Between the Tides
The world is held together, really, it is held together by the love and the passion of a very few people. ~ James Baldwin
I once heard a story about the monks on Mt. Athos, who pray ceaselessly for peace on the planet. When a visitor pondering the current state of the world wondered about their effect, the reply was, “Can you imagine how bad it would be if we didn’t pray?”
I couldn’t remember or find the source of this story (maybe Ram Dass?) but I did find this article where one of the monks states: “It is through monastic prayer that the world still exists,” St. Silouan the Athonite used to say.
In my Connecting with Kristina Zoom on March 26, the theme was Emerging Into Ourselves with Ease. I talked about how we are in a liminal place of huge endings and very new beginnings. But we are dancing between both so it can feel somewhat murky and unclear. It is the space where the caterpillar feels the world is ending before it becomes a butterfly, which requires an immense amount of letting go, trust in oneself and faith in the process, guided by something far bigger than we can imagine; that which makes our hearts beat and the oceans wave.
And just like a caterpillar, we are organic creatures moving through a very physical process. If you can be in your body, pay attention to and heed what your body needs or is saying to you, you will make the most of it. Whether you like it or not, change is happening and the trick to reduce any suffering is not to resist what it is requiring, or get sidetracked and distracted by any external chaos that does not directly affect you. Because there is only so much our bodies, minds and spirits can take in at once.
I’ve had several folks confide to me that they are feeling helpless about all that is happening in our country and world. My counsel is that unless you are involved in some official role or affected by one of the many issues bubbling up, the best thing to do is focus your energy and attention on being the most expressed, aligned, loving, creative version of yourself and be present in your own evolution — which will serve your sphere of influence, add your gifts to society, and contribute peace and harmony to the quantum soup to neutralize the opposite. Because we all have a role to play and a job to do, no matter how big or small you perceive it to be. (Watch more about this on YouTube and read more about in January’s PGG essay or February’s essay here.)
Just like the monks on Mt. Athos, you must have the faith to know that whatever you do is absolutely having an effect.
And the more you connect to yourself and become fully embodied, new gifts and characteristics start to come online that you never knew about or may have been dormant. The caterpillar never knew that one day it would fly! Many of us are between personas. Old roles are exiting stage left, new characters and roles are entering stage right — but it’s still all you and your life, just new versions, costumes, players and scenes. Or upgrades like the software updates we get…
The bottom line with all this transition, in harmony with the energy of Spring, is to commit to becoming who you are now, in this season of life, from the deepest sense of your Being.
Back again to those monks at Mt. Athos … We may never know if what they are doing is helping, but it certainly can’t be hurting. So what is the big or small thing you can do that may not have any tangible “proof” of impact? Because that prayer, affirmation, gesture of kindness, expression of compassion, creation or acknowledgement of beauty might be the very act that turns the tide of humanity into a whole new era, one of darkness into Light.
(Originally published as a PGG newsletter on March 28, 2025.)
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Kristina Leonardi is a nationally recognized career and life coach, speaker and author who for over 17 years has empowered individuals to make lasting professional and personal changes aligned with their true passions and talents while fulfilling their role in the world at large.
With a holistic and personal growth-oriented approach, she has helped hundreds of men and women improve their job performance, enter or re-enter the job force, change careers, better manage their time and stress, and live happier, more meaningful, balanced lives.
Her specialty is working with people who feel stuck or are in transition and can help you clarify exactly what you want to do, identify blocks, issues, and patterns in your way, and offer proven ideas, resources, and action steps to get you there.
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