’t know far surpasses anything we do know. Socrates taught us the virtue of recognizing our limitations. The ideas presented by Paul Hawken and Chris Frischman are ones we should already be using so lets get started using them and continue to collect data about those actions and improve as needed. In other words, plot our progress and if it is not happening, we must optimize the process again ( see Improve when Predict, Observe, Get Feedback, and Adjust.
Doing this isn’t always easy. It is easy to be against something, fight against a perceived injustice or what seems wrong. Although doing this is morally correct and necessary, it is mostly action to stop something. Then what? Being for something takes more effort to persistently develop, design and implement and continually improve by creating a better way that not only is initially good, but also has A POSITIVE RIPPLE.
So what am I doing, I am going on offense by working toward renewing, rebuilding, restoring, and regenerating by building a better life that also has a positive ripple. Not just a less bad life, but a better life than where we are. This isn’t about putting out fires to get us back where we were, it is about a redesign to create a new and better reality that makes life better today and tomorrow. We must exceed expectations!
Joining these efforts, not only means you get to experience the benefits a better world, you get the intrinsic rush of knowing you contributed toward everyone and everything doing better. Please share your thoughts. I look forward to hearing about the how you practice paneugenesis so you will generate all good by creating net-positive, pervasive, reciprocal, selfish, selfless, synergistic interactions so everyone and everything benefits.
Be Well’r,
Craig Becker
Be selfish, selfless, & synergistic so everyone and everything benefits!
If you want to contact me:
Email: BeWellr@gmail.com
Positive Health Leadership 
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