This paper does not address all of the challenges we face across the globe in creating, fostering developing and maintaining meaning purpose, identity and spirituality in every aspect of society across the lifespan. Instead it focuses on a number of critical issues/areas that will have an impact on the daily lives of those in various contexts across the world, such as education, health, government, social justice, politics, business, commerce, sport, the arts and culture.
Its focuses strongly on (a) the need for a commitment to and from a variety of individuals, governments, public services, private businesses and enterprises, and on (b) the need for shared principles, ethics and understanding to drive a variety of policies, systems, and practice at local, national and international levels.
The paper is informed by a 60-year personal and professional journey, focused on observing, working with, harnessing and witnessing the health, happiness and wellbeing of individuals and organizations who have struggled/wrestled with, and yet developed a grounded, strong and healthy sense of, their life's meaning, purpose, sense of identity and their own spirituality-across the lifespan, in various sectors of society, around the world. To summarize all that experience in three bullets, the challenge we need to address here is: