Finding peace in our hearts amidst today’s tumultuous world can be challenging. I often seek solace in the timeless wisdom embedded within the layers of Mother Earth. The geologic formations remind me that all civilizations, including ours, are transient.
All civilizations end one day, including ours. And Mother Earth might take millions of years to bring forward another civilization. Time is on her side and she is in no rush. Now before you think I am spiritually bypassing the current crises, let me assure you that I acutely feel the collateral damage of the rapid species extinction, destruction of breathtakingly beautiful habitats and anguish of millions of people made homeless, to name a few.
And yet, no one knows with 100% certainty what the future will bring. As much as we cannot control it, we can influence it, both individually and collectively. But how?
Geological chart by L.G. Yaggy, 1893
Last time I spoke about the fearlessness of the peace warrior that stems from accepting that the only legacy we leave behind is in our thoughts, words and actions.
When we collectively start tuning into the fearlessness and speaking our truth, whilst “cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace”, according to Thich Nhat Hanh. When we are “determined not to speak in anger and refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord”. When we are all “committing to speaking truthfully, using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope”.
I believe that when we practice this, we can bring a powerful shift into the world. We might even get a different outcome from what we fear now.
We are 8 billion beautiful hearts and minds on this planet. Imagine us harnessing our collective intelligence and creativity to support each other and all life on earth.
Just imagine a village full of people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, young and old, rich and poor, men, women and children, educated and uneducated, given the task of solving a complex problem. Imagine they are provided with food, shelter, and their daily chores taken care of so they can brainstorm and co-create. Imagine they are provided with information and expert advice as needed. I believe that after a few months, they would come up with incredible ideas and solutions.
Research has shown that diversity in cognitive approaches and problem-encoding among diverse group members leads to more successful problem-solving outcomes. This is because different perspectives prevent the team from getting stuck in uniform thinking patterns, thereby promoting more comprehensive and creative solutions.
And now imagine 8 billion of us coming together in this way and working out solutions. Isn’t the potentiality of it all mind-blowing? Think of the myriads of possibilities!
What will it take for us to start on this path today?
Here are three easy actions that I would like to leave you with:
- Practice Mindful Communication: Commit to using compassionate and truthful speech. As Thich Nhat Hanh suggests, avoid speaking in anger and choose words that promote reconciliation and peace. If you wish to deepen your practice with this, we would be honored to welcome you to one of our upcoming nature mindfulness retreats in the tradition of Plum Village in October and November in Doorn, The Netherlands.
- Engage in Community Efforts: Join or support local groups working on environmental or social issues. Collaborative efforts amplify our impact and bring diverse perspectives together to solve complex problems. Join the HeartWork community where people work from the heart because it is the right thing to do.
- Educate and Advocate: Stay informed about current issues and share this knowledge with others. Advocate for policies and practices that support sustainability and social justice. You are welcome to join our next webinar on June 25 where we share the 6 key areas of navigating the fast-paced world of corporate sustainability without burning out.
Please let us know what you think, we would love to hear from you via sendlove at heartwork dot earth.