The Times They Are A-Changin'
Dear Friends,
Well, what a week it has been … and the world keeps changing in massive ways.
Past Wisdom 2.0 speaker Tulsi Gabbard is now the Director of National Intelligence in the US. I had never thought that was in the cards.
See my interview with Tulsi at Wisdom 2.0 here. She was the first Hindu member of congress, and a Democrat at the time.
RFK Jr
RFK Jr., a favorite among many in the health and wellness world, is now the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services—an outcome that would have seemed unfathomable just a few years ago due to his views on vaccines.
Now, he finds himself leading the very department he has long criticized.
In Europe, far right parties also gain momentum, including in Germany.
And the Buddha’s truth of impermanence shows itself yet again!
Everything changes.
Elon Musk
In the past decade, few people were calling for regulation of AI more than Elon Musk. He said, “Mark my words — A.I. is far more dangerous than nukes.”
Likewise, as a business leader Elon was adamant about addressing climate change, saying, “Climate change is the biggest threat that humanity faces this century, except for AI.” In June 2017, he even resigned from Trump's advisory councils following the administration's decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement.
Now, it seems, Elon’s views have changed, and he supports the administration’s approach to both AI and climate. (at least from what I can tell)
And next year, his views may change back! Ours may too.
People often support budget cuts when they believe others will be affected—but protest when those cuts hit home. (Just ask the farmers in the US who voted for Trump and are now feeling the impact of halted USAID purchases.)
Impermanence
“Fortune changes like the swish of a horse's tail,” said the Buddha.
And that tail keeps swishing … and will continue to do so. No one is immune.
It's easy to gloat when things go our way—and complain when the tide turns. But all things arise and pass. Of course, actions need to be taken at times, but the world seems to be in a pretty massive disruption, which is the theme of our next event.
How do we relate to change? Can we mitigate the pain and also harness the opportunities they may bring? What does right action look like for each of us?
Agree or not, one thing is clear: The Times Are Changing. And each of us must decide how to engage—or not—in this shift. Change, it seems, is the only constant.
Blessings,
SOREN
Upcoming Wisdom 2.0 Events:
Interesting perspective. Let’s hope and pray there’s method in the madness.
Thank you Soren for posting your interview with Tulsi. Last March I was fired up about Robert F. Kennedy Jr and for the first time I was going to be active in politics to help get him elected. I had been influenced by his bad press too but I wanted to find out if it was true.
Listening to him, Tulsi, or anyone else, in person, is 100% more telling than news bites.
RFKJR believed that Trump was the best chance for changing our country and I almost died! BUT...I prayed harder and followed him, as he asked, to Donald Trump....wow! Roberta is a changin'!!!