REGENERATIVE FUTURE
How to Unleash a Better Future with 3 Types of Stories. What’s True or False?
Storyteller might be the most important job of the decade
We are storytellers. And now the time has come to do what we do best. The next decade is our time. We have been trained for this decade. We are the ones who will change the world with our stories. Tell entertaining, impactful stories, created with all of our skills in words, images, and film.
And start birthing the new world.
Stop fussing about money. Stop trying to please the old, dying order. We are going to tell the raw, real, and empowering stories in such a way that the world will adore us! 2020–2030 is the decade that the complete change on all fronts will become clearly visible.
So, as long as we tell our honest stories in our best entertaining way, the money will just be another flow of value. Together with flows of love. And flows of connection. We will have it all and share it all.
Let’s invite many flows to our lives. Love, connection, and money
The birds in the forest never worry about false notes. They are not shy to sing their song. They just sing. And together, they create a symphony. That’s what we’ll do too. And here is how we’ll do it.
A Change of Era
Transition Professor Jan Rotmans (Erasmus University Rotterdam) says it clearly. We are not in an era of change. We are in a change of era. It’s shifting, my friends. It’s happening. And we’ve all chosen to be here at exactly this time in the evolution.
What’s happening exactly?
Our planetary laws are abundant. Have you ever seen a cherry tree limiting herself to produce flowers? Neah. The flowers that aren’t fit to become cherries will just be food for the soil. That’s good. That’s how the laws of nature work. Reciprocity. Diversity. Serendipity.
Our planetary laws are abundant
Our planetary laws are working on symbiosis. Competition? Yes, that’s what we superficially see above the ground. But the real work is done underground. And there, the micro-organisms and fungi collaborate with the tree roots to create value for all. Sugars, oxygen, water. It’s all distributed fairly. There’s enough for us all. We just need to embrace the abundance in our mindsets and our human systems.
In our history, however, we have told ourselves the story that humans are more clever than nature. That some races are more clever than others. That one country is better than another. That one religion is better than another. And that bodies and sexuality are evil.
As a result, we created all our human systems with scarcity. Our mindsets are limiting. And all the while, every day, we limit ourselves most of all. We think we’re not good enough. We judge ourselves and others harshly.
Hmm… time for a change of era, don’t you think?
“Those who want genuine change, first have to come to a standstill.” — Professor Jan Rotmans
Isn’t that what COVID is doing right now? Forcing us and our economies, our mindsets, and our world to come to a standstill? Might this virus just be a wise catalyst? Let’s slow down, immerse ourselves in silence.
And listen deeply before we decide where to go next.
Storytellers Are to Blame
Okay, so where do storytellers come in?
Philosopher Charles Eisenstein says it clearly. Our broken human systems are built on the stories we told ourselves. And that story is a story of being a machine without a soul. Like René Descartes told us time after time. And the stupid thing is that he’s still quoted as a wise man. He was not a wise man!
We have to stop believing this reductionist story of separation from nature. Descartes, along with many of our religions said we, humans, should rule over nature. Other species are not intelligent. Other cultures are not intelligent. Only we are. And we have to fight for our space to be.
We’re not machines without souls! Think again!
These stories have led to hierarchy. To leaders who think they are better than others. To domestic violence. To racism. To thinking we are homo economicus. We need to compete. We need to fight. We need to win to become happy.
Storytellers Will Fix It
Stories have the power to destroy us. And they nearly did if we look at the state the world is in. But there are always two sides to one coin. Stories can also birth and midwife the new world. Stories can give us the courage we need to close this chapter and enter a new chapter.
Come up with new solutions for all of our broken aspects in this mighty powerful change of era.
Stories pull us into the future and stories push us from our history. One story at a time. New stories are needed badly. And we’re working on it with many, many, many storytellers. You can join us. It’s easy. We can all play a big role.
Our philosophers and scientists are very busy finding new stories and new theories. They embrace ethics and systemic design. They create with symbiosis and flow.
Philosophers tell us about interbeing and about deep ecology. About gratitude and compassion as tools for change and health. Psychologists prove the connection between body and mind. Scientists explore epigenetics, the theory that our genes are not fixed but can be switched on and off depending on the environment. Social scientists explore the theories of shame and the need for belonging.
And let me tell you one thing: we have already proven that we live in a systemic world. Where every living being on the planet has a role. And deserves respect. In this decade, we will find ways how to live as wise humans on the planet we call home. And it will be the accomplishment of the century!
We are no machines! We do have souls! Many scientists, economists, and leaders might not yet believe us, but you and I, the normal people know it. We believe it and we live it. Every day. Again and again.
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” — Professor Brené Brown
That’s why it’s so important that we all tell our stories. In our own unique voices. With our own unique angle of perception. Only this diversity of stories will blend into the new reality. The diverse truth-telling of the one and only universal truth. We are one. Separation is an illusion.
