5 steps to initiate change within and without.
It starts with me, and it starts with you. And what really matters is the dual objective of becoming aware and acting responsibly. I encourage you to consider my list and create your own workable ideas and action steps along the theme of service.
1. Busy-ness is a mind set, not reality
It’s not about someone else fixing the problem. Yes, I’m busy, you’re busy; life is hectic. But what is essential and necessary and what is just crazy making busyness? Long ago Benjamen Franklin called it, when he said, “Never confuse motion with action“. Human nature still tends to focus on the mental churning, resistance and reactivity, rather than effective action. We hear so much about de-cluttering our homes and offices. How about de-cluttering our minds of excessive thinking? Clearing, letting go of non essentials that get in the way of action, of moving forward. The first step is an awareness that your mental atittude is impeding your desire to get going.
2. Open doors.
Maybe today you just open a door for someone. It’s a nice thing to do. Opening doors can be a metaphor for a whole new way of life.
I’m saying, don’t be timid, jump in, be a part of the solution. Action leads to improved feelings of well being. Ask yourself this question: Can I offer to be of help today in some way? Starting simply reduces the confusion of it, and it’s not so overwhelming. You’ll feel better, and so will those you help. Volunteers often say they benefit from their own actions, along with those they serve. That sensation of well being that follows service is a release of Endorphins, feel-good hormones. That body buzz or feel good all over feeling, is due to endorphins hooking up with cellular receptor sites throughout your entire body. Open a door today, and two people benefit. You will open a flood-gate of feeling good.
3. It’s an inside job.
What does that mean? Rather than viewing the world as the problem, blaming others, the more germane question is, what is my solution? We get stuck when we blame, see the other guy at fault. Shifting gears toward creative solutions is an empowering act. It gets you and things moving. You can get beyond the irritation of people and situations. Healing your own resistance and reactivity can start with action, rather than stewing and chewing about something. Get creative, experiment, talk to others with a similar call to act, who can help with your cause. Or find organizations and people who are already working in your area of interest.
4. Service, engaged action benefits all of us
I heard both Presidential candidates the other night on 9/11/08 speak about Service at a forum broadcast by both MSNBC and CNN. Each said something like, “it’s the neighborly thing to do” “it’s the history of America, to help others”. I like that way of thinking; bi-partisan and focused on a broad perspective.
There were examples of people who, through inspiration or exasperation left lucrative jobs to remedy what needed fixing. One impressive and heart grabbing story was the corporate attorney who resigned to start a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder clinic in Montana. He’s built something great, inspired by his brother’s suicide after returning from Iraq, and finding no mental health services available to him.
Compassion (with passion, to feel another’s pain) comes from the heart. I think we have sensitivity to others, but what needs to be revved up is responsible action. We are all in this together, we are interconnected beings. Engaged action will lead us all forward.
5.Lighten up.
In his wild ride of a book, Jitterbug Perfume, Tom Robbins admonished, “Erlickta”. As I recall, it’s a word that supposedly meant Lighten Up in some ancient language. One character would say this to his partner when it seemed needed. Erlickta has been my key to unlock the stuck door when life seems overwhelming. Saying Erlickta to myself relaxes held tension. When we shift gears like this, the brain works differently. We find neuronal pathways away from repetitive thoughts of despair or negativity, toward those pathways well oiled for humor, lightness. Shifting gears is a good thing to do.
So I pass on to you Erlickta, a silly word, a helpful word. You can use Tom Robbins’ word, or find one that serves a similar purpose of inducing endorphins, and seeing things with fresh eyes.
