Amidst the suffering we see in the world health situation, there is much to learn. So, I would like to share my views on what I am seeing and how I apply those perceptions to growing and prospering. Remember more billionaires were made during the Great Depression than at any other time. What did they see that they were able to take advantage of? That’s the question I’m about to answer so that you, too, can thrive during chaos, despite the constant noise of fear.
Dreamers and Doers
If you are anything like me, in your lifetime you probably have never seen more polarization among people. The things that separate us — ideologies, politics, economics, race, religion, education, language, gender, sexual orientation, age, country of origin — have been highlighted. Differences among people have never been so clear. So, why don’t we shine the light of awareness on these difference and learn from them, instead of ringing our hands in despair or ignoring the obvious? In that way, we can take advantage of that awareness and change our current mode of operating to something that is more resilient and productive.
Dreamers
Here’s what I’ve learned. I’m going to simplify months of observation and contemplation into two camps. What I see is two basic groups: dreamers and doers. Dreamers make observations, see how they feel, and then imagine something that feels even better. We traditionally educate this segment of society by encouraging them to shoot for a college education so that they can back their feelings with something that at least resembles logic. The upside is that they are great inventors and innovators. The downside is that they can get out of balance, get stuck in fantasies to the point where their behavior seems delusional, their quest for something that feels better is incomplete in its nature, and they are susceptible to “group think” (concensus bias).
Doers
Doers are action-oriented. They want to create the best work product possible, and when they do, they feel complete. These are the people who take the dreamer’s ideas and make them real. We train this segment of society as workers and engineers. The upside for a doer is that they know how to make things happen and feel complete when they do. The downside is that they traditionally are dependent on dreamers inventing and innovating, so they are often underpaid and unappreciated.
Established Roles Fall Apart
In the past, dreamers created a blueprint for doers to actualize. Dreamers received credit for “thinking great thoughts” and were heavily rewarded, both financially and in status, for their inventions and innovations. Doers were largely ignored, made less money and had less status than the dreamers. These accepted roles continued until the 2016 election when political ideologues who basically represented the “dreamer class” began belittling and denigrating doers in very personal attacks, i.e., “basket of deplorables.” Insults coupled with less rewards were more than the doers could tolerate, and they started to speak up, vote for candidates who heard what they had to say, and began to reestablish their value. After all, a dreamer’s vision is only a thought until someone makes it real.
Can This Division Be Healed?
The simple answer is, “No.” Externalizing the dreamer/doer archetypes as members of society has served its purpose. From my view, the broadening of polarization isn’t going to end, and as long as either side continues to hate and attack, the other side will continue to defend.
So, What Can We Do to Thrive during Chaos?
Realize that all great spiritual teachings pass the test of time. The key to working in this chaotic environment was given to us by the Ancients:
As above, so below. As within, so without.
What we have externalized – the dreamer and doer archetypes – can be rebalanced by internalizing them. What do I mean when I say this?
As you may be aware from other posts and articles I’ve written, I believe the days of working on issues globally are gone. Shifting global energy constructs and the behaviors that flow from them during chaotic times is unreliable at best. So, my guidance is to help people refocus on what they easily can change — the local environment. That means working to improve things for you, your family, and your neighborhood. When you do this, you create “islands of sustainability.” Imagine the influence thousands of these improved local environments will have on the future.
What Does This Look Like?
Become someone who dreams and then does. Imagine and then actualize. Bring the dreamer/doer archetypes into balance within yourself so that you, too, can thrive during chaos. Here’s how I see it:
Dreamers, I invite you to start looking at the fruits of what you have imagined so far. If you don’t like your harvest, then envision something better and LEARN THE SKILLS TO MAKE YOUR VISION HAPPEN YOURSELF. Don’t depend on anyone or anything else to manifest your dreams.
Doers, I invite you to IMAGINE A BETTER WORLD FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN. To prime the pump, spend time asking yourself questions like, “How can I improve this?” “What would be easier?” “What would it take for…?” “How could we…?”
The new reality which you both long for is something you can create within yourself. Find the dreamer/doer balance within you, and you will be more, do more, and have more than you had ever imagined.