The Maker of Meaning
In this context the idea is to delve deeper into our story by creating meaning. In other words, to find coherence or richness of meaning from the vision and story we’ve created. Each sequence on our story board represents a symbiosis that works because of the deliberate attention and interaction (relationship) that we have designed between systems (dimensions in our narrative) within a whole system (vision). The functioning element of this harmonious connection is what gives an ecosystem (your story) its purpose, and this meaning (value) is reflected through the concept of Cyclic Thinking and Systems Thinking. In this way, we can better understand the whole system as well as the influence of each of the different sub-systems towards one another (interaction) within it, because the outcomes and positive impact we seek are seamlessly integrated; therefore clearer and thus better understood.
Although Cyclic Thinking and Systems Thinking are both holistic approaches, Cyclic Thinking is used loosely as a basic, but systematic way of thinking; whereas Systems Thinking is a much deeper analysis which can be used in any area of research and has been applied to the study of various systems such as medical, environmental, political, economic, human resources, and educational systems.
The core principal of Systems Thinking is that everything affects everything else, derivative of the definition of a system which is a series of parts that come together to form a more complex whole to achieve a particular goal. Systems thinking offers a way to better predict future outcomes, based on a critical understanding of the surrounding structure and its elements. Therefore, Systems thinking is a holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way that a system’s constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems.
The function of Systems Thinking in environment is that systems interact with other systems where each system has an input, process, output via feedback, and in systems where each of these individual system exists - is vital in order to understand how things influence one another within a whole. I find this particularly helpful when dealing with deep-rooted issues such as unresolved conflict with someone at home/work, or a multidimensional problem for example; climate change, hunger and poverty.
Activity:
Using your vision as a guide, incorporate elements from your story board and use meaning to help you with your version of a ‘Whole Systems’ design that demonstrates a cyclic thinking process for generating sustainable and resilient outcomes. For example, if my vision is to gain mastery in Permaculture Science; from here I would be deconstructing this to find meaning so that everything that revolves around my vision comes back as one complete circle or a ‘coherent whole’:
In this context the idea is to delve deeper into our story by creating meaning. In other words, to find coherence or richness of meaning from the vision and story we’ve created. Each sequence on our story board represents a symbiosis that works because of the deliberate attention and interaction (relationship) that we have designed between systems (dimensions in our narrative) within a whole system (vision). The functioning element of this harmonious connection is what gives an ecosystem (your story) its purpose, and this meaning (value) is reflected through the concept of Cyclic Thinking and Systems Thinking. In this way, we can better understand the whole system as well as the influence of each of the different sub-systems towards one another (interaction) within it, because the outcomes and positive impact we seek are seamlessly integrated; therefore clearer and thus better understood.
Although Cyclic Thinking and Systems Thinking are both holistic approaches, Cyclic Thinking is used loosely as a basic, but systematic way of thinking; whereas Systems Thinking is a much deeper analysis which can be used in any area of research and has been applied to the study of various systems such as medical, environmental, political, economic, human resources, and educational systems.
The core principal of Systems Thinking is that everything affects everything else, derivative of the definition of a system which is a series of parts that come together to form a more complex whole to achieve a particular goal. Systems thinking offers a way to better predict future outcomes, based on a critical understanding of the surrounding structure and its elements. Therefore, Systems thinking is a holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way that a system’s constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems.
The function of Systems Thinking in environment is that systems interact with other systems where each system has an input, process, output via feedback, and in systems where each of these individual system exists - is vital in order to understand how things influence one another within a whole. I find this particularly helpful when dealing with deep-rooted issues such as unresolved conflict with someone at home/work, or a multidimensional problem for example; climate change, hunger and poverty.
Activity:
Using your vision as a guide, incorporate elements from your story board and use meaning to help you with your version of a ‘Whole Systems’ design that demonstrates a cyclic thinking process for generating sustainable and resilient outcomes. For example, if my vision is to gain mastery in Permaculture Science; from here I would be deconstructing this to find meaning so that everything that revolves around my vision comes back as one complete circle or a ‘coherent whole’:
Note: It is helpful to remember that this ‘masterpiece’ design you have created here can be used as a blueprint to guide you on the journey to your destination. It is a way to get a sense of what could potentially become real so that future actions can be planned, and possibly even as a way to discover breakthroughs or tensions in the process.
Creating meaning provides another dimension to how we learn in an ever-evolving and unpredictable world. It is through this meaning-making process that we can create the conditions to cope more adaptively when faced with very complex challenges of our modern life that other means simply cannot. The more meaning we create, the better we learn and the closer our collective actions for better change can be realised.