first things first: resisting binary thinking

We are in the midst of a global crisis, and it is without question a strange time. Journalists and politicians can't help but repeat the word unprecedented over and over. There is an undisputed component of grand-scale tragedy and suffering to this pandemic. This includes justified dread and fear of what will happen to our global, national and personal economies. Uncertainty is all around us, and whatever we feel in response to it is completely valid and understandable.

And, many of us are also feeling hope. Many of us are rejoicing in some of the things that are resulting from this moment in history, like the environment showing beautiful signs of restoration, or universal acts of solidarity and care, or the sudden shift in our collective priorities and consciousness.

We don't have to negate one reality to validate the other.

I'm frankly excited about the opportunity for mass-scale systemic transformation; I've been fixated on the need for deep, structural change ever since I was a child. That doesn't mean I don't feel anxious and scared right now, full of sorrow for all the lives that are being lost and for the suffering of fellow humans all around the world.

I've been doing a lot of writing on the topic of what could be created on the other side of the veil of this historic moment. Before sharing any of it, though, I wanted to invite whomever might be reading this to join me in actively practicing non-binary (aka spectrum, directional) thinking right now. Let's try seeing between "good" and "bad", "right" and "wrong", "them" and "us". I strongly believe this is one of the most important mind-frame adjustments we can exercise right now, to pave the way for a more evolved all of us required for the more evolved world at our fingertips.

We can feel hope and fear and great compassion. 

We can take action now to try stopping the virus and help those who most need it in our communities and let ourselves feel gratitude and hope – and start knitting the pattern of a new society.