Hello folks and welcome to my Friday Reflection.
Last week was about how our little actions help towards making bold new visions happen. It was about how we need to make the little changes in our thinking and behaviour if we want change to be seen more clearly. We make the change possible.
This week I want to acknowledge the exhaustion that comes from doing this work.
I have had a number of conversations this week where people confessed to feeling overwhelmed, overworked and overrun.
Changing the world is tiring.
The work of change is full of tensions and challenges. It is also full of wonder and amazing beauty. We can witness the best and worst of humanity when we are working to make change in the world.
In the conversations I’ve had this week I noticed an increase in our frustrations and a decrease in our patience, a thinning of our skin and a drop in our bounce. It’s like we are feeling the strain at the crossroads of hope and despair.
Remembering that we are activating the weeks between National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, now more than ever, we need to keep the fire burning. However, we can’t afford to burn out.
I encourage you to recall all the things you like and love about doing your work and keep it in front of you.
I encourage you to remember the people you care about, and who care about you. Remember how much they want to see you doing and being your best.
I encourage you to close your eyes and deeply remember your engine of joy and love. Remember the things that make you come to life and burst with energy.
We need to cultivate care and love for ourselves in the tough work. Everyone will have their own ways of remembering their purpose, hope and joy. Everyone will have their own challenges to access those memories and keep them alive. I encourage you to do so.
Now more than ever, we need to keep the fire burning. Let’s take a moment to start with ourselves.
Be encouraged and encourage others.
Mark YP
