What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places — and there are so many — where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
Howard Zinn
Welcome to Day Two of Awaken Your Revolutionary Spirit
Let’s take a look at some revolutionary moments and shifts in history. What comes to mind first might be political revolution, but we can branch out pretty quickly. Think antibiotics or computers. The universal right to vote or the creation of public libraries and schools. And let’s not forget that for most of history, many cultures believed that the earth was the center of the universe. When Galileo proposed otherwise, it was revolutionary to European thought.
None of these inventions, opportunities, or ways of understanding our world would have come to life without radical shifts in perspective and the willingness to work toward a better future. But a revolutionary spirit does not belong only to the well-known visionaries of the world. For every famous large-scale creation or transformational understanding, there are millions of small revolutions in our lives that change the way we live — releasing a long-held story, forgiving or being forgiven, committing to a cause, discovering a calling in life. These kinds of significant shifts depend on, and awaken, a revolutionary spirit.
The poet and civil rights activist Gil Scott-Heron reminds us that awakening our revolutionary spirit begins by expanding our perspective enough to make space for something we haven’t quite figured out or can’t yet envision. He writes, “The first revolution is when you change your mind about how you look at things, and see that there might be another way.” We’re not always so good at this. You might recall that Galileo’s revolutionary understanding of the universe resulted in lifelong house arrest.
Do things always progress in a steadily-positive direction? We know, sadly, that they don’t; there’s an ebb and flow to human progress. And it’s essential, as we’ll explore in day five, that revolutionary developments be rooted in life-affirming values. Recalling some of life’s unexpected and revolutionary gifts, however, is a powerful reminder to trust that such possibilities will continue to emerge. It’s an invitation to look ahead with an openness to what we can’t yet envision. This is useful in how we respond to the global crises of this present moment and can kindle a revolutionary spirit in the midst of the struggle, grief, or hopelessness we may be experiencing in our individual lives.
Today’s Practice: Activate Your Inner Galileo
Set the stage for today’s practice by watching this moving illustration of the vastness of time and your place in the still-unfolding future. Let this perspective awaken your “inner Galileo”— that part of you that dares to look at life with a wild sense of possibility.
Step One: Look Back
- What life-enhancing developments exist today that were unimaginable a century ago? Consider breakthroughs in medicine, technology, societal structures, human rights!
- Write down three extraordinary developments from the past 100 years that inspire your awe or gratitude. Take a moment to consider the kinds of imagination and sense of possibility required to create or discover these things!
Step Two: Look at Your Life Today
- Now bring it closer to home. Think of one meaningful event, shift, or breakthrough that you did not expect but that has directly impacted your life. This might be personal (a healed relationship, a found calling), societal (a movement or law), or technological (a medical treatment or innovation).
- For a few moments, imagine what your life would be without this thing you’ve named. What does its existence/occurrence teach you about perspective, possibility, or even transformation?
Step Three: Remember Galileo
- Bring your attention to a current personal or global concern that feels unmovable or heavy. Write it down, then ask yourself: How could I view this seemingly hopeless situation or issue through the lens of possibility? What would it mean to believe that something revolutionary is still possible here — even if I can’t yet see it?
- In the face of overwhelming concerns or fears, whether individual or societal, make this one small shift: Instead of saying, “I don’t know what to do,” activate your inner Galileo and ask instead, “What’s possible?”
Step Four: Reflect
- After you’ve experimented with the practice of asking, “What’s possible?,” make note of any ways this changes how you approach challenges in your life and in the world. What opens up? How does posing this question create a sense of agency? In what ways is it liberating?
Scroll to the bottom of the page (or click here) to find the Community Conversation space where we invite you to share your reflections about today’s practice.
Deepening Resource
In this short essay, Joe Primo writes, “Seeking the possible is not the pursuit of an unlikely miracle, even though the moment the possible becomes tangible may be quite a miraculous arrival. The possible is always among us — in its constancy, it simply waits in silence to be discovered.” Enjoy this essay as a way to explore how the practice of living gratefully beckons each of us to be present to possibility rather than derailed by catastrophic thinking.
