Have you had this experience? You read the newspaper or go online, and suddenly feel overwhelmed by the suffering and pain in the world?
Being a sensitive person, that can feel overwhelming.
So what do you do?
In 2019, I was in the Tigray region of Ethiopia shortly before what would become a civil war. Everywhere I went, I could feel the pain, the anger, frustration, tension. At times, it felt crippling because I could sense this pain but also felt helpless to solve it.
After sharing this experience with one of my teachers, the guidance I received was this. “You don’t have to fix the world, your job is to love the world.”
Since then, I’ve been working on understanding exactly what that means and how to do it. For me, that process has involved: acceptance, forgiveness, prayer, and envisioning.
Here’s how it works:
1. Acceptance
Acceptance helps me be more present because I’m accepting what is right now, in this very moment. I may not like what is happening. I may wish it were different, but I work hard at not fighting against it, or falling into my need to fix it.
In other words, it’s an acceptance of this moment just as it is, right now. Even if I feel incredibly uncomfortable. I sit with that feeling and try not to push it away.
Why?
Because I know that true change only happens in the present moment.
2. Forgiveness
Once I feel that presence, I can open to forgiveness which for me is an ongoing practice.
I work on forgiveness both at the macro and micro levels. It includes political leaders for their greed or short sightedness, people who foment fear and negativity, inflict crimes against humanity… On a micro level, it might be forgiving a family member for overstepping a boundary, or forgiving myself for being selfish or unaware… you get the picture.
Forgiveness unhooks me from the story of pain and helps me see a situation with fresh eyes.
3. Prayer
I use prayer as a way to feel empowered and to ask for change. I pray for peace, for healing, for guidance… I also ask for help relinquishing my need to “fix” things. I pray and give over the pain or suffering to a higher power.
4. Envision
As part of my prayers, I envision how I want the world to be. I see it healed and whole.
Being a student of non-duality, I have been taught over and over again that the world is an effect of my, and collectively, our thoughts. Therefore, if we change our thoughts about the world, the world will change!!
And so I envision the world I want.
A world where everyone is at peace, where all sentient beings have abundant food, water, shelter, habitat, clothing, access to education, and opportunity. Where we live in right relationship to the sacred earth and honor our plant, animal, and rock brothers and sisters. Where the oceans are healed, the right and perfect temperature, abundant with life, free of excess carbon and pollution…
What kind of world can you envision?
If you, too, are sensitive and struggling under the oppressiveness of the suffering around you, try my technique and see if it helps.
Truly, it has changed my life!
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Image courtesy of Kalhh on Pixabay