It’s been hard the last few days watching the news of families sheltering in basements, or fleeing from violence, often with young children or babies in their arms. I think that my own response to this is even more immediate as i sit with my own baby in my arms: the sense of helplessness, the inability to influence systems at this level.
I guess that at some level we construct our sense of wellbeing within the boundaries set by context, and it can be amazing how quickly we adapt. The news has also been full of stories of teachers and bankers now making petrol bombs and organising field dressings. Things can change very fast.
To avoid being engulfed by helplessness, we typically impose understanding and order on those things immediately around us that we do at least have some control over: even if it’s just a few treasured possessions on a bare concrete floor.
But our relationship with systems is complex: on the one hand, we only have the direct ability to control those things immediately within our reach, and yet we also influence others around us, at much greater reach. So one person responding locally, calmly, bringing order, may give comfort to others to do so. One person acting with purpose may find that others will emulate or follow. This is the social collective aspect of behaviour, the group social phenomena.
We help each other feel safe, and we can unintentionally share our fears.
Use your sixty seconds today to consider this: how are you are inspired? And how may you inspire others? Through words, or action.
It may be no surprise that hope can be born out of tragedy, because in tragedy small and powerful stories are easily born.