Great post and very well written. I think for me a sense of community as poor as important.
However, I have dipped my toe in different ones that haven’t found a fit yet. I’m confident that the right community will present itself if I remain open and trust the process of my own becoming.
I think we’re wired for wellbeing and trauma healing. I think we inherently have this inner wisdom. You describe and I agree that the way we are forced to live our lives isn’t set up for well-being it’s set up for doing and production.
There’s a simple remedy to tap into our innate wisdom for wellbeing and healing and that’s to slow down. We need to connect to release and ease emotions with another human, pet, nature, art, writing etc and that needs time and space.
When we consider health as wealth a shift is made and space and time feels more valuable than other stuff.
However when you’re stuck in poverty you’re just surviving and there’s no chance to slow down so addressing this is paramount.
Yes when you’re living in poverty it is hard extremely hard to slow down. However, the reality though is that people with a lot of money rarely slow down as well usually due to work. I’ve seen this in my work and there are memoirs that I think portray what goes on pretty well. Lately I’ve been reading “Careless People” by an ex Facebook executive and she covers the experience behind the scenes pretty well.
I love that reframe of "health as wealth"! So many of us could use that.
Yes I can see how most of us are rushing as our nervous system is in an anxious fight/ flight state. The way we live from conception sets this. Cultural and societal pressures provoke this.
Thank you so much for pointing this out Jennifer. I’m a big fan of focusing on the things we do have the power to change, although that really does seem to take an enormous effort in a world that is designed to move us in the opposition direction. It seems that we often have to take a bold stance and cast our vote for the things we want, and that can come with its own set of consequences. But as I often say, it’s about choosing what consequences we are willing to face. The bottom line is that, at this moment, we can’t rely on the current systems to look after our wellbeing. And so, we have to create them. In the most imperfect ways. Grateful to be able to exchange ideas on this topic 🙏🏻🤍
Yes- we’re living in times where it’s complex cause so many systems are working against our well being. So it’s important to look at what we have control over in the each given moment — even if there will inevitably be moments when we don’t have a lot of control.
Yes- it’s ultimately a global problem. I just wanted to hone in on life in the US for the sake of this particular. And yes, it’s all about small incremental changes that each and every one of us makes. Despite whatever chaos might be going on around us.
Great post and very well written. I think for me a sense of community as poor as important.
However, I have dipped my toe in different ones that haven’t found a fit yet. I’m confident that the right community will present itself if I remain open and trust the process of my own becoming.
Yes- you have to be patient with the process. Realistically, it can take a handful of years.
Informative and interesting post.
I think we’re wired for wellbeing and trauma healing. I think we inherently have this inner wisdom. You describe and I agree that the way we are forced to live our lives isn’t set up for well-being it’s set up for doing and production.
There’s a simple remedy to tap into our innate wisdom for wellbeing and healing and that’s to slow down. We need to connect to release and ease emotions with another human, pet, nature, art, writing etc and that needs time and space.
When we consider health as wealth a shift is made and space and time feels more valuable than other stuff.
However when you’re stuck in poverty you’re just surviving and there’s no chance to slow down so addressing this is paramount.
Glad you enjoyed the article!
Yes when you’re living in poverty it is hard extremely hard to slow down. However, the reality though is that people with a lot of money rarely slow down as well usually due to work. I’ve seen this in my work and there are memoirs that I think portray what goes on pretty well. Lately I’ve been reading “Careless People” by an ex Facebook executive and she covers the experience behind the scenes pretty well.
I love that reframe of "health as wealth"! So many of us could use that.
Yes I can see how most of us are rushing as our nervous system is in an anxious fight/ flight state. The way we live from conception sets this. Cultural and societal pressures provoke this.
Slowing down is a rebellion against this.
Absolutely!
Thank you so much for pointing this out Jennifer. I’m a big fan of focusing on the things we do have the power to change, although that really does seem to take an enormous effort in a world that is designed to move us in the opposition direction. It seems that we often have to take a bold stance and cast our vote for the things we want, and that can come with its own set of consequences. But as I often say, it’s about choosing what consequences we are willing to face. The bottom line is that, at this moment, we can’t rely on the current systems to look after our wellbeing. And so, we have to create them. In the most imperfect ways. Grateful to be able to exchange ideas on this topic 🙏🏻🤍
Yes- we’re living in times where it’s complex cause so many systems are working against our well being. So it’s important to look at what we have control over in the each given moment — even if there will inevitably be moments when we don’t have a lot of control.
Very well said. The big problem is an unsupportive global environment, which is a global issue.
We each must begin where we are, gaining back what little bits of emotional regulation we can carve out of our over-packed, over stimulated lives.
From that place of our own healing, we can expand to healing our families, then helping our friends, our neighborhoods.
Nothing will change until something (or someone) changes.
We can each make a small difference.
Together, those acts can change the collective.
Slow but steady progress moves mountains.
Yes- it’s ultimately a global problem. I just wanted to hone in on life in the US for the sake of this particular. And yes, it’s all about small incremental changes that each and every one of us makes. Despite whatever chaos might be going on around us.
This post felt like a big validating hug for me! Thank you for your words <3
I'm glad! That's what I was hoping it would do.