What it means to be human – how we see ourselves and the world around us – is constantly debated.
At Being Human, we use the Being Human lens to help make sense of the complexity and richness of our humanity. As you explore your Ethos results, you will see that your profile and suggested practices are rooted in four key aspects of what it is to be human: significance, connection, presence and participation.
Ethos recognises that we all live lives of contradiction, especially when we reflect on the values and behaviours that shape our sense of significance, our connection to others, our presence in the world, and our participation in it.
- Significance asks us to think about who we are. In this aspect we can look at what it means to know and be known and how this impacts our understanding of identity, dignity and equality.
- Connection recognises that we all crave connection. Our relationships are central to our humanity. They are the source of joy, fun, happiness and meaning. But they can also be the source of pain, fear, trauma and anger. Through Ethos, you can delve into your values and behaviours around relationships, justice and peace, because, for good and for bad, we are connected. We matter to each other.
- Presence declares the truth that it matters you are here, now. We are called to be present to one another and to the world. Our bodies, the places we inhabit, and the time we are living in shape who we are. To be human is to be embodied in a particular time and place, moulded by the people, cultures, and experiences that surround us. We are rooted in a place and situated in a season.
- Participation invites us to consider that the difference we make matters. To be human is to make a difference, to leave a legacy, to have an impact. We each make a difference to the world around us. As we encounter stories that shape our sense of purpose, freedom, and power, we come to see that we all have a role to play.