Reflection on Connection

“Hope is not about proving anything it is about choosing to believe this one thing: that love is bigger than any grim, bleak shit anyone can throw at us.” Annie Lamott

This time of year is often one of reflection. What has our experience of the past year been? How have we grown on deeply personal levels and redefined – even shifted, our underlying perceptions, especially our perceived wants?

Christmas is celebrated by many countries and societies around the globe. It is often a time of reflection, and definitely a time of connection.

This is a time for reflection on our connection – with our deeper self, with what is truly important, with our interaction with others. Finding and connecting with like-minded souls. The anticipation of ‘reconnecting’ with family and friends, if we are able to do so in these ongoing and unchartered time of uncertainty.

2021 brought a sense of relief to many around the globe after the incidents of 2020 – certainly here in New Zealand and Australia. This was quickly dashed by lockdowns, restrictions, and unfortunately a sense of ‘division’ in many societies where coercion and control have been the norm. Ones ability to make choices has been constrained. Fortunately there are those who live by higher values and refuse to discriminate – kudos to them. At a time when we need to engage with kindness, empathy and compassion – these behaviours bring a ray of hope.

“Love is bigger than any grim, bleak shit anyone can throw at us.”

May this quote give you words to hold on to between now and the end of January when Venus, Goddess of Love – who will be very evident in our skies at this time – is literally asking us to slow down and reflect on our connections. This may also infuse the holiday season with more deep “feels” and transformational experiences in relationships than usual. In addition, due to its placement, it brings with it collective restrictions – and, right on cue along comes a new variant, causing havoc to some well laid out plans.

Be mindful to stay grounded and aligned and do not get caught in the media frenzy. This is a sage suggestion at any time, not just now.

Ensure you listen to your own truth.

This a time when the only way forward is by going back, and taking care of unfinished business, dealing with the deep feelings that have their origins in past events. They are often activated on an inner level. Unfortunately they are, at times difficult to express to yourself and others. You do however get to re-think what really matters, what has value and doesn’t, what works and doesn’t.
You can start by asking:

“Where in my life have my old dreams worn thin or lost their ‘juice’ ?”.

Sit with this question and listen for the answers. Do not force them.
Instead of “keeping on keeping on”, ignoring or overriding the many cries from our bodies, we all need to step back and acknowledge how much we’ve been through these past couple of years. Just to be alive as a human being on the planet right now creates a cocktail of stressors in the body and nervous systems.

Take the time to weave together worlds of meaning.

Now is not a time to be over serious, downbeat or negative. This can easily be the outcome if we focus on the external world and not our inner world. According to Lorna Bevan, something has fallen away that we will never be able to return to, but the exact nature of what’s coming next is yet to be given.
There is the temptation to get out of the In-Between and into the Rebirth as quickly as possible.

Resist this as we are in the transitional space. One needs to absorb the ‘gold’ within the core of what is falling apart. As Pema Chodron points out:”Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.”

The footsteps we lay are important as we move forward with our dreams -those dreams that are aligned to our North Star. This is the time to be clear and honest with yourself about who you enjoy spending time with and what you love doing. If you are yourself with people, then they connect with you. So, be true to yourself. Let yourself be seen as you are, no matter how quirky, or odd or unique.
This way you will stand tall in your truth.

Walk tall in who you be.

This was one of the underlying themes of the Team building workshop I facilitated for UNESCAP this past week. With an incredible sub- regional office, headed by an amazing leader who is retiring this month. Shaping our Future serving our member states in the Pacific. It was indeed an honour and a privilege to reengage with them ten years on. Each member committed to standing tall in their truth, and walking as one in their engagement with stakeholders, in very complex geo-political times.

Let us hope that the tumult experienced since January 2020, will ease somewhat from January 2022. This is an extraordinary time for the global community as a whole. The choices we make now for how we intend to stand tall in our truth, are crucial to shifting society to a more equitable, respectful and open place in which to belong.

The ‘Footsteps’ we lay are important.

Journal and Reflection:
• Which first step would take me closer to living my North Star?
• What new beliefs would give me more options and enable me to live this.