These assignments are based on the book "The Wave Riders™" (order here). It does help if you have already read the book but don't worry if you have not - you will be able to easily follow along. If you have missed the beginning of the free online workshops here is where we started... http://www.thewaveriders.com/newsletters/jan05.html

Assignment 7 - Depression - Disaster Relief?(PI0805disaster)
By Indigo Irwin Kennedy copyright © TheWaveRiders.com™ http://www.thewaveriders.com

We have now charted our waves, found areas in our lives to improve, and we have started to make plans. In the midst of making plans, based on hope for the future, there always seems to be something that will challenge our faith and test our determination. Today it seems that these tests come in the form of major disasters that shock and threaten our trust in the world around us.

Disasters, natural or man-made, are difficult experiences to endure. Disasters test our abilities to survive physically and emotionally. If we are physically present and acting within the disaster, we will be in survival mode - fighting to stay alive. When we are dealing with current situations that require action we are looking for solutions - we are not stagnating - there is no time for depression.

However, in the safety of our homes, watching the tragedies on the news, without the need for the survival mode to kick in, we begin to feel the sadness, the anger, and the fear. We may begin to feel helpless and overwhelmed by the massiveness of the destruction. Struck by an emotional wound deemed "minor", we continue about our tasks while the thoughts and the images of the disaster ferment in our mind. Though emotionally shocked, the event does not hit us hard enough to go into the self-preservation and survival mode, we don't take the time to deal with our wound, it slips into our psyche and begins to gnaw away at our sense of safety.

We feel pain when we witness struggle and can easily slip into depression viewing natural disasters and the horrors that man can do to each other, to animals and to mother earth. Thousands of us will fall into depression watching the nightly news: hurricane devastation; floods; bombing and death. Is depression the answer? Check - Is depression what you use to combat what you see on TV?

Terrorism, used to create terror, designed to intimidate, to tear at your faith and drive you to fear. Terrorism wins when it succeeds in that task. Is the solution for the negative energy and evil in the world to spread negativity and hate?

We react: feel scared; fume with hatred; spew anger - it is what the terrorist wants.

If this destruction and evil is the Devil's work... then would the devil not be happy when we get angry and even happier when we do the work for him and begin to spread that negativity and hate around?

Disaster and conflict are natural parts of our lives. To expect perfect harmony all of the time is to set ourselves up to be shocked and disappointed. In order to survive we need to learn to how to cope with disasters and adjust with the increasing rate of change. Just as "strength for survival " gave way to "brain for survival", it is not the smartest or the richest that will determine the requirements for the next set of "evolutionary survival changes". Survival of the fittest will fall to those that have learned to face disaster with solutions, to embrace change as it happens and to flow through stressful times without falling into depression, tension, anger, self-loathing and hatred.

Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, cruelty…as we watch we chose our reactions: fascination; shock; disbelief; horror; anger, empathy; loss of faith; depression; action.

We automatically jump into some naturally triggered and programmed human emotional responses. Some choose to jump in and help in any way that they can to improve the world around them, while some people shut down emotionally.

When disaster strikes, we have the ability to choose our reactions.

We can choose a form of negative action …

• Sit in our living rooms and moan about the condition of the world.
• Decide that the world is not worth participating in and that it is beyond our ability to help. We feel shocked and run to depression to hide
• Get angry; grab our guns, run out of the house to shoot the first person we see.
• Get on our computers and start spreading the news of negativity around.
• Focus on the looting, the torture and all the bad things that people do

Alternatively, we can choose a form of positive action.

• Send money off to the relief fund.
• Pack up some clothing and blankets to send to the relief area
• Focus on the good things that people do
• Go to the area to help
• Create an anti-terrorist product or procedure.
• Create a new way for people to feed their families so they don't hurt animals.

The fact is the event happened and that can not be changed. Our reactions will have consequences.

If you cannot help - don't feel guilt … just help when you can with what you can. Don't let well meaning people push you into guilt because you will not or cannot help their cause, just decide to help someone or something, and do it in your way - to your best ability. Pressure to help so many causes often throws us into inactivity. We cannot all be fighting for the same cause or someone will not receive help - uniquely designed, we are created to care and focus on different areas and needs in the world.

