Mastering Human Connection in the 21st Century

Change is constant. What is not constant is our mind’s ability to adapt to change. This class is designed to help you cultivate the skills to face change with heartfulness and less stress. These skills will become increasingly important as the knowledge economy is disrupted by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Three human skills – compassion,, connection, and creativity – will be at the heart of adapting to a post-knowledge economy.

According to London School of Economics Director Minouche Shafik, “In the past jobs were about muscles, now they’re about brains, but in future they’ll be about the heart.” In the past, knowledge was power, but with AI and automation increasingly taking over routine tasks, knowledge alone will not be enough to succeed in the future of work.

To succeed in the future, individuals will need to develop wisdom – a deeper understanding that comes from reflection, experience, and emotional intelligence. It’s essential to start training your heart today to navigate this changing landscape.

Heartfulness is at the intersection of self-care and caring for others. Leading meditation teacher Jack Kornfield has shared research that shows when compassion or loving-kindness are part of a mindfulness practice, the benefits to the brain and nervous system accelerate by 10x. Therefore, participants will learn how incorporating compassion or caring for others can boost their overall well-being.

The word “mindfulness” was borrowed from the Chinese word “xin,” which translates literally to physical heart. In ancient China, “xin” was believed to be the center of human cognition as it refers not only to the physical heart but also encompasses emotions and thoughts.

While technology is powerful, it lacks empathy and originality. These are human skills, and are becoming increasingly important in the heart-centered economy of the future. By developing wisdom through reflection on our experiences and emotions, we can better balance joy and success with less anxiety and stress.

Together we will: 

• Gratitude is a practice to disrupt the brain’s biological bias to focus on negative thoughts and experiences.
  Heartfulness is a practice of noticing with the heart. Learn to notice your emotions without having to become your emotions. With practice, you can trigger your positive emotions without becoming triggered by your challenging ones.
• Develop compassion: Beyond empathy, compassion is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. We will learn to listen and not fix others. This builds self-awareness. Self-awareness is a key step towards compassion, which builds resilience.
• Focus on connections: Building strong relationships with coworkers, clients, and customers is essential. We will practice active listening, showing appreciation, and find ways to connect with others on a deeper level.
• Cultivate creativity: Creativity is a key skill in the heart-centered economy. In this workshop, we will interpret art and practice visual thinking strategies. More than thinking outside the box, learn to feel comfortable with no box at all. (Bring pencil and paper!)

Inspired by land, storytelling, and gratitude, Omar finds joy in making good visible. He is a public speaker, civic leader, and an entrepreneur. Omar co-founded the gratitude app gthx (as in “gee thanks”), co-hosts the Gratitude Blooming Podcast, and facilitates Gratitude Circles for leaders across sectors. Previously, Omar was the founding executive director of RiverLA and has held leadership positions across the areas of finance, land use, and social impact. Wherever he is, Omar makes sure to take a beat to notice beauty and share his optimism.