How To Sow Hope During Turbulent Times

These days it’s rare to open the news and come across hopeful messages. During a political year characterized by the fear of a worldwide pandemic, a weakened economy, mass depression, and racial tensions, I often find myself wondering where to look for the promises of a better future. On a global scale, international conflicts, scarcity, pollution, and political tensions paint a gloomy picture. It’s a fact politicians and news outlets thrive on fear-mongering, even though throughout the world there are wonderful accomplishments and reasons to celebrate mankind’s evolution and spirit.

I find a spark of light with the refreshing news of a project to address the most urgent, timely, and important need in our world: learning to love. There is indeed work underway that addresses the need for love and connection in our world, the need to cultivate healthy relationships, the need to heal, the need to address all forms of violence and oppression in order to bring up more conscious and self-aware human beings that are prepared to face the challenges of our times through the lens of love.

SEE ALSO: Your Inspiration For The Day

Lovescaping

Lovescaping is taught through the intentional engagement of 15 pillars:

1. Empathy
2. Humility
3. Care
4. Respect
5. Honesty
6. Communication
7. Trust
8. Vulnerability
9. Patience
10. Liberation
11. Compassion
12. Solidarity
13. Gratitude
14. Forgiveness
15. Hope

Lovescaping contributes directly to creating a more just, loving, free, conscious, and happy world because it instills hope and self-love in individuals so that they may in turn practice love in action and instill love in others. Not all children are privileged enough to experience these pillars in their households, therefore it is tremendously empowering to learn how to practice each in all interactions and how to apply them in constructing paradigms. This curriculum has been developed into a practical framework and program created by educator Irene Greaves. She has been implementing it in K-12 public schools throughout the city of Houston and beyond.

Lovescaping envisions schools as places where we systematically cultivate love, and Irene has designed a curriculum that teaches participants of all ages how to practice each one of the pillars of Lovescaping through circles, reflections, games, role play, teamwork, etc… What does humility look like? What does empathy look like? What does solidarity look like?

Behind every confident individual, every act of kindness, every healthy relationship, and every thriving community is love. Lovescaping® is a program that teaches the skills to cultivate self-love and love for others.

Vulnerability for young and old

Not only children benefit from these teachings; leaders in the corporate world and all walks of life also benefit from these premises. As Brené Brown put it in her famous TED talk and book Daring Greatly:

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”

“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”

“People who wade into discomfort and vulnerability and tell the truth about their stories are the real badasses.”

A forgiveness lesson from a princess

Another lesson in Lovescaping comes to us from Carrie Fischer, best remembered for interpreting our favorite and timeless Princess Leia: “It’s the most amazing thing to be able to forgive. And so difficult.” How could we ever forget her oh-so-true, poignant quote: “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

Gratitude – to your Health!

There are numerous studies on the positive impact of gratitude. As quoted in Harvard Health, giving thanks can make you happier. “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

In the words of Jimi Hendrix, “when the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”