Shedding Myths:  A Time for Reevaluation

 

Workshop presented by …

Dr. Denise R. Ames

Center for Global Awareness

14 Garden Park Circle NW

Albuquerque, NM USA

505 344-1892  cell 505 480-0271

email drames@global-awareness.net   website  www.global-awareness.net

 

 

Ten Deeply Embedded Myths:  A Time for Reevaluation

 

How we perceive our society today and how we imagine a vision of the future are shaped by unquestioned, unconscious cultural myths or assumptions that are daily reinforced by the principal institutions of our society: media, education, friends and family, politics, and religion. 

 

In order to fully understand the complexity of the global transformations wracking our world today, we need to lay bare these deeply embedded myths that shape how we perceive and respond to reoccurring events, actions, and policies. 

 

Using a systems approach we examine our “mental models” that shape our everyday attitudes, values, beliefs and actions.  In performing this evaluation we uncover many myths or firmly held assumptions that our mental models tell us are authoritatively true but after close study and reflection we find are actually myths. 

 

We will deconstruct theses myths, trace their historical roots over time, closely observe our own mental models, and assess the impact of these myths on our lives.  We will address the question: Do these myths provide a foundation for a sustainable and equitable vision of the present and future or should they be reevaluated