New Year Reflections - How do we show up to meet the challenges we're facing right now?

I know many of us are feeling deeply the devastation of the fires - the heartbreaking loss of lives, 500 million animals and threats to biodiversity, loss of homes and livelihoods just to begin.

The future can feel complex, uncertain and at times incredibly challenging.

Our habitual, cognitive, logical, sense-making processes can not comprehend the enormity of this moment right now.

We need to find ways to bring the full complexity of our being and humanness to the complexity of the challenges we face (to paraphrase Nora Bateson).

To be with the pain, suffering, uncertainty and complexity, to learn together and respond; without being frozen, stuck in the enormity of it all, overwhelmed or numb to what’s happening.

And at the same time we need to know how to look after ourselves, how to continue to find joy and connection with each other. As well as to recognise our own trauma and triggers, and when we need to take time out, or do our own inner work.

Like the moment just before dawn, before the sun has pieced the horizon with radiant light and the energy of the day breaks, the New Year period is often a time for stillness, deep reflection and intention setting.

In context of all the challenges we are facing, I wanted to share some reflection questions, inspired by Joanna Macy and positive deep adaptation, one of the many sources of inspiration I've been spending time with. I hope they might bring you fresh energy and active hope.

I am refreshing and renewing my own embodiment, reflective and nature based practices which build my resilience and capacity to sense-make from a place that recognises our wholeness and interconnectedness. If you’d like me to share these, please get in touch.

Questions for reflection, inquiry and journalling

Resilience
What are the values, behaviours and practices that we are glad to have in this challenging time? What already sustains us and our work? How do we care for ourselves on all levels (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually)? What are we most grateful for?

Relinquishment
What are the values, behaviours and practices that we can to let go of? What is not serving us now?

Restore and Renew
What are the values, behaviours and practices that we want to restore and renew? That we would like to adopt? Perhaps from our own past, ancient traditions, cultures?

Reconciliation
We are facing huge shifts, uncertainty and unprecedented complexity. With whom or what do we want to make peace with? Where is there discord in our lives?

Regeneration
What kind of world do we really want to be part of? What inspires us? What do we want to create together? How could we experiment this way forward?