PEBBLE
The way we bring more goodness into the world is by leading by example. We have to stay rooted in compassion, integrity, and wholesomeness….and not just think about it, but truly embody these qualities in big and small moments.
~Cory Allen, shared by Pidge in Pacifica, CA via Substack
BOULDER
Chronic anxiety can spread quickly throughout a system—a family, a workplace, a community. But the opposite is also true…one nonanxious presence can bring calm to the entire system, becoming a person of peace in the middle of the storm.
synthesized from John Blase & Rabbi Edwin Friedman via this post, shared by Sally in Nebraska
PONDER
With all that’s going on in the world, and with all the problems that need fixing, there are plenty of times where I feel disappointment, frustration, and/or despair. And on the really hard days it can be all of them, all at the same time. Can you relate?
And since there’s a part of me who thinks my job is to fix everything for everyone all the time, there’s a little stool sitting on the Island of Overwhelm that has my name etched on it. I unfortunately find myself sitting on that stool more often than you might think.
Luckily for me, one of my actual jobs on this planet is to spend time every week assembling this email. When everything comes together in the right way, it gives all of us a chance to catch our collective breath for a minute… then gradually find our way back to center. Also lucky for me, a bunch of you remember to share helpful, hopeful quotations for future rippling.
So this week, in addition to the usual bouts of exhaustion and exasperation, I also get to feel a bounty of gratitude that Pidge and Sally thought to share the quotes above, reminding us that our job isn’t to do everything all the time…our job is to do something when we can.
It turns out that cultivating a nonanxious presence isn’t about pretending everything is fine, or ignoring the Anxious Times we’re living in. It’s about keeping your eyes open to the hard stuff without losing sight of the good stuff. The storm may still be raging, but it helps when someone in the boat remembers how to breathe. Sometimes we need to look for the light. Sometimes we need to be the light. And sometimes the best thing we can do is stay steady enough to notice what the moment is asking of us.
I’m telling you, we got this if we move forward together. 💙
Peace,
Paul
P.S. I’d like to thank the 600+ folks who have responded to our first ever Survey of Ripplers. Since that is only about 2% of our subscriber base, I’m going to leave the survey open a little longer. If you’ve never responded to an issue of Ripples, now is your chance for me to find out what you think. Pretty please!