In systems thinking, sustainability is a dynamic process, featuring the networks of relationships among the purposeful motions toward a shared vision, the properties of complex SES (i.e., complex collective behavior, sophisticated information selleckchem processing and adaptation), and the forces acting on them (e.g., change, disturbance) (Fig. 2). In SES, systems lie within systems. At each scale, biological, ecological, and social systems move through their own adaptive cycles (Holling and Gunderson 2002). Sustainability is maintained by relationships among nested sets of these adaptive cycles arranged as a dynamic network and/or

hierarchy in space and time (Holling et al. 2002). The linkages across scales play a major role in determining how systems at other scales behave through the networks of processes (e.g., Barabási 2002, Mitchell 2009). Purposes within purposes persist, and thus the harmony of sub-purposes and overall system purposes through visioneering subsists as the essence of sustainable SES. The systems thinking further reminds us that such a hierarchy exists to serve OSI-906 research buy the bottom layers, not the top (Meadows 2008). Fig. 2 Envisioning a sustainable future. Sustainability is a dynamic process that requires adaptive capacity in resilient social-ecological systems (SES) to deal with change. At

all scales, SES move through their own adaptive cycles consisting of four phases: rapid growth (r), conservation (K), release (Ω), and reorganization (α). These adaptive cycles are

pictured in three-dimensions: (1) potential (or capital); (2) inter-connectedness; and (3) resilience (i.e., the capacity of SES to absorb disturbance while retaining their original purpose). Upper blue arrow Transformation of SES with change, bottom arrow resilience of SESs to go back (adapted from Gunderson and Holling 2002; Berkes et al. 2003) Visioneering with systems thinking Human lives and communities also go through recurring adaptive cycles as a crucial part of SES. Again, four phases must come to pass (Munroe 2003). The first phase is birth and dependence, in which we rely on the help of others for survival. Here, we are taught and trained regarding Chloroambucil what is right and important in life. Second comes the season of independence to discern the purpose of life and to capture the vision. We must listen to our hearts, feel the rhythm of our community, and experience trial and error to draw out purposes from our inner being. During the third phase of interdependence, we turn vision into action, share it with others, and pass it on to the next generation. The final phase is death and a new beginning, in which our lives become the nourishment for the dreams of the next generation who will prosper on the fruit of our vision. And the legacy continues as they carry on our vision, which is further refined with the expanded this website boundaries of caring others.