Time to Take a Stand
Confession: in the last couple of weeks, I have felt derailed by many events in the world. Some of these events have been in my internal world. Most have been of a more global nature. Regardless, all have left me feeling off-kilter and longing for peace, certainty and sanity.
For the sake of not talking in hypotheticals, I will name that the event that threw me for the biggest loop – like, it was energetically equivalent to that of the most turbulent roller-coaster on the planet – was the overturning of Roe vs. Wade by the US Supreme Court. I was leading a course when the news broke. While it didn’t get named in the class until the next day, there was an energetic shift in the room – because everybody was feeling the “loop” even though we couldn’t name why. (For what it’s worth, I’ve noticed that this sort of energetic experience happens for a lot of people, a lot of the time).
Anyhow, in the time since that decision was made, there has been a cacophony of voices as people strive to make their viewpoints heard.
Some think that there are two sides to this issue.
Some think that it is simply a matter of opinion and everyone should simply “live and let live” (or not, as the case may be).
Sides are clearly being taken, and battle lines are being drawn.
There is a sense of division in a lot of spaces.
While all of this leads to the “off-kilter” feeling I named earlier, I know the reeling is necessary. On issues like this, there comes a point where folks must take a stand that aligns with personal values. The problem, of course, is that personal values differ from person to person. And since this is true, the only way for us to move forward in a transformative way is to take a stand, absolutely, but without digging in our personal heels.
Take a minute and stand up, if you will. While you stand, dig your heels into the ground. What do you notice? What happens when you dig your heels in? How strong do you feel? What is possible from here?
What I know, is that when I dig my heels in, I’m not actually strong. I am rigid, locked in, slightly off-balance, and ultimately breakable. Such a stance doesn’t help me or anyone else. So, what’s the alternative?
My experience tells me that rather than standing with my heels dug in, I can stand with my feet grounded. I’m not leaning back on my heels, or forward into my toes. There’s a balance in my feet which extends to a balance in my whole body. It’s actually more solid, stronger. And yes, I get that it’s metaphorical.
When I can stand in a grounded space, metaphorical or otherwise, I am actually capable of taking a stronger stand for my cause. This genuinely stronger stand allows me to reach across differences and get curious. I believe that standing in genuine curiousity is what is going to help us find our way forward as humanity.
My sense is that it’s time for all of us to let go of our need to “win”, our need to “be right”, our need to be smug at the expense of others and take a stand for our beliefs that is anchored in curiousity. What is it about my stand that matters to me? What is it about the other person’s stand that matters to them? Where do we align? What fears are motivating either of us? What will it take to move past that fear, and what would be possible if we did?
Folks, I don’t have the answers to any of our world’s problems these days. I do, however, have curious questions. My experience tells me that when I can stand in the questions and let curiousity be my guide, answers reveal themselves. Yes, it’s time to take a stand. My sense is that a stand rooted in curiousity will serve us better than a stand rooted in a need to win. Perhaps I’m wrong; but I don’t think digging our heels in has worked so far, and so I’m open to giving curiousity a try. Will you join me?