It took me some time to realize that the fall illness that had me coughing and hacking these last two weeks was actually unexpressed grief around the U.S. election. And, as I watch the president-elect appoint a creationist as the Secretary of Education, and a man who has made a living partially out of giving white supremacy a voice as the chief strategist, my sense of these being urgent times has increased.
There’s a lot to be said about this, and a lot to be done. However, because our focus is on business, in this particular newsletter, in this small slice of the larger reality, I want to focus on a question that seems to be surfacing a lot:
In the face of such momentous issues, how can I focus on my business? How is my business even relevant?
I’m not going to just rah-rah you into “your activism *is* your business,” although that can be true for some, depending on the business. The truth is that we need all of us to stand up for what we believe in, to engage with the world around us. If you’re inside the U.S., our democracy needs help. If you’re outside the U.S., your own country needs help, especially in the face of all that the U.S. may try to do over the next years.
However, I want to ALSO say that it is not just okay, but good to focus some of your attention on your business. And here’s why.
The video is fairly short, only about 4 minutes.
I’d love to hear where your heart is after watching this video, beloved.
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26 Responses
Mark, that was beautiful, and heart felt. I’ve felt many of the same things as you name here, and find myself drawn forward by the same conviction. This is not game over, there is still healing needed, and the last thing we need is to get overwhelmed. The light of truth and inspiration and stillness is required more than ever. It’s important to name these things, and you doing so marks you out as the true leader you are. Blessing on you and your work.
Thank you, Leo. Blessings received, and continuing onward in the healing, all of us, together.
Your words and thoughts are so needed right now. Thank you Mark.
Such honesty. That’s what I am truly grateful about the Heart of Business.
I have decided to embrace my true self and pursue with my art. Many times I wonder if what I have to offer is enough, if I can truly make a difference, but creative expression, in whatever form, does make a difference, if anything, it connects people together, and as you say we need each other. Blessings.
Catherine- I’m so grateful for you embracing your art. Artists are needed, everyone who speaks from the heart is needed.
Yes, that’s right. I’ve found enormously helpful the Charles Eisenstein piece you posted on facebook. ( http://charleseisenstein.net/hategriefandanewstory/ ) I’ve been flattened by the election and am only now beginning to be able to focus again on the work that I am called to do.
Annamarie- yes, Charles Eisenstein is a real gift! I’m so glad you are getting up and moving again! Let’s all be in motion… heart-centered motion!
I loved hearing and seeing this!
I don’t often take the time to listen to videos, much less watch them, but this was really worth it. I love the way you open up to the camera for us, so we can see what you’re experiencing. Your willingness to be real helps us to do the same, at a time when often surface seems more important than meaning.
Here in the UK, reeling from the weirdness of a Brexit that its promoters never expected or actually planned for, and the passing of the most wide-ranging surveillance law in world history (hi, CGHQ!), the US election result has many of us in a kind of numb shock. Now what????
And yet at the same time, there’s also – on both sides of the Atlantic – such an outpouring of fellowship, desire to heal and help, and willingness to work together to create a world that improves on what we had before, let alone after, the president-elect.
I take your lovely piece as a reminder that our everyday lives, business and all, are political too, and that everything we do is part of our response to what he represents.
Thank you, Anne! And yes, everything counts, right? I’m loving watching the upswelling of activism and joining hands in response.
I loved this video Mark and it means a lot to me even if I am here, overseas. Such good timing to remind us to stay centred, solid and strong in the inner mission that we carry in our hearts for ourselves and our business. I am going to be giving a talk on something similar next week.
Thank you again for expressing your inspiration to us. ps. I loved how you were so at ease turning your camera ‘on and off’ and not worrying about that! 🙂
Daniela- thank you! And about the camera- I wondered whether I should edit that part out, and I think it went smoothly enough that I feel good about how it feels. Raw is good, and the care that rises out of production values is also good.
Aha! Of course. So glad you figured that out, so you could share with us AND feel better. Thanks for this call to show up, Mark. Deep breath. I seem to be doing that a lot when I think of this election, sigh. And, I for one, know that my business is desperately needed at this time. Thank you for the reminder. <3
Hi Karin- The more breath, the better, eh? Your business is really needed.
Thank you dear Mark for sharing yourself so fully and for your words of encouragement and heart felt understanding that we need each other and we need to stand together. I, too, am just now resurfacing after feeling like I was hit with a tsunami of grief and disappointment. What I discovered in the depths was the power and strength my own jewel, my own divine purpose for being here. I am here standing with you and all of us as we bring Light and love to the darkest places.
