A Quiet Disposition

I have always championed a life-style of tranquility. Given a choice I will side with the ways of a peacemaker over the conflict of wrangling every time.

Disturbance and drama leave me agitated: unresolved conflict feeds me indigestion. Simply put, I need peace to function properly and without it, I must retreat until I find emotional equilibrium.

Give me the sea-breeze of shoreline, the gentle laps of the waves without storm. It is called a quiet disposition and it is an inward fight to remain one.

I wrestle with modern human ecology ~ the wrecking-ball swipes and swings of the changing emotional environment leaves me staggering.
I always disliked rewarding bad behavior: intimidation, manipulation and control of power are definitely bad behavior. The ones who shout the loudest attract the most attention.Why should we reward it? It goes against the grain of my better judgement.

But in our current social and political environment, in these formable times with sweeping cultural and political changes, the retreat from disturbance may be dangerous to the valued life we hold dear.

Retreat for brief renewal may be needed, if only to gather composure; but hiding our heads deep in the sand and ignoring conflict, as if it all trouble will go away, is useless. This exercise defeats seeing our own condition and does nothing for the inertia for change. It only allows denial and delay of real problems. But It could be a great stand-up moment of responsibility and future growth in character, if we only allow it.

Modern Narcissism

What is stability? It seems long forgotten. What drives the sweeping emotional state of our families, our communities and our nation? Fear, selfishness, need for attention, non accountability and a lack of leadership strategy are major contributors. The narcissism of our modern age reaps consequences and we are seeing the signs of breakdown all around us. But if ever there is a need for a stand up moment, a rebuilding of the broken, it is now.

Debate is not the answer to life’s question, neither is singularly, the discussion of policies of our massive ills enough to correct fast-paced trends of destruction. We may think as long as we have released  information, problems are satisfied. It is simply not true. Once weakness and need is exposed, it takes a groundswell of active cooperative leadership, a willingness to admit failures where needed, and the renewed roll-up-sleeve strength to tackle the massive problems that complacency has created by ignoring so much, for way too long. That approach to cooperative leadership doesn’t seem to be winning. Perhaps, because it presently doesn’t exist in this world of polarized agendas.

When we allow problems to grow out of per portion, solving them becomes much more complicated. Ignoring issues allows cancerous growth to take hold and the problems reach epidemic, unless aggressively tackled. Treatment is much more painful and costly after a delay in prognosis.

Ask any cancer patient who wished the initial consultation had been mad earlier. But most patients are driven to endure the hard choices ahead when life hangs in the balance. It is called life legacy and what we are willing to do to secure it.

Resets and Responsibilities

How does change come in such life-altering resets? It begins by taking charge and being courageously accountable in our own individual lives and families and employment, not by blaming others. It is easy to be distracted from our own accountability. By providing leadership in our homes with our children, in our schools, communities and employment, we can make a difference. Investing one on one is not only valuable, it is essential. It has been the way mores and culture have been handed down to future generations throughout the ages.

When we stand up, step up to our own responsibilities, life changes, not without effort but because of commitment and order. That is our greatest sustained challenge: our challenge to the wimpy self! It has always been our weakest link.

Will someone be brave enough to stand up and say, “I’ve had enough.” “I must take charge of my own life?” We thought we were doing such a good job. Not.

Taking action and being responsible for ourselves has always proven the best way forward and perhaps reaps the greatest personal rewards. It models leadership to our children and provides those in need a steady, helping hand in their step towards greater accountability too. Such leadership brings order into chaos, peace into conflict and validation into the disfranchised. We can’t wait for others to provide this leadership. It is an individual responsibility and when we abdicate it, everyone in our influence suffers and society soon becomes the weakened.

This action may give us all pause to reflect! Slowly, we may again, become proactive in maintaining a life-style of emotional well being and actually encounter real change and transformation in the process. Doesn’t this challenge seem all too familiar? I wonder why? We must not loose hope.

Man’s Frailties

Faith in man is disappointing. Perhaps because we know our own frailties all too well. Why than do we keep looking to others to sustain us? Or, others who promise security? That’s the trap we become snared by, expecting others to rescue us from our own mess. It is a false hope for handouts of peace and tranquility. We simply won’t find our needs met centered in the hearts of men or women, no matter how dearly we are loved by friends and family, or our communities. We are simply too complicated for their effort of rescue.

Written by Judy Wolcott Cline 2/24/2016