Rethinking Generation: An Invitation to embrace a Life-Centered approach
This article invites us to reflect on the meaning of a generation in times of significant disruption.
Generation
/ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
all the people of about the same age within a society or within a particular family.
Today’s most used definition of generation is built on two main assumptions. One, it only applies to human beings. Second, it classifies people based on their age. From Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha, we let ourselves be separated from the natural world and locked into generational boxes as if our time of birth was a key differentiator of our identity and role in society.
Our unprecedented times invite us to rethink the meaning of generation. Companies, institutions, and citizens have the opportunity to embrace their true nature to birth the change we desperately need.
In an era characterised by our separation from the living world — with a clear planetary overshoot — and with our fellow peers — experiencing political polarisation and rising inequalities — , what new definition could we create to enable collective action to support life to flourish?
Embracing a life-centred approach
For the last few months, I have wondered what difference putting life at the centre of a new generational perspective could make. It has been radically transformational. A new generational approach emerges when one starts to consider a generation as the totality of all living beings—guiding the path towards the world future generations deserve to inherit.
What if we could move beyond age and species to invite unity between all living beings?
Think of all the living beings alive on Earth — humans and non-humans. From the oxygen humans breathe or trees produce to the water humans and animals drink, forests emit or turtles swim in, every living being is united under one gloriously complex and dynamic interdependent system: life.
A profound life connection exists between the newborn baby, the baobab tree, the blue whale, the zebra, the coral reef, and the elder — regardless of borders, age, identity, or species. We all share the intrinsic drive to co-exist on a finite planet to fulfil our vital needs. By nature, we are all made to co-evolve in harmony with one another, receiving and giving constantly to favour life.
Moving beyond the disjointed anthropocentric view of different age groups and life forms, could we welcome a new era of interconnectedness and co-dependence to inform a new understanding of generation?
By reshuffling the cards to take a life-centred approach, we can also make a paradigm shift — from separating ourselves from other species to taking responsibility as caretakers and ancestors of life. Now begins the story of participating in an interconnected web of life where humans and non-humans move forward as one.
No doubt that our fellow blue whales, baobab trees, and coral reefs are giving themselves fully to safeguarding life on Earth — while certainly wondering about our life-destructive behaviours. Inspired by Ubuntu, the time has urgently come to recognise that we are individually because of who we are collectively.
Finding our equilibrium point as a Generation
Now, if we consider that all living beings at any given moment belong to the same generation, how can we restore harmony to our fractured world? The multitude of life is a wonderful mosaic that needs a north star to move itself towards a flourishing horizon.
From the vast wisdom of elders to the unstoppable drive of youth and all that is in between, the keys are in our hands, waiting to be unveiled to birth the future.
How could we learn from our elders not to fall into the traps of the past? How could our youth guide us, sourcing the energy and intuition of the new?
The answer lies in combining it all to create a common direction and put ourselves into action.
Pause for a minute, visualising a flock of birds migrating towards the Northern Hemisphere or a herd of elephants searching for water sources.
Like any herd going through the vastness of ecosystems, our generation extends across a large territory with the support of backbone holders and visionary explorers. Those holding space at the tail end of the herd have lived long enough to know the subtleties of life using their resources wisely to attain their goals. At the forefront are those feeling into the direction of the wind to take the herd towards the future. The symbiosis of all life forms becomes a unique tapestry of knowledge and intuition that creates movement.
In self-regulating, the group finds its equilibrium point, where those sensing the future are trusted to lead the herd. Within this centre of gravity emerges a collective objective serving the highest interests of life.
In this ecosystem of life, we all belong to, everyone has the responsibility to contribute. As part of a generation, we have a duty of care to act in service of all life—considering intergenerational fairness.
For a new perspective and application of the term Generation
With that in mind, the term generation assumes a fuller meaning, bestowing on us a new responsibility in service of the flourishing of life on Earth. Considering ourselves as a small part participating within the wider picture of life, we embrace our interdependence. Accepting to exist in symbiosis with all our life allies, we can move away from control, extraction, and domination.
By embracing this perspective, we become ecosystem builders supporting our visible and invisible partners in reciprocity with the Earth — co-evolving collectively towards a better version of ourselves.
Learning from the past, and embracing the present, the invitation lies for us to take ownership of our future as one generation.
What if we could redefine the meaning of Generation, adopting the following perspective?
Generation
/ˌdʒen.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
The totality of all life, including all humans and non-humans alive on Earth at any given time — who collectively share an inherent capacity and responsibility to safeguard its future.
With this definition in mind, we can start unleashing our life potential to shape future-fit policies, transform our society and institutions, and evolve our communities. The possibility of a radically new future now opens up, driven by well-being for all forms of life, equity with decision-making, and a foresight ideation process where the meaning of success adapts to the greatest needs of life.
‘The Ministry of Life’ could emerge, giving a voice to life to shape future-fit policies prioritising the well-being of all life forms and foreseeing the needs that will arise by making space for leaders sensing the future.
Inspiration: the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales gives a voice to future generations of human beings through an independent Future Generations Commissioner. This long-term thinking could be expanded to all forms of life also integrating non-humans.
‘The Life Board’ could create emergent spaces for innovative conversations, inviting a wide variety of life voices to the decision-making table to establish future-fit strategies.
Inspiration: Corporate ReGeneration implements impact governance bodies giving a voice to nature, youth, and many stakeholders representing life’s highest interests in companies’ boards and institutions.
‘The Council of the Future’ could come together building on their differences to build a common identity where spaces become the medium for them to meet at the same level and co-construct their future.
Inspiration: The Transition Network invites citizens to come together to imagine the future of their communities, uniting individuals of all ages to reflect on their shared spaces to support the living world.
Towards an integrated Generation approach
In the current paradigm of extreme polarisation within the public discourse, we must find a common path to co-exist on this finite planet. Life calls us for unity and humility, where one is invited to embrace the idea that its presence only represents a tiny part in the immensity of entities and is a key connector to creating aliveness of the whole.
What if the human species could become accountable for supporting life alongside its co-dependant ecosystem partners?
The invitation is now for us to be the Great ReGeneration, welcoming a new perspective of generation including all living beings working together to regenerate life on Earth.
The future starts now. It is up to us to redefine our sense of belonging — accepting and honouring our role as part of our Generation.
Niels de Fraguier is an entrepreneur, author and foresight ideator committed to empowering individuals and restoring Earth systems. He supports companies, institutions, and not-for-profit organisations to build future-fit approaches to embrace change as an opportunity enabler. He has authored Cartography of Inner Worlds and co-authored The Regenerative Enterprise.
To learn more, visit empoweringpotential.org.
