Breaking the Pyramid Scheme

A reflection on politics, leadership and true power

When I was growing up, election night in my family was like the SuperBowl.

My mom and I would sit glued to the TV, watching as the CNN news team updated us minute-by-minute as the ballots would close. It was thrilling.

In my twenties, this felt even more relevant. I was studying political science in university, and it was so consuming.

I unconsciously believed that there was this hierarchy where the people at the very top are special, “chosen” humans. They had this incredible destiny to change the world, and the rest of us were responsible for funnelling our energy up to them.

And not just our energy—but our hope, our power, our creativity, our destiny. It was like a big pyramid scheme.

But over the last 10 years, through a lot of the spiritual work I’ve been doing, I’ve learned that there is no hierarchy. These candidates are no more special than you or me.

And actually, we have more creativity, hope, energy, and power to impact our own lives and close communities than they do.

We’re so much more powerful than we realize.

I’ve since changed the way I engage in politics, because in order to make a positive impact, I need to keep my energy clear and focussed on the work.

The work that brings people together.

The work that awakens us to our soul’s purpose.

Now, this doesn’t mean I think we should tune out. Actually, I believe the opposite. Politicians still create policies and systems that impact our lives. And wherever possible, we should make thoughtful choices about who we support.

But sometimes, even with the best of intentions, things don’t go as we’d hoped. And in those moments, we have an opportunity to remember we really are.

We are creators.

We are dreamers.

We are changemakers and visionaries.

We are powerful beings with the ability to transmute pain and suffering into joy and liberation.

This isn’t easy. But it is possible.

So, maybe this past week your candidate won.

Or maybe your candidate lost.

Just remember, neither candidate will ever be able to come close to the power you have to impact your own future.

So let's all take a deep breath, ground our feet into the Earth, sit with a tall spine and remember none of it is happening to us it's always happening for us.

Do not outsource your hope, your leadership, and your future to anyone else but you.

Big love,

D

PS: Here’s this week’s journaling music playlist.