This summer, the usual invitation to slow down and savor the season arrives against a backdrop of profound and unsettling change. On personal, organizational, and national levels, we’re all navigating a period of intense transition. The ground beneath us feels unsteady, the anxiety is palpable, and I, like many, have found myself tensing up through the painful realities and uncertainties over extending my effort in an attempt to control a current that is far bigger than me.
To be mindful of pace and burnout, our leadership had the insight to build in a period for slowing down and reflection this summer. I decided to fully lean into it, making space for a sound bath, a massage, walks among the trees, and a trip with my family to the Russian River. It was there, on the river, that I found a powerful reminder of how to navigate these turbulent times.
Trusting The Flow
We decided to go kayaking, and as with many aspects of my life, I found myself taking on the responsibility of being the engine, continually paddling to navigate the waters. At one point, I decided to take a breath and surrender to the river’s flow. I lifted my oar and simply let the current carry me. I stopped doing and just was. I felt the river’s rhythm become my own, a steady pulse of motion and stillness. I took a moment to be present, to feel the sun on my face, to watch the small green waves ripple across the water, and to take in the trees in the distance. Without warning, quiet tears began to roll down my cheeks.
In that moment, I felt a deep sense of allowing and trust—a feeling so freeing, and so completely different from the ways I’d been gripping my way through the year. This experience was a firsthand reminder that the practice of slowing down and paying attention is a powerful tool for transforming our spirit and steadying our minds. It echoed the wisdom of Shiree Teng, who recently said, “Times are urgent; let us slow down.”
My self-reflection and subsequent interactions with our network this summer continually returned to the themes of presence and care, and the power that lies within both. It is a power I hope we will all find more time to connect with, especially as the system’s heightened attacks attempt to strip these fundamental human needs away from us. Given this awareness, the slowing down felt even more valuable, and each moment that I could acknowledge I was actively choosing presence felt like a treasure. It was in these small, yet significant moments that I was reminded of the power of dreaming a liberated world into reality.
Finding Our Power In Creation
This time also offered me many opportunities to be reminded of the power of our creativity in these times. The poet Andrea Gibson said, “We have to create, it’s the only thing louder than destruction.” This serves as a powerful charge for our times. When we feel overwhelmed by forces of destruction, our most essential action is to create a path forward. This requires intentional time for dreaming, as well as leading with hope and love toward a vision for humanity that exists beyond the current destruction.
Love is a force for creativity, resilience, and resistance. It’s what helps us navigate the complex emotions of our time, listening to our bodies and honoring our feelings rather than going numb. By doing so, we ensure we’re not just reacting to the world, but are actively and intentionally shaping it with care. In my journey, I’ve found that creation and destruction must exist as a duality. Our challenge isn’t to build a dam against the current, but to find the tranquility and universal possibilities within the steady flow of the river itself.
Practices For Presence and Flow
In our recent engagements with our community, many people have shared practices that help them stay grounded and connected. The practices provide opportunities to lead with love, find our flow, and sustain ourselves through transition.
- Practice Gratitude. Focus on what you have rather than what you don’t. This isn’t about ignoring hardship; it is about a conscious choice to focus on abundance whenever possible. It can be as simple as a daily check-in, noting one small thing for which you are thankful.
- Embrace Easeful Collaboration. Oppressive systems often thrive on isolation. By intentionally saying “yes” to invitations and creating space for collaboration, we can combat that isolation. There’s power in a deliberate “yes,” and in the ease of connection that comes from showing up for each other.
- Bear Witness. Listen closely to people’s stories. Bearing witness to someone’s experience is not a passive act. It’s a significant form of solidarity and respect for the immense weight of the moment. It reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles and offers an opportunity to deepen our presence and care for each other.
- Listen to Your Body. Our bodies hold our grief and our joy. We are learning to listen to them, honoring our emotions instead of suppressing them. When we feel overwhelmed, we can take a few minutes each day to simply be and notice how we are feeling. This practice is a crucial first step in connecting to ourselves, to our humanity, and finding our flow.
These practices, held both individually and collectively, are how to set a foundation for mindful creation amidst destruction and prepare for the new world that awaits us.
For more strategies and practices for realizing a liberated future, see our Liberatory Leadership Framework.
