why the world’s problems are our problems
There’s a reason you feel so heavy at the moment. We aren’t meant to witness so much suffering, our nervous systems aren’t designed to cope with it.
Fannie Lou Hamer couldn’t have been clearer when she said ‘Nobody’s free until everybody is free’, and she died nearly 47 years ago. This isn’t a new philosophy.
It goes deeper than just feeling guilt for being safe and warm with no fear for ours or our family’s lives whilst we witness so many others in another part of the world, not so far away, suffering immensely and irreversibly. It goes without saying that no one should live in fear of their lives.
Guilt aside, we may all have different faiths and philosophies, but I think the reason we feel so shaken by this is because we are all connected. Their ancestors are our ancestors.
So here’s my message. You don’t need to use empathy here, you can already feel the collective energy without needing to imagine yourself in their shoes. Their suffering is our suffering.
As human beings with more power and autonomy than any other living thing. As those going to bed tonight in a structurally sound building. As those with a supermarket down the road with unlimited food and a tap in multiple rooms in our homes with unlimited safe running water. As those working and earning money in a job we may or may not love. As those who can sleep peacefully and wake up in the morning not terrified about hearing bad news about those we love. As those who aren’t living in fight or flight every second of our waking existence. As those who happened, by chance, to be born in a safe country. As the privileged, it’s our responsibility to help.
If you can’t donate money, you can sign petitions or share donation pages. You can write to your local MP. You can take part in protests. Be on the right side of history. It’s easy when we feel individually helpless to do nothing, but even the ocean is made up of individual drops of water.
Remember also to look after yourself too. Mental health doesn’t discriminate, it’s possible (and common) to be privileged and struggling at the same time. So in all this heaviness, look after yourself and those around you. It’s important to find practices and rituals that help elevate you in times of pain.
Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu ~ May all beings be happy and free. May my thoughts and actions contribute to the freedom and happiness of all beings.
“We are all connected. What unites us is our common humanity. I don't want to oversimplify things - but the suffering of a mother who has lost her child is not dependent on her nationality, ethnicity or religion. White, black, rich, poor, Christian, Muslim or Jew - pain is pain - joy is joy. In Southern Africa we have a concept called Ubuntu - which is that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. You can't be human all by yourself. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas what you do, what I do, affects the whole world. Taking that a step further, when you do good, it spreads that goodness; it is for the whole of humanity. When you suffer or cause suffering, humanity is diminished as a result.”
~ Desmond Tutu