/WHAT IS ASSESSED HERE:

HOW YOU THINK ABOUT AND DEAL WITH AMBIGUITY AND PARADOXES, HOW YOU RECOGNIZE DIVERSITY, FEEL ABOUT IT AND ACT TOWARDS IT.

What this tells you:

This graph shows only one dimension – cognitive - meaning that you have an intellectual understanding about this aspect. You are not necessarily engaging your feelings nor converting them into actions. You might use this information to explore your emotions related to this aspect of the sustainability mindset, and perhaps find ways to convert your understanding into actions. 

YOUR SMI RESPONSES INDICATE THAT you know that it is important to listen to others’ perspectives, and to find solutions that can accommodate diverse needs, even compromising what is important to one or the other.

At the same time, you are a pragmatic person that likes clarity in life. You feel most comfortable with clear choices - black and white options - and find a sense of stability and reassurance in holding onto your values and your worldview.

/YOU ARE COMFORTABLE when faced with a new situation, you are able to rapidly frame it within what you have learned is “right” or “wrong.” This useful for avoiding gray areas, although you may miss understanding the complexities of a situation.

There may be a tension between your understanding of the importance of inclusion, and your behaviors prioritizing right/wrong distinctions. Your choices in the questionnaire indicate that you may feel a certain tension, as you realize that you may be perceived as not being very inclusive. The point is that your heart remains true to values you were taught and respect.

/THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN FURTHER LEVERAGE THOSE STRENGTHS AND MANAGE SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS WHICH MAY BE HOLDING YOU BACK:

Because much of the world is changing, you may feel compelled to be more understanding with others’ perspectives, but this doesn’t come easy to you and you may feel frustrated or impatient.

Of course you wish there would be a solution that might make everyone happy, one that accommodates diverse ways of seeing the economy, ecosystems, the human race and the planet, but you don’t think this may be realistic.

/HOW ABOUT YOU TRY:

Here is a question to consider: Can you think of an event or situation, however minor, where someone with a different opinion was able to step into your shoes? How did it make you feel? How did it impact your attitude and your behavior?

What if we could shape a world that makes room for different perspectives? Where you acknowledge others’ points of view, and yours are also included by others? Since we cannot control what others think or do, but do have control over our own way of thinking, there may be an interesting path worth exploring here.

/THOUGHTS TO PONDER WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE SM:

Many of our world’s sustainability challenges originate in choices such as: “either the planet or the economy” and “either protect the wolves or the farmer.” Yet, either-or choices can be misleading, and have us believe there are win-lose solutions that work. But do they really? If the cost is high, do they still work? When we find ourselves in a situation where we see it the right way, and others are wrong, what may we be missing that these others are seeing? How could we all benefit from having a fuller picture?

It seems that today, more than ever, we are collectively being confronted with paradoxes and ambiguity. Increased transparency and access to information from around the world makes us aware of very different ways of thinking, being and acting with which we may not agree or be comfortable. Challenging as this may be, there is a benefit to it: We are becoming aware of our own worldviews just by realizing that there are other ways of seeing and feeling. This is an evolutionary insight of great value, the foundation for more peaceful societies.

In a way, life is prompting us to expand our understanding and our scope of caring, which go hand in hand. When we understand something, we can begin caring.

This is the start of a better world for all.

Both+and thinking allows us to understand paradoxes, and calls for creative solutions that are inclusive of all stakeholders.

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