The Sky Is Falling: Insight & Reflections
Steps to Resiliency
Metaphysical Medicine
Episode 12: Buddhist Economics with Dr. Clair Brown
Dr. Clair Brown In episode 12, Aimee and Laura speak with UC Berkley Economics Professor Dr. Clair Brown about her book Buddhist Economics: An Enlightened Approach to the Dismal Science. This conversation invites listeners of all backgrounds to imagine an ideal future that benefits all rather than a select few. More Info On Clair Brown and Buddhist Economics:Buddhist Economics:...
New Round of "10-Steps To Personal Resilience & Empowerment"
It's tough being an aware, awake person in this culture.Each day seems to bring more bad news: more natural disasters, more hate-fueled actions, more division, and more reminders that our culture is destroying our planetary lifelines. We at the Good Grief Network are aware of the pain, anger, grief and other heavy emotions that are present when we face these...
Resources To Dig Deeper Into Each Step
Overall Recommendations: Articles"In Facing Mass Extinction, We Must Allow Ourselves to Grieve" by Dahr Jamail"The Miraculous Hope Of Climate Realists" by Erika Spangler-SiegfriedFacing Extinction by Catherine IngramAudioArticle "We Need Courage, Not Hope, To Face Climate Change""Beyond Hope" by Derrick Jensen"Forget Shorter Showers" by Derrick Jensen"Dark Ecology" by Paul Kingsnorth"The Axis and the Sycamore" by Paul Kingsnorth"Neoliberalism has conned us...
Next Week: Personal Resilience In A Chaotic Climate
We are excited to announce that a new round of the Good Grief Network's successful "10-Steps to Personal Resilience In A Chaotic Climate" will be launching on February 27, 2019 at 6:30pm. We're meeting at the Unitarian Church: 569 S 1300 E, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102. You'll have to head to the North Doors and rings the bell (We'll be expecting you). ***Note: We...
Antique Wisdom for a Changing World: Applying an Ancient Tradition to Modern Environmental Issues
An Article by LaUra Schmidt, MS Environmental Humanities Abstract The earth is facing contemporary environmental crises that will lead to catastrophic outcomes. Can practicing an ecologically-friendly religion help mitigate some of the current crises? Buddhism seems to have an "ecological perspective." But where does this religion, grounded in over 2,500 years of tradition and Eastern philosophy, stand on the issues of environmental degradation and...
Ya know, I think it's brilliant that folks can do a birthday fundraiser on Facebook. I usually ask for donations for some type of animal rescue - and I will do that when I am more financially grounded. But -- for my 33rd birthday, this year, my ask is that you consider supporting Aimee and me in the work we...
Step-By-Step Changes By Carissa Wesson
Change isn't easy. And it's clear that how most of us (in the Western world) interact with this planet is deeply unsustainable How do we make change? How do we begin the journey? This post is a guest contribution by Carissa Wesson: I've been recycling for a few years but I knew there was more I could do to help...
Episode 11: An Activist Journey
Aimee and Laura interview Adair Kovac, the Good Grief Network's Utah organizer. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about their path to activism, their journey, how each of us can get involved in our community, and the importance of self-care. While we sometimes need a break after advocating for a just future, forms of activism can be easy and...
Driving for Democracy
LaUra Schmidt and I mailed out our applications for absentee ballots on the same day, in the same sized envelopes from the same post office. Her ballot came, mine didn't. I assumed it was on the way. Election day inched closer and still no ballot. Friday before the election, I called the Salt Lake County Clerk. They said they...
Episode 10: Boo! Leveraging Fear with Courage
Aimee and Laura talk about what scares them, they share insights and tools for how to combat fear, shine light on our inner-shadows, and the importance of civil discourse. Support Us Good Grief Network Wishlist: http://a.co/3BwEwCe Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GoodGriefNetwork Buy GGN A Cup Of Coffee: www.ko-fi.com/goodgriefnetwork Follow Us On Social Media: Twitter: @GoodGriefNetwk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goodgriefnetwork/ Instagram: @GoodGriefNetwork Media Links (Music or TV Clips) Kendrick Lamar "Vanity Slaves" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1JJWbZv8MU Baz Lurhman "Wear Sunscreen" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwVVpwBKUp0 Talib Kweli "The...
Resources to Go Further Into Step 4:
STEP 4: Confront My Own Mortality And The Mortality Of All "The Revolution Will Not Be televised" Charles Eisenstein: Climate -- A New Story (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Independent bookstores). Flight From Death Documentary (Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH7686gJgj8) "The People Paradox: Self-Esteem Striving, Immortality Ideologies, and Human Response to Climate Change" Civil Disobedience Over Climate Change "We Were Made For These Times" "Wisdom From A...
