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Compete and win, dominate and control – these values permeate every area of our lives, causing widespread anxiety and dissatisfaction. In an ideal world, we'd treat ourselves, others, and the world around us decently – valuing the needs of each as we strive for maximum happiness. In our present world, though, we're groomed to push for more, to be the best, to be a success, to win. Then, when this strategy for living falls short, we blame ourselves.
But beneath our personal unease is a more fundamental problem: We live in an indecent world.
Radical Decency confronts this deeply troubling reality. It explains why we urgently need to overcome and move beyond it; for our own well-being and for the future of the culture and planet. It then offers a pathway for creating a life affirming both our self and others via Decency's 7 Values: Respect, Understanding, Empathy, Acceptance, Appreciation, Fairness and Justice.
Nature has wired us to be creatures of habit – and we're deeply influenced by the environments we live in. Thus, to decisively diverge from our current problematic values, we need to systematically cultivating new habits. Otherwise, our old, habitual ways will, almost inevitably, overwhelm the small islands of decency we seek to create.
Accounting for this reality, Radical Decency challenges us to rewire our brains for decency, practicing it "radically;" not partially or sometimes, but in every situation and without exception.
To make this demanding change program a reality, we need guidance. Radical Decency does this, offering a detailed pathway for "going decent" in all areas – in our intimate relationships, our workplaces, our communities and political engagements, and in our deepest conversations with our selves. Demanding but realistic and do-able, it offers an inspiring, spirit-affirming roadmap that will empower readers to create more personally satisfying lives and, simultaneously, to contribute more effectively to a fairer, more just world.
