Dear Reader,
Here in the United States, today is inauguration day – the transfer of leadership from our outgoing president to our new president. Regardless of political affiliation, I’m sure that most people would agree that these are turbulent, uncertain times. Emotions are running high.
The big question for many of us is, “How do we move forward from here?”
We might have many disagreements about policy, philosophy, and strategy. During this presidential election, we have endured a great deal of fear, anger and name-calling. This conflict has at times led to a collective weariness and even despondency.
The key to our best way forward, to a greater good for all, lies deeper than policy, labels and name-calling. What is that key?
The inner life.
Your inner life. My inner life. The inner life of each one of us, alive in these times and sharing this planet as we do. I have written about this inner life in previous blog posts.
Each of us needs to go within, explore what we value most, what we fear most, and share our discoveries with the world in the way we live our lives each day. We need the commitment to honor what we value, and what we love. We need the courage to consider objectively what we fear, and to take responsibility for those fears, rather than projecting them onto others.
That is the nature of the going within. But we have been cut off in many ways from our inner life. It has been devalued, denied and denigrated in our society. In the midst of our fearful finger-pointing and scrambling to get by, we have forgotten our best selves. Today, starting right now, we need to place the inner life front and center.
The results would be profound. We would experience greater civility, heightened empathy, and increased respect for each other. We would be less controlled by fear, and more able to act from love. We would hesitate less to speak out about injustice, and to advocate for the great beauty of which we are capable.
That is why I consider myself a champion of the inner life. And because you are reading this, dear reader, I would say that you are too. Congratulations. Now let’s get to work.
I honor your loving heart,
John
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