I looked through my journal today and found something that I wrote last December while I was on the plane to Germany. I would love to hear your opinions!
Just before I left for the airport I had lunch together with my partner and his mother. The radio was running in the background and the conversation went to politics, the budget (which was last week) and the miserable state the country is in.
I usually don’t contribute much to political conversations still feeling too limited by my lack of vocabulary and knowledge of Irish politics. But I can’t help wondering if the feeling of powerlessness could be the root of many problems, not only in political terms but also in our private lives. If we feel like we can’t change anything in this country (or anywhere in the world) because of “the people on the top” and other insurmountable circumstances, nothing can ever change and we will keep moaning about the injustice of it all.
If we constantly feel trapped or threatened by rising taxes, social injustice, the lack of money and our fears in general, – yes then it will be difficult to change anything.
Listening to the news often leaves me feel small and powerless. All those things going on in the world, in our countries, in our communities. Where to start? What to do?
Then I try to remember: yes, I do matter; and so do you. We can make a change in our own little world, every day. We can decide every morning to do our best to make this day a good day for ourselves and others. Imagine if everyone did that.
Once we notice that we can make changes on a daily basis our courage will grow. Our power will grow and eventually we might be able to address bigger problems.
A good side effect is that courage is contagious…
After you so nicely commented on my site, I decided to pop over to your site and I see some common threads. Here in the U.S. some of our political actors are actively trying to make politics appear so ugly that we don’t want to engage. I think the key is to ignore what we don’t want and focus on what we do want. As I write about climate change I focus on our power and try to minimize the rest of it. It sounds like there is a culture that has built up in Ireland and I agree wholeheartedly that a shift in perspective and little steps can take on a life of its own and build courage. It is working for me.
So true what you’ve written here. I sometimes get in that place where I don’t feel like messing with all of the problems going on because I am just one person and not at the top, but I also realize there is no room for complaint if I’m not going to do anything about it. We are more powerful than we think!
Courage is contagious. Yes, yes it is!
Just what I was thinking! Isn’t it lovely how our light (and our darkness) can affect/infect others? Now we just get to work on choosing the light!
My heart to yours,
Sue
That’s a beautiful sentiment, Halina! Courage is indeed contagious. It can be hard to swim against stream, and I think it’s really helpful to find as many supportive places and people as possible so that we know we’re not alone in wanting things to be different and in being willing to change those things. Thank you for sharing this!
I couldn’t agree more! If you hear something enough, you start to believe it – like you’re stupid, or the world is going to hell in a handbasket! I’d rather create my own soundtrack to life where I am smart, and the world is full of awesome people doing good stuff…and it is! x