Mapping New Common Ground

In the previous episode, Jed introduced the concept of backstory blindness, a temporary condition where strong emotions can push context out of stories. We become blind to “the story behind the story” when that context is lost. This is a feature of the human design that often serves us well, and sometimes doesn’t. In this episode, he explores five downstream effects of backstory blindness that can cause or reinforce divisions between people or groups, and how awareness of those can be leveraged in becoming less divided.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storyforces.substack.com

This episode is the first of perhaps three that will cover the first connection mindset. It won’t get a name until some groundwork has been laid. Here, Jed explains the central concept - what happens when our inner storyteller crafts a thought and emotions come along for the ride. Or, perhaps its emotions that come up, and bring our inner storyteller along for the ride. Judge for yourself whether Jed is fast enough on the “censored” button - it’s needed a few times, as you will see.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storyforces.substack.com

In this episode, Jed explains the particular perspective that brought into focus a number of connection mindsets, each of which speaks to its own chunk of new common ground. He shares pivotal experiences that led him to that perspective - experiences that revealed how minds can be changed. He explains that once he started looking at human interactions from that perspective, everything he saw just made more and more sense. Stepping into one or more of these mindsets would even bring clarity to things that had been confounding, things like how people can be immune to overwhelming evidence that goes against their position, and how intelligent people can come to believe ludicrous things. Lucille Ball and cinnamon also play into this, but you’ll need to listen for that to make sense.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storyforces.substack.com

In this introduction episode, Jed from the Story Forces Project gives an overview of what the Mapping New Common Ground podcast is all about:

* looking at what divides us and what connects us, from a very different angle

* exploring what goes on outside of our awareness that pushes us apart and holds us there and what pulls us together

* taking first steps toward a future where thoughtful curiosity, connection and compassion can finally get the upper hand over reflexive fear, division, and contempt

Jed talks about new mindsets that consider the notion of connection from a new angle, and how each one exposes an otherwise out-of-view patch of common ground. He explains his background and how these mindsets came together.

One crucial and beautiful aspect of these mindsets is explained - they speak to how processes operating outside of our awareness bring us to hold beliefs and opinions, and these processes operate regardless of the specifics of those. This means that these mindsets won't clash with particular beliefs and opinions anyone holds about things like politics, religion, culture, etc, opening up these insights to everyone.

Jed introduces the notion that there are other processes playing out within us that hold immense sway over our interactions with others. These processes, which we don't have conscious awareness of, or conscious control over, can pull us together, push us apart, divide us into factions, even lead us into wars, regardless of what our intentions and desires might be.

Finally, Jed speaks to his hopes for how these ideas can bring new possibilities for the world.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit storyforces.substack.com