In traditional economic spaces, we’re taught to segment ourselves. We often have our “professional self” that we bring to work, carefully curated and polished, plus our “real self” that emerges only in safe spaces with trusted friends or family. This fragmentation isn’t just personally exhausting—it’s a massive waste of human potential and connection.
At Holistic Systems Cooperative, we’re witnessing something remarkable: what happens when people bring their whole selves into economic relationships. The goal is transformation, not just for individuals but for the entire culture of our community economy.
The Whole-Person Economy We’re Building
At Holistic Systems Cooperative, the whole-person approach isn’t just a pretty philosophy—it’s the foundation of the culture and community economy we’re building together. We believe that regenerative economic systems can make space for the fullness of human experience, not just narrow slices of productive capacity.
When we fragment ourselves to fit into economic systems, both individuals and communities suffer, but when we create economic spaces that welcome the whole person, unexpected abundance emerges. Skills that seemed unrelated combine in innovative ways. Resources that were hidden become visible. And people experience the profound relief of being able to show up authentically in economic relationships.
This is the cultural foundation we’re building at HSC—one whole person at a time.
Beyond the LinkedIn Profile
Think about typical professional networking. We present carefully crafted personas highlighting only our marketable skills and achievements. We hide our quirks, our passions, our vulnerabilities, and often our most innovative ideas.
But what if economic spaces could handle—and even celebrate—our full humanity? That’s the foundation of our “Whole Person” approach. Rather than asking “what can you produce?” we start with “who are you, fully?” This shift might seem subtle, but it has a profound impact on community culture.
Within our community, we’ve seen how sharing seemingly “irrelevant” personal interests—like weekend hobbies, creative pursuits, or passion projects—often leads to unexpected collaborations and connections that would be unlikely to emerge in conventional professional spaces.
Unexpected Value in Seemingly Unrelated Aspects
Our conventional economic thinking trains us to minimize anything that doesn’t directly contribute to productivity or profitability. Yet some of the most valuable connections in community can emerge from aspects of people’s lives that would be considered irrelevant in traditional settings:
- Artistic hobbies becomes the foundation for innovative design approaches
- Musical training provides unexpected frameworks for thinking about team dynamics and collaboration
- Experience navigating bureaucratic systems while immigrating to a new country brings valuable insights to organizational design
- Experience with care-giving provides insights for healthcare communication initiatives
- Interest in speculative fiction sparks collaborations on scenario planning
- Language learning offers fresh perspectives on knowledge management systems
- Outdoor adventure pursuits help develop risk assessment frameworks relevant to business strategy
- Home renovation projects reveal practical knowledge about materials sourcing & waste reduction
- Cooking and food preservation skills inform discussions on sustainable supply chains.
These kinds of connections couldn’t happen by accident. They are encouraged to emerge because our community culture and infrastructure specifically make space for the whole person to be seen and valued.
Cultural Transformation Through Wholeness
Our theory is that when people show up as their whole selves, the culture of value exchange fundamentally shifts.
From Scarcity to Abundance
When we bring our whole selves, the pool of value expands dramatically. We discover that we have far more to offer each other than we initially realized.
From Transaction to Relationship
Seeing someone as a whole person naturally shifts interactions from transactional to relational. It’s harder to treat someone as merely a means to an end when you see them in their full humanity.
From Competition to Collaboration
When whole people connect, complementary aspects emerge that encourage collaboration rather than competition, even between people with similar professional backgrounds.
From Isolation to Interconnection
Bringing our whole selves creates a web of unexpected connections that combat the isolation so prevalent in our fragmented society.
Building a Culture of Wholeness
This whole-person approach doesn’t happen automatically. We’ve intentionally built it into our community through several key practices:
Asset Inventory Beyond Professional Skills
Our member profiles include spaces for the full spectrum of what people bring—not just credentials but interests, experiences, resources, and curiosities.
Introduction Rituals
Our community meetings include opportunities for people to share dimensions of themselves beyond work, revealing aspects that might otherwise remain hidden.
Celebration of Unexpected Connections
We actively document stories of connections that emerged from seemingly unrelated aspects of people’s lives, reinforcing the value of bringing the whole self.
Permission to Be a Work in Progress
We normalize the idea that none of us is a finished product. Sharing areas of growth, curiosity, and even struggle creates opportunities for mutual support.
Starting Your Whole-Person Journey
Whether you’re a member of HSC, or simply interested in bringing more wholeness to your economic relationships, here are some questions to ponder:
- What aspects of yourself do you typically leave behind in professional spaces?
- What skills or interests might seem unrelated to your work but bring you joy?
- How might these “hidden” dimensions actually offer unique value to others?
- What would it feel like to be in an economic relationship where your whole self was welcomed?
Many people spend years believing we need to keep our professional identity separate from our personal passions, needs & interests. Discovering a space that invites the whole self isn’t just refreshing—it can be revolutionary. Often, the aspects of ourselves we’ve been conditioned to see as irrelevant to our economic lives are precisely what create the most meaningful connections when given space to emerge.
Interested in experiencing a community economy that welcomes your whole self? Join one of our upcoming community meetings.
