I sat down to write about Climate Week NYC earlier today. And it was clear I hit a wall.
Let me begin by asking, How are you? How is your heart right now, at this moment?
However things are, however you are doing, however you are showing up, it’s ok, (welcome it).
Feeling overwhelmed, confused, stuck, like you “should” be responding differently? It’s ok.
Pivoting in your career and uncertain about what’s next, but also feel really stuck? It’s ok.
Wanting to tend to your grief and have the tools to do so but find yourself glued to social media? It’s ok.
Just can't seem to find balance in creating boundaries while staying “connected”? It’s ok.
Digging yourself in a hole with a family member over politics but you couldn’t let a remark go? It’s ok.
Finding joy and doing really well despite being present to the state of the world? It’s ok.
Wanting to do everything you can to help communities in need yet feel powerless when it comes to failing systems and lack of leadership? It’s ok.
Feeling weary about the endless contradictions that come with being a human on this planet right now? It’s ok.
Not relating to any of these statements? It’s ok.
Today, when I sat down for the third time this week to write about Climate Week NYC , I was unable to access coherent thoughts. My mind was all over the place, and has been for days, ever since Hurricane Helene eviscerated parts of the southeast among other events happening around the world. My usual journal practice or writing "morning pages" wasn’t helping in the same way it usually does. And something was telling me to just stop. Pause. And BE with myself. To place my hand on my heart and listen. As I sat there, the words that came to me were “it’s ok”. The more I kept saying those words, the more I could feel an internal shift. It’s ok that I feel scattered and half here. It’s ok that I feel stuck professionally and unsure of what’s next. It’s ok that I feel heartbroken and helpless when it comes to the Hurricane Helene aftermath. It’s ok to not always use the tools I have at my disposal and half show up. It’s ok to sometimes take the political bait when I’m tired and make a mess. It’s ok to remember that joy and pain can coexist.
It was only when I gave myself permission to sit still and listen that I was able to tap into the underlying grief, grief over a multitude of things I/we are holding personally and collectively.
It’s ok it’s ok it’s ok.
To be a sensitive heart in the world right now! It is a hell of a lot.
What’s not so helpful is the sneaky shame spiral that can occur when we find ourselves in old patterns or when we don’t always show up in the way that we want and judge ourselves for it. “F*ck! I’m engaging in this political conversation again so let me get even more frustrated and annoyed because I dug myself into a hole so let me dig some more!” Or,
‘I didn’t take advantage of making connections at that networking event so why bother reaching out a different way, it’s proof I’m not meant for it. I’m so over hustling”. In other words, how can we bring more compassion into the mix, for ourselves and each other? Us humans are engaging with a whole lotta unveiling and change happening at warp speed, and for a large percentage of the time, doing the best we can.
The more we give ourselves permission to be with those contradictions and allow room for the not so savory parts such as anger, jealousy, guilt - etc.- the more access we have to the full range of the human experience, and the more agency we have in how we show up. And the more we can show up, period. I’m pretty sure this is called being alive.
So while my intention was to share my takeaways from Climate Week NYC which will now come in part 2, here’s an invitation to give yourself some grace and find moments of pause in your day, to meet yourself where you are. And if you find yourself struggling, to figure out how to engage with the world right now, know you are not alone.
I’m also here to connect- to hold space and listen, reflect back, vision and collaboratively create a path forward. Book a time here to connect, free of charge.
Sending Much Love.
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