This is the third in my series of reflections on the “c-o-s-m-o-s remedy” proposed in opposition to the “ideology of e-s-c-a-p-e” by Jem Bendell in Deep Adaptation: Navigating the Realities of Climate Chaos (UK/USA 2021).

#1: Reflections on Compassion
#2: Reflections on Openness

In contrast to the habit of Control in e-s-c-a-p-e ideology, which involves thinking ‘I will try to impose on you and everything, including myself, so I feel safer,’ Bendell proposes that Serenity involves the feeling that ‘I appreciate the dignity of you, myself and all life, however disturbing situations might seem’ (p.146).

Serenity is defined as the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. A look at the day’s headlines suggest that we are more generally inclined to feel the very opposite: fear, dread, anguish, and anxiety. Desperate for control over our lives, we often place our faith in powerful men to save us from drowning. In America, we pass laws to restrict the rights of others for control over their bodies.

Since childhood, fear has been a constant companion. Such is the nature of domestic violence. All I could control was fear itself. In high school, I learned the “Serenity Prayer” asking God for the wisdom to know the difference between things I could and could not change, and the courage to change what was within my power to change. I did what I could to improve communication between my parents, with no observable change.

Over the years, I have learned that some things require time, even centuries, to bring about change. It is a commitment that must be passed on from one generation to the next. More recently, I have also come to realize that changes achieved after years of struggle cannot be taken for granted. They can be overturned. To keep up the struggle, one must arm oneself with patience, persistence, and perseverance. A good dose of serenity would also go a long way.

Submerged within a space of silence, reflection, and prayer, I did achieve some degree of serenity as a young religious sister. Unaccustomed to the silence within the walls of the Mother House, located in a quiet upscale neighborhood, the other postulant and I used to whisper when talking to each other, even when alone. We had both come from working-class homes where the sounds of music and children at play agitated the air. Added to that were the constant bickering and altercations between my parents. Though I enjoyed a new inner peace, fear continued to stalk me.

In the community’s efforts to transform me into an obedient and loving servant of the Lord, I suffered several small indignities as a young Guyanese woman of a newly independent nation. Conformity to the laws of the religious life is essential for acceptance within the community. Such is the nature of religious institutions. Devout Christians among the laity or secular population face similar constraints. Fear of God’s punishment keeps many of the faithful on the righteous path. Serenity demands repentance or exclusion of the sinner: the deviant, miscreant, and non-conformists. When we intertwine Church doctrine with state and federal laws, we succeed only in amplifying fear, the number of those excluded, and the rift within our society.

The report Stress in America 2022: Concerned for the Future, Beset by Inflation “shows a battered American psyche, facing a barrage of external stressors that are mostly out of personal control.” Conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) between August 18 and September 2, 2022, among 3,192 adults age 18+ who reside in the USA, the survey “found a majority of adults are disheartened by government and political divisiveness, daunted by historic inflation levels, and dismayed by widespread violence.”

Below are some of the findings regarding our government, the state of our country, and the direction in which we are headed:

• 76 percent regard the future of our nation as a significant source of stress;
• 70 percent think the people in the government do not care about them;
• 68 percent regard our present state as the lowest point in our nation’s history they can remember;
• 64 percent feel their rights are under attack;
• 45 percent do not feel protected by the laws in the United States;
• 40 percent consider moving to another state due to the political environment in their state; and
• 38 percent consider moving to a different country.

The myriad stressors in American society affect our health and ability to care for ourselves and our families. Seventy-six percent (76%) of those contacted experienced health impacts due to stress in the prior month, including headache (38%), fatigue (35%), nervous or anxious (34%), and/or feeling depressed or sad (33%).

When our serenity is achieved through the control of others, we the people suffer the consequences of the fear and anxiety unleashed on the general population. The serenity that Jem Bendell speaks of—appreciating the dignity of each one of us despite the uncontrollable chaos of our lives—requires that we look deep within our minds and hearts.

The APA recommends six simple steps to build resilience in uncertain times and free us to focus on what is in our control:

• Disrupt negative thinking;
• Do something unexpected;
• Take control where you can;
• Don’t judge yourself against others;
• Take your own advice; and
• Don’t look for a rescuer.

Fear and anxiety continue to shadow my footsteps. As shared in a previous post, I have achieved some release in the daily practice of Zen mindfulness meditation and in connecting with Mother Nature through gardening. Should you be interested in learning more, listen to Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022) explain what is “Mindful Breathing Meditation.”