Here are three groups of questions to help you reflect on "What has been missing?"

First, reflecting on society: Do you think we're on track to solve the world's problems?

Some developments to consider are:

• The United Nations has gotten world leaders in politics, business and society to align to the same agenda - the Sustainable Development Goals - to end poverty and disease and make the world a better place.
• "Impact" investing has become the new buzzword across the financial services industry, and every big investment fund is now putting a percentage of its money into "ESG" - businesses that make profit and pursue some sort of Environmental, Social or Governance "impact".
• In 2020, the World Economic Forum announced a new global initiative to plant 1 trillion trees to fight climate change.
• Tech leaders trumpet new technologies - AI, 5G, blockchain, 3D-printing - which promise to end a lot of problems by eliminating some fundamental barriers to progress altogether (like scarcity of resources, talent or education).

Will actions like these, by people and institutions like these, be enough to solve society's crises and prevent the next ones from happening? Or do you suspect that some deeper crisis remains unaddressed? Is there a deeper problem that none of these big-scale solutions touches? Is something missing from how we think and act? Is there a deep deficiency that some of these solutions might actually make worse?

Second, reflecting on self: Do you think society is on track to help you solve your problems?

Some factors to consider are:

• Do you feel that participating in politics is the way to influence how power gets used in society? Or do you feel that power and politics have become separate things?

• Do you feel that existing ways of collective thought and action are adequate to deal with the global reach of the problems that impact your own life?
• Is it getting easier or harder for you to turn your private concerns into matters of community concern?
• Do you more often find yourself embracing change or trying to repair yourself from its consequences? In the face of social narratives of flexibility and constant change, do you frequently experience uncertainty? Insecurity? Vulnerability?
• Do you feel that your own wellbeing is improving? Do you think society is getting better, or worse, at understanding how to help improve your own wellbeing?
• "We are by nature social animals." (Aristotle) Do you feel that you are trending toward being more of a participant in society, or alienated from society?
• As individuals, we now have vast rights to assert ourselves and our claims. We can now even assert our own "truths". Do you feel heard, or ignored? Does "society" feel present or absent in the conversations you want to have?
• Does your own sense of fulfilment lie in the past, present or future? Is it becoming easier or harder to be fulfilled in the present?

Third, as a society, and as individuals: Are we asking the right questions at all?

• Do you get the feeling that we've become too focussed on "What crisis needs to be solved?" and don't have enough time, energy or resources left over to ask "What world do we want to create?