Active Hope

Are you anxious about the state of the world?

Are you anxious about climate change?

Do you feel like you are worrying more than others about it?

Do you need help in making sense of your feelings and what you can do about them?

I recently read “Active Hope – How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power” by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone.

Reading the book took me on something of a journey.

It told me that it’s okay and normal to have anxiety about “the Mess We’re in” and talks about The Great Turning – where we can accept that Business as Usual is unsustainable and turn away from it with purpose.

I’m not going to lie – I am not about to join a kibbutz, grow my own vegetables and make my own energy, but I can do my little bit and feel accountable for what I do and don’t do.

The book champions gratitude and community – two things that coaching research shows are fundamental to our mental wellbeing.

Chapter Eight: A Larger View of Time – includes a mind-blowing journey through the 4.5 billion years history of earth as a 24hr clock.  Absolutely fascinating.  Again, perspective has been shown through research to be a tool of coaching.

Part Three: Going Forth is the challenging part of the book – it calls upon the reader to think about what they will do differently and who they will surround themselves with to optimise the likelihood of change.

And the lollipop at the end?  I recently found out that a Steely Dan song I like is called Bodhisattva but I had not bothered to find out who or what Bodhisattva is.  Chapter 13: Opening to Active Hope explains the Buddhist tradition of “bodhichitta” and introduces the Bodhisattva Choices Practice – I recommend reading it with Steely Dan on in the background (click here to listen).

Coaching is a powerful tool that can help you to realise your responsibility and accountability for your actions at work, and as part of your community, and indeed the planet.

If you are curious and want to explore any of these themes please get in touch with us.

Samantha Peat, Executive Coach