Resources To Go Further Into Step 3
Step 3: Practice Sitting With Uncertainty Resources to Go Further: Books Charles Eisenstein: Climate -- A New Story (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Independent bookstores). Rebecca Solnit: Hope In The Dark Rebecca Solnit: Paradise Built In Hell Pema Chodron: Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change Pema Chodron: Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion Podcast OnBeing: "Falling Together" with Rebecca Solnit The New Lifeboat Hour: "Beyond...
Step 2: Acknowledge That I am Part Of The Problem As Well As The Solution Resources To Go Further: "Forget Shorter Showers" by Derrick Jensen: https://orionmagazine.org/article/forget-shorter-showers/ "Neoliberalism has conned us into fighting climate change as individuals" by Martin Lukacs: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2017/jul/17/neoliberalism-has-conned-us-into-fighting-climate-change-as-individuals "What to Do When You Don't Know What's Next" by Dawa Tarchin Phillips: https://tricycle.org/magazine/dont-know-whats-next/ "A License to Be Human" By Van Jones: https://orionmagazine.org/article/a-license-to-be-human/ "'Show Up With...
Step 1: Accept the Problem & Its Severity Resources to go further: -Article: "The People Paradox: Self-Esteem Striving, Immortality Ideologies, and Human Response to Climate Change" (AKA How Death Anxiety Contributes To Our Current And Future Problems) -Article: "Transforming Despair: An Interview with Joanna Macy" -BOOK: Active Hope: How To Face The Mess We're In Without Going Crazy -Article: "We Need Courage, Not Hope, To...
Episode 9: Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants
Aimee and Laura chat about their second week on the road where they presented at the Uplift Climate Conference in Albuquerque, NM. They were joined by a reporter, Avi Scher from NYC, where they presented practices and tactics for build community and psychosocial resilience. They chat about entering the flow state, emergence, standing on the shoulders of giants, and how inspiration...
Episode 8: The Hard Stuff
Laura and Aimee discuss Aimee's recent vision fast and how we must train ourselves to do difficult things to make ourselves better people and our world a better place. SUPPORT US Good Grief Network Wishlist: http://a.co/3BwEwCe Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GoodGriefNetwork Buy GGN A Cup Of Coffee: www.ko-fi.com/goodgriefnetwork Follow Us On Social Media: Twitter: @GoodGriefNetwk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/goodgriefnetwork/ Instagram: @GoodGriefNetwork RESOURCES Sign Up To Participate in the 10-Step Program Digitally:...
Reflections on smoky days in a nice apartment
Reflection by Adair, Good Grief SLC organizer I think it's the smoke from the wildfires, maybe combined with the valley's more consistent auto/industrial pollution, that's given me this cold. Either way, I've spent most the weekend laid up in my apartment, alone but for my cats, reading books on psychodynamic therapy to help myself see that my mind's already whole,...
What No One Wants to Talk About (When We Talk About Celebrities)
Chances are, you've already heard that pop icon Demi Lovato nearly died from a recent overdose. For how frequently we discuss celebrities, it amazes me how little we think about the human beings behind the hype. We talk about what they wear, tweet, and say. We pin our hopes, fears, and disgust onto these projections of persons masked in...
Healing Our Trauma Together In an Insane World: Online Summit
This online summit, hosted by Dean Walker and Caroyln Baker, is intended to explore our literally insane world through a lens of experiencing individual and collective, trauma. What seems obvious is that the daily onslaught of traumatizing news and events will not be slowing down any time soon. Also clear, is the cultural strong suit we appear to have, for...
Episode 7: Conflict as an Invitation to Go Deeper
Aimee and Laura dive into what it means to fall short of our individual ideals and how to use mistakes as an opportunity for deeper connection rather than sources of shame and isolation. RESOURCES Upstairs/Downstairs Brain: http://momentousinstitute.org/blog/upstairs-and-downstairs-brain Daniel Kahneman. Thinking Fast and Slow. https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555 Per Espen Stoknes. What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming: Toward a New Psychology of Climate...
The Opposite of Namaste
I know I'm not the only one afraid to read the news. It breaks my heart. And when I see people in power lying to us without remorse, or I see people knowingly benefit from the suffering of others, it stirs violent feelings bordering on hate. I hate hate. I used to think this was an appropriate response. I...
