Our Need for Coherence

Recently, I saw a meme that got me thinking. It was a picture of someone surrounded by electronic devices, taking in all kinds of random information.

It made me wonder about our need for coherence. Part of losing our sanity is losing a worldview that makes sense to us. If life is just a bunch of random, meaningless stuff happening, what's the point? It seems like a disempowering and disheartening way to live.

Image courtesy of Pikwizard

When I think of the most wildly popular politicians on the international stage, Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn come to mind. Both are a branding nightmare. Not only are they both getting on in years, but apparently Bernie's grumpy and Jeremy's kind of weird. And those things make me love them all the more. They're just regular folks who have a coherent worldview that they have lived, which gives them credibility, and make their visions immediately understandable.

I think we have a deep need for a coherent outlook on life that is fair, constructive and that makes sense. Fake news and excessive marketing are an assault on this basic need. They pollute our understanding of the world.

Wanting a better future for those who come after us is a time honoured and noble aspiration that was once a part of most people's worldview. Where did it go? This isn't something we hear about much these days, even though it's the driving force for so many of us. Think the boomers don't care? Think again. Many have grandkids. Of course most of them care. They want their children and grandchildren to thrive, and a world that will allow them to.

One of my favourite attempts to create coherence is the Leap Manifesto. It's the result of divergent groups who are all working hard towards a better future who have hammered out some goals they can all agree upon. Having been part of many similar groups -- and sick of the distrust and infighting among them -- I love this.

Collectively, we have the wealth, the technology and the ability to create the kind of world we would want to leave to our kids and grandkids. But I think a lot of us -- especially the people who are running the show these days -- have an insufficiently broad and coherent worldview. People in power have a responsibility to those who elected them to provide a healthy society, a thriving environment and a stable economy. But they seem to be beholden to money interests, fossil fuel companies and massive corporations. People chasing profits have a way of missing the fundamentals.

In some ways, I feel sorrier for these people than for the rest of us who are struggling under them. Where is their humanity? How does it feel to be that greedy and uncaring? What do they tell their kids about the future?

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Our basic humanity is what makes life meaningful and enjoyable. Forget about the pursuit of happiness: what will make us feel good is caring relationships with others, and that means doing the right things. If your relationships are based on deal making, then they're not very substantial, and at some level we all know that.

A coherent worldview is one that is based on values like genuine caring and concern for the future, and it's something we can base our actions upon. If we care about having a livable future and value our water, air, and land, we'll work hard towards replacing fossil fuels with clean energy.

We can see people's level of commitment to these things in our communities by what they do, but we're not seeing that in a lot of our political representatives. When they're persuaded by corporate interests, they're selling themselves out as well as the people they represent.

So how do we create coherence in our lives?

Here are a few ways I filter information:

• I'm clear about my values, especially when it comes to a healthy society and planet, and a future for coming generations.
• Does something benefit the many and not just a few? 
• Is it kind and constructive?
• Is my news coming from a source I trust? Fake news muddies the waters.
• What does my gut tell me? If it leaves me with a pit in my stomach, there's probably something not quite right.
• What would the effect of an idea be a hundred years from now? Would the world be a better place because of it?

 I believe having a coherent worldview brings personal peace. Our values are our North Star, and coherence flows from them.

Image courtesy of Pixabay