Part 1 - Creating the World You Yearn For

Our world is filled with promise - which it is if you dare to believe it!

Not only do I dare to believe it, but I have set out to create the world I yearn for. You can, too! If we all did it, the world would be a much better place.

This article is Part 1 of the blog series Creating the World You Yearn For intended to help us collectively build a world worthy of our children and based on integrity of spirit and creative innovation. Creating such a world invites us to ponder our own contributions, think about our lives - and the planet - and decide who we are in the matter of it all.

A Heady Leap

That's a pretty heady leap, yes? But we must leap, make a 'step change', in how we dance with our world, our planet, the environment and those that we love. Why bury ourselves in the circular pastimes of CNN or Fox News. That only leads to distraction, and at best encourages us to take the next small step for mankind in our devolving global drama.

Let's create a step change in the direction of world we collectively yearn for. Sure, we may all have different visions before us, but a smorgasbord of integrity, innovation and good will beats a feast of folly.

We have more intellectual, emotional, scientific and technological capital than ever before in the history of mankind. If we begin with good will and imagination anything is possible. Star Trek has shown us that if we begin with clarity of values, imagination and skill, we can change the entire world (my Apple watch and recent MRI come to mind).

A Little Science

Let's base our desire and imaginings of a yearned-for world in a bit of science.

Long held belief in reality as a by-product of thought began in 1930 with Sir James Jeans, Professor of Applied Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy at Cambridge and Princeton Universities who made stunning contributions to the field of quantum mechanics by flipping our understanding of “self” and the world on its head. In his book, The Mysterious Universe, Jeans writes:

“The stream of knowledge is heading towards a non-mechanical reality; the Universe begins to look more like a great thought than like a great machine. Mind no longer appears to be an accidental intruder into the realm of matter...we ought rather hail it as the creator and governor of the realm of matter.” (1930)

To back up Jeans outrageous idea, Richard Cohn Henry, professor at the Henry A. Rowland Department of Physics and Astronomy at John Hopkins University, wrote a landmark essay in Nature Journal in 2005 entitled “The Mental Universe”: Henry scientifically supported Jean's research noting that:

“bright physicists [today are] again led to believe the unbelievable – this time that the world is mental.” (2005)

Giving at least a modicum of trust in the sciences we can move forward in creating the world we yearn for. We can, at the very least, try on its assumptions and see what we can do with it.

Begin with Your Values

Any good imagined future begins inside of you. A strong sense of personal value with a clear ethical and moral sense of yourself is the foundation upon which you must begin. Believe in yourself and act in your own best image. In other words, imagine your best 'you', carry your best 'you' into your daily behavior and just revel in the self confidence and positive reactions you receive.

Here are a few values you may ponder - just in case you need a kick start. Use some of these to begin, then continue to build a list of your own core principles about who you are in the matter of the world.

Know thyself - No one can truly know what you perceive, what you want, why you do the things that you do better than yourself. Take a firm stand in your own identity – you can be you.

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Esteem Yourself - Hold in high regard the strength and value you bring to any situation - whether small or large. Value your strengths; apply them generously.

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Esteem Others - Valuing yourself and others is the very foundation of solid relationship. Focusing on the weaknesses of ourselves and others does nothing more than add “just another brick in the wall”. Esteem yourself, hold others in high regard, and build relationships that support growth and vitality.

A few of my readers have told me this is a rather daunting task, but it is foundational in creating the world you yearn for. To build a world with meaning and value, you must first understand your core principles and what you bring to the party.

Take some time to yourself and consider your core values and principles. Write them down; describe them in detail. Expand your foundational thinking and build principled thought into your muscle memory. Share your thoughts with a close friend, it will deepen your personal commitment. You will appreciate it as we take our next steps.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Creating the World You Yearn For as we play with the great mysteries before us.

In contemplation,

Jenifer Zetlan

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Jenifer Zetlan, author of The Incredible Power of Inspiration: Creating the Life You Yearn For, is a behavioral scientist and motivational speaker who is committed to helping people live inspired lives. With advanced degrees in psychology and behavioral sciences from UCLA, she has led numerous seminars and classes in psychology, leadership and organization in University settings and throughout many Fortune 500 and non-profit organizations. She has also enjoyed successful careers in psychology, aerospace, and heath care.

Jenifer has been reading, studying and speaking in the areas of psychology, philosophy and spirituality for over 30 years. She is an ardent yoga practitioner and instructor in the Bay Area.