The mindfulness focus this week is circle of influence…contemplating the reach of our actions and what if anything we can do to change the world. Sadly this is not inspired by the garden, but instead by the ongoing gun violence in this country. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem. Much of it fueled by greed and money…always a bad combination.
The Garden Analogy
The garden does provide a focus for thinking about this concept. For example, I cannot create rain. That is outside of my circle of influence. But it’s inside my circle to see that plants need water and turn on the sprinklers. Similarly, It’s outside of my circle to stop hail forming in the atmosphere, but it’s inside my circle to invest in hail cloth that protects the garden. To throw my hands in the air and say it is all out of my control is confusing the weather with my options for action. Within our circle of influence there are always choices to be made and actions we can take. To not act seems defeatist and a denial of our connection with the world.
Thinking further about the garden, we can see it creates its own circle of influence. It provides a habitat for beneficial birds, insects, and other wildlife. The garden changes the mini-ecosystem in my yard and neighborhood. And it contributes to the overall health of my neighborhood and maybe even my city. There are ripple effects to the garden, even if we don’t know how far they extend. This applies to our lives as well. When we step up and act from a place of integrity and a vision for a better world, we don’t know what the ripple effects will be.
So this week the intentional focus is on my circle of influence, recognizing that I have one, and making appropriate choices. “My actions are my only belongings.” Thich Nhat Hahn
For more information on weekly mindfulness focus words click here.
Organization Working to End Gun Violence
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
