Introduction

WOOP!E is based on three interconnected dimensions: Unity, Community, and Sociality. This is not a linear ladder to be climbed step by step – rather, these areas influence and reinforce one another.

How they interact in practice depends on where we look from (perspective), what is most important at the moment (priority), and where our natural inclination lies (disposition).

Some people are primarily self-driven – motivated by personal growth, inner clarity, and self-responsibility. This corresponds to the dimension of Unity.
Others are community-driven – they thrive on relationships, collaboration, and shared meaning. This is the heart of Community.
Still others are impact- or vocation-driven – focused on systemic change, societal contribution, and long-term impact. This is the sphere of Sociality.

Depending on the situation, the path may lead from Unity to Community to Sociality – or the other way around: a large systemic challenge may trigger community action, which in turn can spark personal growth.
Thus, WOOP!E is a living, adaptive model that enables movement between individual output, collective outcome, and systemic impact.

Mindsets and Motivation

As a reference, we draw on the 6 Mindsets (M. Permantier), which show how our self- and worldviews shape our actions. Depending on one’s outlook on life, these can be understood as developmental stages or as situational response patterns.
Every “trigger” – a conflict, a challenge, an opportunity – is an invitation to shift from a rigid stance into a more mature, fitting one. With the Mind-the-Gap practice and the four competence levels (explained later in the handbook), we can learn to consciously choose the stance that unites professionalism, maturity, and situational fit.

The 7 motivational systems identified by Prof. Dr. Tania Singer – threat, incentive/resource-seeking, care, affiliation, play, achievement, meaning/future – reveal the inner forces that drive our behavior.
Recognizing which system is currently active (in ourselves or in others) opens the possibility of acting with more focus and effectiveness – both in the moment and with regard to the bigger picture.

Unity

(Individual Dimension – Growth Mindset, Causality & the “Wheel of Fortune”)
Unity begins with recognizing that every action is both cause and effect. Our inner state shapes thoughts and feelings, which in turn influence our actions. Over time, these “waves” create our impact on life.
The better we understand ourselves, the more consciously we can act.

Six values form here a “Wheel of Fortune” – a process that, when practiced with awareness, reinforces itself:

• Openness & Creativity – stay curious, take risks, learn boldly.

• Respect & Discipline – act with integrity and consistency.

• Tolerance & Patience – leave room for differences, give growth its time.

• Enthusiasm & Diligence – stay engaged with joy and commitment.

• Focus & Attention – direct energy toward what matters most (“Where focus goes, energy flows”).

• Understanding & Insight – transform experiences into wisdom.

This wheel carries us forward step by step – from openness to respect, through tolerance and enthusiasm to focus and understanding – and then back again.
Inner growth thus becomes visible and tangible in the output: the clear, lived expression of our values.

Community

(Relational Dimension – The Golden Rule & Relativity)
Community thrives on the dynamic nature of relationships – shaped by perspective and context. As in Einstein’s relativity theory, experience depends on the position of the observer. Each person brings their own background, culture, and present state.

Guided by a sustainable mindset and the Golden Rule – “Treat others as you would like to be treated, and do so wholeheartedly” – community becomes a compass for empathy and fairness.

Its values are:

• Appreciation & Gratitude – acknowledge diversity, value perspectives.

• Compassion & Solidarity – stand together, especially in difficult times.

• Friendship & Helpfulness – create belonging through presence and generosity.

• Care & Support – strengthen resilience, stand by one another with mindfulness.

Together, these values create a safe space where trust can grow. Appreciation deepens respect, friendship fosters belonging, care builds strength, and solidarity inspires collective action.
Cooperation here does not mean uniformity, but the harmonizing of many truths into a shared field of trust, respect, and reciprocity – the foundation for strong relationships, collective success, and social cohesion.

Sociality

(Systems Dimension – Thermodynamics, Quantum Connectedness & Regeneration)
Sociality looks at the whole: the one big system and its many subsystems – social, ecological, economic, cultural. Everything is interconnected. Sociality refers to the quality of our togetherness, built on mutual understanding, responsibility for one another, and orientation toward the common good.

Thermodynamics shows: closed systems decay without renewal. Transferred to society, this means: communities need care, creativity, and ethical leadership to stay alive.
Quantum physics adds: at the deepest level, everything is interconnected – particles can influence each other instantly across great distances.

Two pairs of values provide orientation here:

• Trust & Responsibility – trust in the inherent dignity of all beings, combined with the ability to respond (response-able).

• Courage & Accountability – the will to shape change, and the readiness to measure, reflect on, and bear responsibility for impact.

This is how impact emerges: long-term, measurable contributions to planetary well-being and societal transformation.

Quantum Perspective & Traditional Wisdom

Quantum physics (e.g., experiments such as the Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser) challenges our everyday notions of time and causality. At this level, properties are not fixed until they are measured – and sometimes, a later decision even appears to influence an earlier state.

This echoes the Buddhist teaching of emptiness: nothing exists independently, everything arises from conditions, context, and relationships. Emptiness is not “nothing,” but a space full of possibilities, where form, meaning, and impact emerge from interplay.

It becomes clear: impact is not simply the end product of a linear chain. It is a living process, constantly unfolding within a web of relationships – just like in WOOP!E, where output, outcome, and impact continuously shape and transform one another.

This text is an excerpt from the publication:
Reinvent Yourself – A Study Guide & Handbook on Conscious Leadership & Impact Entrepreneurship, available for purchase.