How the Dominant Paradigm Exploits Nature and People
In the dominant paradigm, we have been conditioned to see everything – our time, our labour, our relationships, and even the natural world – as resources to be extracted for maximum efficiency and gain. This mindset, which underpins both capitalism and industrialization, has led to profound social, environmental, and spiritual consequences.
But what if we viewed the world not as a set of resources but as a network of relationships? What if work, meaning, and life itself weren’t about taking as much as possible but about reciprocity, balance, and regeneration? In this article, we’ll explore how the extractive mindset shapes our lives, where it comes from, and how we can begin to shift toward a more regenerative way of being.
If you’d like to reflect more deeply on this theme, here’s a short video that brings the ideas in this article to life through imagery and invitation.
1. What Is the Extractive Mindset?
At its core, the extractive mindset is the belief that everything exists to be used, optimized, or profited from. It is an attitude of taking without giving back – a mindset that turns nature into a commodity, work into exploitation, and even human relationships into transactions.
Key aspects of the extractive mindset include:
- Nature as a commodity → Trees are not beings; they are lumber. Rivers are not sacred; they are hydroelectric potential.
- Work as an energy source → Employees are “human resources” to be used up and replaced.
- Relationships as transactions → Friendships, networking, and even dating become based on personal gain.
- Time as a resource → Every hour must be maximized for efficiency and profit.
This way of thinking has shaped not only our economy but our entire worldview – so much so that many people don’t even question it.
2. The Historical Roots of the Extractive Mindset
Where did this mindset come from? While humans have always interacted with their environment, the extractive approach intensified with:
- Colonialism → Lands were seized, peoples were enslaved, and resources were stripped for the benefit of imperial powers.
- The Industrial Revolution → The rise of factories turned humans into machines and nature into raw materials.
- Capitalism & Economic Growth → A constant demand for more—more wealth, more expansion, more efficiency—normalized the idea that success means taking as much as possible.
Over time, this way of thinking became so dominant that it felt “natural” – but it is not inevitable.
3. The Consequences of the Extractive Mindset
A. Environmental Collapse
- Ecosystems are destroyed for short-term economic gain.
- Climate change is a direct result of treating the earth as an infinite resource.
- We are extracting more than can regenerate, leading to mass extinction and habitat loss.
B. The Burnout Economy
- People are expected to work longer hours with fewer rights.
- Productivity is prioritized over well-being.
- Hustle culture tells us we are never doing enough.
C. The Commodification of Relationships
- Social media and dating apps reduce relationships to likes, swipes, and algorithms.
- Networking becomes a transactional game rather than authentic connection.
- We feel lonelier and more disconnected than ever before.
D. The Hollowing Out of Meaning
- We are taught that our worth is what we can produce or achieve.
- We extract from ourselves – pushing through exhaustion, sacrificing joy, and ignoring the need for rest.
- Spirituality, creativity, and contemplation are seen as “non-productive” and therefore unimportant.
4. How Do We Break Free from the Extractive Mindset?
We need to shift toward a regenerative rather than extractive way of thinking. This means honouring cycles, relationships, and reciprocity instead of endless growth and depletion.
Here’s how we can start:
A. See the World as a Relationship, not a Resource
- Instead of extracting from nature, learn from indigenous worldviews that emphasize respect and reciprocity.
- Shift from “How can I use this?” to “How can I be in right relationship with this?”
B. Reclaim Work as a Sacred Act, Not Just Labor
- Recognize that rest is part of the cycle, not a waste of time.
- Shift from hyper-productivity to deep, meaningful contribution.
C. Approach Relationships with Generosity, Not as Transactions
- Build friendships based on shared values rather than networking for advantage.
- Foster community over competition.
D. Honor Cycles Instead of Forcing Constant Growth
- In nature, everything has a season – including our energy and creativity.
- Accept that slowing down is necessary for sustainability in all areas of life.
Conclusion: Choosing a Different Paradigm
The extractive mindset is deeply ingrained, but it is not the only way to live. By shifting toward a regenerative approach – one based on reciprocity, sustainability, and balance – we can create a life that is more meaningful, more connected, and more in harmony with the world around us.
This shift is not just personal; it is part of a broader cultural transformation. The more we challenge the dominant paradigm, the more we create space for new ways of thinking, working, and relating.
If you’d like to explore practical alternatives to the extractive economy, you might enjoy my review of Rutger Bregman’s Utopia for Realists. Bregman imagines bold but grounded policies – from universal basic income to shorter working weeks – that challenge the cultural assumption of endless growth and show how we might create societies built on sufficiency, dignity, and shared flourishing.
Reflection prompts
Before moving on, you might like to pause with these questions and notice what comes up for you:
- Where do you notice the extractive mindset showing up most in your own life – in how you use your time, work, relationships, or connection with nature?
- Have you ever experienced a moment where you shifted from seeing something as a resource to valuing it as a relationship? What did that feel like?
- Which part of life feels most drained by the extractive mindset, and how might you begin to bring more reciprocity or balance there?
- What helps you resist the pressure of hustle culture and reclaim time for rest, creativity, or joy?
- Can you think of a small, regenerative practice (in work, relationships, or with the natural world) that you’d like to nurture more often?
- How do you personally define “enough,” and how does that contrast with society’s push for “more”?
In the next article, we’ll explore how we can rethink success beyond the dominant paradigm – and what a more soul-aligned vision of purpose might look like.
Read the previous article – The Myth of Individualism
Go to the start of this series
And if you’d like to go further, download my free guide, Walking the Soulful Path. It comes with my monthly newsletter, offering fresh insights and resources to support your own journey toward a more soulful, regenerative way of living.
If you want to shift away from seeing life as something to extract from and toward a more regenerative, soulful way of living, The Soulful Path to Life Purpose programme can support you on that journey.