I've spent a great deal of time looking at life through many different lenses lately. I took a class in spiral dynamics a few years ago and its opened me up to how people can have different life values. What those values are, creates a lens on how they see and interpret the world. Spiral Dynamics creator Clare Graves color coded the values, so that they are easier to understand. I am seeing a lot of Blue, Orange, and Green these days...and right in my own neighborhood!
Briefly...a person at Blue will sacrifice self for the group, see things in "black and white" terms, and strive for salvation through obedience and faith. People at "blue" are likely to follow dogma in religion, like bureaucracy in government and work, and may have more traditional role marriages. The Orange people like to create better standards of living and social positions. They strive the achieve wealth and status. I spent many years in this category myself, climbing the corporate ladder...achieving honors and making all kinds of money. The Green people fascinate me the most today, probably because I am one. Suddenly, I'm not so concerned about money. What about Mother Earth? Have you noticed the environmental issues facing the world today? Green people also don't like bureaucracy and thrive on consensus voting. Those people at the green level celebrate the feminine, multiculturalism, and spiritual diversity. Do you have any friends at Green? I'd probably like to meet them!
There are higher spiral dynamics levels now, too, but these three seem to be most present in my world...and I have to admit...this sometime frustrates me! For instance, my husband and children are incredibly dedicated to Boy Scouts. Now, this is a fabulous organization, don't get me wrong, but if you have children in scouting...have you noticed how "blue" this is? There are uniforms to wear, a pledge to recite, and badges to earn. I think the boys even march in for every "Court of Honor" and post the American Flag. This is civic duty at its finest! While I celebrate the life skills my boys continue to learn (and am grateful to my husband for teaching this), I can't help but notice my...well, yawn...boredom with the whole program. OK, I am a women and that could be part of this, but did you know that Green people really don't appreciate much of anything that is Blue? There ARE mothers actively involved in scouting and guess what, they see the world as spiral Blue!
Since I started studying spiral dynamics, I understand how important this tool can be! Suddenly, I can "read" people in my community like never before. Any judgement I may start to have just falls away. I can now see the world through their lens. In my upper middle class neighborhood, there is a lot of Blue religion and Orange work ethic people. And, I am starting to see how best to interact with others through their value view of the world! Oh my...I'm excited now...that means I have a hit of Yellow in me, too!
Hi Shawn;
ReplyDeleteAs I'm not familiar with Spiral Dynamics, I was intrigued to read your succinct summary of (some) of the categories. What interested me in particular was the thought that you were viewing through a lens of purposeful interpretation - e.g. you CHOOSE the lens you are looking through (Spiral Dynamics). This is a helpful point of reference, I think, because then it becomes less about me and more about characteristics "they" are exhibiting.
On the other hand, I usually don't know what lens I am using until it isn't working any more. Am I viewing a situation through a lens I acquired as a child? By virtue of birth? Culture? Or upbringing??? I can give lots of examples (but won't!) I like the thought of choosing to view through a different set of lenses.
Blessings,
Lonnie
Hi Shawn,
ReplyDeleteI guess I have to disagree with your notion that "Green people really don't appreciate much of anything that is Blue." If they have reached that level then they have learned to transcend and include (not reject) the levels that they have moved through to get to where they are, seeing the love and powerful characteristics present at each level. This seems to contradict your statement that your judgment falls away and you can see through their lens. Maybe I misunderstand or am mis-reading= is so inclined would you explain? Thanks :)