Episode 6: Ten Steps to Resilience in a Chaotic Climate
LaUra and Aimee explain their 10 step program that leads to psychosocial resilience from systemic existential threats. They acknowledge the importance of looking inwardly to engage outwardly. This program was originally created by LaUra during her Environmental Humanities Graduate program at the University of Utah and after Aimee moved to Salt Lake City, the two of them turned theory...
Natural Gratitude
After I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I lived with retired Sisters of Mercy for a year while I tried to write a book about mental illness and spirituality. The experience so radically shifted my perspective that I abandoned work on the book, because I wasn't even sure who this person was that was trying to write it anymore. One morning, not...
Episode 5: Why Grieve?
In episode 5, Aimee and LaUra dive into their definition of grief and reflect on its importance for establishing individual resilience. This episode is inspired by a question from Chelsie, a listener in New York. If you like what you're hearing and want to support our work, please consider becoming a patron (https://www.patreon.com/GoodGriefNetwork). RSS Feed | ITunes | Podcasts for Andriod |...
Episode 4: How Personal Grief Shapes Activism
In this episode, Aimee and LaUra share some tools they use to re-engage in activism when the despair seems suffocating. The question was prompted from a listener, Brooke. They explore what activism means, a correlation between mental health issues and activism, and what they've learned about the importance of tending to individual grief before tackling collective grief. If you like...
Feeling: The start of a revolution.
I'm writing this hours before a dog I love will be put to sleep. He's not my dog - he's my older sister's. I love him regardless of ownership. My niece-phews will miss him and sobbed on the phone with me last night. Grief can be so heartbreaking. This, after having to put down my beloved cat of 18 years...
Episode 3: WHY Good Grief?
LaUra and Aimee explain the origins of the Good Grief Network. From friends as undergraduates at Central Michigan University to creating the network in Salt Lake City, they chat about the need to talk about and move through grief. How do we as activists, writers, scientists not give into despair? How can we sustain ourselves in such a painful...
Episode 2: Showing Up & The Shame Game
In Episode 2 of the "WHY?!? A Good Grief Network Podcast," LaUra and Aimee discuss what it means to "show up" in our lives, as activists, and for others. Aimee reflects on Step 9: "Show Up" from our Psychosocial Resilience Program. Additionally, we explore Brené Brown's newest episode on On Being, "Strong Back, Soft Front, Wild Heart." How does...
5 Tips To Uncover Truth In A Post Truth World
With the abundance of information flying around each moment, how are we to know what's true and what information is being bent for someone else's agenda? Who can we trust when it's been proven that Exxon and Shell knew about climate change decades ago and engaged in a campaign to cover it up so they could still sell their...
Episode 1: Introduction to WHY?!?
HAPPY EARTH DAY! Welcome to Episode One of the WHY?!? A Good Grief Network Podcast. Each week, Aimee Lewis-Reau and LaUra Schmidt answer questions about their progress on their book. Check out our Patreon page and consider supporting us! Resources named during the show: Books: Ernest Becker. Escape From Evil Morgan Caraway. Ecological Awakening Digital Courses: Pachamama Alliance: Game Changer Intensive Post...
10 Steps to PsychoSocial Resilience
Want to cultivate personal resilience while being a part of a community? Do you feel that someone is not quite right and you're living in a type of matrix? Want to dig deep into systemic issues and help yourself and others come to terms with what we're experiencing and will face? Are you ready for open and honest dialogue?...
Whatta Week For The Climate
Social media is blowing up with climate change chatter. And it's all due to an article in New York magazine. So, wanted to share this with you. 1) Article in the New York Magazine is released. 2) Scientists react and say that the article is too much/doomist: Not just Michael Mann -- many climate scientists. 3) Vox/Slate respond and say no, it's what...
Step 1: Admit That I Am Part of the Problem As Well As The Solution
Thank you for being a part of the Good Grief Network! As some of you know, we've recently started the second round of the Good Grief Psychosocial Resiliency Program. I'll recap the first step in a bit. Step One: Accept the problem and its severity. What made you realize the extent of our systemic issues? When did you realize how serious...
'I Worried' by Mary Oliver
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers flow in the right direction, will the earth turn as it was taught, and if not how shall I correct it? Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven, can I do better? Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows can do it and I am, well, hopeless. Is my eyesight fading...
A Reminder to All Activists | Uplifted Life
Shared from NewStoryHub
Early warnings of an out-of-control climate
phys.org April 17, 2017 Global warming is edging perilously close to out-of-control, according to a growing number of scientific reports from round the planet, a leading science writer has warned. "Time is running out if we want to preserve our world in a stable, healthy and productive state, capable of feeding and supporting us all," says Julian Cribb, author of Surviving the...
