Hope in the "Apocalypse"
Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but because joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.”- Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
This quote from the book Braiding Sweetgrass resonated deeply for me when I read it. As a therapist, I feel like one of my many functions is to be a mirror of hope to my clients. Even when a client cannot imagine getting better or things changing, I attempt to hold a container of hope for what "might be". Lately I have found myself not only holding the hope for a client's individual transformation, but also holding hope for the world we are living in. During the current political and environmental state, it feels like there is a lot of work to do in holding this hope, both personally and collectively.
In the current political and environmental climate, there is so much fear and activation. So many of us feel overwhelmed and confused about how to relate or digest the current events. It is so much to process- wars overseas, polarized political discourse, and oh yeah that little thing called global warming. With so much to pay attention to, and especially with social media in our pockets at all times, it leaves many of us in a state of burnout. We feel overwhlemed about the experience of our lives- decision fatigue, so many emails to respond to and just that one more thing on our to-do list. In many ways this is an interesting reflection on how we as humans have created a society for ourselves that is so overwhelming. Late-stage capitalism is just that- a machine that drives towards profit and obliterates everything in it's path that stands in the way of that. Quality of life and work/life balance are trampled for the Gods of profit. The capitalist mindset is so deeply embedded in everything that we do and think about in our lives. Unforunately, this is the system we are woven into, and in fact one that we have all collectively enabled.
As much as we would all love an easy fix-it to the inflation, horrific health-care/insurance systems and constant feeling of not being enough (productive enough, pretty enough, smart enough), the truth is that change happens, slowly over time. I believe that just as individuals can make changes to their lives and behaviors, so can societies. To quote Barak Obama, "We are the change we have been waiting for". This quote is inspiring to me because it hits a deep vein of truth. The quote implies that if anyone is going to make changes to what is, it is us; which means that we as individuals have agency and power. In a world that is so top-down from corporations dictating how we live our lives, it is refreshing to hear an invitation and acknowledgement that WE are the ones to carry out what it is that we desire. In order for real change to occur, we must be persistent and patient. We must do the "work". In the same way that we as human beings have created the reality of capitalism and the structures that oppress us, how could we also be the collaborators in co-creating structures that allow us to thrive?
We are in such a tender space right now historically, and as much as we all may want to crawl into our caves and ignore it all/give up, it is so important that we stay active players in this process. Now more than even it feels important that we hold a vision; that we collectively hold space for a world with more equality and harmony with the planet. Lingering in fear and despair about the bad things that are to come de-energizes us and disempowers people, but by holding a vision of hope, we are more motivated to take action and have more energy for life.
What is this vision for you? What kind of world would you want to exist in and be a part of? Begin imagining a world post-capitalism and what that world would look like. How would people use their time and resources? I think on some level this requires a fundamental shift in priorities and what we value in our lives. Less focus on our individual needs and more focus on the needs of the community is central to this shift. Living in a very individualistitc society, our own needs can become the prison that we live in. Stepping out of ourselves to help others can facilitiate feelings of wellbeing and joy. We are all so isolated from each other and caught up in our individual narratives that we forget that we are a part of a living, breathing eco-system. We are disconnected from the very breath of life that is all around us. Could we create a society that centers around well-being, community, art and valuing nature?
Naturally, the next question that emerges is "but what should I do?" I ask myself this constantly. What can I do to help a better world emerge? I think the short answer to this is that I do not know, none of us knows exactly. In some ways that is frustrating and in other ways it is invigorating. What incredible solutions could we all engineer if we work together? What new realities and communities want to form? What art and structures want to be birthed from each of us? The planet may be warming up, and the politics may be a soap opera, but we are still here. We are still showing up to life. We are still making choices, and those choices can be in alignment with the greater vision we have for the world. Maybe a vision of neighborhoods that have coalitions and work together politically. Maybe a vision where those who are sick are cared for communally or there are community gardens on every corner. What is the vision of the future that you are inspired by? Take just one action in that direction. If we all take very small actions in the direction of hope and healing the collective space, things will change. It will not be over night, but with consistent effort and action change happens. We cannot change what is, but we can disagree and want to work towards something that is more beautiful, more whole. There is no benefit to despair, but hope has the possibility to breathe new life into everything.
