Time to Act

“It is not in the still calm of life, or in the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed…Great necessities call our great virtues.”

– ABIGAIL ADAMS

We are in a time of uncertainty and volatility. This energy is permeating everything and everyone. What we have taken for granted about the world –and our place in it – is being disrupted. 

The conventions that have bound nations, communities, families and relationships for decades are unraveling. This is fuelling the rise of fear, mistrust, isolation and desperation. 

Sorry to sound so negative and alarmist. But we cannot put our heads in the sand and pretend we are immune to the darkness in the world around us. 

The perennial values that bind communities together are currently besieged. An intention to foster unity, community, family, equality, and generosity requires a redoubled effort at this time. 

It is easy to lose sight of the fact that one person can make a difference. We not only can make a difference, we do. 

Terry Fox, a child amputee, ran half way across Canada on one leg to raise money and awareness for cancer research. 

Malala Yusafzai is the youngest person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She became an activist for female education in Pakistan and the world after being shot by the Taliban for going to school. 

Sophie Cruz, who comes from a family of undocumented immigrants, started campaigning for better immigration laws. She started two years ago when she was five years old.

The Parkland student survivors are embarked on a campaign for better gun laws in the United States.

All of these examples feature the leadership of young people. Their passion for positive change is an inspiration to all of us who want to make a difference.

Setting an intention is an important first step. It provides clear focus and direction for action. 

In ‘Ageless Body, Timeless Mind’, Deepak Chopra writes:

“Every intention is a trigger for transformation. As soon as you decide you want something, your nervous system responds to reach your desired goal. This holds true for simple intentions, such as the intention to get up and get a glass of water, as well as for complex intentions, such as winning a game of tennis or playing a Mozart sonata. In either case, the conscious mind doesn’t have to direct every neuronal signal and muscle movement to achieve its goal. The intention is inserted into the field of awareness, triggering the appropriate response.”

The ability to articulate an intention begins the process of manifestation. The word articulation literally means “to bridge”. That bridge is a passageway from the concerns of the present to the opportunities of the future. 

Having a hard time with the rise of populism around the world? Get out and vote. 

Alarmed by the treatment of undocumented migrants? Call your elected representatives. 

Worried about gun violence in the community? Get active in community public health forums.

There is much we can do …and much to be done.