Today the president changed. We are leaving one leadership ideology for another. Some feel great hope and relief, while others straight up rage. The country is deeply divided. There are calls for unity, while others seek to rewrite the rules (and reality) with aggressive force. I ask you, what toll does this moment have on our collective mental health? It takes a great deal of work to remain in the center of the current storm of emotions, ideas, and trauma. I commend those of you who have been able to and I invite those of you swept away in the power of the moment to consider the benefits of the eye of the storm. Political parties have never solved the troubles of peoples’ lives. People do. More specifically, public opinion does- our collective voices and values create change.
Being in the eye of the storm is to center and rise above hatred. In a space of clarity we can collectively create a space for healing, evolution, and hope. I know it seems counter-intuitive, but Being is where the true power lies. By Being present, centered, and awake in the reality of our unity, we can collectively uplift humanity. It’s a quiet path, but a profound one. Some may argue this approach may be naïve, but if you break it down, it is sound in logic. If you are healthy, centered, and awake, you will have the highest positive impact on your life, family, and community. If all your neighbors do the same, well, you can begin to see the ripple that could take us to a better world. One that politics and propaganda can only point at.
Science and spiritual teachers inform us that we are connected, that things only appear separate. As for values, last I checked, most people want health, safety, clean air and food, wild places, equality, freedom of expression, community, love, family, and opportunity to live their best life. We have more in common than we realize. Every wise being that has walked the Earth has kindly told us, Love solves every hurt. But before we get there, let’s start with our mind, our own mental health. If you want to contribute to a healthy world, practice mastery of your own mind by staying in the eye of the storm, by rising above the noise so you can have perspective, and by being awake enough to hear the pull and direction of your own heart. A world guided by heart- can you imagine?
I am not saying it is easy, or that I am always successful. Perfection is impossible. I am advocating for the messy and wonderful effort of creating healthy minds capable of loving responses.