Relationships and Sustainability

We are constantly in relationship. To ourselves, to other humans, and to the non-humans. Systems science shows us that relationships make the system and change the system. 

Systems are made of three components: The elements within the system, the relationships between those elements, and the directionality of the system (it’s goals and intention). As self-reflexive human beings, we can set our intention for the system and based on our intention, we relate accordingly. If I consider my dog Erna to be an equal living being, I relate to her differently compared to if I consider her to be inferior to myself. If my intention for the system is personal richness, I relate to my competing colleague differently compared to if my intention is to have fun together working. 

Sustain-ability then is the ability to live in right relationships to ourselves, other humans and non-humans.