The world we live in has been rather aptly described as VUCA: volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous.
It is a world full of inequalities. Of radical, almost daily, changes. And of disruptions. Whether it is climate change, lack of access to quality education, or energy poverty, among others, the one thing that seems to be constant throughout the world are the challenges that humanity faces.
While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework to address these challenges, the creators of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) recognized a critical omission in our approach: our focus on the world “around” us at the expense of the world “within” us. Comprising 24 skills and tools categorized into Being, Thinking, Relating, Collaborating, and Acting, the IDGs present a shift in perspective by focusing on developing the internal ability to live in harmony with the self, others and the universe; serving as catalysts towards realizing the SDGs themselves.
Being
This dimension centers on the self. It entails the cultivation of our inner world and the deepening of our connection to our thoughts, emotions and physical presence which, in turn, helps us to remain present, purposeful and non-reactive when confronted with life’s challenges. Under this dimension, there are five essential skills and abilities. The inner compass is the first and it entails a profound sense of duty and dedication to values and goals that serve the greater good. Openness and a learning mindset involve vulnerability in the sense of receptive listening and understanding of others’ viewpoints, coupled with a curiosity for learning. Integrity and authenticity are the pillars of honesty and sincerity in dealings with oneself, a task that often challenges our inherent bias. It demands recognition of insincerity within, affecting both the self and the wider world. Presence is the ability to be in the here and now. Lastly, perhaps most importantly, self-awareness encompasses an understanding of our thoughts, emotions, desires, and physical sensations, complemented by the development of self-regulation.
Thinking
Under this dimension, we get to develop the cognitive skills and abilities of critical thinking necessary to properly “review the validity of views evidence, and plans.” We learn to put forth sound and valid arguments in guiding the actions of the self and in engaging the whole. Next to critical thinking is complexity awareness which entails having the understanding as well as the skills of navigating a “complex and systemic conditions and causalities.” Sense-making, another vital skill, revolves around recognizing patterns, structuring the unknown, and consciously crafting narratives. It is through sense-making that we unravel the various domains of decision-making, be it in the realm of clarity (known knowns), complexity (known unknowns), chaos (where clarity is too elusive for a knowledge-based response), or confusion, where events defy classification. Perspective skills that our perspectives are just what they are: “interpretation based on a limited and selective set of data and complemented by assumptions and judgments not backed up by proven facts.” Finally, long-term orientation and visioning develops our ability to envision the future and cultivate the visions needed to shape it.
Relating
In the first dimension, which is the realm of Being, we had the opportunity of nurturing our relationship with ourselves. In Relating, the self serves as the initial point of connection, but it also extends further into the realm of the collective (people + nature). It’s crucial to emphasize the integral role of nature within this interconnected whole, as neglecting this perspective has largely contributed to our unsustainable “take, make, & waste” lifestyle. The primary skills or abilities to be cultivated in this dimension are appreciation and gratitude—to both the self and to the whole. The second skill involves cultivating a sense of connectedness, feeling that we are integral components of a larger whole. Be it a community. Humanity. Or the global ecosystem. Approaching this “larger whole” with humility as well as empathy & compassion are the skills that conclude this dimension.
Collaborating
This dimension strives to bring out the “social” part of our being. Under it, we have skills and abilities such as communication skills, co-creation skills, inclusive mindset and intercultural mindset, trust, as well as mobilization skills. Communication skills are pivotal, allowing us to not only comprehend the perspectives of the entire collective—both human and natural—but also to express our thoughts effectively. This is usually achieved through active listening (emphasis on active), the capacity to advocate viewpoints constructively, and the skill of posing open-ended questions. Co-creation skills are the abilities needed to cultivate and facilitate collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders. These relationships are characterized by psychological safety and authentic co-creation, establishing an atmosphere of trust conducive to effective collaboration. Inclusion involves the capacity to embrace diversity and the intercultural competence to navigate differences and to approach them as an opportunity to both learn and see things we (think) know in a new light.
Acting
What does it require to drive change? This is the fundamental inquiry at the center of the acting dimension. It is where all the insights and skills cultivated in the preceding four dimensions converge. The first ability here is courage. The courage to think beyond the ordinary. To envision new possibilities. To make decisive choices. To question the status quo. To disrupt established norms. And to drive change. Courage extends to nurturing values that align with both personal well-being and the greater whole, and it encompasses the determination to uphold and, when necessary, redefine those values in the face of evolving circumstances. It is the courage to ACT. Creativity is the ability to see beyond existing boundaries. It involves innovation, imagination, and the ability to redefine the limits of what is achievable. And, perhaps most importantly, it is about the optimism and the perseverance to push such a change through. To see light when all seems dark. To have hope, and to communicate the same to the whole. To imagine the possibility of meaningful change and to be resilient during setbacks. It is to be “patient even when efforts take a long time to bear fruit.”
In a world punctuated by challenges and uncertainties, the IDGs offer us an icing on the cake of the SDGs towards addressing our global challenges. They remind us that we need not constantly focus our gaze on the outward for solutions to the challenges we face. That the best is to turn our lens to the base of the problems themselves: ourselves. Together, they equip us to thrive and to propel the world towards a brighter & more harmonious future.