Be aware, that there is adrenaline in hate and anger and sometimes we choose that path because, subconsciously it gives us a boost. Occasionally, we can pump ourselves up in anger that motivates us toward doing something positive, but negative anger and depression will not cure cancer, fight fires, prevent flooding, or stop terrorism. We cannot sit in our homes feeling angry at the world or depressed about the nature of some humans, and expect a better world.

We cannot choose to cure everything or fight everything but we can do what it is possible for us to do. That single small act combined with enough other single small acts accumulates into larger improvements.

I am amazed at the ability for human beings to band together and bounce back - these are positives to focus on.

During the terrorism of 911, countries stood together for the first time, to stand strong against terrorism. There was, and is, more than fighting going on. Americans pushed out positive energy toward a stronger America. Terrorism did not defeat the eagle - it made it stronger. This strength would not have happened if the entire nation fell into depression and choose instead, to hide in bed.

You assignment now, as you watch gas prices rise, violence on your streets, human beings wading to empty grocery stores and animals trapped without assistance, is to choose your cause and take positive action. Find what is that is bothering you - not because of depression but because of an event. (Be careful not to treat that which only appears wrong due to the tainted view of depression). This is a mid-wave assignment, because changing what you see in depression is not always the best answer. You can make a plan that will give you a sense of purpose while in depression, but do not implement it until you are back to mid-wave.

Your choice does not have to be global...you might simply choose to help a friend.

Do not choose guilt because the world is in pain - it will not put clean water in dry mouths

Do not choose anger because of violence - it will not teach people how to live without fear.

Do not choose depression because you see the world struggling it will not teach people to band together.

Whether the disaster you face is on the news or in your home, find out what is festering in your mind and find your positive action to balance it. Take a moment to write down the events that you have witnessed that are bothering you and find a reaction that will counteract the event.

Remember, that the news you see leans toward the negative. Even in our schools, we do not teach enough about balance. We teach about the destruction of the forest and the ozone in an attempt to make more conscientious adults but we do not balance that lesson with information on the people who have discovered ways to save the rain forest or who created new ways for people to sell tourism instead of ivory.

Take note of which view you are being sold. Shut off the news, throw away the newspaper and pick up a plan to do some good…. even if that good is simply to spread a little positivity within your own home…

In this assignment, we are seeking to accumulate small acts of kindness and to place our energy in solutions rather than sadness.

Today, a parent will commit suicide over the state in which they view their world, their finances or their future, leaving a child without a parent's warm embrace. Ask that child how much the finances mattered. The negative focus resulted only in more sorrow. The parents talent to solve, to cure, to soothe - vanished.

When we choose to stay focused on the negative, we destroy the one tool that can make the world better - our ability to create small positive actions.

Your assignment for this month is to stop being stuck in the negative while you witness struggle and suffering in this world. Find what bothers you. Find what inspires you. Find some solutions and contributions, and then let it go. You can only do what you can with the resources that you have…be willing to do that much and be at peace with that amount. Do not give away your rent to help others - you need to take care of yourself as well. Just do what you can in any small way.

Your guilt and your depression…. only add to what you see as negative in your world.

I am not a pacifist - I will defend that which is threatened.
I am not an activist I will not seek to right all the worlds' wrongs.

I am a participant in this world and will do what I can to improve the world around me.

Today, I might cheer up a friend. I might plant a flower in my garden. I may choose to send relief money or to go and help those in need. One day, it may be possible to do more, but for now it is what I can do, and that little amount, I believe does more to make the world a better place than me sitting in anger or in a depressed state because the world is in trouble.

Depression is not the response needed to improve the state of things. Depression is NOT Disaster Relief!

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.
William Ellery Channing
(1780-1842, American Unitarian minister, author)

Yours in Faith,
Indigo Irwin Kennedy
Beyond the mind, around the heart, fill the soul.

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