“There is no greater reward than working from your heart, and making a difference in the world.”
—Carlos Santana
Have you ever had one of those weeks when no matter how hard you try to stay upbeat, cheery, and positive, you just can’t? Of course you have. That’s what this past week has felt like for me.
This was one of those weeks when events unfolded so rapidly, it was hard to keep up. I spoke to folks who were glued to the news and social media, trying to dissect it all in real time and figure out what it all meant. Meanwhile, others I spoke to said they just couldn’t bear any of it and turned off everything electronic.
These are confusing and chaotic times, for sure. Few things feel certain anymore. It’s hard to see a clear path ahead. It’s hard to know what to think when everything seems to be changing more rapidly than the time it takes to form a new thought. That’s why during times like these, I try to spend some time away from the noise so that I can better clarify what I really do think.
And how do I do that? I read and listen to others whose words and thoughts lift me up and help focus my mind on the positive. That doesn’t mean I’m naive. It’s simply means I’m acknowledging that we can choose how we respond to all the noise and change swirling around.
I reach out to those whom I respect, people I feel can offer perspective. They remind me that we’ve gone through tumultuous times like these before. The turbulent 1960s. Assassinations. Vietnam. Watergate. A president’s resignation. Iran-Contra. Horrendous natural disasters. September 11th. And on and on. Clarity and calm always comes back to us, but it takes time.
So give yourself permission to step away. Breathe. Turn to those with wisdom who have seen it all and lived to tell it. Stay attuned to the news, yes, but don’t allow yourself to become sucked into and consumed by it either.
Find your resolve. Focus on the good you can do in your own life. Our communities, our country need the good we have to offer. They need for us to turn down the volume on the nastiness and look forward to a future that’s more united than divided. I think we can all agree that we deserve a future that’s more bright than dark, more positive than negative, more compassionate than critical.
I’m focused on moving us forward and uniting us. Will you join me?
Dear God, help me to step away from the noise today, take a deep breath, quiet my heart and mind, and trust you to take care of all the uncertainty I feel about what I cannot control. Keep me from fear and discouragement when the path ahead is hidden and confusing. Thank you for all the wise people you have given to me whose words and actions lift me above the negative and the critical and bring the clarity and positive perspective I need. Help me to stop and listen to them and to remember what they’ve said, so that I can refocus on the good that I can do for others. Even though I don’t see the path ahead, I rest assured that my future is in your hands. Amen.