Behind the Scenes of “Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness”: The Authors’ Journey

21/08/2024 | carlosgoga | cambio, dancing our way, English, experiencias | No hay comentarios

Writing a book is often a deeply personal journey, one that weaves together the threads of past experiences, present challenges, and future aspirations. Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness is no exception. Today, I’d like to take you behind the scenes to share the story of how this book came to be and the journey that has shaped its pages.

The Call to Transformation

My journey toward writing this book began long before I ever put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). In 2011, I experienced a profound shift within myself—a call to commit to a new way of living and working that placed love at its core. This wasn’t just a fleeting inspiration; it was a deep, internal transformation that changed the course of my life.

This shift led me to write my first book, #lovetopia: The New World That Lives Within Our Heart. In that novel, I envisioned a society that chooses the way of love over the way of money—a declaration of hope and a vision of what we could achieve if we realigned our values, both individually and collectively.

After the book was published, a lovely and beautiful friend approached me with a simple yet profound question: “What is it that you have gone through that made you the very first lovetopian citizen in Spain?” This question, as easy as it seemed, has stayed with me over the years, prompting a continuous observation and reflection on my own personal journey. It forced me to look inward and examine the experiences, challenges, and transformations that shaped my commitment to the ideals of #lovetopia.

As I continued to explore this question, it became clear that the evolving landscape of technology, particularly AI, demanded a deeper, longer-term examination. How could we maintain this commitment to love and human values in a world increasingly shaped by business and digital technology? How could we ensure that Artificial Intelligence, or AI, serves to enhance our humanity rather than diminish it? All these questions became the seeds of Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness.

The Challenge of Balancing Technology and Humanity

As I began writing this book, I found myself grappling with the complexities of the modern world. On one hand, there’s the undeniable excitement and potential that AI offers. On the other, there’s the very real risk that in our pursuit of technological advancement, we might lose sight of what makes us human.

This duality presented a challenge: how to balance the rapid advancements in technology with the need to stay grounded in our human values. It wasn’t just about writing a book; it was about navigating this balance in my own life as well. I had to find ways to integrate conscious love into everything I do, from my work in digital technology and innovation to my personal interactions and relationships.

As an author, this challenge took on an even deeper dimension. Before AI, writing was an exclusive skill of a small number of humans—those of us who identified as writers and embraced the craft with dedication. But with the advent of AI, writing has become widely available to anyone through the power of AI tools. Suddenly, the concept of the «writer» as a distinct role is called into question. Perhaps it is AI that now takes on this key role, reshaping what it means to be an author.

This shift brought a new set of questions into my daily life: How should I use AI in my writing? Is it legitimate to rely on AI for creating content? What distinguishes AI-generated text from author-generated text? These questions became an integral part of my journey, forcing me to confront the evolving nature of authorship and creativity in the age of AI.

Balancing my identity as an author with the capabilities of AI has been both a challenge and an opportunity. On one hand, I’ve had to navigate the ethical and creative implications of using AI in my work. On the other hand, I’ve also embraced the potential of AI to enhance my writing, to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and to explore new forms of expression.

This process of balancing technology and humanity became a central theme in the book. The metaphor of dancing—used throughout the book—reflects the delicate balance required to navigate this terrain. Just as a dancer must stay attuned to the rhythm and movement of the dance, we too must stay attuned to the rhythms of our evolving world, finding harmony between human consciousness and AI.

The Birth of Key Concepts

Throughout the writing process, several key concepts crystallized, shaping the structure and message of the book. One of the most foundational concepts that emerged as early as 2012 is what I refer to as «the five levels of the self.» This concept became the cornerstone of my exploration into human consciousness. However, arriving at this understanding was not without its challenges. At that time, I faced a profound realization: I was quite illiterate about both the emotional-self and the energetic-self. This gap in my understanding spurred a deep and often uncomfortable journey of self-discovery, pushing me to expand my knowledge and personal growth in these areas.

Another significant challenge was the transition from conscious sexuality—where my early experiences and insights were rooted—into the broader practice of mindfulness. This shift was not just a change in focus but a transformative move that required me to rethink my approach to consciousness. In 2017, I became a SIYLI (Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute) Certified Teacher, formally entering the world of mindfulness. Mindfulness then became the primary tool I offer in the «dance to consciousness«, providing a practical and accessible way for individuals to explore their inner worlds and align their lives with deeper values.

A key milestone in this journey was the much-awaited love relationship with my current partner, which began in 2018. This relationship has allowed me to experience conscious love within the context of a committed partnership—a «must have» in my exploration of love. It gave me the legitimacy to continue exploring and understanding love both «inside» and «outside» ourselves, particularly within the framework of the most classical loving relationship in our society. This togetherness has deepened my understanding of love as a dynamic, evolving process, essential not only for personal growth but also for the broader exploration of consciousness from a professional approach through The School of We.

