June 23, 2023
My alarm went off at 6:15. It was a Saturday morning. My sleep had been disrupted by a neighbor’s party and my own resistance to closing the windows and turning on the a/c on a hot summer night. I foisted myself out of bed, groggy – and also anticipatory. In 45 minutes I’d be on my bike, headed to the Kohl Center to hop on a Sierra-club-sponsored bus that would take me 2 hours north to the Midwest Energy Fair in Custer, WI.
I attended 5 outdoor workshops that 90-degree day and took a couple of short naps under shade trees (thank you trees).
My takeaways from the day?
They mix and mingle with my current five main takeaways in my search for meaningful contribution related to climate:
ONE: Even though I’ve spent a lot of time wondering and researching “what can I do to help?,” the answer is less about individual change (unless you’re in the top 10% wealthiest consumers of the world), and more about joining in. When Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org was asked what individuals can do to help, his response was “Stop being an individual. Join something.” There are groups and organizations doing great work and can guide you to a good fit for volunteering. I’m getting involved with 350 Wisconsin. I’m also curious about Clean Wisconsin, Sustain Dane and Climate Fast Forward. State-wide (Wisconsin) and midwest collaborations include Wisconsin Climate Table and RE-AMP. I encourage you to take a look at what’s happening in your area.
TWO: Know that good stuff is happening. We have the research we need to create policy that will make a difference. We have the technology we need to go carbon-free. Thousands of people, groups and organizations are working on this. And we need all of us to get engaged
THREE: Bad stuff is also happening. We hear about it, we experience it. Today, I’m breathing dirty air from the climate-related fires raging in Canada this summer. And we are complex and resilient. Bad can happen at the same time as good. Efforts to swing the balance are in motion. Most folks want to build a more connected, equitable, generative future.
FOUR: Don’t wait for the perfect way to help or the ideal volunteer opportunity. Just take a step, any one step forward that feels good to you, tiny or large, it doesn’t matter. Just get in motion and the next step will become clear. Eat smaller portions of red meat or try tofu. Talk about climate with someone. Take the bus once this week. Google organizations you could join. What would be one fun step to take? One easy one? One bold one? Which one feels right for you for now?
FIVE: Enjoy and attend to what we have. Pay attention to the beauty of the earth and those around you. It’s possible and okay to love and laugh even within the difficulties. It’s possible and okay to touch joy even as we work hard. It’s possible to have fun while we protest or be kind while we advocate. It’s a both/and world.
What does coaching have to do with it?
Coaching helps people build presence and resilience and to create vision and positive change. Coaching meets people where they are while also opening new perspectives and possibilities. Emotions like fear, overwhelm and grief are given space to be expressed, often leading to a shift that opens new ways forward. One thing that I know for sure from my 17 years of coaching 100’s of people is that life-altering shifts in emotion and perspective can take place in a relational field of compassion and curiosity. Coaching is about honoring what is and also shifting to greater aliveness and taking action in that direction. And that’s what we need more of. Aligned action. Together. And room for joy.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these points and how you are engaging!
NOTES:
I’m offering sliding scale priced coaching sessions on the topic of climate change/justice (e.g. what’s hard, where you are stuck, maybe your vision, how you’d like to get involved). Contact me if you are interested; the session/s will undoubtedly be helpful and quite possibly transferable to other areas of life.
Also, I will start a low-fee Climate Circle for coaching in a small group when I have 5 or more people. Let me know if you are interested.
Finally, I’m seeking more thoughts and engagement around the question of “what’s the role of coaching in climate change/justice/solutions?” If you are a coach and have thoughts about this, let me know!