CIRCULAR HUMANITY IN PRACTICE — How the Heart–Head–Hands Framework Shapes Everyday Change

In my previous post, I introduced the core idea of Circular Humanity — the missing starting point that underpins every successful transition. Here, I continue by showing how this human-centred change model works in real life, from a classroom to circular economy practice.

Circular Humanity is a principle of human-centred transition that takes its practical form in the Peace Circle® Heart–Head–Hands protocol. Peace Circle® is the visible model; Circular Humanity is the underlying mechanism that explains how ❤️ values, 💡 understanding and ✋ action reinforce one another.

Good does not happen by feeling alone — it emerges when values, understanding and action align.

Classroom Example

Students created a Peace Circle visual in their classroom, built around three segments — Heart (Value), Head (Understanding) and Hands (Action). Together these represent nine themes the class aims to balance and strengthen.

The circle’s perimeter is formed by the students themselves: everyone belongs, and each has a place.

Inside the circle, students record the actions they take. Each action is placed in the segment it most closely represents, guided by a simple question:

“What good are we doing for each other and for nature?”

• ❤️ Heart (Value): actions that create good for another person or for nature(e.g., compassion, hope, fairness)

• 💡 Head (Understanding): actions that led to learning or a new insight

• ✋ Hands (Action): concrete everyday actions(e.g., caring for life, strengthening balance, recognising diversity)
  

The circle is updated regularly as part of class reflection: what we have done, what we have learned, and what would be good to do next.

I apply the same model in my own preparatory (immigrant) class teaching. One of the most striking observations is how a simple, co-created visual starts to guide the behaviour and atmosphere of the entire class.

Good Does Not Come From Emotion Alone

The classroom example reveals something much larger. When values, understanding and action are made visible, collective behaviour starts to shift.

Good is not only an emotion. Good emerges when values, understanding and action meet.

This is the essence of Circular Humanity. The same mechanism — a visible structure, shared language and continuous reflection on action — works similarly in organisations, municipalities and cities.

Digital Twin Environment

The Digital Twin environment we built in the Peace Circle Park makes this process visible in a new way. An embedded self-reflection tool allows students, teachers and community members to observe their own Heart–Head–Hands balance.

The tool is anonymous and collects no personal data. Its purpose is to help users see where the circle is strong and where more support, meaning or shared understanding is needed. When movement becomes visible, it becomes possible to guide.

AI as a Support for Doing Good

The Digital Twin can be complemented with light, ethical AI — not to evaluate people or replace them, but to strengthen what is already good.

AI can:

• recognise recurring themes in recorded actions

• highlight emerging patterns

• help a community notice where ❤️ values, 💡 understanding and ✋ actions begin to reinforce each other

• make small positive changes visible, especially when daily life is busy
  

AI acts as a guided mirror — making good more visible and easier to continue. Humans act, technology supports — and together they create a positive, self-reinforcing culture.

Circular Humanity in Organisations

The same mechanism appears in organisations. Many sustainability programmes and strategies fall short when:

• values are vague

• understanding is fragmented

• actions are inconsistent
  

Values are not a matter of opinion; they rest on internationally recognised human-rights and sustainability foundations.

When values are made visible, when direction is shaped together, and when small actions become part of everyday practice, a self-reinforcing culture emerges — one in which good generates more good.

Circular Humanity in the Circular Economy

Why technical solutions alone are not enough

Circular economy transitions stall when people do not feel meaning or ownership.Real change begins only when:

• ❤️ values are clear and visible

• 💡 understanding explains why the change matters

• ✋ shared commitment begins to grow
  

When circular economy is framed as something that supports what people care about — nature, local livelihoods, shared future — belonging and motivation increase.

Practical example: Product design

• Value-based starting point: products are designed not only to circulate, but to benefit nature and community

• Shared understanding: the team sees the entire life cycle and its impacts

• Concrete actions: modularity, repairability, re-use

When these three align, sustainable development becomes self-reinforcing.Circular Humanity transforms a technical shift into a shared human movement.

Circular Humanity in Municipalities and Cities

Technically perfect climate, well-being or strategy programmes fail if they do not become part of everyday life.

When people:

• understand why the change matters

• see the direction together

• experience the first small actions

the transition moves like this:

resistance → ownership → practice → culture strengthens

Why This Matters

Circular Humanity is present wherever human-centred change succeeds:

🔴 Values are made visible

🔵 Understanding becomes shared

🟢 Actions strengthen and repeat

When these three are in balance, change moves. When they diverge, change slows or stops.

Good grows only when it is made visible. This is why we need a place — on a wall, intranet or website — where people encounter the circle daily. A visible circle creates a movement in which good generates more good.

Where It All Begins

Circular Humanity is not a theory, but a visible mechanism. What we do shapes how we think — and strengthens what we value.

The Heart–Head–Hands cycle is the core of the Peace Circle® protocol. Circular Humanity makes it applicable across all types of communities.

What might building this circle look like in your own community?