Collapsing Consciously: Transformative Truths for Turbulent Times - a book review from Farah Therapy & Coaching Centre
Collapsing Consciously
By Carolyn Baker
A book review from the Farah Therapy & Coaching Centre team.
Sub-titled ‘Transformative Truths for Turbulent Times’, Collapsing Consciously is a prescient and very well-written 2013 book by the US-based psychotherapist Carolyn Baker.
It is a remarkably accurate commentary (and prophecy) about the societal transition that we are currently in, typified by events such as recession, global warming, nationalism and the current crisis with Covid-19.
As a team we thought we’d share our five major insights from the book, to help our whole community as we navigate the current crisis, and keep on sharing our perspectives as things unfold.
1. Universal issues provoke universal responses.
In times of crisis we quickly realize that community and collaboration are essential to us as human beings. Something like Covid-19 is a great leveler for society as a whole, and quickly reveals how true it is that we are all connected, and all united in our mortality and vulnerability as human beings. In a wider context, a pandemic such as this highlights how interdependent the economy, the environment and our wellbeing really are, and how futile and damaging it is to treat any of these things in isolation to each other. Eventually, if one of these elements are abused, the other elements suffer too – in the case of Covid-19, the abuse of the environment led to a major threat to our wellbeing, which in turn has decimated the economy. In the book, Carolyn cites the 2011 Steven Soderbergh pandemic movie Contagion (currently #1 download on iTunes!), that basically previsioned Covid-19, as being a highly likely scenario in real terms… how wise that commentary and prediction, and the movie itself which is a must-see, have turned out to be.
2. Face up to your own crisis first.
The best way to prepare for any crisis is to face up to the crisis (or crises!), in our own lives. As soon as we stop running away from what we have been avoiding and distracting, and admit there is something happening that urgently needs our attention in order so that we can heal, we access new resources, communities and lifelines that were previously out of reach. By calling time on our shadow before our blind spots destroy us, we take the bull by the horns and give up our resistance and denial. All at once we experience relief, pain, joy and sorrow, and begin to embrace more of life… and eventually, the whole range of human experience. Carolyn comments that our fear of death is what holds us back from change, but in crisis we are forced to die to what was, and be born into what emerges. By dying to the false you – the addict, the obsessive, the deluded, the distracted - you practice the types of transformations that visit upon us all in times of collapse.
3. The compass you need is emotional intelligence.
Expanding our capacity to welcome and hold these aforementioned experiences is essential to developing robust emotional intelligence and competency. In times of crisis we will all be confronted by feelings of despair, sadness, helplessness and anger. But these things are already inside each of us, and if we befriend them now by opening up our capacity for feeling again, we begin building the life skills to thrive amidst big societal change, and potentially chaos. Being kind and real with ourselves and with others, enables us to build bridges and create community which are key infrastructures to include in any vision for the type of new society we all know in our hearts is possible.
4. Denial is costly.
Whether in your own life or in society, denying the crisis is happening will likely bring two things – you may manage to avoid some pain, but in doing so you will also miss out on joy. In times of trouble we connect and we let go, and the relief and love we feel for ourselves, our loved ones and for the whole community is palpable. Inside of that, all manner of opportunity presents itself – new collaborative ways of working and doing business emerge, great artists are born, generosity and philanthropy bloom and families reconnect and thrive again. Good triumphs over confusion. But denial, dissociation and avoidance exclude us from these opportunities, for they exist at the centre of the storm. Carolyn says that to the extent we are willing to go to that epicenter in difficult times, with an open heart, we will be rewarded in a myriad ways.
5. Don’t panic… lead!
Due to mid-20th century projectors, fires in cinemas were commonplace for a while. But it wasn’t the fires themselves that were that dangerous, it was yelling ‘fire’ and causing a crush that on many occasions proved fatal. Same goes for times like these, when clear thinking leads us to take one day at a time, and the pace of change makes going too fast seem senseless – what we design for the issues of today is soon out of date tomorrow. The best way to lead others is to be mindful, to keep it in the day, and learn how to stay calm amidst the crisis. From that space we can lead, stay true to our life’s purpose and values, and model a new way of being to those around us – when you follow your own north star, the world changes around you. In the same way as viruses are contagious, so is leadership, joy and virtue. Imagine if everyone caught those infections! And start thinking about how many transmissions of such a kind you can make each day, in your families, organisations and communities.