Let Your Spirit Catch Up
During an interview this weekend, I was asked the question why I decided to write a handbook, and I loved the opportunity to explain why. The answer is that I wanted to focus on us, the people, who are actually living through all this stuff. I wanted to provide a guide for anyone who’s concerned about climate change but who wants to find hope and reason for waking up every morning. It’s the guide I wish I had the past seventeen years, dealing with everything from climate anxiety to existential confusion, and when I wanted so desperately to feel like my time here on Earth matters.
Because it does.
But the truth is that we all could need a break.
With the climate crisis, we are always focused on the big stuff. The big innovations, the brilliant new ideas, and the fact that governments, corporations, and billionaires need to change. We talk about melting ice sheets and disappearing glaciers and how important it is that we act — now.
But sometimes we forget that the ones who need to act are us. And that at the end of the day, we’re only human, and we’re not always built to keep up with everything that’s going on.
I remember reading once that a person in Shakespeare’s time gained the same amount of information in one lifetime as any of us can read in one issue of The New York Times today!
That is wild!
Granted not all of that is climate-related, even if we only focused on climate news, I think it would be enough for any Shakespearean fool to bring a fan to his face and request a break.
It’s a lot. The world is a lot. And we are not computers (even if the metaverse and AI are trying to blur those borders,) so let’s give ourselves a break.
Often.
There is one chapter in my book called “Let Your Spirit Catch Up”.
It’s based on a story I came across about African porters who were traveling with some missionaries. One day, after traveling fast and far, the African porters said they had to pause, to which the missionaries asked why. “To let our spirits catch up,” they responded.
How freaking beautiful!
And how often do we let ourselves do just that? How often do we take a break from our crazy lives and just say,
“Ok, we’ve been going full speed here lately, let’s make sure our spirits are keeping up with the pace.”
My guess is not very often. At least that’s how it was for me until I realized just how important it is that we frequently stop, reflect, and simply take a break.
Sharing from the chapter:
Doing nothing is a beautiful thing. Doing nothing allows your spirit to land in your body and for your body and spirit to tune back into the world.
[…]
How often do we allow ourselves to do this? We get rewarded for speed, hard work, and success, but very rarely do we hear someone say, “I can see you’re spiritually caught up; that’s so great.”
I confess I am a notoriously bad soul-catcher myself, but I’m working on getting better, and the more I practice, the more value I feel I bring to the world. In those moments of stillness, I catch creative ideas for a new project. In those moments of stillness, I can clearly see my next move. In those moments of stillness, I understand what my life is about, and it becomes clear I don’t need more stuff, food, or activities to make life meaningful; sitting here doing nothing but letting my soul catch up is pretty meaningful in itself.
Don’t get me wrong; it’s good to be busy too. For the work in front of us building a better and more sustainable world, we need to accelerate and start sprinting. But in this sprint, in this climb to reach new heights, it’s absolutely essential we pause from time to time to let our souls catch up. Because if we don’t, how will we know we’re sprinting in the right direction? How will we know we’re embarking on the right climb? And most importantly, how will we enjoy the journey there if we’re not spiritually in our bodies, enjoying all the precious moments we were brought to Earth to have?
In Practice:
As we embark on this new year and fill our calendars with all the juicy action stuff, let’s make sure we also schedule some time for breaks. Moments when we get to just be, even if that “being” means staring out the window at some bird on a branch.
Wondering what that bird is thinking? Good — wonder away, maybe this bird has something to say!
Joke aside, I think we have a lot to learn from blanking our minds and just listening to our bodies and the world around us. I’m certain many of the answers we’re looking for are out there, readily available for us to grasp, we just need to create enough space for slow and boredom to catch them.
So make sure you do that this year. Make sure you get off your horse from time to time, and as you take a deep breath, let your spirit catch up.
Climate Optimism
US action on climate change will start to get serious in 2023
The ozone layer is on track to recover within decades as harmful chemicals are phased out
In Scarier News…
Since climate optimism can only come from a place of grounded awareness, it’s important we also stay up to date with what’s happening due to our warming world.
This recent article in The New York Times explores how the conditions in the Amazon Rainforest might be so dire, the entire region (or at least parts of it) might turn into savannah -- in the next few decades!!!
The Amazon serves as our Earth's lungs and is the home to tens of thousands of species. But it relies on its unique microclimate to remain in its current state, where trees emit water moisture that serves like "flying rivers" in the air, creating a moist climate for life to thrive. With ongoing deforestation, and dryness exasperated by climate change, trees are forced to let go of leaves to survive. And at the same time, weakening their own ability to recycle its own moisture.
Scary as it is, this may result in the Amazon Rainforest turning into savannah, much like the ecosystems in Africa.
What will we do when we've lost the Earth's lungs? And how far will it have to go before we decide to take URGENT action on the practices causing this?
I hope President Lula can make some magic happen, and fast, but what else can we do? What are your thoughts and insights? What companies do you know are practicing #agroforestry and supporting #indigenouspeoples rights in those regions? I'd love to know!
Sprite = Souls = Air = Breathe = Amen.