For most of my life, I was discouraged with humanity and believed that my actions, beliefs, and thoughts didn't really matter.
That changed. The more I open to look at myself, consider a wider perspective, and notice the experiences I'm creating, my disillusionment is replaced by higher thoughts, well-intentioned and inspired ideas. My beliefs, habits, words, thoughts, and actions are a responsibility. And I share this responsibility with everyone on this planet because how we're being touches everyone.
So how is it that with all that I'm learning, I still couldn't recognize my connection to racism?
I experienced racism from a distance. I thought of myself as a bleeding heart liberal and quietly expressed my outrage. This is where I call BS on myself. Bleeding heart? If I really cared I would have come out of the shadows. Many a person has stood silent allowing many of our world's atrocities to happen. I don't want to be that person and yet...
My behavior was to stupidly think that things would get better. If everyone felt that way, nothing would improve because thinking is not the same as action. The pattern was, I got angry over an injustice I heard about, the story eventually faded away, and I assumed things would improve. I told myself that the people and institutions responsible would evolve, that progress would be made. But that didn't happen. And it won't happen until I understand that I'm always part of the problem until I do something.
It's most interesting to me because I've often expressed that we need to do more than just consume the news. That we need to stop waiting for someone else to fix things. Well-informedness does nothing if it stops at waiting. There has to be some positive action involved. And yet with all my well-intentioned heart-centered beliefs, I waited. Shines on a light on what well-intentioned really looked like for me, eh?
By taking no action or asking what I could do, all I was doing was making it easier for the next act of racism.
My focus has shifted from the recent tragedies to seeing the outcome as a result of my (and others) lack of action. Since racism is the creation of white people, it's especially my responsibility to do something.
What that looks like is evolving. I don't know yet, but I have new ideas. Perhaps I can create a spirituality course focusing on breaking through limiting beliefs so that we see our importance in the world. Ok, I've already done that but perhaps I can tailor it around real-world-view fears. The activism of late is teaching me that I can take my current vision and messages and convey them more clearly and more prominently. This is no time for watered down messages.
I'm also really wanting to convey the connection between spirituality/our human spirit and our responsibility in what we as human beings are creating. The point is, is there's so much to learn from what's going on now. To take our ideas that will come out of this and run with them.
There's a tipping point in every moment even if we don't recognize it at the time.
To me, COVID and the activism around racism is no coincidence. Both are pushing humanity to choose better. We're being asked to care about each other, to feel our connection, and consider how we're showing up for each other.
We left many of our fellow human beings to fend for themselves around the racism issue. It became solely their problem rather than a shared problem. This was especially cruel and irresponsible since we white folks created and benefited from inequality. Lasting beneficial change only happens when we stay on it, together.
What led to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others were on those of us who missed the opportunities to make a stand.
For those of us who didn't step up before, we can step up now and do better.
I promise to stop merely hoping for change, and instead, acknowledge what's appearing and consider what I can do.
This is a time when many of us are being asked to stretch outside of our comfort zone. That's always a good thing individually and collectively.
- Assuming things will get better? "This too shall pass" mentality is helpful around COVID, knowing there's a vaccine coming. But not around racism, corrupt political machines, war, inequities in healthcare, inequities in getting an education, or the environment. And that's just the shortlist.
- Do we genuinely want to see humanity become more loving? Be it then. Do our part to bring about more love. Be love. Set intentions and bring our intentions into reality.
- Use our voice. Share our feelings, write something, record a video, peacefully protest if we can, during this COVID time.
- All of us on this planet can do magnificent things in the world. Unfortunately, many of us think we're nothing. Who am I? Who me? As we kick those limiting beliefs to the curb new well-intended higher ideas will bubble up.
- As we acknowledge our patterns and BS, we can also forgive ourselves. To pick ourselves back up and try again. Believe in yourself so that it's easier to be there for your fellow human beings. I'm signing up for more fearlessly putting myself out there.
- To have the painful and difficult conversations about racism. To listen and learn.
If you've been asleep at the wheel, welcome to humanity. Growth and clarity are not about beating oneself up.
Don't beat yourself up. But as you look at yourself consider this.
- I understand that you want to own up to your thinking and behavior. But consider very carefully before you hitch yourself to self-loathing. Self-loathing just makes it easier to loathe someone else. If you've made mistakes and feel you can do better, then just do better.
- Recognize your own magnificence and other's magnificence. You're imperfectly magnificent and so is your fellow human being.
It's not just the "leaders", media moguls, heart-centered celebs, and forward-thinking business leaders who are going to evolve humanity. It's you, me, the collective us.
- I know it's challenging to shift from accepting our imperfections to seeing our magnificence. Do it anyway.
- It's easy to feel guilty. It's more challenging to evolve, own up to our truth, and grow from there. Choose the challenge.
- Watch the words you use because they're attached to a belief system. Want to stop playing small? Then we need to stop using words that reinforce our feeling that we're a small human being. We are so not.
- We can still take care of our everyday life and also make a huge difference in the world. It's in part, why we're here.
As we make better choices that serve ALL of us, the word racist and accompanying behavior will one day be no more. But we have a bit of a road to get there. How long it takes is up to each of us. I'm not waiting for my one to three or so favorite statesmen to fix things. The tired and corrupt political institutions can change laws but they can't touch our beliefs, patterns, and choices. That's where each of us comes in. We need to do our part and figure out what a new more inclusive, collaborative, and beneficent public servant system and the world can look like.
I know I'm going to be at this for the rest of my lifetime.