How We Can Save
the World
By Allison Deputy, MoonWillow Tai Chi & Wellness
(Photo by Allison Deputy)
I pulled off the road to take the above photo. Nature is always astonishing to me. How it marches on, despite us and our foibles. Our discontent. Our mental storms. Yet we only need to stop and notice, and realize another reality. A reality full of possibilities.
“The most important question facing humanity is,
‘Is the Universe a friendly place?’ because our
future unfolds from that answer."
-- Albert Einstein
Bill Douglas from the World Tai Chi Day organization recently shared an email stating something we may not realize - that violent crime across the globe has been falling steadily over the last 40 years, and is at an all time low. Yes, you read that right - an all time low. In fact, the Pew Research Center reports (from FBI and Bureau of Justice Statistics) that violent crime in the U.S. alone has fallen 49% between 1993 and 2019. But you would never know this watching the news or scrolling social media. Why? The sad answer is...the sowing of fear and anger is simply more profitable. It gets more attention, clicks, reactions, ratings, and sells more stuff. The recent Facebook whistleblower confirmed this fact. And it is true over most platforms where we get our information, be it mainstream, alternative, "dark web" and the like.
No wonder our mental health crisis is at an alarming level. So what do we do?
What Allyn and I have been doing more of lately is unplugging from our devices - smart phones, computers. We take daily media breaks to do more productive, soul nourishing activities, like walks in nature, reading, journaling, listening to music, tending the patio garden, playing with the cats. Even housecleaning can be a Zen activity. But it's also important to get out in the world and interact with others - even at the grocery store - to find that most people out there are good beings, and we all basically want the same things. We need to get back to recognizing how we are more alike than different. We need to get back to compassion. To see each other from a soul level - not from ego, or fear, or from what someone else tells us to see.
It is possible…
"Science shows that when 1% of a population goes into 'coherent consciousness' (Alpha Brain Wave states), which Tai Chi and Qigong are proven to produce in our brains...violent crime, emergency room visits, etc. GO DOWN DRAMATICALLY...even lessening violence in war zones. 1% of the Earth's population is 70 million --and when all forms of mind-body practitioners (Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga, Meditation, and Mindfulness, all producing Alpha Brain Wave states) are added together, we are already over 1% of the Earth's population. BIG BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE HAPPENING, and this is just the beginning."
-- Bill Douglas
Founder of World Tai Chi Day, Author of NEW 2ND EDITION; The Gospel of Science: Mind Blowing New Science on Ancient Truths to
Heal Our Stress, Lives, and Planet
The practice of Tai Chi brings you into that quiet place. It helps you connect with your spirit. It helps you find that place where fear does not reside. Only presence. The eternal moment – where all things are possible. The first thing we ask you to do in class is to feel your feet on the floor. Why? Because it gets you out of your brain, and its thousands of chaotic thoughts, and into feeling grounded. Here is where you can take back your power and replenish your energy.
To quote Lao Tzu, “Practice not-doing and everything will fall into place.” This is not to say, “be lazy” - just get out of your own way. The mind can trip us up when we are overthinking or trying too hard. And how many of us are guilty of that in any given hour? Even your Tai Chi teacher can do this at times. We are only beautifully human after all. This is why I do Tai Chi for a living! It helps me keep my center even amidst chaos. It works…and hopefully you can see how it works for you, too.
So, how can we save the world?
1. Take regular media breaks (put your phone away, out of sight, for set time intervals daily)
2. Connect with Nature as often as possible (“Nature never hurries yet all things are accomplished” - Lao Tzu)
3. Get Creative (arts, cooking, gardening, writing/reading, play music/learn to play an instrument, etc.)
4. Practice Kindness & Compassion to Others in random, small acts
5. Practice Kindness & Compassion to Yourself – self care, self love…Learn to LOVE who you see in the mirror
6. Keep Practicing Tai Chi! Especially in groups (even over Zoom) which creates a healing ripple effect in your community and in the World
Yes, it can be that simple. Let’s do this…
