Introducing AttentionCasting: A New Framework from Applied Futures Lab
At Applied Futures Lab, we’re always exploring ways to help you navigate complexity and prepare for what’s next. Our latest offering, AttentionCasting, is a framework designed to help leaders like you focus on what truly matters amid the noise and uncertainty of today’s world.
Why AttentionCasting?
Attention is a finite asset, yet it often goes unmanaged in the face of competing priorities. AttentionCasting emerged from our work with foresight methodologies like Threatcasting and Futurecasting, but it takes a distinct approach. Instead of focusing solely on risks or imagined futures, AttentionCasting helps you direct your focus where it counts—toward opportunities, challenges, and strategies that align with your goals.
The Three Phases of AttentionCasting
Here’s how it works:
Scanning and Filtering: Identify the most critical trends, signals, and data while cutting through the noise.
Focus Setting: Define specific objectives and outcomes, ensuring attention is purposefully aimed.
Sustained Engagement: Maintain focus over time with tools and practices that keep your priorities on track.
Check out this YouTube Explainer on AttentionCasting:
The Value for You
AttentionCasting offers leaders a pathway to clarity and action. It helps you:
Make informed, impactful decisions.
Align actions with long-term goals.
Empower your teams with clear priorities.
Build organizational resilience to adapt and thrive.
What’s Next?
I’m excited to share this new framework with you. Whether you’re navigating digital transformation, tackling social challenges, or simply striving to manage competing priorities, AttentionCasting is here to guide your focus and amplify your impact. Get in touch!
Check out Cyndi’s Linktree for more information on her activities.
When danger can appear in the most unexpected places, the question of where and how we find safety becomes deeply personal, touching on our fears, strengths, and shared experiences. We Choose The Bear, a new anthology I have co-written with Kim Larkin, invites readers to explore these themes through a powerful collection of stories, essays, poems, and artworks that challenge traditional ideas about power and protection.
At first glance, the title may evoke images of wild, untamed nature—perhaps a fierce bear stalking through the forest. But this anthology flips the script, using the bear as a symbol of safety rather than fear. The inspiration behind the book is rooted in a provocative and poignant question: Why do many women and marginalized individuals feel safer encountering a bear in the woods than a man? This question isn’t just rhetorical; it’s a lens through which the authors examine the complex dynamics of violence, trust, and survival.
Byte-Sized Book Banter Curious Questions Considered Podcast with Iris and Axil. Episode on “We Choose The Bear” book.
We Choose The Bear was created during significant celestial events in 2024, a year marked by both cosmic and cultural shifts. The anthology captures this moment in time, weaving together personal narratives, mythological themes, and cultural insights to form a rich tapestry of experiences. Each piece in the collection adds a unique thread, offering readers a diverse array of perspectives on what it means to find strength in vulnerability, to reclaim power in the face of oppression, and to redefine safety on one’s own terms.
The bear, traditionally seen as a symbol of raw, untamed power, becomes in this anthology a protector. The contributors explore this symbolism through various lenses—some stories draw from ancient myths, where bears were revered as sacred protectors; others offer contemporary narratives that reflect the lived experiences of women today, navigating a world that can often feel hostile and unpredictable.
But We Choose The Bear is more than just a collection of stories; it’s a call to action. The anthology doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of violence and fear, but it also doesn’t leave the reader in despair. Instead, it offers a path forward, one that is rooted in solidarity, resilience, and the power of reclaiming one’s own narrative. It’s a book that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human—vulnerable yet strong, fearful yet courageous.
As you turn the pages of We Choose The Bear, you’ll find yourself drawn into a world where the boundaries between myth and reality blur, where the woods offers not just danger, but also refuge. The stories and essays will challenge you to think differently about power and protection, while the poems and artworks will leave a lasting impression, inviting you to reflect on your own experiences and beliefs.
Whether you are a seasoned reader of feminist literature, someone seeking to understand the complexities of violence and safety, a fan of art or simply a lover of thought-provoking stories, We Choose The Bear has something to offer. It’s a book that stays with you, sparking conversations and inspiring action long after you’ve finished reading.
In the end, We Choose The Bear asks us all to consider where we find our strength and how we can create a safer, more equitable world. It’s a question that resonates deeply in today’s society, and one that this anthology answers with both honesty and hope.
We Choose The Bear is available now online. Don’t miss your chance to experience this powerful and timely collection. Read it, share it, and join the conversation.
The marketplace is finally starting to catch up with the demand from regular folks looking for face masks. I’m excited to offer that some of my designs are now on fabric masks over on Redbubble.
Features
Non-medical face masks help you express yourself even when you can’t show your face
Two layers of soft 100% brushed polyester with sublimation print on the outside layer
7.25″ x 4.6″ / 18.5 x 11.5 cm with over-ear elastic straps for a snug fit over mouth and nose
Wash after each use
For every mask sold, Redbubble will make a donation to Heart to Heart International
Do not use as medical personal protective equipment
Adult use only and should not be placed on young children younger than 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance
Designed by independent artist Cyndi Coon and printed for you when you order
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