When we speak about intergenerational fairness, we often focus on what we leave behind — debt, climate issues, systems to fix. But there’s something deeper we often overlook: the level of consciousness in younger generations is evolving rapidly.
Like AI, their awareness and sensitivity are growing exponentially. Yet we fall into the same old trap — assuming we ‘know better,’ that our way of life is superior. This doesn’t build bridges; it builds walls. It creates disconnection, not wisdom.
And wisdom only lands where trust exists. For many young people today, age alone is no longer a reason to trust — it’s about authenticity, relevance, and shared understanding. If older generations don’t find new ways to express their wisdom, it may fade away, unheard.
Instead of sitting with this reality, we often rush into solutions. Policies, campaigns — well-meaning, but often based on misdiagnosed problems. You can’t fix a relationship if you haven’t understood the rupture. You can’t bridge a consciousness gap with tools that don’t touch the heart of it.
So what does it mean to ‘raise the consciousness’ of older generations? Perhaps it starts with new practices: deeper listening, embodied foresight, and co-creation across generations.
Tools like immersive storytelling, VR, and collective imagination - especially involving children - may help us feel our way into understanding. Because only when we truly understand the gap, can we begin to close it.