What I am noticing of late, is how much division and separation is occurring in the world around me.
I know we’re living in a time that is unique in one sense, but not so unique in another. Human hardship has always been littered throughout world history, and now is no exception. This isn’t the first time humanity is suffering, and it’s not the first time the human spirit is being pushed to evolve and expand into a new paradigm. Think world wars, Vietnam, nuclear disasters, disease, viruses and pandemics.
For me, this is all ushering in a new level of awareness and begging us to stop our old ways of living in disharmony with the natural world, and to finally fall into alignment with Nature and a healthier way of living on this planet that gives so generously, but that we seem so hellbent on disrespecting and abusing.
Our privilege as a species is glaringly obvious in our disrespect of Nature’s abundance, but also in our disrespect of each other.
The irony is not lost on me, that after decades of witnessing the demise and mass extinction of thousands of species daily, due to our lack of stewardship of the environment and the glaring greed for profits over protection of our natural resources, we humans now find ourselves in our very own extinction event. But now that it involves us personally, we suddenly seem to give a shit.
A lot of the anger I am observing, seems to stem from the frustration as to why others don’t think and act in accordance with our own ways of thinking. We come to our ideals through the experiences that have shaped our lives. So how many ways are there of looking at the world? Well, how many grains of sand can you count? The questions for me is, why do we think ours is the only voice of reason?
I’m simply here to remind you that we can chose to act, speak and respond with love at every turn. It is a simple choice. Maybe not an easy one, but a choice none the less. So, can we each pledge to try to widen our hearts and minds just a little more? Yes, it feels uncomfortable, edgy and stretchy, but that’s what growth requires of us all.
No one ever said change or birthing something into being was easy. There’s the pain, blood, sweat, tears, toil, and who knows how long it will take, but in the end something is born. We just don’t know what it is yet because we are still labouring, but I know a collective shift in consciousness is upon us.
This world doesn’t need more judgement, division, separation and abuse. We need more connection with one another through the expansive qualities of service, love, joy and mutual respect, even if we don’t see eye to eye.
Especially if we don’t see eye to eye. And just like the root systems of trees are interconnected beneath the earth, we too are connected energetically as a human species, because what affects one, affects the whole collective.
So, can we begin by just listening to someone’s point of view without creating drama? Can we normalise being curious, genuinely curious enough to ask why they think the way they do, not because we want to prove them wrong, but because someone’s experience of life has lead them to the conclusions that shape their reality, and that might be an interesting perspective to listen to. Maybe, if we are curious enough, we can learn from everyone, same world view or not. As Walt Whitman famously said “be curious, not judgemental”.
May we begin to cultivate the mindfulness required to course correct when we start judging, shaming and blaming others for not thinking or acting exactly as we expect them to, and may we develop grace, compassion and tolerance in abundance.
If you Google the name of any Indian deity, you will see images of their ears portrayed as elongated. This is primarily to express the notion of listening as a super power. There’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Try to listen more without the need to preempt your response or talk over someone. Listen with your whole heart. People will soften around you when you do, conversation will flow and learning can unfold. It just needs the right environment and alchemy. Everyone wants to be heard and understood, so why not gift someone with your listening skills today and observe what happens. You might be pleasantly surprised.
If we raise our vibration away from fear and into love, we can overcome this hardship together as a unifying force, and as a unified global community. Let’s cease this fighting and derision once and for all, and may we redirect our energy to more positivity because there is so much in the world to be grateful for. Let’s continue to live our lives with a modicum of purpose, dignity and joy even during this challenging time.
As the great Zen Master Thich Naht Hahn said:
“Most people are afraid of suffering.
But suffering is a kind of mud to help the lotus flower of happiness grow.
There can be no lotus flower without the mud”
I need you to call forth your warrior of light now, because you have been preparing for this moment each and every time you’ve stepped onto your mat. We practice to lift and shift our vibration and move up toward the light, not down toward fear, division and darkness.
So rise up soldiers of light and help disperse peace, calm and beauty to all you see. You make a difference. They make a difference. We all make a difference.
Watch your thoughts; they become words
Watch your words; they become actions
Watch your actions; they become habits
Watch your habits; they become character
Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny
-The Upanishads
