In my previous articles, I explained why I left my job to make the world a better place, and what I think better is. In my daily struggle to do better, I am required to constantly look at what is happening around me with a critical eye. I am not allowed to convince myself that today is better than yesterday if it really isn’t. However, if I want to increase my chances of doing better, I better have a good understanding of what the problem is!
With my critical eye open, I see problems everywhere. You might say that this is a rather negative way to go about the day. I would agree, almost… For me, a problem is a chance to learn something new. Some problems give us the chance to apply something we have already learned in a new way, and some problems force us to learn new things in order to solve them. In all cases, this is what I love to do! Unfortunately, there is not enough time in the day to solve them all, so I need to be focused on solving the problems that will make the world better. Many people have many views on what the solutions are to these problems. We need to eat less meat, stop using single use plastics, drive less, eat organic, take longer holidays, spend more time with our families… and less time on the internet. The list goes on and on and on. At the same time, we have not clearly defined the problem.
In my opinion, climate change, or the growing income inequality, or one use plastics, or pesticides, or vehicle emissions, or the 12 hour work day cannot be accepted as THE problem. These are merely symptoms of a greater problem. If we look at all that needs to be better critically, and with a “systems thinking” view, we will have a better chance at addressing the problem and making the world a better place every day.
In my opinion, the problem of all problems is us. WE are to blame for everything. WE invented the one use plastic. Why? Because WE wanted to pay less and cant be inconvenienced with some sort of reusable container. WE are the reason for the growing income equality because WE work for those companies who put more value on shareholders and CEO’s than people and products. And WE go and buy those products because the better alternative that is just down the street and made by our neighbor is just too expensive. We have no one to blame but ourselves. I see this as a cultural issue. And for me, the definition of “culture” is “the way we do things around here”. In order to change our culture, we need to change the way we do things.
And now for the question that puts us on the path to better. So what? The way we answer this question will determine if we remain the problem, or if we move down the path of better. This requires us to change our regular, daily behaviors. For me, this is a daily struggle. Sometimes it is easy, like bringing a metal water bottle along and drinking from the tap. Or bring a sack to the grocery store. Others are more difficult, like opting for local products in all cases. So I choose to make the world a better place by doing my best every day, with the challenge to do even better tomorrow.
Whether you agree with my definition of the problem or not, the question remains the same. We have many problems to address and time is becoming the most scarce of resources, so what are you doing?