What Is Important?

Would you save yourself, your loved ones, or the rest of the world in a given situation? The answer to such an extreme dilemma is hard to predict. It depends on what is at stake, the odds of winning or losing, your self-narrative, your perception of reality, and many other factors.

However, one thing is clear: you must know what is important to make the best possible decision. Significant and valuable. But to whom? And for what?

A dilemma is the difficult choice between two or more comparable alternatives. It can be small or enormous. When no decision is right or easy to make, we consult the seat of importance in our brain: the limbic system, a group of interconnected neural structures responsible for emotional processing.

Put simply, the perceived importance corresponds to the number of limbic cells involved. What occupies the brain fills the mind.

Every day, we face minor dilemmas:

• Should I work from home and miss my colleagues, or in the office and lose my focus?
• Should I fly to save time, go by train to save money, or choose a virtual meeting to save the planet?
• Should I buy the inexpensive, fast-growing chicken or the more expensive, eco-friendly one?

These dilemmas may seem like trivial problems of modern life, but you still have to make up your mind, as we all have, again and again. Our choices, in sum, can have a considerable impact.

Me, us, or the rest?

We tend to be biased toward selfish behavior and tribal thinking. It is easier to identify with your role in the family or community than to see yourself as a member of the human species and citizen of the earth.

In the moment of truth, we choose what benefits ourselves and those around us, by nature and by habit. When things get rougher, we get tougher and start fighting for our own survival.

The habit of prioritizing ego over ecology appears as an insurmountable barrier to a prosperous future for humanity. But it is not. There doesn’t have to be a dilemma. It's not a question of an either—or, but a both—and.

Selfishness and sustainable solutions can coexist. The personal, social, and ecological spheres are not opposites but connected and interdependent realities.

To achieve a more holistic approach, we could raise our consciousness and expand our scope of mind, think clearly and more widely, and improve awareness and togetherness. What each of us does influences the whole.

The world only gets better if we get better at having ideas, making choices, and taking action that bring us closer to a regenerative ecosystem.

Although we often use the terms synonymously, decision and choice differ. Decisions are made through careful and thoughtful effort before reaching a conclusion. Choices come to us unconsciously and automatically through instinct, intuition, or recognition.

Early and essential choices shape our decision-making. Beliefs, values, and attitudes are all choices we have made in the past. The challenge is that we are often unaware of them when we make decisions.

Here is a small exercise to check for importance: 

Find a quiet place, let peace come to you, breathe deeply and slowly, and rest your awareness in the heart area. Observe what emerges without judging or commenting.

Ask yourself a question and notice the answer. It can be words, images, feelings, or other mental representations. Intuition involves the gut brain, which gives a richer sense of importance than the limbic system.

The exercise also works in groups. For example, it can be used in meetings to inform critical decisions. Used properly, it will surface hidden resistance and uncover individual biases.

Invite the participants to think about this question for a few minutes: Which of your knowledge, values, and beliefs would be challenged by the decision? Share your insights, find ways to overcome resistance, and compensate for biases.

Transperience is about making decisions as easy, fun, and rewarding as possible. So what is important? 

We all depend on the Earth and its cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, and other essential elements. Let us root for that. We also need other people to survive and thrive. Root for them, too. What else? It’s up to us, you and I, separately and together.

Dilemmas that arise when choosing between personal, tribal, and ecological interests can be solved. Applying the transperiental matrix balances the different needs and, in a brain-friendly way, transforms personal and collective aspirations into meaningful actions.

Healing, caring, and regenerating are important to me — what about you? What is important to you?