The Possible Is Always Present by Joe Primo
Research Highlight
Research by Dr. Dacher Keltner and colleagues at UC Berkeley reveals that the greatest source of awe in cultures around the globe is the “moral beauty” of our fellow humans — acts of extraordinary kindness, courage, commitment, and overcoming. We’re inspired and moved by the people who devote their lives to great causes or rise above enormous personal difficulties. In other words, taking time to look back at history or to pay attention to our fellow humans who are doing extraordinary things despite the world’s struggles — this matters. These people are sources of inspiration and awe, reminding us to widen our perspective, take the long view, and remain open to possibility.
Photo by Greg Rakozy
Grateful Living provides a path toward HOPE: a passion for possibilities.
Thie time video using the image of “Big Bang” for me is the forceful energy of Divine-Love.
When we connect to this Divine-Energy-of-Love with mind, body, spirit, heart, we become part of the co-creating, evolving Spirit that will eventually bring us to a point of Unity in our Diversity and the realization we are ONE and there is only ONE – US all connected together as the universe,
Maybe soon technology will discover that ONE-SPOT that lies hidden with-in each of us
Shifting to what’s possible has been a theme of ever evolving growth in my personal life and spiritual journey. I have come to the realization that everything built will eventually collapse, but we can learn from the collapse and choose to build back better.
I foresee many long-standing institutions, systems, and ways of putting people in neat little boxes that don’t challenge our comfort zone collapsing. I choose to use my own lessons learned on building back better from every personal collapse to support others in building back better through every blog post, every workshop I offer, and every interaction I have that is infused with loving compassion.
The Scale of Time video is very impressive.
!. Looking back in time, my family rode a horse and buggy to my grandmother’s rural home during inclement weather because the road was covered with slicky red soil – no paving. There was no indoor plumbing. A bit pot sat by the bedside for nighttime urination.
In the 1950’s, my children were exposed to the polio epidemic that caused paralysis and death. Dr. Jonas Salk was the scientist physician who saved lives with a vaccine.
Knowledge was generally obtained by reading a set of encyclopedias that dominated a big bookshelf – thanks to Encyclopedia Britannica! Today, I Google search and get an instant response.
2. Heart transplants began in 2001 with a South African cardiologist, Dr. Christiaan Barnard. Amazing! It teaches me to have courage and hope and compassion.
3. An ongoing concern is homelessness that persists and doesn’t seem to have wholesome solutions. The heart reveals one’s capability to love no matter who or what. Charity and love are necessary to keep tackling this issue. I think it needs to be brought forth more as a cause by the media as a starter. Many churches help, but a broader perspective needs to happen.
This is so rich. I know that when I take time to imagine, to dream; life and opportunities take shape in amazing ways. Too often, amidst the exhaustion of rapid cycle news clips, I fail to recognize the potential in the moment.
I am deeply grateful to women like Jane Goodall, Mary Oliver, and a few friends who demonstrated to me that one CAN make positive progress on behalf of animals whether it is research, writing, or hands-on rehabilitation. I have been given opportunities to make positive changes for animals. Now that I am older, it is much more difficult to participate, but I can do what is possible on my own property to create a sanctuary for all the creatures that live here.
I’m catching up on posting here on “what is possible” and rather than focusing on having to take pharmaceuticals, the advances of drugs that help me live a pain-free life are remarkable compared to the alternative – I am grateful.
In thinking about the current divide in the political systems of today, I take the wider of “what’s possible” and focus on the human spirit choosing love.
The idea of focusing on possibilities instead of helplessness turns the question in a new direction for me. What is possible in my small world with a bigger mind/heart?
As I was reflecting on this practice; it reminded me of my great grandmother who lived to 101 years old. She had seen so much in her time so many advancements and I can remember her talking about the numerous “miracles” she saw being developed what had previously been thought impossible. I love the question “What is possible?” because there is so much to do it is very inspirational
Cherri
The question “what is possible?” instead of “i don´t know what to do” opens to look for possibility instead of feeling helpless, the question liberates from a fixed perspective that nothing can be done anyway. It generates hope and the statement turns to – What is possible? Where lies posssibility and what can i do? It inspires to be part of what is possible. Stillness opens space.
Much space can be opened with the question “what is possible?” It will take time, I imagine.