In his book The Good Ancestor, Roman Krznaric asks us “How can we be good ancestors?“
It is a fascinating question because it implies that an ancestor might have duties to those who follow.
And yet, why should we care about future generations?
For starters, we give them the ultimate gift of life – what more do they want?
The catch is that we too received the same gift of life, and in turn owe a debt to our parents and their ancestral parents that can never be repaid. All we can do is pay it forward.
We are thus part of an infinite web of life, not its destination. And yet, in many ways it feels as if the dominant global cultures have lost connection with the sense that there have been countless generations of all species before us and our job is to pass on a torch in good condition.
It is not about us.
We do not own anything.
We have a much higher calling – that of stewards!
- What then are the duties of a steward?
- Indeed, how can we be good stewards?
Questions in the Image:
- How can we be good stewards?
- What are the duties of a steward?
Want to Read More Around This Topic?
Giving future generations a voice in decision-making is possibly most famously found amongst the Iroquois (Seventh Generation Principle) but equally has echoes in the “Future Generations” movement in Wales, which is intended to help the public realm consider the long-term effects of their decisions.
Nurturing Curiosity – Daily Practice: This is part of the Nurturing Curiosity series of tools, insights and questions designed to help nurture curiosity as part of our daily practice. In point of fact, every interaction we have is an opportunity to question what we are observing and how we and others are seeing the world. Also remember that questions come in many forms throughout our day.
About Tom O’Leary
Tom guides bold pioneers through inner transitions towards regenerative futures.
His primary offering – through a process he calls Ecological Coaching – is about working with leaders on the mindset, skillset and structural shifts that will power their organisation’s outer transition.
This means helping leaders thrive while creating ripples of positive change within their organisation and most importantly for the communities they serve and ultimately life on this planet.
It is thus not just about the leader as an “individual” but rather as part of an ecology of relationships. Within this ecology, he helps the leader feel heard, gain clarity, take action, build confidence and thrive all in service of something bigger.
How Might Tom Help?
My first invitation is to take maximum advantage of the free content on this site.
As you are reading this, you are clearly on a fascinating journey. If you feel you would benefit from us doing some work together on some aspect of your journey, please explore this page: How Can I Serve?
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