Redefining Success and Learning How to Slow Down - An Act of Resistance

The more I reflect on what’s needed to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world, the more I hear the answer:

“Come home.”

Seeking stillness and simplicity can feel strange, sometimes even scary. What if I’m missing out? What if I’m not living up to my fullest potential? What if the world needs me to do more? These voices are accurate but not always true, and many times they’re fueled by an outdated belief system.

Because what is more? And how do we best achieve it? I’m on a mission these days to redefine success, question what’s actually important, and practice coming home - to myself, to nature, to my family, and to the present moment. We’ve heard it all before but it’s easier said and done, and I truly believe - with growing confidence - that seeking our inner stillness isn’t just good for our body and soul — it’s an act of resistance.

Truth be told, I crave slow, and I think the world craves it too. We are dying to breathe more deeply, to see the world more clearly, to better understand ourselves and the deeper wisdom whispering from within. The world doesn’t need faster. It needs more space, and that space can only surface when we allow ourselves to slow down.

When it comes to a sustainable future, we need it more than we can know, but it’s time we start toning down the urgency on climate change.

“Wait!” you may be thinking. “What did she just say? Tone down the urgency?”

I am fully aware this statement makes very little sense. I will not argue we don’t need rapid changes. We do need a lot of change, and we absolutely need those changes to happen fast. Preferably, we will have cut all global emissions in half by the end of this decade (2030), and then we’re on a new sprint to cut even more by the next. However, to succeed in doing this, we need to tone down the urgency so we can focus and ensure we do it right.

We are in such a critical situation right now that we don’t have time to rush into the next thing. We must begin by slowing down so we can move with intention and clarity toward a world that is not just different, but better. If we don’t slow down first, how will we know if our actions will lead to better outcomes or continue to fuel new problems down the line?

To solve the climate crisis, we need to find a deeper connection to our hearts. Charles Eisenstein explains this beautifully in his book Climate: A New Story:

Rational reasons are not enough; the ecological crisis is asking for a revolution of love. If there is another way, then the habit of fighting becomes an obstacle to victory. In the case of ecocide, the mentality of war is not only an obstacle to healing, it is an intimate part of the problem.

For many of us, fighting climate change seems like a war, a battle we must continue to fight. We get frustrated when elected officials don’t do enough, and we happily shed that frustration on the people around us. Tired, hopeless, and sometimes even a bit resentful, we feel as if there’s no way in hell we will ever get this right.

That is the fighter in you talking. Beneath that fighter lies a powerful soul powered by a strong heart that can’t wait for the chance to say a few words. That heart knows of wisdom so strong and so powerful it could change the world.

We don’t need more fighters in our world today. We need wise hearts moving forward with one goal in mind — a beautiful world for all to thrive in. People aren’t selfish in their thoughts and actions because they don’t care about other people; they are selfish because they carry fear in their hearts—fear they won’t have enough, fear of rejection, failure, and pain.

With a wise and powerful heart, there isn’t room for fear, only love. It may sound cheesy, but the simplest and most profound things usually are—it’s time for a revolution of love. Let’s tone down the urgency and get to grounded, guided, and intentional action.

Parts of this issue were taken from a chapter in The Climate Optimist Handbook: “Tone Down The Urgency”