‘You can’t be human all by yourself’
What exactly is Ubuntu? You hear it more and more these days. Which is wonderful because there is so much wisdom that can and should be shared from the African continent. That is really one of my missions and very tangible in my training.
Ubuntu is much more than just a saying. It is an ideology, a philosophy.
The word Ubuntu is a philosophy in itself, many layers with deep connections.
Questions that play a role in this are:
• With what intention do you live?
• What is connection?
• What is humanity?
• How can you see yourself in other people?
Have you ever thought about these questions? In the West we have been very focused on the individual in recent decades. As long as I’m doing well.
Ubuntu brings us back to me. It’s about dedication and the relationships between people. People gather around a common interest.
From the African view, a definition is: My value is determined by my meaning to others. This gives connection a deeper meaning, because what is that and how do I connect with others.
Ubuntu is almost impossible to describe in a few words. Describing and discussing Ubuntu takes long evenings around the campfire. Conversations to touch what brings authentic connection to yourself and others. Just as we have the word rapport within NLP, which goes much further than making contact, Ubuntu goes much further than: I am because you are.
It is about recognizing and recognizing each other’s humanity. Recognizing each other’s inner value, which mainly starts with yourself.
Bringing people together is what I call Ubuntu, which means: I am because we are. Far too often people think of themselves as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole word. When you do well, it spreads out. It’s for the whole of humanity.
Desmond Tutu
In Africa there is a concept known as Ubuntu. The profound sense that we are human. Only through humanity of others, that if we are to accomplish anything in this world if will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.
Nelson Mandela
In the philosophy of Ubuntu, you can’t achieve anything on your own, because we are all connected. No one lives alone or on an island. We need each other to live.