Friday, November 6

slowly, now
one two three four five six seven eight nine ten
with calm resolve
one two three four five six seven eight nine ten
breathe, repeat

lightward.com/newsletter

 

50/50

You know how ideas are connected to memories?

My dad asked me about an important life decision a few years ago, with strong pros and cons for each of the two choices. My response: if you really feel that split about it, if you’re really feeling 50/50 on it, then flip a coin and move on. Honestly! If the options are that well-balanced, then this is not a thing to be spending time on. If you have all the information already, then further deliberation is probably not going to help. You are not effective here, in this space of tension; your opportunity to be effective is elsewhere.

As of this writing, the American election is hilarious. Georgia is 49.96/50 for Trump/Biden. Pennsylvania is 49.85/50. The country overall is 47.33/50, which is still strikingly even.

I’ve heard a significant number of voices saying “I didn’t realize I had so little in common with so many people”, and, “I honestly cannot be friends with anyone on the other side”, and, “I’m moving to Costa Rica”.

Taking into account all of the above, I have two strong feelings:

First: this nation’s 50/50 split in opinion feels structural. It feels evolved. It feels like something physical, like we’ve done enough repetitions of something that evolution has delivered a thing purpose-built for that movement, and it looks like this.

Second, and with a nod to my father: the tension between the two halves feels like a distraction. If we’re talking about the will of the people here, then we honestly might as well flip a coin. So much has been spoken and argued and believed. We are not effective here, in this space of tension; our opportunity to be effective is elsewhere.

In Volume 7 (under “That which you consider to be good”), I explored the idea that unresolvable disagreement is a suggestion for structure. I feel like that holds here. We’ve been shown something about our collective selves, and the mass response has been one of rejection – neither side can abide the other, and to allow the other side to coexist in equal power feels almost universally unacceptable.

I do not think that this is the way.

More pointedly, I think and feel that the way treats the 50/50 split as a feature of the system, as opposed to something dangerous, cancerous. The opportunity to be effective lies not in the tension, but in accepting this as a kind of autonomic balance, to be leveraged in the design process.

This is the direction I’m walking in. I don’t know what I’m going to find there yet. (Part of it, probably, is going to involve innovation for our voting systems; we keep talking about The Politics Industry and there are reasons for that.) No matter what, though, I’ve learned to trust my sense of direction, that sense that tells me which direction holds something hidden, something precious.

I wonder, what will I find?

Love,
-Isaac

 

Wellness,
for you and me

Hello fellow breathing humans! This week has been a lot. I know my sleep has been impacted by the election here in the US. I’m going to remind you, like I do every week, how powerful our breath is and how incredibly beneficial it is to use this tool every single day. How often do we think and think and think and think, and not take the time to pause, and breathe? For most of us, often.

SO. I’m inviting you to literally stop reading this email for the next five minutes, and breathe. Inhaling and exhaling through your nose (5 seconds in, 5 seconds out) giving your mind a break. Allow yourself to find your center, feeling your body and bringing your awareness to your breath. I just got off of a call with a client of mine and spent the last five minutes of our call just breathing, and it was incredible. I didn’t realize how much I needed it.

Remember, whenever you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed, you can use this incredible tool to your advantage! Your body wants to be healthy! Give it the space to find that health. :) And this isn’t just for recovery: when you’re happy and celebrating, breathing is a great way to really feel your fullness and excitement! Our breath is one of our best assets, friends, tools – use it!

Mantras to help bring moments of peace into your day:

Sit on the ground or in a comfortable seat with your spine straight up and speak these words aloud:

  • I am alive and well.

  • I have agency.

  • I move onward. I move upward.

  • I am radically loved.

  • I am radically capable.

  • I am radically strong.

  • I accept what is and move my thoughts in a direction of strength, resolve, and peace.

  • I have access to tools that help me be more happy, grounded, and joyful.

  • I belong here.

  • I take joy in taking up space.

  • I am enough.

  • The energy of the universe runs through me.

  • I can.

  • I am amazing.

  • I am beautiful. 

  • I am present.

How do these feel when you say them? Notice and write down your thoughts and feelings after going through these mantras a few times.

Things you can do right now to bring you back to your center:

  • Speak those mantras above.

  • Breathe, as described above.

  • Call your best friend and tell each other what you appreciate about one another.

  • Take a walk and notice the beauty around you.

  • Take a nap.

  • Wear an outfit you feel confident and sexy in.

  • Dance.

  • Cry.

  • Scream.

  • Have sex.

  • Feel through the emotional scale, one step at a time, to a better feeling place.

  • Work out.

  • Hydrate.

  • Watch a feel-good movie.

  • Look for the hopeful perspectives.

  • Look up at the sky.

Side note: I’m an empowerment coach, and if you need help coming up with specific tools to help you become a better, more healthier version of yourself, let’s chat – book a consultation. I work with clients from all walks of life and ages to help them live a life of their dreams. And I really enjoy it! :)

I believe in you fully,
Abe

 

A Perspective of Joy

Abe here! I sold 10 copies of my coffee table book already! I’m thrilled to share more than 150 statements about joy in this book, alongside photographs from our world travels. Every time I read this book, I feel so calm and hopeful afterwards – it’s truly like a meditation. And I’m excited to share it with you.

This would be an amazing addition to your home and the home of your loved ones! :)

Find A Perspective of Joy here: lightward.com/joy. 🔆

 

Good is coming. In so many, many, many ways, it has already arrived. Look for it. At all times, even when you don’t think you can find it, it is there. It is going to be okay. :)