Transform Yourself, Transform the World

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” -Rumi

Introspection and self-inquiry are key to understanding. When we look at why the world is in the state that it is in (the root of the why is the etiology) it helps us understand ourselves, and how to help support the meaningful change that we hope for. On a more interpersonal level, if I am struggling in relationships, it helps to get curious about what is happening that is creating the challenge. Is it communication? Is it that I am getting so upset that I cannot communicate clearly or even calmly? (This could be an indicator of activation in the nervous system and a fight/flight/freeze/fawn response.) I will share more about activation in the nervous system later. Suffice it to say, if I am activated, this can throw the pre-frontal cortex offline, which can put us in our brain stem and make it hard to communicate and problem-solve. Coping skills to show the nervous system some love can make it easier to navigate challenging experiences, help our communication, support our interpersonal relationships, and make problem-solving easier.