I Have Recently Had the Great Fortune of Reconnecting With an Old Friend.

I can already tell that the connection we have begun to re-foster is different this time. For one, we’re older, more experienced, and more aligned than when we previously had contact. But there’s more to it than that, too. This time, we listen and reflect, we hold space and offer tangible support, we no longer wish to construct pretty sentences without associated actions. I feel stimulated and seen. Challenged and called to challenge.

These things prompted my wondering about the role of reconnection and renegotiation of relationships, in answering the call to liberation action.

What Does Reconnecting With Faded Relationships Have to do With Acts of Liberation?

While reconnection is not always safe or sustainable, when we do desire opportunities to transform faded relationships into beacons of hope, there are ways to do so!

I invite you to watch & consider this (10 minute) conversation between Physician, Gabor Maté and Journalist, Peter Beinart:

Sit with Gabor’s words, for a moment:

“That’s the nature of the culture, to distract people from what’s important. That’s one of the ways that the culture maintains itself.” (6:12-6:18)

When we allow disconnection and distraction to get in the way of liberation, we prioritize comfort in our relationships, over safety in our communities; we help to maintain the culture. By allowing reconnection and truth-telling into your life, you allow for a liberated and changing world. You invite unique perspectives, varying experiences, and critical conversations. You are taking action, through intentional reconnection, against stagnation, isolation, and continued oppression.

How Newfound Hope in Reconnection Inspires Greater Action.

We must be willing to participate in our own disillusionment, the deconstruction of our embarrassment, rage, shame, and fear, in order to truly reconnect. That begins with the acceptance that we cannot know everything or assume anything. Part of what creates true, and solid, foundational connections are the efforts that we put fourth, in the early stages of a relationship. This is true in reconnection as well. By openly sharing our perspectives and experiences, while remaining open to hearing those of others, we show our dedication to communing; to liberating ourselves from the cultural impulses towards snap judgement, defensiveness, and self-dismissal from the work.

Instead, we can turn towards:

• Asking questions and building understanding through direct communication, which may bring about opportunities for idea and resource sharing, community-building, and long-term hopefulness.

• Noticing our initial emotional responses, (especially when they consists of embarrassment, rage, shame, or fear) and exploring the impulse to defend ourselves rather than understanding a different view/changing our minds.

• Taking intentional time outside of newly forming and reforming relationships to reflect on our conversations, explore more information regarding our new connection’s communities and interests, and re-evaluate our own values and alignment with the space that we are co-creating.

Community and connection are critical to our sustaining hope for a liberated future. Community and connection are our liberated future.

Where have you recently acted from a place of embarrassment, rage, shame, or fear? What adjustments might you make in the future? How may this have held you back from liberation?

If you find yourself ready to explore more questions like these, or to otherwise create a space dedicated to offering values-aligned support, email me to schedule a FREE life and liberation coaching session today: [email protected]!