Leave the light on for each other

I recently made the big move back home to South Africa, after living more than 12 years in Europe. It has been challenging to get use to a country that used to be your home, but now feels foreign and strange. While I was changing and growing and adapting to new cultures, my South Africa has changed, some in ways that are negative and some positive ways. 

The joy and the light that I see in fellow South Africans, who despite challenging situations, still remember to acknowledge and embrace the joy and beauty of life, and find the humour in difficult situations. I'd forgotten about that! 

The tendencies to greet each and every person they meet with a 'hi, how are you?' and wait for a respond, the chitchats when you're going about the day. The incredible ability to spark a light for someone else, which makes the day so much better. Oh, let me not forget the music, if you have never been to South Africa, it's the music that you will hear everywhere, that people sing and dance to on a regular basis, people enjoying life, even while working!

Yes, there are challenges, it is frustrating by how long everything takes, and how complicated, and sometimes difficult it is to get something done. It is so easy to focus on everything that is broken and not working, and lose hope, but we need to act together to bring change. 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead.

Whenever I encounter conversations that remind me that somebody has left the light on, I remember that if enough people remember to pause from focusing on all the things that are going wrong, and indeed there can be many... and start focusing on what we can do, perhaps we can start learning how to leave a light on for each other, as well as appreciate those who are leaving lights on for others all over the place, and together we can embrace hope, and agency for change. 

Hopelessness brings despair, it tells us 'that nothing will ever change!" That 'your efforts are useless!'. It lies to you by questioning your agency: 'who do you think you are, that you can change this situation?'

And so, we need hope, hope instills us to dream, and to take action, and to work towards building something together. Hope inspires to see that even a small change can make a difference, together we can have enough small changes that snowball into huge changes!

Perhaps it's time to stop numbing ourselves with work, and distractions, and isolation, and remember that community and caring for each other is what makes us human and what makes society healthy. 

Wealth is more than money, it is hope, and community, and joy, and purpose, and the pause in a day, to remind you that we are all together on this planet we call home. So we have a choice and a responsibility to make it a nicer, safer one. 

How can you leave the light on for another? As leaders, it can be to acknowledge the unique gifts, talents and ideas of others. It could be take time to connect before taking time to work. We have a human need for connection, and community. If we just focus on getting the work done, we can leave with a sense of dissatisfaction, and meaninglessness. I wonder what changes, if we leave space for connection. 

How can we take back our power, and create communities again, where we support others, where we provide safe spaces for them. It's so easy to shift the responsibility to others, but we have the ability to affect change, even if it is in a small way. 

• What's the most impactful way someone has left a light on for you? 

• What is one step you can take today to create better communities, or leave a light on for others?

About Racheal

Between you and I, there is a space... I will meet you there.

I'm obsessed with what happens in this space. The Space to just be. Getting off the hamster wheel of Life. Stepping away from what you're supposed to do. What the world said you are. Meeting yourself, and taking a breath. Accessing your wisdom. Finding your purpose, or remembering your purpose. Connecting with what makes sense. Experiencing transformation. Finding alignment.

Racheal is an Organisational Psychologist, executive coach and a global facilitator of leadership programmes. She focuses on equipping and building wise, and resilient leaders. She is a PhD researcher of sensemaking, and leadership development. The Sapient Space provides fun, fresh spaces for leaders to learn, access their wisdom, and most importantly connect and find community. We provide leadership development solutions for individuals as well as customised programmes for organisations.

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