Personal transformation can and does have global effects.
As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us.
The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a personal one.~ Marianne Williamson ~
I love this quote and I love this picture. I came across both only in the past week and it was only natural to marry them.
The picture was taken over a year ago (at a gathering of women and children who had met online and were sharing journeys of mindful living) by my friend Devon C. who happens to be the first internet friend I ever met in real life and who, in that first meeting, taught me how to knit. Sometimes the universe just doesn’t joke around.
The quote brings me back to an essential foundational belief of mine: micro is macro. I am a big picture, visionary type of gal and it’s easy to get lost in my own futuristic spaceship of global happenings and craziness. Being informed on a large scale sometimes means being overwhelmed and freaked out in a big way.
I was a child and my world was my family and my home. Slowly it opened as I met friends and experienced other homes and places beyond my family. As I grew more independent I could choose to take trains into cities and spend my time exploring a bigger place. I went off to college and immersed myself in bigger ideas.
And then I almost lost my mind.
My little, singular, fire-y, but oh-so-sweet self become completely daunted at the state of the world. The more I learned about environmentalism, permaculture principles, and interconnectedness the more I felt we were doomed. (This was before it was hip to be green. It really seemed like nobody gave a crap about the environment 10 years ago.) The more I learned about non-violent communication and consensus decision making the more anxiety I felt. I was learning about all these amazing tools, all these amazing truths that nourish and feed well-being and over all health, and yet it seemed the world, as a whole, just wanted to choose destruction and greed and pain.
At some point I had some inner-dialogue that in retrospect sounded like this:
“Whoa, there little girl. Slow down and take a deep breath. You are not superwoman and it’s not your job to save the world. If you try to save everyone you will only destroy yourself. Step out of the big picture; back it up. Bring your attention inward and let’s start here.”
Thus began my inward journey of self-exploration. I began to look within myself and found it just as important to heal my own wounds as it was to try and help someone across the globe. As a result, I found that the more healthy, clear and well I was, the more equipped I was to reach out and help others. When helping others feels draining it becomes time to retreat within and help myself.
Personal transformation can and does have global effects.
As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us.
The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a personal one.~ Marianne Williamson ~
Or in other words:
We need to be the change we wish to see in the world.
~Mahatma Gandhi~
Or in my own words:
Peace Begins With Me
As I am feeling solid as a person I am able to be better parent and a better partner. As I become a better parent and partner I can lift my eyes and start to focus on my community. As my community receives the love and support from its members our ability to branch out and share our gifts with the world expands– the ripple effect.
I think this is so important to remember as a mother. It can be easy to loose yourself in the everyday tasks and simultaneously be overwhelmed by the news we hear. Taking care of ourselves, our children and our communities is taking care of the world. As we set ourselves on steady ground we have more to offer and have more strength and resources to share.
When I try and save the world it becomes very clear that I am *not* superwoman, but when I spend time caring for myself, my family and home, well, I’m pretty sure that SuperWoman is exactly who I am.
Cheers to all of you, who plant the foundational seeds of peace and well-being in your homes. These seeds will grow and bloom and the wind will spread them and the cycle will continue.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
loved this hillary. I starred it earlier this morning and came back to read it when I had time to digest it. This is so encouraging to me because I feel helpless to change the world but I feel powerful in my own home & community to love people and contribute the little I’ve been given to the greater good of those around me.
We are Super Women in our homes. Thanks for the reminder.
This is so beautiful Hilary– and a huge gift to mamas everywhere. We need to use our voices, and we need to stand up and help out when it comes to making the world a better place for our children. BUT we also need to recognize that in order to do any of that, the real work has to begin internally. And the self-discovery, the work of a peaceful home, the dedication of compassionately mothering– well, sometimes that is the best form of activism a young mama can give.
I’ll be bookmarking this to come back to again and again. truly. By the way, there is a lil’ giveaway and the Mothers Acting Up interview over at The Blankie Chronicles. This feels like its important counterpart– the reminder that planting seeds and taking care of ourselves is a gift to the greater good– its the mamas who can do this with honesty and love that make up the strongest parts of that universal net.
xoxo
Well, I LOVE this too! And not only because that picture is MY Magic Room! :) (I’m tickled to see it here!)
Hill, as the fairies on my site were brainstorming ideas about the upcoming “Magic Movement,” Andrea sent out this awesome one-lined email: “Think Globally, Sparkle Locally.” I LOVE that!
And I couldn’t agree MORE!!!
I love you (and personally know that you ARE Superwoman in AND outside your home. )
:) xo
Kate´s last blog ..My Everyday Magic 1/29/2010
Kate, it was so hard not to go into a full description of how I was in the magic room and the amazing women I was with……I trying to stay on point, but when I see that picture I just swoon :)
I dream me a magic room of my own someday!
me too.
as *soon* as i saw the photo…i was like. wait. i know that place.
and then the blissful memories came flooding in.
exhale. return to center.´s last blog ..steady days :: interview + book giveaway
Loved your post. So much wisdom and such a helpful reminder.
Lots of love to you and your family.
LJ´s last blog ..Simplify
Aaah, not saving the world. I’ve had that discussion with myself numerous times. I think my turning point was in seeing attitudes are more infectious than a Superwoman complex. And if I stress myself out so much, I certainly don’t make our life look worth living.
And ultimately, who knows where anyone really is. My worst times in life probably looked pretty bad from the outside. But they were such a huge force behind where I am now. No one made me. I made myself.
(@Kate, “Think Globally, Sparkle Locally” – Love it!!)
Tara´s last blog ..Highly-Sensitive Transitioning: Before The Move
That’s so true Tara–thanks for bringing it up. The hardest times often bring about the most empowering of times.
this is just beautiful hillary. and so timely for me.
i tend to look outside of myself and outside of my family and see so much that i want to do, be, and make for the greater good of our world.
but i have become very aware (quite painfully at times) that i need to take care of *me* first.
when i give it all away…i quickly have nothing left to give.
but when i care for myself first and frequently, the love + light that pours out of my heart is so strong and bright and i am able to see and recognize other bright lights out there in the world and connect with them and the light grows…
exhale. return to center.´s last blog ..steady days :: interview + book giveaway
Great Post, thank you! :)
I agree a bazillion percent. The Joy of Life and Love is an inside job…and when we place our focus there…sowing the seeds, nurturing the growth…the fruit of our labor is sweeter than all else.
Best part is, there’s SO much more to share when we begin at home…at the heart, in the heart, of our soul.
Love blooms and her seeds are carried far and wide…sprouting ever more. Here’s to it!
In JOY… @debsoul
Debra´s last blog ..Rampage of Appreciation ~ Abraham Style