Recently I was asked to assist a colleague at a retreat where stakeholders form diverse sectors in fisheries gathered to work out a way to best work with each other. The experience reminded me of the importance of worldviewing skills when worldviews are galaxies (so to speak) apart. For example, how can environmentalists, commercial fishermen, First Nations, Department of Fisheries and several other agencies with often divergent agendas and perspectives come together to work collaboratively?

Raman Pannikar, a seminal thinker on worldview dialogue, explains there are three main worldviews in the world: a human centred worldview whereby the Earth exists for human use; an Earth Centred worldview whereby humans are part of  a wider Earth community and finally a cosmos-centred worldview which encompasses the cosmic, the divine and the human dimensions of life. Of course, worldviews are never so cut and dry. Some people or cultures may have a little of each perspective, however he explains that often one worldview is dominant.

Getting back to fish… and seeing the conflicts through a worldview lens we can see some people fighting for people’s right to fish to make a living and sustain their families (eg. the Earth is a resource for human use) vs some people fighting for the fish, insisting humans are part of a wider Earth community and we humans are putting at risk the survival of another species (fish). Yet others refer to thier creation story and the role fish have in their culture since the beginning of time.

How do we bridge these kinds of worldview difference? First understanding and naming our own worldview and that of the other can go along way in establishing a common language and a fresh way of looking at the problem. Second, learning skills to harness the understandably charged emotions into constructive communication can lead to ah – ha moments and ultimately innovation.

In worldview conflicts emotions tend to run high. The conflict tramples on deeply held values and beliefs about the world and our beliefs about right and wrong. When emotions run high, this provides an opportunity to explore our own:  judgments of other people and ultimately ourselves,  as well as our values and worldview. Our fist job is always to clean up our own backyard (our judgments and getting clear on our values); next to suspend judgement and be curious of the other person’s worldview and finally to communicate and make decisions based on our shared values rather than the story we tell ourselves (about the other person, the situation or even ourselves).

Learning these worldview skills starts at home. And when we practice worldview skills with our loved ones, we more easily can bring them into the world and respond to challenging situations with more flexibility and innovation than before.

Sticking Your Nose Out of Your Own Cultural Waters And Experiencing Another's Can Do The World Some Good