There are good things happening as well. Stepping forward and requesting to work with Trump, Tulsi Gabbard (D from HI) is seriously being considered for the position of Secretary of State. The day after her interview with Trump, he reversed or softened his position on immigration, the connection between global warming and human behavior and torture. I imagine that Tulsi had some major influence.
As Leo said, there is much healing needed. I am connecting more deeply with the strength of my own heart and my divine purpose, mentoring Self love. Your compassion and strength to stand before us in your authenticity is inspiring. With love and respect for us all, Anasuya
Anasuya- yes, there are good things happening. I trust and hope that your news about Tulsi is true- that feels hopeful indeed!
Thank you, Mark, for the message today. It is very timely as I have set aside time today to try to get what I need to be doing into focus and get more control of my next steps. This time has been shocking and very, very distracting and yet at the same time I’ve been knowing that we are what we have been waiting for and more than ever now it is time for all of us (including myself) to become more exquisitely responsive to need. In this awareness I have been experiencing a breaking open especially in going beyond thinking in polarities to thinking in inclusive wholes. And of course feeling more fully. Yesterday morning I had a most amazing dream of Total Love and then reminders throughout the day. Now to operationalize it in my activity planning and nurture. Shalom Salem Peace
Anita- Shalom, Salaam! the breaking open is such a tender, beautiful process, and so needed… Total Love!
I’ve been struggling with just this very thing, Mark, so thank you for speaking to it. We do, indeed, need each other right now. More than ever.
Mandy- yes… if we’re going to struggle, let’s struggle together. It makes it easier and more fun, and we get to be more effective. Glad to be on your team…
Thank you, Mark. Perhaps my cold is a release of grief for deeper issues in my life.
I was also floored at the election results, but quickly decided that I had to focus on what I can do and what is still good in the world, or I would curl up in a useless ball.
My work with plants and people is more important than ever, so I am focusing on how to be of service no matter what.
Iris- So important, more important than ever! And if we get colds along the way, that’s okay… we’ll express the grief and continue showing up, eh?
Beautiful Mark. Amen.
Amen, brother, amen.
Thanks so much for sharing your grief, Mark, and your perspective that the love we offer through and outside of our businesses is more important than ever! Your words truly resonate with me and comfort me. Thank you!
Right now, a part of my livelihood, a class series I teach, is at risk, because a seeming Trump supporter took offense at something she thought I said in a class on dealing with bullying. I’m not even sure what. But she complained about me to the coordinator who instantly believed her, ran with it without even fact checking, and threatened to fire me. I was shocked and horrified, but the good news is I didn’t abandon myself or the Divine. Even in that crisis, I can love myself and see myself as part of a benevolent Universe! That is part of my progress.
Lorraine- thank you for your kindness. It sounds like you weren’t actually fired, so here’s to a compassionate universe!
Greetings Mark,
Mark, Thank You for taking the time to record this. I am just grateful, as someone else commented here, that you provide real leadership to those of us who have developed a sense of trust and expression in the Realness of the gifts of our heart. This has been so very devastating to that, and for us there’s no one we can turn to. So, Thank You so very much!!! Your message to have the courage to show up, and to know that we truly need each other right now because others need our gifts was truly music to my heart.
Evidently there has been illness among our members of society of the kind that an emergency room could have no solution for, and a whole lot of these people made sure they got up and out to vote. The sad thing is that these “ills” aren’t being addressed in the choices we see taking shape in the choices for this incoming administration, and we all know as teachers, coaches, mentors, etc…you can not do another’s inside work for them.
My saving grace for my soul in the aftermath of the electoral college being leveraged to Trump by so many hurting, was the news that Hillary won the popular vote. This said to me two things: 1. That we need to change that. We need to get rid of the electoral college. The majority should have the voice, and the true rights to leadership for the continued progress of our community of humanity, and 2. That there is a landslide majority of us that are “representative” of what we have worked hard as a nation for so long to achieve in attending to the spirit of the community of humanity, manifesting the fruits of the heart, in our labors of love. These are the thinking people who need to be the Leadership.
So, thank you Mark for taking the time to help us in our shock and grief. To know that our grief and dismay are to be honored and molded into the more of ourselves, and to represent healing as what we know is true of our fellow human beings, in service. I am hopeful that as I hang on to what I know and continue to heal, and write and coach and show up, that Love that listens and attends to another in consciousness can and will impart the Realness of Love to humanity.
And Thank You for all who responded. I read through all of the responses twice. There’s a lot of heart, love, care, and knowing going on here that is “Real-Speak.” Thank You all!
Thank you, Linda… so heart-felt. I appreciate your presence!