1) The document discusses the modern obsession with constant growth and argues it has distorted the true meaning of evolving to adapt over time. 2) While growth was meant to mean evolving in response to changes, society has instead focused only on the "survival of the fittest" aspect to the exclusion of other considerations. 3) The author argues that cooperation, not constant competition, allows societies to work together for mutual benefit, which is a truer form of survival and progress.

1. GROWTH:Everything Possible . . .
The mantra of the modern age: grow or die. But it is really true? Or is it one of the
many ideas with some truth that became such an obsession that it’s now haunting
us? And what do we mean by growth, anyway?
Maybe what we really mean by “Grow!”, as an imperative, an inbuilt instruction that
we just cannot ignore, is EVOLVE! Now that makes sense: our genetic urge, our
inner need to change to cope with the times, to not just survive but prosper. Yes!
This is where the modern, perceived need to grow has come from. But as with so
many deeper ideas, it has become hijacked by the way modern society sees life and
what’s important in life. Our rational, thinking, mind has grabbed hold of one facet of
the idea of evolution and pursued it to the exclusion of all other facets and pretty
much any other, decent, common-sense, pursuit that mankind might keep foremost
in heart and mind: “survival of the fittest”.
Oh dear, do we never learn? As wild animals, creatures without language, then
‘survival of the fittest’ may indeed mean continual fighting and the winner takes all.
We can see this at play in conflicts of all sorts: within families, between religious
fractions, hostile take-over bids, tribal warfare on the soccer terraces, etc.. Surely it’s
time to accept that all this does is waste resources, time, effort . . if not lives. In the
end, nobody really wins and many, often innocent folk, suffer.
As we move into a new era of human consciousness, finally we are putting that
approach into touch. Now we know that win-win is possible: with intelligence, the will
to co-operate and, above all, compassion for others, we can – and are increasingly
able, to work together for the benefit of all. This is ‘survival of the fittest’ – those best
able to listen, empathise, compromise and see the true humanity in all of us . . . the
part of us that needs to belong . . . and feel loved.
I’ll leave you with a wonderful song that I learn from the singing of Roy Bailey, that
reminds us of the real reason for existing and value of our lives: Anything Possible.
Dr Keith Beasley PhD Reiki Master 20.7.15