The world’s on fire - no time for mindfulness

‘Yeah, I should probably meditate more. But we just started a new campaign’.
’A coach isn’t a bad idea, but I have a crazy deadline for my article about climate breakdown.
’Yes, I’m tired, but I’ll rest when I’m dead… haha.’

You’ve got so much to do, and you need to do it all. If you stop, the world will perish. You don’t really believe that, of course. But if you dive into your hidden, irrational beliefs, it might not be that far off. (Good to be honest - we can work with that).

As a changemaker, you’re focused on the outside world. You serve a higher purpose, so you are not the priority. As a result, it’s easy to neglect yourself - physically or emotionally. And even if you’re aware of it, it’s no big issue. ‘The system must change - my system will manage‘.

But… you also know things aren’t going great. You feel the weight of your endless to-do list (or to-save list) on your shoulders. Collaborations feel toilsome. Society’s indifference keeps you awake at night. And sometimes it feels like you have no impact at all.

Should you take time off to contemplate? Sit on a cushion and repeat mantras? While the world is on fire? The other day I heard someone protesting about people who want to make a difference, and then go on retreat to find their ‘Why’. In fact, there are plenty of people who believe that exploring your inner world distracts from ‘more important things’.

Luckily, this view is shifting.

Because consider this: are you creating change in the best way you can? And how do you find out?

If you have that chance, take time to look in the mirror. How are you treating yourself? Which judgements do you have about other people? And how does that affect your work as a changemaker? (And yes, this inquiry goes further than a couple of meditation classes).

Think about the world’s most influential activists, like Mahatma Ghandi, Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela – all highly self-aware, wise souls, with intention. Audre Lorde, writer and civil rights activist, said: ‘Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.’  

It’s a paradox: don’t believe you’re too important to tend to yourself for fear of endangering the world, and make yourself more important, because as a result you might end up having more impact.

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Are you tired of running around with a sense of not succeeding? Do you want to learn how to be effective in your work for change? I offer a free, 30-minute consultation session to people dedicated to positive social impact. Book this on my website, or contact me directly for questions.