Another pivotal experience has been my work over the past decade in teaching a class on digital transformation for the Instituto de Gobernanza Empresarial, which has since evolved to include AI transformation. This class, targeted at C-Level executives and Board Members, has provided a unique opportunity to engage with hundreds of participants at the highest levels of organizational leadership. The reception of my proposals, the insightful questions, and the varied reactions from these leaders have fueled me with a special kind of energy. These interactions have given me crystal clear clarity about how energy flows from the individual to the upper scales of the hierarchy, particularly at the micro and macro levels. This real-world feedback has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of how personal consciousness and energetic alignment can influence and permeate broader organizational and societal structures.

The final piece of the puzzle came with the merging of mindfulness and the energetic-self through the concept of «the skeleton of the self«. This concept didn’t emerge in isolation—it was the result of a profound period of reflection that occurred immediately after the pandemic. During this time, I retreated to «El Molino de Guadalmesí«, an ecovillage created by my beloved friends Johnny and Alicia which is located in the South of Spain, in Tarifa. This serene and transformative environment allowed me the space to synthesize my experiences, insights, and learnings into a cohesive framework that would become central to the book.

A closing significant moment occurred just this summer, August 2024. I met a man who was eager to understand and embrace the practice of conscious sexuality. I could feel his inner struggle, as the context of being a Spanish man unable to understand French, among a group of 18 French men who were only willing to speak their language, worked against his desire to learn. Sensing my frustration and his determination, I stepped in and opened up a sequence of intimate conversations. In these exchanges, I smoothly unfolded «the energetic-self hypothesis«, which he gratefully welcomed. His response and the impact of these conversations on my own journey were profound, setting the ground for my last minute decision to explicitly include the «energetic-self hypothesis» in the book.

«The skeleton of the self» represents the intersection of mindfulness and the energetic-self, offering a structured yet flexible model for understanding how our energetic field—comprising attention, intention, attitude, action, and impact—operates at all scales of our existence. It became a guiding framework for understanding how we can align our energy at every level, from the individual (nano) to the global (mundo), in a way that creates purpose and meaning.

These concepts didn’t emerge overnight. They were the result of countless hours of reflection, research, and conversation. They were shaped by my experiences, my interactions with others, and my ongoing exploration of how to live a life aligned with conscious love and ethical values in a rapidly changing world.

 A Journey of Continuous Learning

Writing Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness has been a journey of continuous learning. It required me to stretch my understanding, confront my own biases and assumptions, and seek out new perspectives. This journey has been deeply influenced by the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had, and the ideas that have shaped my thinking.

First and foremost, I want to recognize the profound influence of my dear friends Carmen and Michel. Over the past 15 years, our friendship has been a source of incredible experiences, insights, and enjoyment. Supporting them in their «conscious sexuality retreats» in Carcassonne, France, and Málaga, Spain, has been a transformative journey in itself. Their work has deeply informed my understanding of conscious love and the energetic-self, providing a foundation that has influenced much of what I explore in this book.

I also want to extend my gratitude to the authors whose works have significantly shaped my thinking and the development of the concepts in this book. Ernest Callenbach’s vision of sustainable living, Otto Scharmer’s exploration of transformative leadership, Charles Eisenstein’s insights into the gift economy and interconnectedness, Yuval Noah Harari’s historical and futuristic perspectives, and Jordan B. Peterson’s deep dive into psychology and religion have all been instrumental in broadening my understanding of the world and our place within it.

In addition to these literary influences, I’ve found a valuable resource in Lex Fridman and his podcast, which has kept me updated on the state of the art in AI from the source. His interviews with leading experts in the field have provided me with invaluable insights into the latest developments in AI and their implications for humanity. I’m also grateful to all those who contribute to the conversation from their YouTube channels, offering diverse perspectives that have enriched my understanding and kept me informed.

This book is not just a reflection of my own journey, but a culmination of these collective influences—of the experiences, ideas, and people that have inspired me along the way. It’s an invitation to others to embark on their own journeys of discovery, to explore how we can navigate the complexities of the 21st century with conscious love, ethical alignment, and a commitment to our shared humanity.

 Looking Ahead

As I prepare to share Dancing Our Way to Human-AI Consciousness with the world, I am filled with both excitement and humility. This book is the culmination of years of thought, reflection, and hard work, but it is also just the beginning. The conversations it sparks, the insights it generates, and the actions it inspires will continue to shape its impact long after it is published.

I hope that this behind-the-scenes glimpse into the journey of writing this book offers you a deeper understanding of the ideas and intentions that shaped it. As you read, I invite you to consider your own journey—how you navigate the dance between technology and humanity, and how you can contribute to a future where both coexist in harmony.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me.

Etiquetas: corazón, oportunidad, sexualidad