Cornucopia Karim Benammar

A parable in the Cornucopian spirit for Christmas

In a world of scarcity, our work and organisations are focused first on surviving, and then on producing enough for a safe and comfortable life. As we are shifting to a world of abundance, doing work which is meaningful to us, and working for organisations with a purpose, becomes much more important. As we become aware of our power to shape the world, we can decide to consciously create the future we want for humanity. 

The philosopher Albert Camus uses the myth of Sisyphus as a parable for human existence. We are condemned to toil endlessly, without result, like Sisyphus pushing a boulder up the hill, only to have it roll down again. This is certainly the case in a world without progress, in which we are barely surviving, but is it true in a world of abundance and creativity? Can humanity escape Sisyphus’ fate? If so, what does that future look like? Let’s revisit this myth and the fundamental question about of the meaning of our lives.

The outside world overflows our senses: we continuously see, hear, smell, taste and feel. Our mind overflows with thoughts and memories: there is constant chatter in our heads. The world is full of possibility. We continuously filter this overflow, by shifting our gaze, by picking up sounds, by noticing things, and by making choices. As we are shifting from survival to living, the meaning of our lives also changes. How do we find meaning in a world which is not empty, but overflowing? 

Generosity - a virtue many of us aspire to - is not just about giving money away, or sharing tangible things. It is also generosity of spirit, magnanimity: being genuinely happy for other people's successes and fortune, rather than jealous or resentful. If we make a mental shift to abundance, if we realise we live in a world of plenty, we are no longer in endless competition, and generosity of spirit comes naturally. The same effect occurs with financial generosity. Realising we live in an abundant world makes us naturally generous.

The shift to abundance has led to an abundance of objects, of creative content, but also of possibilities and of choices. If we apply our traditional strategies when choosing, such as trial-and-error, we will be overwhelmed. We become paralysed, incapable making a choice, or fearful of missing out on a better option. In this episode we explore new strategies to enjoy an abundance of choice, and to reframe the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) into the Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO).