Clickbait? Kinda… BUT. I’m also dead serious.
First things first. We need to define the problem before we can find, and offer, an appropriate solution.
Let’s think for a minute about the things that are “wrong” with the world.
Here’s what I came up with:
Injustice/inequality (racial, wealth/income, gender, etc.)
Destruction
Of one another (war & violence of all kinds)
Of the natural world (climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss, species mass extinction, etc.)
These are the “effects.” What about the causes?
Tribalism / us vs. them / “othering”
Superiority complex / narcissism / seeing things outside as less valuable (or not valuable at all)
Power / greed / dominion over
Are you starting to pick up on the energy that these are puttin’ down?
Because to me, these all start to have a very similar energetic signature.
They’re dark & intense.
They emanate fear & pain.
If a white person believes they’re better than a black person, it’s easier to harm them (psychologically, physically, etc.)
If a human believes they’re more valuable than an animal, it’s easier to raise them inhumanely for the purpose of slaughter.
If a human believes that trees exist as a decoration, it’s easier to destroy acre upon acre of forest.
If a society believes that economic progress is the ultimate goal, it's easier to ignore the consistent, deliberate actions that pollute, kill off species of plants & animals, warm global temperatures to unsafe levels, etc.
We’re Disconnected.
Disconnected from ourselves, from each other, and from the natural world.
Disconnected from our true nature (we’re mammals, a part of the natural world not separate…)
Disconnected from future generations (our actions have very real consequences…)
Disconnected from the circle of life (people have always killed animals for food, but with respect & reverence…)
Disconnected from a shared humanity (we’re all the same beneath the skin, gender, sexual orientation, etc…)
We’re Disconnected from what is real.
We concern ourselves with jobs, money, possessions…
When the things that are real are…
Reading a good book
Sipping a hot drink
Listening to a favorite song
Kissing our child goodnight
Laughing with friends
Sharing a meal with coworkers
Holding the door for a stranger
Feeling the sun on our skin, grass on our feet, & wind in our hair
Hearing the birds sing
Witnessing a sunrise or sunset
This interconnected existence is what is real.
Connection is the answer.
It’s the one word answer…
because it’s the only thing.
To move toward a just, equitable, habitable world
we need to prioritize Connection.
As noted in the Big Thinker Deep Feeler “mission statement,” we need to (Re)Connect with:
ourselves
others
the natural world
The beautiful thing about these areas of (Re)Connection is that they can be worked on in parallel.
Actually, it’s preferable to do so as they inform and reinforce each other.
The more Connected we are with ourSelves, the more capacity we create for connecting with others and nature.
Furthermore, connection begets connection.
All of life (each human, animal, etc.) is a node in the web.
If I become more Connected, I increase the capacity of Connection for my wife (and everything else I come in contact with.)
Connection is the healing agent that we need - that the world needs.
Connection is inherent to the problem.
All of life is interconnected.
Each of us is a part of the whole - we are not isolated entities.
We are cells in the organism that is the natural world.
Why is this so important?
Once we acknowledge - and truly feel - our interconnectedness, we are less likely to sabotage the well-being of the whole.
Connection is tangible and feasible.
Connection is available to all humans in all moments.
Read that again.
Connection is available to all humans in all moments.
The solution, the medicine, the answer…
is available - forever & always.
This is my message of hope & optimism.
We have what it takes to move toward a more just, equitable world.
We just need to be intentional about it.
For further consideration…
These can be used as prompts for further contemplation, journaling, or discussion points.
My thoughts are just a starting point.
What do you think & feel?
I’d love to hear from you if you’d like to share. Feel free to leave a comment!
Do you agree with the problem as mentioned? What did I miss? Do you think it’s different entirely? Why?
How do you feel about Connection as a solution to what ails us? What do you love about it? What feels incomplete? Disagree with entirely? Why?
What are ways that Connecting has positively impacted your life? That you’ve seen it impact the lives of others or the natural world?
What are some practical ways you can think of to (Re)Connect? (More on this to come…)