I have been on my high horse quite a lot recently.
I have been quite opinionated about how Covid should have been dealt with, what ‘they’ should have done differently, how propaganda is being used to ‘correct’ conspiracy theories, and how millions of bits of ‘misinformation’ is being pulled from social media platforms by WHO and other influential organisations.
The ‘news’ (should be called the ‘olds’) is made up constant and repetitive arguments for and against measures to tackle the pandemic, with opposing views on lockdown restrictions, mask wearing, testing, vaccinations. The daily numbers of deaths, hospitalisations and infections plays into the already high levels of fear and paranoia, helping increase the stress that puts people more at risk of mental and physical illness.
We are so stuck in ‘content’, and opinions about what is definitively right or wrong, that we can’t see the wood for the trees. Whether it was years of arguments for and against Brexit, repeated narrative about the Corona virus, or addressing our own more personal conflicts of what foods are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for example, we are looking at these issues from the wrong perspective.
Instead of getting caught up in opposing sides, trying to extrapolate the ‘truth’ from the mass of information available or trying to extract ourselves from the emotional hooks that are fed to us, we need to learn how to discern for ourselves, in any given moment, what feels right to us, and what action, if any, that needs to be taken.
And we can only do that by taking time out from the madness, slowing down to hear our own wisdom, being still enough to listen to what is needed, moment by moment.
We don’t have to have a set-in-stone opinion, a fixed view, black or white thinking.
Instead of passively toeing the party line, or dogmatically opposing the majority view, let’s tap into our own knowing.
If we can learn to access the deeper space within us, the unconditional, universal loving consciousness that we are part of, and made of, it will remind us that Life is intelligent. We might see that perhaps the virus is addressing the imbalance that we have created, that it is helping us to adapt to where we find ourselves, and will show us what we can each do, at every turn.
Perhaps we will see that we have been too caught up in our thinking, blindly reacting rather than observing, taking action rather than allowing Life to show us the way.
And if we can start to live like this, if we can start to respect our own intuition, our own internal guidance, we can be role models for our children. By reclaiming our individualism, tapping into our unique gifts and talents and following our insights we can learn how to find our place in the global community. We could come up with solutions that have a greater, far-reaching impact, where our fear that causes us to accuse people of ‘selfishness’, doesn’t even exist.
Rather than short-term sticking plasters, where we avoid the greater selfishness of interfering with Nature’s way, of blocking its own stabilising self-correcting mechanisms, we connect to something bigger, more harmonious, more life enhancing.
By stepping aside from the arguing, the blaming and criticising, even for brief moments, we are allowing the possibility of something different. Something gentler, more compassionate, more conscious. Something that brings us closer rather than drives us apart, that connects rather than divides.
Each person’s actions, or outlook, will be neither ‘right’ nor ‘wrong’, just perfect for them, for their circumstances, for their timing. By taking time to be still, to be silent, to rest in not knowing, we may be moved to take a small step that is seemingly unrelated to the rest of the world’s problems, but which has an impact that ripples out to those around us - whether a kind word, a commitment to less waste, an idea for a new creative project, a helping hand, or a discovery that may revolutionise the way we live.
So next time I catch myself justifying my opinions I will endeavour to get off my high horse and practice a bit of humility, stepping into a more loving space of peace and possibility.
I may just smile and make myself a cup of tea.