Saying YES to the journey

This past week, I led a virtual retreat that explored the connections between activism and spirit. In addition to my own story, four teachers shared insights about this powerful moment in humanity’s story. Each person stressed the importance of doing inner work along with the outer as we proceed forward.

I share a few highlights from their talks below in the hopes it will give you solace and inspiration on the path ahead:

“Consciousness only moves in one direction; it only moves forward. It can feel regressive, but if you look at how far humanity has come in terms of consciousness, of interrelatedness and interconnectedness to each other, to all of life, we are moving forward. As we mount this great arc, there does come a tipping point. We’re in a tipping point right now, where you can feel new consciousness breaking through.”

~ Dara Marks

“Anti-racism energy has never been at so high a level before, but we are feeling a false sense of urgency. Urgency is arrogance. It leaves no time for connection, buy-in, for relationship building. We need to take the time because this work will take more than a lifetime to heal after centuries of injustice. This is a long game.”

~ Desiree Adaway

“We’re really being asked to enter into a new age, a new space. So we get to go in and do that good [inner] work. And as we do that good work–and that means looking at the shadow [self]–we can then ask ourselves, ‘How can I be of service to others?’ I think as activists that’s what we’re all wanting to do. So, it starts with our good work first.”

~ Lynne Maclean

“In Sufism it’s said that the only power that the self has is the power to cover over the truth. When we use our willpower to stop acting from the self and just pause, and then connect in our heart and let our heart move us … We seem to be moving slower, but we actually end up being way more effective, doing way less harm with our actions and a lot more good, and end up ultimately moving much more quickly.”

~ Mark Silver

A calling is something outside of our normal experience that invites us to be more. Often times, we don’t know how it’s going to get implemented. It requires courage because we don’t know what the steps are between here and there. The paradox is that we must say YES before we know how it will turn out. We have to be willing to go toward the fear of what’s unfamiliar in order to create something better.”

~ Jen Hofmann

In short:

— Even though everything feels scary and chaotic, it’s a sign we’re making progress.

— Take time to focus on connection over action.

— Understand that change will take longer than you think it “should”.

— Work on what’s inside you before going out into action.

— Keep your heart connected what is enduring.

— Say yes to the journey.

Feel like sharing what’s keeping you going? Please share in the comments.