Wisdom 2.0 - Breath, Connection, Community, Self Awareness + Leadership!

James Nestor, author of The New York Times bestselling book “Breath,” connected the more than 500 participants of the 15th annual Wisdom 2.0 conference in the simplest way: a few rounds of deep, slow breaths. Exploration of this essential human experience unpinned the varied perspectives shared by the entrepreneurs, mental health providers, tech and business leaders, yogis, and social change advocates who gathered at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts April 24 – 26, taking a pause from the breakneck pace of modern life to share their wisdom and humanity.

Breath is essential

Breathing may be instinctive, but conscious breaths can profoundly impact blood pressure, sleep, mental balance and even conditions such as asthma, pulmonary disease, and panic and anxiety disorders. As the audience followed Nestor’s cues, a noticeable calm settled over the room. Nestor’s book lays it all out, but here’s the bottom line: Remember to breathe deeply. Through the nose. Slowly.

Connection is essential

Conversation led by tech leaders -  Evolve Ventures, Facebook, Apollo Neuroscience, among others– turned to the influence of technology on our fast-paced, distracted lives.  While artificial intelligence and social media allow for efficiency and hyper-connection, more than 60% of us feel lonely, disconnected, or both. Algorithms can instantly translate entire languages for us, but all the technological efficiency in the world cannot provide the life-affirming connection and sense of belonging we get from face-to-face interaction. For people to thrive, we still need purpose and meaning, social relationships, and economic stability, none of which our phones can deliver.

Strategic use of technology can bring benefits, however. With the goal of expanded access, mental health providers are increasingly using it to provide check-ins and self-care education for people who live in remote communities or otherwise experience isolation. In these positive instances of use, technology builds a bridge to connection and delivers tools that strengthen resilience.

Community is essential

Speaker V, known more familiarly as author and playwright Eve Ensler, recounted the Covid experience and all we learned. “Until we share each other’s pain, we will stay isolated,” she warned. While the American dream has perpetuated individualism and a sense of competition, “we only heal in community,” she added. Our modern lived experiences show us that whether we face a pandemic, climate change, or social unrest, we sink or swim together; “we learn in community,” as Ensler put it.  She left the audience to contemplate: What would it be like if we could elevate cooperation and a shared vision for healthy humans, instead of perpetuating a system that benefits a few at the expense of the larger community?

Self awareness, self-leadership is essential

As the topics presented from center stage changed, a thread of curiosity around personal and societal well-being was being woven throughout. By the time Internal Family Systems founder Dr. Dick Schwartz presented, it was clear that his approach to individual therapy had implications for both individuals and whole communities.

Wisdom 2.0 founder Soren Gordhamer joined Dr. Schwartz onstage for a conversation that shifted quickly into a demonstration of Schwartz’s 40-year practice of “parts work” as a globally acclaimed therapist. His philosophy recognizes that the external self we present to the world comprises many parts we manage on the inside. Schwartz took Soren through a series of questions designed to help him identify the parts that show up in effort to manage, protect, go into pleasing or productivity mode, or even rebel. After reflecting on why each part of his personality kicked into hyper-drive, Soren was able to methodically make sense of what drove his actions and to coach his “higher self” – the healthy, clear-thinking, compassionate one – back into the driver’s seat. Clearly, a community of people leading from their higher selves would benefit both the individual and the larger population, too.

Between center stage discussions, participants took part in meditation sessions, coaching conversations, Q & A with speakers, and yoga and mindfulness practice. As we learned together, in community, the essential experience of human life resonated.

Learn more about WIsdom 2.0 HERE!