The Wheel of Change
Stories pull and stories push. And the wheel of change can only gain speed by pulling and pushing with stories that heal the past and build a regenerative future, able to heal herself. Planet and people. It can be done. And we see great examples happening in the world right now.
Pull the future and push the past with new stories
So, what are the right or wrong stories? What do we have to look for when we push the publish button? Let me guide you through the 3 categories of stories.
Futurist Stories
Storytellers are painting pictures of the future that will be. I’m really convinced that the best way to get people into action is to feed their longing for a new world of harmony with diversity. And show the examples of how it will be made possible. No dreaming of Utopia but a realistic future based on the natural laws of collaboration, (bio)diversity, and trust.
The false stories in this category are stories that repeat the well-known broken record. That we need to compete to make our startup successful (business), that we need to manipulate to sell our products (marketing). That every technology is good, even when the ethics suck (social dilemma). These stories are not true and shouldn’t be spread.
The false stories are saying that nature is our enemy and we can only survive when we fight her. No, our only route is to embrace her and her wisdom fully and unleash the abundance for humans and other species.
The true stories in this category are the stories of systemic design, optimizing the diverse whole instead of maximizing just one own interest. The true stories value inner beauty and see how it shines through. The true stories tell us about the new business models in which we do not manipulate but create real solutions and let people decide if it fits in their lives at this moment or not. Inspiration and free choice are replacing marketing and are doing a much better job in this era of dialogue and growing inner wisdom.
Collaboration with synergetic partners will create 1+1=3 for our startups. And ethics are at the center of everything. We question more than we advise. And we let other people make their own decisions. We have to tell true future stories to give people active hope and motivate them to take the next step in their life.
True stories are diverse stories. Painting the picture with beauty and life-energy so people will want to be there. Help us create this future. True stories will also combine bigger pictures with practical next steps so people can easily apply what we’re saying.
And if you don’t see the full picture of brokenness and how it can be healed (yet), just tell us the futurist stories that touch our hearts and souls with longing for beauty, love, and connection.
Historic Stories
Storytellers are retelling the stories of our history. Black people were heroes and their stories need to be told. Women were great scientists and need to get recognition in hindsight. Indigenous people are wise people and their wisdom should be heard. All spirituality is equally valuable in all areas of our lives and sciences and societies. And nature, the vastly wise universe, is the basis of all life.
The false stories in this category are the ones strengthening all stereotypes of the past. Wrong stories are glorifying stories of power in all areas. Be it race, be it patriarchy, be it human oppression of nature. Don’t spread these lies.
The true stories are all the old stories from new angles. Breaking all the old historic contexts and restoring our minds and souls. The truth is as vast as the universe. The only thing we see are the angles of our own perspectives. So the more we tell stories from unexpected angles, the more our minds will be healed.
Let’s paint pictures by breaking every stereotype you can think of. Black women are never again victims, they are wise advisors. And a grasshopper is never again a pest. He’s a decomposer of organic matter. He’s a hero who does his catalyst work whenever monoculture has taken over.
Storytellers with a strong privilege in whatever area have an even bigger responsibility to tell stories about the other perspectives and support the writers with less privilege fiercely. White male storytellers writing about black heroines are powerful. Scientifically educated storytellers writing about intuition and so-called magic (which is no more than flowing with the universe) are powerful. Famous storytellers writing about the first time they kissed a same-gender person and felt love are powerful.
Personal Change Stories
Storytellers are telling about their own path of change. In this category, every story is a true story! Everybody has their own personal journey of change. All personal struggles, insights, and growing-up stories are valid. And valuable.
As long as we keep flowing and moving and dancing on the journey, we can come to different conclusions in time. We can change our view and grow. You can use all the storytelling skills you have in you. Make it fantasy. Make it love. Use narrative arcs. And creative crafting.
Use the #1 rule in storytelling. Make your stories suspenseful. And use catalysts instead of violence! A catalyst is something or someone who creates space. A storm, a lion, a grasshopper group as a pest are all catalysts. They are wise beings who have a task. They never destroy for destruction’s sake. No, they make space for a new future to emerge.
Separation is an illusion. We are one. And this specific decade will show us that. Either that or we’re doomed as humanity. And I just don’t want that for our grandchildren.
Happy storytelling, my friends. Trista Amy Michele Rebecca Rebecca Zelam Dew Tree Agnes Jenine Adelia Kaia Maria CR Annelise Nicole Caroline Melissa Charlotte Lanu Aurora Annick Neha Noma Sherry Paul Kathryn Joe George Jessica B. A. Chowa FILZA Cigdem Tamela Infiniti Maria Britni Daniella Nicole Suzanne and all the others I think about but don’t mention this time. And if you do something with the right stories in one of the categories, you can always tag me.
I’ll be happy to read your perspective…
If you want to connect, you can find me somewhere on this beautiful planet. My hands in the soil and my gaze focused on the stars. Or you can find me via Linktree.
© Désirée Driesenaar
