TRIBALISM OR INNOVATION

The external world seems to be an angry place these days, with all kinds of ongoing global conflicts, and increased polarization here at home. I’ve been talking about this issue with friends and family over the last few months, trying to get a handle on what is causing this discontent. Some obvious causes were suggested, such as longstanding wars (in Iraq and Syria), growing income inequality, an entrenched government bureaucracy, the need to process so much daily information, etc.

But I felt that something else was missing in the equation, but that something else proved elusive…at least until the other day.

While perusing the internet recently, I stumbled upon an article on a 30 under 30 conference being held in Tel Aviv and sponsored by Forbes Magazine. Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel, and someone instrumental in creating Israel as a state, was being interviewed. He addressed this issue of worldwide anger, and his response was nothing short of brilliant, at least to me. He said that many people in the world were caught in a major change going on: that change was a shift from a world based upon war and territoriality ( a form of tribalism), to a world based upon innovation.

This was exactly the concept I was searching for, but couldn’t originate: that’s the missing link to explain much of the anger that people are feeling worldwide. The reason this makes so much sense comes down once again to energy (no surprise there, right?) How are you going to spend your priceless life energy from the moment you wake up? Are you going to blame your circumstances on some external group, letting hate fester and rule your day? Or are you going to focus your energy on creating something that not only benefits you, but helps other people too.

This is such a simple concept but really explains so much- this is the reason that so many people are caught up in anger today all across the world. What’s your choice?  Tribalism or innovation?