The 2007 Shift Report: Evidence of a World Transforming "We are living through one of the most fundamental shifts in history — a change in the actual belief structure of Western society. No economic, political, or military power can compare with the power of a change of mind. By deliberately changing their images of reality, people are changing the world." — Willis Harman, Global Mind Change The 2007 Shift Report: OVERVIEW The 2007 Shift Report: Evidence of a World Transforming, attempts to chart the transition we believe is underway from a rigid, mechanistic, and materialistic worldview to one that is built on a foundation of interconnectedness, cooperation, and the intersection of science and spirituality. This 80-page document, highlighted with sidebars, charts, and quotations, is organized into four major sections: Section I – Worldview Breakdown While acknowledging the benefits that the Newtonian paradigm has provided, this section makes clear that the limitations of this worldview are exceeding our ability to overcome them, leading to potential worldwide disaster. The impacts of such factors as trauma, stress, and the fragmentation of consciousness are addressed. Section II – Worldview Emergence The unprecedented intersection of biology, systems theory, neuroscience, and quantum physics is revealing the contours of a new worldview, potentially sparking a new human potential movement. From epigenetics and the study of resilience to chaos theory and insights into the “god experience,” researchers are revealing a world of untapped possibilities, individual as well as collective. Section III – Integration / Application This emerging paradigm is showing up in different ways in the major institutions of modern life. This section briefly explores those impacts in the areas of education, medicine, business, psychology, and international trends. IONS’ relevant contributions to these various areas are highlighted. Section IV – Living Deeply: The IONS Transformation Research Project This section describes the methodology and some of the most compelling findings of this ongoing ten-year project to map the phenomenon of individual transformation. The mission of the John E. Mack Institute, which sponsored project co-leader Diane Powell, MD, to help research and write The 2007 Shift Report, is to identify individuals who seek to expand our understanding of reality, and to partner with them to increase the impact of their talents and ideas. The 2007 Shift Report: Evidence of a World Transforming Table of Contents Acknowledgements Letter from the President Introduction  Section I Collapsing and Colliding Worldviews Social Roots of the Current Worldview Breakdown Biological Roots of the Worldview Breakdown Further Indicators of Worldview Breakdown Section II Worldview Emergence: Where Science Meets Spirit Biology Neuroscience New Physics Section III Institutional Transformation Positive Psychology: A Change in Focus Health Care: A New Model of Medicine Business: The Conscious Workplace Education: Inward Pedagogy Globalization: Toward a New Synthesis Section IV Personal Transformation: The IONS Research Project Program and Methodology A Model of Transformation What Catalyzes Transformation? Cultivating Transformation Transformative Practices Conclusion Endnotes Resources About IONS