End of life solutions

I’m not sure if it's realistic or pessimistic to think that the end of life costs debate is unresolvable from the frame it’s currently approached. As end of life relevant technology and pharmacology spirals in options and costs, there is no foreseeable end to our debate about imposed or allowed limits. Arguments about what constitutes the biological and religious requirements for “life” add more heat than light to the problem.

As usual with wicked problems, we have to change the frame to get anywhere different.

One idea is to require any person or family with stressful cost-implicated end of life decisions to go through the process with coaching in meaningful end of life conversations. These are with each other or if possible with their beloved.

No amount of costs can address people’s incapacity for the kinds of conversations that make letting go more possible and meaningful. No technologies or pharmacologists can replace the power and efficacy of authentic conversations when life ends.

Self as app

The trend towards app reliance calls into question the future of self reliance. Now just at the dawn of appdom, we have yet to imagine what kinds of apps will replace more personal functions in our lives. It’s a question of what should and shouldn’t we outsource to apps.

A possible trend is more people taking back their life from apps the way people have done with other non-virtual electronics, appliances, and tools.

Civilizing the planet through lovingkindness

Barbara Fredrickson of UNC and colleagues recently affirmed the relationship between lovingkindness meditation, health indicators and social connections. The vagus nerve plays a vital role in health and our sense of social compassion and connectedness. The researchers studied possible changes in the functioning of this nerve and behavior with two groups who did and did not participate in six weeks of hour-long classes in meditation focused on wishing good for others in their daily lives.

The vagus regulates how efficiently heart rate changes with breathing and, in general, the greater its tone, the higher the heart-rate variability and the lower the risk for cardiovascular disease and other major killers. It may also play a role in regulating glucose levels and immune responses.

In addition, and relevant to the study, the vagus is intimately tied to how we connect with one another — it links directly to nerves that tune our ears to human speech, coordinate eye contact and regulate emotional expressions. It influences the release of oxytocin, a hormone that is important in social bonding. Studies have found that higher vagal tone is associated with greater closeness to others and more altruistic behavior.

More of the meditators than those on the waiting list showed an overall increase in positive emotions, like joy, interest, amusement, serenity and hope after completing the class. And these emotional and psychological changes were correlated with a greater sense of connectedness to others — as well as to an improvement in vagal function as seen in heart-rate variability, particularly for those whose vagal tone was already high at the start of the study.

via The Biology of Kindness: How It Makes Us Happier and Healthier | TIME.com

In this age where people must yet endure barbaric bullying and other insensitivities across contexts, these studies show promise and deserve scaling in any ways possible.

Presence & The Art of Possibility

In the upcoming book, Abundant Possibilities, I argue that an intentional life is a life of authentic presence. We have the best view of new possibilities from the practice of being fully in the present. Being fully present is a challenge. We are easily pushed and pulled by the gravitational forces of memories and anticipations. Presence is the space of bliss between worry and regret.

Yet, the more present we become, the more new possibilities open up to us.

This is critical to those of us whose careers center on creativity, innovation, improvisation, planning, engagement, and change. We thrive on new options and angles, new inspirations and questions.