We are a small group of social rebels who deeply feel the pain and confusion of our times. And we want to do something about it, not by tackling specific issues directly – climate, inequality, war, etc. - but by going after the really big problem central to all the other wicked problems: the old ways in which humans think. This is a grassroots learning initiative that welcomes new learning partners to discover and apply thinking tools, both old and new, that will help us to be more effective in finding solutions to global crises.

We started with our own flawed thinking styles and yes, we are learning to change -on the job- as we work together on projects close to our hearts. Our informing sources are in domains like philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, and mythology but also in the school of hard knocks – our own experiences in working with others on many projects.

It’s hard work but also rewarding, especially when we burst our own bubbles of resistance to change; when we confront our own psychological shadows coloring our perceptions of others; when we disentangle our sense of self-worth from our work; when we actually apply ancient and modern learning about thinking to our lived lives rather than leaving it untouched and dusty on an intellectual shelf.

That hard work is a lot easier in small groups of three to five where love and trust are guiding principles. Mutual trust provides the security we need to see novel solutions and to actually prove their effectiveness with repeated application.

We want to share the Guardian approach with other working groups who can see that breakthrough team effectiveness requires a break from traditional thinking styles.

Our solutions are still emerging so don’t expect spoon-fed, easy answers. After all, that kind of wishful thinking got us into the trouble we’re in today. That’s why we are seeking others to help with our learning. We have a few principles but they are simply starting points for a lot more work. ‘No pain, no gain’ has never been truer.