I have had multiple conversations along a similar theme over the past week. Questions like,

- should the school P&C raise funds to build a high security fence around the school even though we are trying to educate our children to be healthy, resilient and loving to others?

- should the small business owner stand up to the multinational bully who is going back on his word even though it may mean the small business will need to put off multiple staff?

- should my colleague rewrite the article to suit the "your life in 10 easy dot points" model that the Internationally acclaimed website is requesting of her or should she risk loosing the gig to speak with an authentic voice and let them know that she feels lists are part of the problem that they have asked her to write solutions for?

The answer was simplified in an interview titled Unleashing Our Co-Creative Power to Change The World with Marianne Williamson, Claire Zammit and Katherine Woodward in which Marianne suggests that without a fundamental shift, from a focus on economics, to a focus on love, there is simply no hope for our children's children.

The answer to the above questions becomes obvious with this shifted framework. It doesn't necessarily become easy, but it does become obvious.

As Diana Schumacher writes in her book, Small is Beautiful in the 21st Century, currently, some of the main growth industries in the western world are in "negative" products such as armaments, crime prevention and detection mechanisms including burglar alarms and CCTV cameras, as well as prescription drugs for western illnesses, insurance and unreal financial products. In a stable and socially trusting society, these industries can gradually be replaced by more positive, rewarding and productive ventures and socially enhancing goods and services.

What would happen if the school P&C invested the fence money on a family friendly/intergenerational park on the school grounds that could be used by the community in holidays, weekends and afterhours?

What would happen if the CEO of the multinational heard the Mexican Fisherman story and realised that in giving back to society in the form of supporting the small guy, he will actually live a much richer and more fulfilling life than his fat cat salary could ever provide him.

And how magnificent would it be for my colleagues authentic voice to be heard by the woman who was on the edge, desperately seeking genuine words and wisdom to help her through her rough patch rather than the quick fix 10 short tips to gloss over the hard stuff and make you feel even more inadequate in getting yourself on track.

Some may argue that I am over simplifying things and that these shifts are all easier said than done. I would argue, all you need is love.