United Renewables ’s Post

Chimps & Rhinos – A lesson from the Wilds on Cultivating Curiosity* In the wilds of life, we often encounter differing viewpoints that stir up tension and conflict. What if we approached these encounters with curiosity instead of confrontation? Work with me: in the jungle, there are two creatures with very different approaches —the chimpanzee and the rhinoceros. The chimpanzee, known for its curiosity and exploration, engages with new ideas with a sense of wonder and openness. Meanwhile, the rhinoceros charges ahead with brute force, seeking dominance and control. When faced with someone expressing a viewpoint that seems completely foreign or even absurd to us, it's tempting to react like a rhino—charging in with our own opinions and seeking to overpower the conversation. But what if we took a cue from the chimp? Instead of immediately dismissing or attacking the other person's perspective, we can choose to be curious. We can ask questions like, "I'm curious, what led you to that belief?" or "Can you help me understand where you're coming from?" By embracing curiosity, we create space for meaningful dialogue and genuine understanding. We may not always see eye to eye, but by engaging with humility and open-mindedness, we can cultivate empathy, build bridges, and broaden our horizons. Perhaps the next time you encounter a differing viewpoint, you’ll remember the wisdom of the jungle: approach with curiosity, explore with an open heart, and embrace the beauty of diverse perspectives. #CultivateCuriosity *Inspired by Rick Langer host of the Winsome Conviction Podcast. 

When people ask you that tiresome question "Are you an optimist or a pessimist?" you don't need to play that game. You can resist these boxes and the superficial tendency to see optimism as "good" and pessimism as "bad", which is not helping us right now. Here are two refreshing answers I heard in 2023 podcasts: In an episode of the Economist's Babbage, AI entrepreneur (and former partner at Reos) Mustafa Suleyman responded: “I don’t like to think of myself as an optimist or a pessimist.  I think each of those are biased in their own way.  I think we need a clear-eyed view of the threats and we need to be very focused on the benefits…  We have to have confidence in our ability to be resilient and adaptive and not characterize one another as techno-optimistic or catastrophizing and pessimistic – we have to basically hold both intentions simultaneously and maybe that’s where we’ll get a bit of wisdom out of it.” And today I listened to the below podcast with William Ury who says: "People often ask me... so are you an optimist or a pessimist? What I like to say is I'm a possibilist. I believe in human possibilities... I've seen negative possibilities around the world in the form of war and suffering and lost opportunities, wasted resources, but I've also seen positive possibilities. Possibilists look at the negative possibilities and they look for the positive possibilities. Possibilism is a mindset that brings curiosity, creativity and inherent collaborative capabilities that we need more than ever in times of great crisis AND great opportunity." My preferred definition of hope comes from a 12th Century Jewish Philosopher Maimonides who said that “hope is the belief in the plausibility of the possible, as opposed to the necessity of the probable.”  Let's explore the full space of possibility and challenge its edges. #futures #foresight #transformation #systemschange #leadership Reos Partners https://lnkd.in/ecfVCvge

‘Navigating complexity and uncertainty’ This episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast features Houston-based Alexandra Whittington, a futurist writer and speaker who explores the future of humanity and society. A former Lecturer in Foresight at the University of Houston, she’s been highlighted as one of the world’s top futurists by #Forbes. The co-author and co-editor of several books including 'A Very Human Future', 'Aftershocks and Opportunities' and 'The Future Reinvented', Alex also delivered the popular 'Museum of the Future' TEDx talk. She's passionate about empowering people to imagine and create positive futures for themselves and their communities. So, we discuss the above, and I hope you enjoy listening to her as much as I did! --- My podcast series focuses on understanding today and anticipating the future. It’s been running for three years, with a wide range of guests inc activists, writers, creatives, philosophers, strategists, psychologists, lecturers and futurists; based in locations from Helsinki to Melbourne, and L.A. to Beijing.   Links: Apple: https://apple.co/3faOfCG  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2YuAVmE  Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dD9L6Y The series is bought to you in partnership with the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies - a global leader in applying futures studies to solve strategic challenges within organisations. Clients use their services to help them be ‘Futures Ready’… #AnticipatoryLeadership #BehaviouralChange #BrandFutures #BrandPositive #BrandStrategy #CPHFutures #ForesightStrategy #FuturesReady #FuturesDrivenInnovation #NewAbnormal #NowNextWhy #RiskManagement #ScenarioPlanning #StrategicForesight #Uncertainty #UniversityOfHouston

