Earth Day
Another off the wall start, follow me and it will all make sense.
Earth Day is an annual event dedicated to environmental protection. Why do we have any marked events? Anniversaries, birthdays, festivals, culturally and religious marked dates - they are all present in order to give some specific time and attention to something that means something to us. From the micro perspective it is permission to the individual to have a reflective space and on the macro perspective it creates a sense of connection and belonging, as the individual is able to practice that reflection with the larger group. They are supported in the meaning that they have being the meaning that others share. That shared world view creates the sense that they are part of a group, their world view is upheld, they belong. And you know what the greatest human need is - connection. The greatest fear that is innate is rejection. Biologically our brains are wired to stay with the group because it is safer - you are more likely to live if you are part of a larger group and under attack than on your own.
Earth Day and marked celebrations are a beautiful way we can all support something that matters to all of us - our shared home.
Imagine what we could all do as individuals if we really understood our shared values and had the understanding of the impact we could have as a shared group of human beings.
So this is why I started by referencing Earth Day, it is an example of an event that honours a specific human value - Taking care of our planet matters, most of us would agree - but why? This is how we identify our own values. You and I might agree that taking care of the earth is important, but we might both have a different reason/value underneath that drives that belief. This is an exercise for you to identify your values and then you can apply it to any matter that you feel passionate about - you cannot help another person see your viewpoint unless you know where it is coming from. Have you ever been so certain that your viewpoint was right but you couldn’t say why? Someone would say, but why do you think x should happen that way, and your answer was - it just should! You feel it inside you but you don’t know what your values are underneath that belief you feel that it is either right or wrong for humans to do x. Or you may have a few words around it but it’s still strongly dominated by a feeling.
Sometimes you don’t need to know why. The feeling will take you where you need to go. Other times you might want to share your heart with the people in your life, or you might want to share it with the world - you might want to be a change leader who inspires others to see what you see and feel what you feel. To move people you need to know you, it has to come from a clarity of who you are and what you stand for.
So, here is the exercise:
Identify matters you hold strong views towards - make a list - example - animals should not be bred for meat/ economic growth should not be prioritised above caring for the planet and its sustainability/ local shops are necessary (it can be anything)
Go through each separately
Ask yourself - why is that important? (example - why are local shops important - answer - community and connection)
Ask again - and why is x important (example - why are community and connection important - answer - a sense of belonging)
Continue this process until you feel that there is not another word you can say about it - ideally asking the question 6 or 7 times to get to the final value - for demonstration purposes I will contimue and complete the example.
Continued example
Q3. Why is a sense of belonging important?
A3. People can feel safe, valued, seen and peaceful.
Q4. Why is important people feel safe, valued, seen and peaceful?
A4. It is something every human should be able to feel, a community gives that. It acknowledges there contribution to the world and that they matter.
Q5. Why is it important that their contribution is acknowledged and that they know they matter?
A5. Because they do matter and their life makes an impact like the butterfly effect. It is impossible to exist and not have an impact on the whole of history.
Q6. Why is it important they know that?
A6. Because then we would live differently.
Q7. Why is it important we live differently?
A7. So we live to our fullest potential because we know we matter and know our life impacts others, so we create from a place of love in a way that serves the world.
I did not know that local shops and local communities was something that I valued so deeply?! See, this is a prime example of how we live our lives driven by values we don’t even know are there. I live in a village with a local post office, a local butchers, and a number of other local businesses. My children went to school with the local estate agents children. My son’s first job was at the butchers. These are small things but they have been present because underneath I have a belief that the local, smaller community is one where we can belong and contribute in a way I couldn’t in a big city. This is not suggesting that my viewpoint is right or wrong, all veiwpoints are equally valid. My point is to show that until I ran through and asked myself, like small child, but why? But why? But why? It is so unlikely you would ever get to that information.
When you can ask yourself why, you can explain it to people in your life that matter. The people you want them to understand why it is important to you. And you can move forward with more clarity of who you are and what you stand for.
Sarah x