"We’ve all heard the organizational saying “The system is only as good as the data.”
So how does that apply to ego, corruption and crypto?
Well, the decentralized/centralized systems are only as ethical as the people that created them.
In organizations we are making strides to teach intellectual skills and empathy. But what about integrity?
Without questioning the integrity of the individuals who create the systems, are the systems really in integrity? What happens when the Egoic decisions of one, negatively impacts the livelihood of many?
Well.. billions of dollars disappear over night as millions of innocent people watch helplessly as they lose everything in the blink of an eye.
Trending upwards in the recent years were decentralized currencies and ecosystems that nullified the need for individual trust. This sparked interest as we increasingly became an even more untrusting society.
Sadly, this makes sense. Take the 2020 Covid Pandemic for example. What happens when the governmental and financial systems that were meant to protect us, neglects us during our greatest times of need? What happens when it withholds resources, manipulates the truth and picks favorites based off of race and wealth? How might these inequalities shape a person? How might that shape a society? From a trauma-informed perspective, being exposed to the depths of our vulnerability without validation or reconciliation is no doubt, extremely traumatizing. Individually and collectively. As a result, this forces individuals to compromise their values (honesty,integrity) in order to meet their needs (certainty, significance).
Mid pandemic is when we witness a rise in interest of decentralized ecosystems that promised a glimmer of hope of the future. Crypto is a non-sovereign, hard capped supply of decentralized currencies. A hedge against irresponsible, governmental fiscal spending. A system leveraged for the people, by the people. That anthem started to gain traction during the pandemic. However, that is not how it has evolved.
When the 1% are those who are controlling the systems utilized by the masses, a constant pattern that remains is an imbalance of checks and balances. We witnessed this pattern within traditional markets during the pandemic with the uproar surrounding Wall Street Bets and GameStop.
In the last six months we witness 3AC, Celsius and now FTX implode right before our very eyes. Those in power who swore to help the disempowered became the further cause of it. Sound familiar?
How did we get here? Implied or explicit cumulative traits are both informed by and inseparable from our immediate environment. Imagine, how a singular person acting on maladaptive impulses can do a lot of harm to others. Now, what happens to us as we start to behave this way collectively?
In a time of day where we are the most technologically advanced, most globally connected and educationally reformed we are seeing contrasting results known as the Progress Paradox. As life gets better, people are feeling worse.
Many of the individuals who wish to create a newer, more beautiful world attempt to do so without also changing their inner world. Using a trauma-informed lens, usually, the environment does not support the progress, and the progress does not support the people. Without fully embodying the change we wish to see, overall progress will fail in sustainability. Our inner world is a reflection of our outer world and we see that reflected in our collective unconsciousness today. Society as we know it is imploding right before our very eyes as individuals and institutions are self destructing from the inside out.
When we’ve been conditioned to internalize capitalism, we see that reflected in our current political, social and economic climate today. The conflict here is when the macro and micro are in opposition. Or when our desires for change conflict with our behaviors that don’t. Therefore, implementing such progressive alternatives is not just the result of dysfunction but was also created by it.
To be clear, the platform is not the problem. The people in positions of power that corrupt such platforms are.
As my seven year old niece would say, “Bruhhhhh…” *Face Palm*
When is enough, enough? What’s it mean to have enough? We will never know the answer to those questions until we are honest with ourselves about what it means to be enough.
Albert Einstein once said, “The problems we wish to solve cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that created them in the first place.”
If there’s anything we have learned from history, its that we haven’t learned from history at all. As a society this reflected today as we are repeating the very toxic patterns collectively that we are seeking repair from as individuals. To change what we are experiencing as a society, we must first change who we are being as individuals.
The lack of compassion found on social forums when exploring an unpopular perspective causes us to covertly conform to the very culture we are trying to change. Y’all, we cannot create change by enabling conformity. By closing our hearts this leaves very little room for redemption or hope.
At the intersection of integrity, morality and authenticity, our Ego has a choice to make to. Though many of us would hope we would make the right chooses, we are witnessing how incentivizing it is to make the wrong ones.
By integrating psychological concepts into the workplace, like Shadow Work, we can begin to heal the collective one individual at a time.
Shadow work, also known as inner work, is the process of exploring and addressing the aspects of ourselves that we tend to avoid or suppress, such as our fears, insecurities, and past traumas. Integrating shadow work in the workplace can be challenging, but it can also lead to personal growth, improved relationships, and increased productivity. Here are some ways to integrate shadow work in the workplace:
- Encourage self-reflection: Encourage employees to take time for self-reflection and introspection. Provide opportunities for them to explore their emotions and thoughts, such as through meditation or journaling.
- Foster a safe environment: Create a safe and non-judgmental environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their vulnerabilities and struggles. This can help build trust and deepen connections among team members.
- Address conflict: Address conflicts and tensions that arise in the workplace, rather than ignoring or avoiding them. Encourage employees to take responsibility for their own feelings and reactions, and to communicate honestly and respectfully with each other.
- Provide support: Provide resources and support for employees who may be struggling with mental health issues or personal challenges. This can include access to counseling or therapy services, or flexible work arrangements to accommodate individual needs.
- Lead by example: As a leader or manager, model the behavior you want to see in your employees. Be transparent about your own struggles and how you address them, and encourage your team to do the same.
By integrating shadow work in the workplace, you can create a more supportive and productive work environment that values personal growth and emotional intelligence.
We are all leaders in our own right in our social platforms. How are you showing up?
Some questions for reflection:
-Are you only kind when it’s easy?
-Are you only patient when there’s no pressure?
-Are you only trusting when you are in control?
-Are you truthful even when the truth can get you in trouble?
-Are you only giving when you get something else in return?
-Are you withholding of love and resources when you don‘t get what you want?
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