Brad Rowland summarized our discussion about “Envisioning the World Our Hearts Know is Possible” beautifully with his list of Key Elements below.
Key Elements:
1. Belief drives action
Always begin with the belief that there is a solution waiting to be discovered.
2. Vocabulary
Words are the colors in our palette to paint a picture of the future. What words should be in our primary palette?
3. Iterative Progress
If you can only see the next few steps in the path, walk forward on those and you’ll arrive at a new vantage point. Like going over a bridge in the fog.
4. (Redirect from) Negative Focus
It’s not ok to stop at being dissatisfied. Knowing something is broken should be a trigger to brainstorm solution oriented thinking. Words like “should” can foster guilt and inaction, instead say “can” and “could”, then outline the steps for progress.
5. Build on Top of Existing Paradigms
Learn the basics: Water harvesting from Brad Lancaster (we can restore an aquifer, even in Phoenix), Permaculture possibilities from Geoff Lawton (you can easily grow food in the harshest, arid desert with salted soil), Housing design from Earthship inventor Mike Reynolds (a home can be carbon neutral, recycle water, and grow it’s own food), or the Tiny House movement. What would the ‘next phase’ of our vision look like if these ideas were already the norm?
6. Don’t Wait for “More Expertise”
If we implemented the smallest fraction of existing solutions, the world would be a completely different place (i.e. we waste 40% of our food, we don’t need any additional expertise to make better personal decisions to eliminate waste. How would the world be different if we wasted 10% less food?).
Brad and Kristy Rowland
Brad has spent over 25 years leading teams in hi-tech marketing and is still not a billionaire. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer through Geoff Lawton’s inaugural online class (via Permaculture Research Institute in Australia), and takes continuing education classes in sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration. He believes the problems of health, hunger, and housing are closely related, and can be solved through a better lifestyle that beckons us as a civilization. He is an average guitar player, loves rescue dogs, gardening, tinkering, and spending time with his wife at their home in Colorado.
