Maturation is a process. The work of bringing understanding and compassion to the small self and cultivating a more expansive self is never done. Think of the small self as the childlike self, the ego self. With the small self everything boils down to personal needs and security. Coming from the small self many Americans will support whether expressly or tacitly not only offshore oil drilling but also coal mining, new nuclear power plants, and other technologies which promise to perpetuate ease and comfort. Concern over the consequences for other peoples and species will continue to be, at best, a minor concern. If the vast majority of Americans continue to lead with the small self it follows that any ambitious environmental agenda will fail and our war making will continue as politicians enact the will of the majority. Politicians know perfectly well when concern for an issue is a mile wide but only an inch deep. It's the depth that counts.
Whether we continue down a path of collective suicide or change course, the psyche will be intimately involved. Lasting behavioral change begins and ends with the psyche. The big question is not who holds elected office or how effective conservation programs are, both leave the basic addiction to fossil fuels intact. The question is: What are the key elements of a resilient foundation for a sustainable and life-affirming society? One critical element, I believe, is the inner resilience that only work with the psyche can bring.
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