Travel
Esther Swaty
Moving to Austin, Texas

It’s hard to believe I from Seattle in Austin, Texas on August 8, 2019 and now I’ve almost been here for two weeks. In a way it feels like so much has happened and so little at the same time. The story of how my partner and I ended up in Austin is long and short.

Moving to Austin, Texas
Learning, Social Media
Esther Swaty
Today’s Citizens Must Equip Themselves For The ...

Today, data and algorithms have influence over everything from our democracy, to our homes, to our work. We are in an era of seemingly unlimited technological progress and the speed of innovation requires citizens to be engaged in non-partisan learning and discussion. We don’t have to know everything but we need to know enough to think critically and ask questions about the technologies being developed, as well as be able to hold accountable the individuals and organizations creating them.

Today’s Citizens Must Equip Themselves For The Technological Future

transformation

Feed Your Spirit

How are you? No really how are you? How is your heart? Before you answer take a moment to give the costly, the vulnerable response. Not the one you think the world wants to hear, the true one - the one which perhaps you are avoiding. Look into my eyes and tell me true.

“Spiritual progress is like a detoxification.”  ― Marianne Williamson

As I sit here writing these words, I am filled with gratitude to have experienced this very conversation with friends and family throughout the years. They didn't stop when I said "I'm ok, I'm fine". They knew I wanted to open my heart but found myself paralyzed, overwhelmed or inarticulate. Quite often when I finally shared I would end up in a puddle of tears. It may sound weird but that was always a good sign. It was as though the tears were washing away everything that had been building up. That place of cleansing is where healing can begin. In that place is where I am forced in a beautiful but painful way to examine my life more closely.

Our lives will not be determined by our obstacles and problems, but by what we make out of them. - Ryan Holiday

When you take time to peer deeply into your life that is when you can begin to see where there is lack. Where you need something more or something less. If you don't like the current chapter of your life what do you want instead? What you have been feeding on in life may no longer providing be you with the nutrients you need to be strong and to make a profound difference in the world. You see if we cannot take care of ourselves, feed our own spirit then we will find ourselves deficient when those we care for need our love the most.

Practical Step

  • Examine your life. What are you feeding on, either consciously or unconsciously? What words are you allowing to have power in your life? Who are you surrounding yourself with? When was the last time you were content, at peace?

If you don't like your answers, don't be discouraged. Instead give yourself permission to take some time. Time to find true north once again. Time to identify where you went off your path. Time to remove the unhealthy patterns in your life. Think about that place where you have gone in the past to reset - does that mean to be outdoors, to be away from people or to be with strong people who know you and can remind you of what is important? There is a solution, and you are feeling the way that you are because you are allowing yourself to real get in tune with your need for change. Change is not impossible. Baby steps. Just start small, begin chipping away at something little -- most of all be willing to do the work of growth and transformation. You won't regret this investment into yourself.

“Everything we do is infused with the energy with which we do it. If we're frantic, life will be frantic. If we're peaceful, life will be peaceful. And so our goal in any situation becomes inner peace.”  ― Marianne Williamson