ISO: Inner Peace
There is so much to be worried about these days. War, famine, white supremacy (is a LIE), climate collapse, virus outbreaks, the scourge of gun violence and mass shootings…the list goes on. It seems like every day, there is a new catastrophe taking place. A new horrible thing has happened and we, as individuals, have zero control over it.
It’s happening in our own lives, too - not just on a collective level. At home, groceries and gas are much more expensive. Rent is jumping up hundreds of dollars. For some, merely showing up as themselves in their own skin puts them at risk of injury or death.
Things are also really challenging at work. Work loads are crushing people who are already burned out and ill. Top-down mandates and changes are being forced on employees without their input. People are surly and negative. Teams have turned on one another.
When you think about all of it together, it’s overwhelming. It’s so easy to feel completely powerless to change or fix any of it. I feel that way, too.
So what do we do with that? Because doing nothing isn't really an option.
Well, one way forward is to accept situations we are powerless to change and identify where we can move the needle. When we can accept what we can’t change, all that energy we spend ruminating on the thing we hate is now freed up for what we CAN control.
Now keep in mind, acceptance doesn’t mean co-signing. Acceptance simply means that you understand you aren’t able to control the situation right now and are choosing to prioritize your own internal peace. Acceptance recognizes that resisting what is compounds pain and increases internal discord. Resisting keeps us locked in a battle we can't win and acceptance allows us to begin to move forward.
You may feel powerless, but you aren't. Accepting what is is a powerful choice in and of itself. And from that place, new paths open up.
You may not be able to control the rising cost of merely surviving on this planet, but you can connect into a community to share resources or participate in mutual aid efforts like this one in Buffalo, or this one in New York City.
You may not be able to stop the erosion of civil rights in the U.S., but you can contribute what you have to offer to a LGBTQ+ youth center like this one or support an abortion fund like this one.
You may not be able to change that process at work that you hate, but you can help your coworkers find a way to make it a little easier for everyone.
You may not be able to repair the interpersonal conflict between team members, but you can show up everyday and treat them and others with compassion and respect.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in all that’s bad right now. If you are feeling overwhelmed, take some time to consider what is in your control and what isn't. Then make the choice to spend your energy where you can have an impact or make a change for the better.
Practicing acceptance of what you can't control won’t be easy, but I know it can help you find some inner peace despite outer circumstances. It's a skill set I think we're all gonna need in the days, months, and years ahead.
Yours in solidarity,
Jill
P.S. If this speaks to you and you want to understand more about how practicing acceptance can help you, check out this article on Radical Acceptance as a start.
P.P.S. If you are tired of feeling stuck in a job you hate and want to start to shift your experience, pick up my free white paper Miserable, But Can't Quit? for some advice on how to move forward.
