Biomimicry and Nature’s Paradigm

The goal of biomimicry workshops is to share a fantastic (and fun) methodology for generating radically innovative and sustainable design ideas, inspired by Nature. Interestingly, however, while very few people get the chance to apply what they learn, most people are deeply impacted by the workshop experience. What is this experience? Why is it so compelling? Could it be that this experience is even more important than learning the design methodology?

If you’ve had a chance to participate in a biomimicry workshop, you probably know what I’m talking about. While learning to look at Nature as model, measure, and mentor, you experienced an expanded sense of curiosity and possibility. While working with the other participants, you experienced trust and synergy. Even without knowing biology, you sensed the logic and power of Nature’s strategies and systems, its abundance and resilience. You were inspired — and probably inspiring. You might have experienced a deep sense of well-being. 

I believe that what’s happening in biomimicry workshops is that people get a tiny taste of letting go of our current dominant cultural paradigm — what I’m calling the Conventional Paradigm — and operating from Nature’s Paradigm. They have a sense of abundance rather than scarcity. They easily synergize rather than compete. They feel open to the insights and ideas of others, rather than resistant. They engage in authentic listening, co-creativity, emergent thinking. 

Why is this important?  First, because these are the very characteristics and conditions we need to imagine and co-create a sustainable, flourishing world.  Second, while designing products and processes that emulate Nature’s strategies is critical to saving the planet, re-aligning our hearts and souls with Nature’s Paradigm is critical to saving ourselves, our humanity. 

It is important because it tells us that we need to shift our dominant cultural paradigm. This seems like an impossible task; however, there are two reasons why I’m hopeful.

The first is that Nature’s Paradigm is our natural paradigm. We already know it and love it. When we operate from Nature’s Paradigm, we can be our full authentic self, our best self.  When we learn to intentionally live from our Natural Paradigm, especially while engaged with the “real world”, we can begin to flourish. It's a very good feeling.

The second is that we already value expression of the Natural Paradigm in the “real world” — we just don’t recognize it as such. These are the times when a person hits flow at work and gets amazing things done. It’s when a team is energized and synergized and comes up with incredibly creative ideas and solutions. It’s the culture that eats strategy for lunch.  

If you’d like to learn more, please explore wildhazel.net. While there, I invite you to request the [free] Tiny Transformation Workbook!