How much capacity can I have to meet the expectations and demands that are set for me and by me?
Slipping
below the equilibrium line , I’m letting people down, not attending to the
things that lie in waiting. This feeling of being overwhelmed encroaches into
my sleep, my joy for life and reduces the quiet time for replenishment. It
promotes guilt, disappointment in self, and ultimately diminishes my capacity. The
lists grow longer, the emails proliferate, the reminders filter in.
So what is
it that the universe is asking of me right now? I can’t hide away and live in
denial yet I must hold true ot my values to spread joy, radiate kindness as I
walk through life. To walk, not head down with sighs weighing me down, but with
head up with a soft smiling gaze at the gifts and wonder of the world and the
people in it.
How do I show
up whilst in this moment of high demand? To be in that right place at the right
time , to be self-disciplined and intentional, to tap into my masculine can-do
power, to recognise priorities and persevere and be steadfast but be sufficiently
flexible to respond to the emerging needs around me. At the same time, going
easy on the self-judgement and accepting when expectations become unrealistic.
I can’t please everyone all the time, and the wisdom to know when to say no, or
at least wait as now is not possible. There is always time for listening. ‘
Life is
short to waste on ill-fitting expectations. Michael Fox and Russell Wolf have
left us (and too soon) but have demonstrated their capacity to radiate goodness as a model. So to focus less on
effectiveness and to maintain the faithfulness to sustain my engagement walking
humbly, loving tenderly and acting justly.
Parker J.
Palmer says it best:
We must judge ourselves by a higher
standard than effectiveness, the standard called faithfulness.
Are we faithful to the community on which we depend, to doing what we can in response to its pressing needs?
Are we faithful to the better angels of our
nature and to what they call forth from us?
Are we faithful to the eternal conversation of
the human race, to speaking and listening in a way that takes us closer to
truth?
Are we faithful to the call of
courage that summons us to witness to the common good, even against great odds?
When faithfulness is our standard,
we are more likely to sustain our engagement with tasks that will never end:
doing justice, loving mercy, and calling the beloved community into being.
From Healing the Heart of Democracy.
Emerging from the labyrinth- going forth with faithful intent, St John of God, Shoalwater 31 October 2021.