"What makes you unique? What makes you special?” Yesterday, I had a conversation with Elisa Viaud on the Moments Worth Remembering podcast, discussing ways to discover one's uniqueness! During our conversation, Elisa shared her process, developed through personal experience and work as an organizational psychologist. As she was sharing, it got me thinking about my own journey. The process of finding my uniqueness. Two elements instantly came to mind. First, feedback from others. Listening to others acknowledge certain qualities about myself. Learning not to dismiss their remarks. Being open to the possibility of seeing myself differently than I might have previously. Luckily, my path had crossed with people such as Nancy John, CTDP ACC, Nicole Ash, Brian Kelly, who are exceptional at acknowledging and encouraging people to develop and pursue their inner strengths. Their feedback helped me see curiosity as a strength, my strength. Second, embracing curiosity as a strength, internally. Digging deep, and asking myself the questions: How do I feel when I'm exploring something that piques my curiosity? In what ways has my curiosity contributed to my personal or professional growth? How has my curiosity helped me solve problems or overcome challenges? See things as opportunities? Getting comfortable with my findings. Seeing the value curiosity brought into my life. Developing a deep belief that curiosity was truly my superpower. I’m confident that there are many other factors that play a role in finding one’s uniqueness. These are simply the two that came to mind for me. Thank you, Elisa, for reminding me of my superpower!!! #Uniqueness #Feedback #EmbraceYourStrengths

Unlock Your Ultimate Potential: A Journey Through Neuroscience, Purpose, and Personal Growth In this transformative episode of the Unshakeable People podcast, host Katie Kaspari delves into the intricate workings of the human brain and how it impacts our actions and satisfaction. Explore practical tips for harnessing your brain's power, understanding true desires, and breaking free from societal pressures. Learn the importance of setting clear, motivating goals, overcoming procrastination, and giving yourself permission to change. Discover the power of coaching and self-belief through Katie's personal journey and get inspired to join the Unshakable People Club to achieve your dreams. Stay ahead of the competition, track your progress, and remember—you are unshakeable! 00:00 Recognizing the Wrong Path 00:56 The Brain's Fascination with Challenges 01:35 Understanding Our Programming 03:31 Introduction to the Podcast 03:56 Brain Tricks and Automatic Reactions 04:43 The Root of Negative Reactions 07:19 The Power of Positive Thinking 10:42 Identifying and Pursuing True Needs 12:27 The Journey of Self-Discovery 13:47 Purposeful Activity vs. Automatic Behavior 18:53 Procrastination and Its Nuances 22:41 The Energy Required for Desire and Creativity 24:42 Setting Exciting Goals 25:34 Understanding Dopamine's Role 26:49 The Importance of Defining Desires 29:14 The Power of Asking 'Why?' 31:23 Permission to Change 32:42 Breaking Through Limitations 34:36 The Role of Coaching 41:02 Managing Stress Effectively 43:17 Achieving Personal and Professional Goals 47:02 Conclusion and Invitation

Are we truly #irrational? 🧠 🔎 The classic economic models often rely on the concept of 'rational individuals' who continuously seek to maximize their utility. But as behavioural scientists have consistently shown, the complexities of human behavior don't always adhere to these neat, theoretical assumptions. 🧐 So, does this make us inherently irrational beings? What are the reasons? Or perhaps our actions are more rational than they initially seem? Is it possible that we're simply viewing them through an incomplete lens? 💡 Nobel Laureate in Economics, #RichardThaler, and Harvard´s #StevenPinker delve into these interesting questions in this episode of the Chicago Booth Review podcast. ✨ Enjoy listening!: https://lnkd.in/egxGxyEu #BehaviouralEconomics #UtilityMaximization 

