What I have noticed as I have contemplated "noticing our impact" is simply that we do impact others, whether we believe that we do, and whether we are conscious of it. Our presence in the world has far reaching consequences, regardless of the circumstances.
Circumstances vary. Our responses to them effect the impact.
How we speak to ourselves when we make a mistake...
How we react to a situation on the freeway...
How we speak to a perceived enemy or adversary...
How we represent our selves on Facebook...
How we discuss hot topics in meetings, church gatherings, and sitting at the coffee shop...
How we speak to a beloved...
What we might reconsider is the reality that who we are, what we say, and how we relate to others impacts others and ourselves. We might never know what the impact is, we just might want to be aware that an impact is in process.
Earth, water, air, light and spirit all impact our environment. We are made of these very elements. If both of these ideas are true, then wouldn't it also be true that we have far-reaching and elemental impact of all whom we encounter?
I wonder how we would walk through a day in our lives if we knew, really carried the knowing that we have an impact on the world, and that the world is impacting us. Would it change how we show up, moment-by-moment?
Michael Tompkins, IHM
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