World of Promise

We can do so much better as a species.

If you look closely enough, all of the great challenges we face—vast, increasing economic disparities; war and violence of all kinds; the destabilization of the very planet we live on—have the same underlying cause. All of the crises we face—socially, economically, governmentally, ecologically—share a single, fundamental common denominator: us.

Yet we don’t seem able to stop ourselves.

All of the key issues we face can be seen as diverse symptoms of one systemic disease. Its consequences are everywhere, affecting every aspect of our lives—from how we feel when we’re alone, to war between nations. This disease is so pervasive, and so powerfully influences how we understand ourselves and the world around us, it can be difficult to perceive. We easily mistake it for who we really are, rather than an error of perception we all share.

The fact that all the great challenges we face have the same cause should, however, give us hope; because it means that they all share the same underlying solution: Heal the disease, and we heal the world. In other words, for the world to change, we must change.

What that change looks like, and how we can actually go about engaging in it are at the heart of this initiative.

Before we get to the part that some of you might find tricky, let’s make it clear that this is meant for absolutely everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion…no matter who you are, what you believe or who you love. While this is about changing how we understand ourselves, and how that understanding shapes the world around us, none of it is intended to convince anybody to adopt any particular faith or practice, or to change who they truly are inside.

That being said, to fully explore the true nature of the disease we all suffer from, and what steps we can all take to heal and reach the heights of our shared potential, as part of this initiative we’ll look to what may be some of the most widely misunderstood traditions in human history. To begin with, at the heart of the story of the Garden of Eden is an ingenious, penetrating diagnosis of our fundamental disease. Beyond that, we’ll explore the secrets of one of the only biblical laws that has never been kept. Why? Because we’ve never been ready; we’ve never had the strength. It points not only to the breathtaking extent of our potential—socially, economically, governmentally and ecologically—but also to practical steps we can take to go about attaining it together.

It may hold the key to stopping ourselves before it’s too late.

The wisdom in these traditions is relevant for everyone, regardless of background, identity or belief. Much of it has been obscured over the millennia. It is time for the world to discover its transformative power.

The first phase of World of Promise involves a series of workshops in various communities, along with limited one-on-one sessions, that deeply explore these ancient secrets and how to translate their wisdom into concrete action towards transforming our world today. In addition, we’ll engage in exercises designed to experience glimpses of our true potential, so together we can begin to understand what it means for humanity to develop what it takes to rebuild our world.

Our overarching aim is to spark an inclusive, dynamic movement with the vision, strategy and strength necessary to remake our world, so it reflects the greatness of our true promise.

There is, of course, no guarantee that we will ever find the strength and wisdom necessary to realize our potential. World of Promise exists to make sure that, at the very least, we can’t ever say we didn’t know what it looks like or how to get there.

There’s a wonderful pearl of wisdom: “Ask not if a thing is possible; ask only if it is necessary.” We know that renewing our world is absolutely essential. Whether or not it is possible rests entirely on only one thing: us.

Which also means: you.