Step 8: Seek Beauty & Meaning
Resources: Lee Smith's Tedx Talk Thich Nhat Hanh's upcoming film Walk With Me Etty Hillesum's Diary - A look inside the concentration camps of Nazi Germany and one woman's experience The Lady In Number 6 (40 minute documentary about a woman named Alice -- her life after a concentration camp) And now, the Step. The Lecture: There are two main parts of the...
William Kaufman Hits the Nail On The Head
A recent article published on Counterpunch.org discusses the democratic shortcomings with regard to climate change. In "Climate Change Denial, Democratic-style," Kaufman acknowledges the head nods that democrats give to the ecocidal culture we're living in but responds by saying it's not enough. Science proves it's not enough. Activists know it's not enough. I highly recommend reading this piece. Do it now.
Environmentalists As Optimists
"Everybody thinks environmentalists are total pessimists, but I reality we are the biggest optimists. We know how bad it is, and we still think we can make a difference." ~ Denita Toneva, UCLA senior majoring in environmental science.
Step 7: Take Breaks & Rest When You Need To
Good Evening Grievers, I'll recap our Step 7 - but first, some updates. 1) Victoria, Aimee, & I are headed to California for the Ecopsychology Conference. There's still room in the car to travel with us - do you want to come? It's this next weekend and will be amazing, for sure. If you're interested in purchasing a "Good Grief" T-shirt,...
Signs Of Civilization Collapse
https://soundcloud.com/bloomberg-business/55-here-are-the-signs-that-a-civilization-is-about-to-collapse From Bloomberg: "On the latest edition of the Odd Lots podcast, we speak with Arthur Demarest, a professor at Vanderbilt University who specializes in the end of civilizations. An anthropologist and archaeologist who's most well known for his work on the Mayans, Demarest tells us about what he's learned — and what we should be watching out for."
"Encountering Grief" Meditation
https://soundcloud.com/onbeing/a-guided-meditation-on As shared by OnBeing: I would like to invite you to put down whatever might be in your hand. And to find a position that's comfortable and also that supports you. And listen to my words. And if they are resonant for you, if they are helpful really let them enter into your experience. And also bring your own experience...
Fierce Light Documentary
Help Good Grievers get to Resiliency Conference! "The heart that breaks open can contain the whole universe." -Joanna Macy A few of us are trying to get to an Ecopsychology conference where Joanna Macy is the keynote speaker. This is HUGE for us as we continue to grow the Good Grief Group. Please buy a T-shirt. Support the group. Help us get to...
Step 6: Show Up
Below is a recap of Step 6: Showing Up. Dick started the meeting by reading a short piece from Loren Isley, a Nebraskan Ecologist. I hadn't heard of this fellow, but I'm interested in diving into some of his work. As many of our group sessions do, we discussed our current political climate. The gov't is perpetuating fantasy theories about what's...
Step 5: Feel Your Feelings
Annnnnd finally, Step 5: Feel Your Feelings. Though feeling feelings is a base for the entire program, it's an important reminder to be present with all types of feelings - whether they're heavy or light. A definition of feelings from Merriam-Webster (definitions are important): a (1) : the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and...
Step 4: Doing Inner Work
We're busy setting up our new website -- it'll need some time to launch, but I'll let you know when it's ready. In the meantime, I'll review the last two steps we've done, starting withStep 4. Step 4 is about turning inward, creating a healthy mind, and doing inner work. The main question of the evening is: What am I avoiding? What...
Step 3: Let Go
So, Step 3 is all about letting go: Letting go of expectations (those you've harbored for yourself and those of the future being what we expected or projected). What's a realistic expectation for a single human being in this time and place? What did you imagine the future to be like? Victoria opened the floor by inviting the bell - a tradition...
Step 2: We're Complicit In Causing Climate Change
A few of us met in Salt Lake City tonight to discuss Step 2: Step 2 is to acknowledge the ways in which we've been complicit in causing global climate change. Derrick Jensen, in his essay "Forget ShorterShowers," says: "I want to be clear. I'm not saying we shouldn't live simply. I live reasonably simply myself, but I don't pretend that not...
Step 1: Admit there's a problem.
Tonight was an amazing experience --- We went through Step 1: Admit there's a problem. This first step is about understanding that there's a problem with how people are operating on this planet – and that as one result, some climate change is inevitable, even if we halt all carbon emissions now. "Step one is talking about how entrenched we are in...