The Global Polycrisis
The global polycrisis that humanity now faces is unprecedented in all of human history. This polycrisis, refers to the simultaneous occurrence of a complex web of multiple, interconnected and interacting global threats that include environmental degradation, economic inequality, food insecurity, geopolitical conflicts, and democratic erosion plus several others. These are not isolated but interdependent, and amplify each other's impacts making the overall situation far worse than the sum of individual problems. They threaten the very stability and sustainability of the living ecosystem of our planet including that which is supporting humanity itself. Our large population (described on our Sustainability webpage), our powerful technologies and our outdated and archaic cultural and institutional paradigms and traditions place modern society in an extremely vulnerable position.​​
A video presentation (YouTube link immediately below) was given on Zoom by the founders of Groking Wholeness in July of 2025. It summarizes and provides a high level overview the challenges currently facing humanity (e.g. the polycrisis) depicted in the picture mosaic above. It also offers an alternative future, one where humanity rises above the current destructive ways of the selfish ego to a new way of being which promotes harmony, balance, compassion and a sustainable future not only for humanity but also for all living creatures with which we share this beautiful planet.
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(You can click here for a copy of presentation contained in the video)
The Problems and a Way Forward for Humanity
There is a spectrum of possibilities that will likely play out depending on how humanity gets its collective act together to address the issues outline in the video above. This set of possibilities is described in more detail in the two part YouTube video series shown below. Part 1 is the first part of the 2-part series that reviews the eight major challenges facing humanity in the 21st century - the global polycrisis - providing a very high-level big picture view. The second video (part 2) describes some of the risks posed by these challenges and will discuss the most likely scenarios that may play out and implications to humanity for each.
The Future of Humanity Part 1
The Future of Humanity Part 2
A copy of the presentation used in this two part video series can be downloaded by clicking here.
Be sure to read the article entitled "A Global Wake-up-Call" by Linda Sechrist - click here.
The Opportunity Presented by the Global Polycrisis
Our global crisis not only present a global threat but also an ontological opportunity to move from entropy (chaos: disorder/ deterioration and destruction of civilization) to one of syntropy (emergence; harmony, love, equity and a flourishing of civilization). Meaningful change in our external world begins with internal transformation within each of us. To impact society, global issues, or one’s environment, an individual must first work on their own mindset, habits, beliefs and behaviors. Social and global transformation is tied to individual transformation, and that lasting change requires both inner and outer work. Self-reflection and personal development is the first step toward making a difference in the world. These are also described in the video above: "The Problems and a Way Forward for Humanity"