Empowered Humanity Theory: A Foundation for Life, Leadership and Learning
Empowered Humanity Theory offers an approach to increase the well-being of our shared humanity and fortify the individual. and the practices to do so. Beyond our unique biologies and conditioned personalities, all human beings share common traits and capacities; despite our differing biological and cultural personality traits. For example, all humans possess the capacity for kindness, compassion, and altruism along with prejudice, aggression, and cruelty. Neuroplasticity refers to the human brain's ability to modify its connections or re-wire itself throughout one’s lifetime and occurs wittingly or unwittingly. Therefore, individuals (especially those in leadership) have a responsibility to create conditions for an intentional time to cultivate the human capacities that empower the individual while uniting our greater humanity rather than disenfranchising the individual and fueling societal division and harm.
Modern society reflects division, chaos, and injustice. Contributing factors are societal norms and narratives driven/motivated by the primitive responses of fear and judgment. Subsequently, these narratives create mindsets and attitudes that strengthen human capacity for prejudice, aggression, and/or cruelty and the specific harmful behaviors associated with them (i.e. racism). When these are expressed/practiced over time, they contribute to establishing/strengthening systems of dehumanization. Other factors which contribute to this systemic dehumanization include:
Removing the uniqueness of each individual and assigning them traits/characteristics according to their assigned group identity
Identifying some groups as “less than” and some groups as “better than” creates within individuals, psychological systems of shame, and/or resentment along with the behaviors, mindsets, and attitudes manifested from these thought processes.
A study on in-group and outgroup behaviors noted, "As soon as you place anyone outside of the circle of 'us' the mind/brain automatically begins to devalue that person and justify poor treatment of him”. (Efferson, Lalive, and Feh, 2008). An initial step in undoing systemic dehumanization is returning the moral authority to the individual from their prescribed group identity and the stereotypical group identity labels. Individuals are encouraged to explore and identify a core set of values and all aspects of their identity. These are examples of practices that build awareness and equanimity. Noticing narratives of fear and judgment and replacing them with mindsets of compassion and curiosity (when applicable) significantly decrease the frequency and intensity of injustices and harm. Replacing the narrative that individuals are “less than" or "better than” with practices that embrace our common-humanity tear down the walls of dehumanization and indignity mitigate behaviors associated with the capacities of prejudice, aggression, and cruelty. Finally, frequent and intentional acts of kindness and compassion not only heal but proactively build the brain in ways that prevent future acts of harm and injustice.
Healthy societies comprise of sovereign individuals and a compassionate, cooperative collective. Anytime there are more than two individuals assembled, there is a diverse group. Adding more individuals with the complexities of varying backgrounds and perspectives increases the probability of conflict or strife within the group. Group conflict is prevented when the group identify and abide by at least one commonly shared value. A value that transcends across most biological, cultural, personality traits and uplifts all human potential is honoring the dignity in self and others.
Neuroplasticity illustrates how the human brain is shaped by one's attention and intentions. Attuning to our common humanity, cultivating our most positive capacities, and developing self-awareness, and compassionate individuals will establish an empowered society of individuals at peace within themselves and with others. Consistently honoring human dignity in self and others and frequently and meaningfully engaging in 3 Pathways of Practice are pragmatic steps for building the neural pathways of peace and resilience.