Slow down before speeding up.
View this email in your browser.
Forwarded by a dear friend? You can receive the Enzyme directly by subscribing here.
Hello everyone,
I truly hope you are well. This is a strange strange time. For people living in the West, what we knew of as "normal" will probably not be normal for at least 2020 and likely much longer.
The strangest thing about this crisis is that it invites us into two seemingly opposite responses: speeding up and slowing down.
We speed up because there seems to be much to do to keep the ship from sinking. We've got to act right now by staying at home and turning all the offerings online, adapt and adjust. While the outward form of the activity may change (i.e from offline to online), the mindset is business-as-usual. For many people, it is "let's stay optimistic and rise to the occasion".
On the other hand, we slow down because we are forced to. It might just be the right time to have an extended retreat. Slowing down, paying attention, getting in touch with the parts of ourselves that we don't usually see, like despair, grief etc..
I witness those two impulses in myself, and I am trying out both. I believe that we've got to first slow down and then accept that even our always-getting-faster tendency has to change. Yet, even as someone who is aloof from most news, I am also finding myself strangely energized and wanting to speed up and contribute something. I know I am not the only one, and I'm very interesting in hearing your own reflection on this. What is this telling you personally and all of us collectively? Please write back, I'd love to read.
Meanwhile, take care,
Khuyen
Sharing is sprouting.
If you have been forwarded this newsletter, feel free to subscribe to it here
Reading
Some of the longer perspectives about this crisis that got me thinking
Coronavirus, Degrowth & Self Isolation
The crisis leads to loss in economic growth, perhaps for good. The economy has overshot the carrying capacity of the biosphere and this reduction is what is needed
"We are not going back to normal" by MIT Tech review.
From a social technological perspective, the crisis has upended everything too.
A really good article in German (use Google Translate)
With the current physical distancing, we saw a surge in genuine connection online, which is a great news.
"The new world after Corona - or better with Corona - arises from the disruption of the megatrend of connectivity . Politically and economically this phenomenon is also called "globalization". The interruption of connectivity - through border closings, separations, foreclosures, quarantines - does not lead to the abolition of connections. But to reorganize the connectomes that hold our world together and carry it into the future. There is a phase jump in the socio-economic systems.
The world to come will appreciate distance again - and this will make connectedness more qualitative."
Eight Emerging Lessons: from Corona to Climate Change by Otto Scharmer of Presencing Institute
Two important questions to contemplate on: why do we keep ourselves busy with stuff that is not essential?
and If we let go of everything that is not essential — what’s left?
Quotes
"You will get sick. You will lose everything. You will die.
The rest is timing and attitude.
Nothing has changed." - Mark Walsh.
Are we leaning into our inevitable conclusion of death to change our attitude?
"Cleave: the only word that means together and apart, at the same time. To separate and then to cling on." - David Whyte
Iindeed, we are living in a time of cleaving.
Lastly..
Nelson Mandela in his Truth & Reconciiliation commission has a beautiful daily prayer.
Let us take care of the children, for they have a long way to go.
Let us take care of the elders, for they have gone a long way.
Let us take care of anyone in between, for they are doing the work.
I'll add: let us take care ourselves also.
May you be well and even beyond well in this strange time.
Khuyen
p/s: Do reach out to talk about life. I'd love to be helpful.