Bridging Our New Future
A reflection on navigating uncertain times with intention, hope and conscious choice.
As we move through this unusual and unprecedented time, I often find myself asking, "What is really going on?"
We are living through hot weather, environmental challenges, political unrest and conflict across the world. It can sometimes feel overwhelming, and it is difficult to know how to respond. Do we stay informed? Do we switch off? Or do we put our heads in the sand?
My own belief is that we are moving through a significant shift in our evolution. I find it heartening to listen to both spiritual thinkers and scientists who speak about bridging the old world and the new. I also find astrology to be a helpful and positive tool. For me, it offers a framework that helps make sense of what is happening around us.
Each of us will have our own way of understanding these times. Some find meaning through spirituality, others through science, and others through entirely different perspectives. Personally, I choose to align myself with what feels positive, hopeful and inspiring, because that helps me stay grounded and move forward with purpose.
It feels as though this is a time to look again at the structures we have created and begin asking ourselves what we would like to create instead. I've been talking about this for a number of years now, but lately it feels as though the call to create something new has become louder and more urgent.
Intention and Attention
If we stay focused only on the surface of what is happening in the world, our energy can quickly become depleted. Before long, we may find ourselves unable to appreciate the simple joys that are still all around us.
Instead, I believe it is worth asking ourselves:
Where am I placing my attention?
What do I want for myself?
What do I want for my family?
What kind of future do I want to help create?
Most of us long for similar things: cleaner air and seas, healthy food, supportive communities and lives that feel peaceful, purposeful and connected.
Our intentions matter.
So does where we choose to place our attention.
Living From the Inside Out
If we spend every day consuming difficult news about crime, war, climate change and extreme weather, eventually it begins to flatten us emotionally.
Of course, it is important to stay informed. But it is equally important to protect our energy.
We need to become conscious of the lens through which we are viewing the world.
Alongside the difficult headlines, there are also many beautiful things happening.
Communities coming together.
People embracing meditation, yoga, forest bathing, dancing, singing and spending more time in nature.
Acts of kindness.
People creating positive change in their own unique way.
These stories rarely make the headlines because they are not sensational or fear-inducing, yet they are just as much a part of our world.
Choosing Your Lens
““Everything we see is through our own lens. Why not choose your lens?””
Social media can also influence where our attention goes.
Personally, I notice that I can become distracted, and at times it encourages comparison rather than connection. At the same time, it can also introduce me to inspiring people, fresh perspectives and valuable information.
The invitation isn't necessarily to avoid it, but to become aware of how it affects us.
Everything we experience is filtered through our own lens.
Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is to become more intentional about what we choose to take in.
What we watch.
What we read.
Who we listen to.
What inspires us.
Ultimately, we have more choice than we sometimes realise.
Gratitude
One of the simplest ways I know to gently shift my attention is through gratitude.
Noticing a beautiful sunset.
A friendly face.
A flower in bloom.
A good conversation.
The warmth of the sunshine.
A good book.
These moments may seem small, but they remind us that even in uncertain times, beauty continues to exist alongside challenge.
Bridging to Our New Future
One of the reasons I recently launched my new podcast is because I wanted to have conversations with people who are actively helping to create a more positive future.
In my first episode, I spoke with a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist who works with pregnant women and their families. His vision is to see a birthing centre become part of our health service; a place where women feel safe, comfortable and supported throughout their birth experience.
What I appreciated most was that he wasn't suggesting one approach was right and another wrong. Instead, he recognised that every family is different and that feeling supported is what matters most.
That conversation reminded me that perhaps creating a better future isn't always about choosing sides.
Sometimes it's about creating more possibilities.
What Future Are You Creating?
I often ask myself:
What do I want to see happen?
What do I want to create for myself?
For my family?
For my community?
For the world?
Can I see it?
Can I feel it?
Can I begin living as though it is already possible?
Some of the people whose work I enjoy following are Pam Gregory and David Clements. Closer to home, I also appreciate the perspectives shared by astrologers Claire O'Keeffe and Danielle Presser, whose reflections often encourage me to look at change with hope rather than fear.
October Creative Entrepreneurs Group
For a number of years I have facilitated groups for people who want to step into more of who they are and what they are here to contribute.
Over time these have taken different forms: Mastermind Groups, Female Entrepreneur Groups and, more recently, the Creative Entrepreneurs Group.
What they all have in common is a desire to support people who want to create something meaningful, while being encouraged by others walking a similar path.
This October I will be hosting an introductory Creative Entrepreneurs Group on 17 October.
If you feel called to create something new, or if you simply want to spend time with like-minded people who are looking towards the future with hope and possibility, I'd love to welcome you.
Perhaps creating our new future begins with one small, intentional step.
