Shifting Values
Core values compete and vie for our attention. The values we “bring up” and “highlight” will impact the way we think about our current situation. This is a good thing; we need this kind of flexibility, wisdom and discernment.
Early on in the pandemic Scott and I worked on the core value of safety/respite/calm. We chose topics to foster this attitude in most meetings whose content we had responsibility for. That was, count them, almost SEVEN months ago. We thought we would be in lockdown for a month. Maybe two. It didn’t turn out that way, did it?
Back then, safety and respite for all the anxiety and uncertainty seemed like a top priority. Folks were wondering how they could BEAR two weeks of staying at home, not getting a haircut, their nails done or eating at their favorite bar and grill. Others worried about keeping their home, not getting paid, figuring out how they were going to feed their kids or find childcare so they could work their essential jobs. I suspect that 7 months in, most of us have some of the same concerns.
If safety was our initial value, what values might we want to highlight after 7 months? Every person will need to decide this for themselves. Scott and I are still organizationally very concerned about safety, but we are also concerned about support. How do we shift our mindset from - hey, everybody hunker down and use your tools to survive a few weeks of weird living to - oh boy - what are we going to do to continue our recovery work as a community?
At first, we encouraged folks to not worry about productivity - survive! We said. Be kind to yourselves, maybe eat pizza and ice cream and read a good crime novel. Seven months in, our value needs to shift and priorities need to change. We know this because we observe and listen to the stories folks tell us. Things like how crazy it feels to see Facebook posts from people you thought you knew but realize their viewpoint is not only contradictory to yours, it is offensive. Or the hurt feelings that arise when various family members choose different positions on what constitutes responsible living in the age of covid-19. Or my goodness, the election.
So here goes, the seven month values shift. What if we refocus our attention on a slightly different value? We do not have to give up on our core value of safety (for self and others), but maybe we can add on to it? Tomorrow, we’ll talk about how to do that. For today, as often as you can, try to think of what you can do to please God. Something small. Something manageable. Something that involves glitter and glue - on paper, not in your cousin’s hair or Meme’s favorite sweats.
