On a scale of 1 - 10 how fine are you?

This week, I had a long-overdue catch-up with a very good friend.

His 'thing' is that he always begins by asking how I am.

So far, so normal.

Of course, like many of us, I replied: "I'm fine." "You don't look 'fine'," he said.

And here's the 'thing' he does: he then asks me to score how I'm feeling on a scale of 1 - 10. In general (healthy, family, friends, and work) I said I'm probably an 8 or so.

But when it comes to navigating the current state of the world, the many crises we're all facing, I found myself at a loss for words.

It feels like we're collectively standing at a threshold, uncertain of what's on the other side.

These heightened VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity)conditions are difficult for most humans to manage.

This in-between state, where the old ways no longer serve us, and the new are yet to emerge, is known as liminality.

Liminiality was first introduced to me by Ben Tolhurst It perfectly describes where I am, and perhaps you feel the same?

So, what can we do to better understand what it means, and really importantly, how to navigate our way?

Understanding Liminality in the Context of Polycrisis

The term "polycrisis" describes the interconnected nature of global challenges; climate and nature crises, economic instability, social upheaval - crises that compound and amplify each other.  More here

As Edgar Morin, who introduced the concept, explains, these crises are not isolated but interact dynamically, creating feedback loops that make the whole even more overwhelming than the sum of the parts. 

In such times, liminality becomes a shared experience. Roman Krznaric, a social philosopher, emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking during these periods, urging us to become "good ancestors" who prioritize the well-being of future generations over immediate gains.

Navigating Through Liminal Spaces

So, how do we find our footing in this liminal space? Here are some insights I'm finding super-helpful from thought leaders:

Embrace Doughnut Economics: Kate Raworth's model offers a balanced approach that meets human needs without overshooting ecological boundaries. It's a framework that guides us toward regenerative and distributive economies.

Redefine Progress: Tim Jackson advocates for moving beyond GDP as a measure of success, focusing instead on well-being and sustainable prosperity. I'm currently listening to his book Post Growth: Life after Capitalism and highly recommend.

Learn from Indigenous Wisdom: Robin Wall Kimmerer teaches us about the reciprocal relationship with nature, reminding us that caring for the Earth is integral to our survival and flourishing. Her book The Serviceberry is just beautiful to read and helped me understand the simplicity of solutions; give more to nature than we take.

Foster Community Resilience: In her book Owning Our Future Marjorie Kelly highlights the importance of democratic ownership and equitable economies in building resilient communities.

Understand Energy Dynamics: Nate Hagens provides insights into the energy constraints of our world, encouraging us to adapt to a future with different energy realities.

Invest in Moral Leadership: Jacqueline Novogratz in her book Manifesto for a Moral Revolution (not in my photo as I keep lending it to friends!) emphasises patient capital and moral imagination in creating sustainable change. Jacqueline's writing and achievements make for compelling reading. She and her team focus on long-term solutions over short-term profits and take time to make sure that solutions are community driven.

Moving Forward Together

Acknowledging our liminal state is the first step. By integrating these diverse perspectives, we can begin to chart a course through uncertainty. It's about unlearning lessons from the past that have caused this mess, reimagining success, redefining progress, and reconnecting deeply with each other and the planet.

A better world is possible.

We have the solutions.

It's up to us to answer the question: "You knew, what did you do?" with honesty, integrity, compassion, courage, and authenticity.

How are you experiencing liminality in your life, and what steps are you taking to navigate through it?

Can we work together? Please get in touch.

#Liminality #Polycrisis #RegenerativeEconomy #SustainableLeadership #CollectiveAction #ImpactLeadership #PostGrowth #Degrowth

Additional Resources:

For those interested in delving deeper into these concepts, I recommend the books in my picture above and some further inspiration and resources online from Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) , CUSP | Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity Post Growth Institute Nate Hagens Business Declares Kate Raworth Tim Jackson Incredible Edible Power for People Antidote Studio Matt Golding Mary-Ann Ochota FRGS Jason Hickel Roman Krznaric Jacqueline Novogratz Acumen