Don't change the world

Hands on heart:

How often did you think about “changing the world” for the better in the last 3 months? 

It is something that used to fill most of my headspace in an existential crisis I had in 2016. 

Back at the time I quit my corporate job in the sportswear industry out of despair 

I could not find a healthy way to distance myself from the “double-digit growth” vibe. I was asking myself this simple question “Does the world need so many shoes?”. My clear answer was: no.

Having grown up next to a forest and specialized in sustainability during my studies, and knowing that we humans are destroying our planet and ourselves with this bottomless overconsumption and capitalism, this hit differently back then. 

I can’t tell you how many times I was sitting in one of these sales meetings, where they would bring us to amazing places all over the world, and thinking: “WTF are you doing here?”. I felt empty, depressed, and also caged. 

This job was the first time when I got approval from the outside world. It was one of the few times when I said to myself: Well done, Christian. You made it to something. However it was not fulfilling me.

One day in the past, I set the goal to work with one of the big sportswear brands. I loved football, and I had no other idea, as I got rejected at the university for journalism. It became reality. Be careful what you wish for. The mind is powerful.

This life situation of achieving something and then realizing “this is not it” was a powerful one.

During the time, I was constantly caught up in the future. Resisting where I was. And this caused a lot of my inner tension, restlessness, and suffering. This is the danger of hopes and dreams. We need to be mindful that they are not a coping mechanism for not being able to deal with what’s present.

I had such a big pain about the state of the world. Wanted to change it. I saw a possibility of how this change could look like. Little did I know that the change had to happen inside, not outside. I missed a few things that led to feeling stuck and not taking action earlier:

1. I failed to accept my reality. I wanted to be somewhere else than I was. Can you relate?

2. I failed to accept fully what I was feeling, seeing, and sensing.

3. I missed to make a small step from that place of acceptance. Like applying for another job. Like doing voluntary work to make the world a better place in my free time. Like getting a coach. Infinite possibilities.

4. I missed doing the foundational work of the house. I focused on what I did not have, as opposed to looking at the resources I had at hand back at the time.  Also, I did not know that it is a really good idea to focus your attention on the things that you can directly influence.

In other words, I put all my energy and effort into building the roof without building a strong foundation. No wonder the result was a house that resembled the ramshackle structures of Edifis, the «best architect in Alexandria» in the comic series “Asterix & Cleopatra” by Rene Goscinny and Andreas Uderzo.

So how can we change the world? 

We can change it, by changing ourselves. Inside. If we change ourselves and become the change that we want to see, the outside world will mirror that. 

Okay, but how?

A step-by-step instruction to change the world is given to us by artist “Goldkimono” and their song “Does it Move You”. My friend Shani - one of the most curious humans I’ve ever met, breathwork guide, and founder of the House of Wonder - sent it to me 2 days ago and since then it’s been on repeat. 

Here we go. Your instruction to change the world:

To me, all we need to know about change is in these lyrics.

1. The first step is curious awareness and inquiry. Does it move you or groove you? Does it make you feel stuck?

2. The second is ownership of your current life situation. If you want something different, then you need to do something about it. (Doing can sometimes also mean doing “nothing”)

3. The third step starts with something that you can influence. Like changing your socks. And then, bring your attention to the very thing in front of you. The key in the door. You just need to turn it in. 

It can’t wait to be opened.

What is something in your life that you want to change?

Hit reply and if you feel comfortable, share it with me.

Alone we can go fast. Together we can go far.

I always love to hear from you.

Much love,Christian

Resources

Goldkimono - Does it move you

Shani’s Publication “Learning From Trees”

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