#TheNewAbnormal My podcast focuses on understanding today and anticipating the future. The series has been running for three years, with a wide range of guests inc activists, writers, creatives, philosophers, strategists, psychologists, lecturers and futurists; based in locations from Helsinki to Melbourne, and L.A. to Beijing. Checkout this selection of interviews from across the series:    ·      ‘A Brief History of the Future’ c/o Ari Wallach ·      ‘The new Punk Generation meets Orwell’ c/o #OlePetterNyhaug ·      ‘Effective Strategic Foresight – Preparing for Possibilities’ c/o Ben Holt ·      ‘The Future of Work and the Digital Noman Community' c/o Lauren Razavi ·      ‘Futures Capabilities…Progressive Endeavours…Strategic Transformation’ c/o Jonas Gissel Mikkelsen ·      ‘Demagogue for President – the rhetorical genius of Trump’ c/o #JenniferMercieca ·      ‘How to identify & build a positive personal strategy’ c/o Nilgin Yusuf ·      ‘Understanding patterns, echoes and shadows’ c/o Alex Quicho Podcast links: Apple: https://apple.co/3faOfCG  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2YuAVmE  Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dD9L6Y The series is bought to you in partnership with the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies - a global leader in applying futures studies to solve strategic challenges within organisations. Clients use their services to help them be ‘Futures Ready’… #AnticipatoryLeadership #BrandPositive #CPHFutures #Foresight #ForesightStrategy #Futures #FuturesDrivenInnovation #InfluencersAndRevolutionaries #Innovation #InnovationCourses #InnovationSpeeches #Leadership #Megatrends #MegatrendAnalysis #NowNextWhy #RiskAssessment #RiskManagement #ScenarioPlanning #SpiralDynamics #StrategicForesight #StrategyDevelopment #ThePostTruthBusiness #TrendResearch

What are your values? How do you honor them? These questions are recurrent in my coaching sessions. They are essential to kick off any transformational journey towards the person each of us wants to become. Values is the topic of this No Stupid Questions podcast - https://lnkd.in/dayZnPeX - This is a podcast I enjoy and recommend given the energy and the breadth of topics that Angela Duckworth and Mike Maughan present in a dynamic informal way. There are many value inventories, for example the one from Shalom Schwartz mentioned in the podcast https://lnkd.in/ddRDUSWp or the more extensive from Brené Brown https://lnkd.in/dUADgEjz Or maybe just think of a time you were at your very best… Think about the values that resonate with you and reflect where you are today with them… what arises? What actions will you take to become who you want ro become? It is a daunting no regrets journey. Bon voyage!

On the 52nd episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am thrilled to introduce our guest, Martin Ebeling. Martin is a philosopher and the co-director of The School of Life Berlin . He is also the co-founder of the Pura Vida Festival Retreat. You can also follow his journey toward and exploration of co-flourishing on The Co-flourishing Project, where he writes under his alias Ocean (link below). In this deeply insightful conversation, we delve into Martin’s exploration of the meaning of life and his transformation from a lone wolf to his fascination with co-flourishing. He shares how his recent insights on co-flourishing unfolded after a personal retreat in nature and silence, shedding light on valuable lessons we can draw from those experiences. We explore what has resonated with him in his research on co-flourishing, encompassing the practices he observed at the Zen monastery, Plum Village. Here, monks consistently share both their wonder in existence and their experiences with difficult emotions. Additionally, we touch on the neuroscience that suggests it takes more than one human brain to create a human mind and we reflect on the interdependent nature of our being. I found this conversation to be highly illuminating. We discuss numerous themes that can guide you toward leading a more connected life—connecting with yourself, fostering meaningful relationships with others, and cultivating a deeper connection with the world around you. See the comments below for the links to the full episode, my newsletter, and links to Ocean’s newsletter👇 Click on the bell on my profile page to be notified of all my updates 🔔 _____________________________________ This week's question 🤔 What would co-flourishing look like in your life? What might you add or subtract from how you presently live? #community #coflourishing #flourishing #relationships #silence #creativity #aliveness #mind #awareness #connection #authenticity #nature

"True #abundance for us only comes when we elevate with us what we stand in relationship with." This insight is the essence of the #coflourishing approach. Listening back to the conversation that Mark McCartney and I shared on co-flourishing, I realized even more so than during the conversation what a great interviewer he really is. He mastered the art of teasing out what's essential to the approach and hopefully helpful to the listener to understand without imposing himself in the slightest. Great listening, asking questions that advance the conversation, and gently offering his own perspective while making room for lightness and depth. What a great set of skills to master. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Please find links to the full episode in comments, including to The Co-flourishing Project. And don't forget to check out other episodes of the What is a Good Life? Podcast.