Resources

In today’s world, we navigate widely different perspectives in many areas of our life. For example just consider politics, social perspectives, and economics. If nothing really is intractable, as the HSD tagline says, how can we step into conversations to find ways to move together, in spite of our differences?

"Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day." - E.B. White

A broader understanding of diversity as a systems phenomenon is part of a re-education for living in a complex world. Understanding the dynamics of the interrelationships of various dimensions of diversity within systems can contribute to our mastery of the complexities of life. - Dr. Toni A. Gregory

How I prioritize my time is a consistent concern for me. It relates to my work, civic engagement and volunteerism, relationships, and to how I take care of myself. When I say, “I’m sorry, I wish I could do XYZ, but I can’t,” there is a voice in my head that tells me, “If you really wanted to, you could. You just have to prioritize it.” This blog isn’t about why I feel this way. Anne Helen Peterson nailed it when she wrote about burnout. This blog is about how I tried (and botched) using Human Systems Dynamics to optimize my time. In that process, however, I gained insight that gives me the energy to move forward.

In this week's HSD blog, Glenda Eoyang talks about purpose, change, and the complex interactions that contribute to organizational evolution.

In mathematics there is a group of patterns referred to as “attractors”. In complex systems, recognizable patterns of behavior can evolve over time, based on the system’s initial conditions. Mathematicians studied those patterns and identified unique sets of conditions that shape the different types of patterns. We use the insights of these mathematicians to inform our basic decisions and actions.

You don't just have a story - you're a story in the making, and you never know what the next chapter's going to be. That's what makes it exciting.                                                                                     Dan Millman