Thinking in Systems — Embodying the Change We Wish to See

Sometimes, I find myself describing what I’m doing with Triple Creeks Consulting by describing fractals (a curve or geometrical figure, each part of which has the same statistical character as the whole), like the ones that you see when you’re looking through a kaleidoscope with all the brightly colored beads orienting themselves in endlessly changing patterns. These colorful patterns reflect how my brain sees the world; as systems, adapting within the confines of their relationships with other things, beautiful and complicated designs of cause and effect in each unique iteration.

‘Systems theory’ is also a theory (and there’s a lot of resources that describe it in depth) that has been defined as such by white science culture to make it more complicated (and boring) than the kaleidoscope we’ve illustrated here.

CONSCIOUS SYSTEMS DESIGN

Systems that are built, on any level, are fractals that make up the kaleidoscope of existence. Each system is a reflection of what is smaller than itself; those reflections in turn reflections, and so it goes, smaller and deeper. Systems are also reflections of what is bigger than itself, which are – again – in turn, reflections, and so it goes, bigger and wider into the great unknown.

With this in mind, we can begin to recognize how we, as seemingly insignificant humans, emanate our ways of being in every direction. We begin to cognitively understand that the best way to create the world that we want is to embody it.

This conscious, ethical development of ourselves and our projects is what we like to call ‘Systems Design’.

CULTIVATING SYSTEMIC CHANGE

Our work at Triple Creeks Consulting is to cultivate lasting, effective systemic change. This change originates in systems, built and rebuilt from the ground up to be adaptable, equitable, and to steward the future by the people most impacted by them. We love to ask questions and provide actionable solutions that get to the bottom of broad topics like:

How do we adapt and shift the systems we operate to serve more of the whole and work well within their existing confines?
How do we prioritize our collective values, health, and well-being while we build systems ourselves and others will need to function in?
How do we bring more joy and ease into our work in a society that values us by our productivity and depends on burnout and overwork?

Cultivating systemic change isn’t straightforward and is never, ever done; it requires collective effort and slow, diligent work. For some (and for us, too, sometimes!) it can be overwhelming, exhausting, and just too big. But it’s easier, more effective, and more fun together – so let us help you carry the load.