Inherently flawed, or temporarily broken?

It can feel relatively unsettling to live in a Western country these days. This week alone, Americans grappled with the release of Robert Mueller's investigative report and, with the Brexit impasse dragging on, hundreds of thousands of people marched in central London calling for another EU referendum.

When I made the decision to move to the West, unbeknownst to me, the seeds of these social divisions had already been planted. Political phenomena like populism, nationalism and isolationism are now rising tides, a backlash to the recent globalization that has left many of our fellow citizens feeling left out and left behind.

Can we continue to champion democracy the way we've understood it to be in the (Western) world, or is it a system that has outlived its usefulness? In this article, historian Ian Morris argues, "Democracy is not a timeless, perfect political order; it is a solution to particular problems. When these problems disappear, as they eventually did in ancient Greece, democracy's claims to superior efficiency and justice can vanish with them."

What could, or should, take the place of democracy, if it were to fall away? Will we resort to fascism, authoritarianism, or other (typically) violent -isms of old? Or is the influence of technology, and its currency of data, going to inject something new into our political veins?

I have no clear thoughts or answers as yet. One thing I do know is that being an informed and enlightened citizen will serve us no matter what comes our way. And for democracy to return with new vigor, it demands that we inform ourselves at every turn. Then we can vote in, or be, the elected officials to make that democracy hum.

​Making work more human

​Once a year, I attend a conference affectionately dubbed, "Woodstock for HR (Human Resources)." Now in its fifth year, Workhuman Live brings more humanity into the workplace. It began as a leap of faith in 2015, and I was fortunate to witness its evolution from day one. 

Besides assembling the best HR minds each year, Workhuman intentionally drives conversations that enhance our wellbeing at work. As we spend ever more hours at work, and as the boundaries between work, life, and community continue to blur, social and cultural moments are woven into the fabric of each Workhuman conference. From the #MeToo movement, to inequality and inclusion, luminaries like Former First Lady Michelle Obama have shared their stories of work, life, and meaning with us. They call us all into our best work, and inspire the HR leaders in the audience to spark similar change in their workplaces.

This year, we heard and learned from Brene Brown, Geena Davis, Viola Davis and George Clooney. I'll share my take on their keynotes in future issues of Peace Matters.

​​We're ALL navigating the new world of work

​Having had a ringside seat to conferences like Workhuman, I see and know the challenges that corporate executives and HR managers are dealing with.

As I shared in this week's podcast episode, and on my #FridaysForPeace livestream, it doesn't matter if you're a manager or an employee - the relentless pace of change is catching us all off guard. It feels like we're on a runaway train, and nobody is entirely sure who, or if anyone, is in the driver's seat.

And so, instead of expressing our pain and frustration at each other, this is a moment for us to look inward and find our center. As employees, what do we truly want at work, and how clearly are we expressing that to our managers? As managers, how open and available are we to our team, and are we strong enough to hold their pain?

Finally, as fellow human beings, how ready are we to see each other as being in the same boat, riding these rough seas of changing work? How much grace can we extend to each other?

​​An online workshop to unlock your life purpose

​A few days ago, I listened back to an online workshop I delivered in late 2018, and it's pretty darn fabulous.

If you're a creator, you know how it is. It can be almost impossible to discern the value of your work. I often need some time and distance to effectively self-edit or critique, and the moment finally presented itself this week.

The workshop is titled "How to Find - And Use - Your Voice to Do More Good." It distills my decades-long journey into the essence of my own purpose, and shares the guideposts I've used along the way. This journey is one of a thousand lifetimes, a path that often circles back on itself, a spiral of soul growth that enriches your life and enlivens your experiences over time.

I (can now) highly recommend it to you.

Here's what one workshop participant had to say:

"It was a powerful experience. Thanks for all I got out of the workshop." - Bill Graff, Vietnam War era veteran and retired schoolteacher.

Learn more here, take the workshop and get your good work into higher gear.