BENEFITS
Acceptance of our global predicament is really difficult work. However, once moved from the Awareness stages of understanding, gifts can emerge to light new ways of living with it…gifts that inspired Michael Dowd to create Post-doom and Karen Perry to write the 15 Benefits of Collapse Acceptance.*
For more in depth explanations, see Karen’s video conversations with Michael Dowd and Jem Bendell below.
*Note: No one already drowning on the lower decks of the Titanic needs acceptance work to grasp the reality of our global predicament – it’s the privileged classes still in line at the buffet who do.
These 15 Benefits of Collapse Acceptance are seeds, not a recipe.
How they manifest and grow is unique to everyone…
1. FREEDOM – the move away from shoulds to the open doors of coulds
Get off the hamster wheel to stop building the castle, live where/how desired if possible.
2. URGENCY – ‘no time like the present’ has never meant more
Take that trip, quit that job, buy that house, do that thing — now.
3. PARAMETERS – playing the game with a different framework and lens
Baby or not? Pre-emptive medical procedures? Tax penalty concerns?
4. PRESENCE – focus on today with heightened awareness of being here now
Acceptance is the meditation. Be-ing is more important than do-ing.
5. GRATITUDE – impossible to ignore all we’ve been given (and taken)
Make the list: hot showers, full grocery stores, internet, trash pickup, on demand everything…
6. CALM GROUNDING – not disrupted by catastrophic information
“Can you believe it?? The (fill in the blank) happened/is getting worse!”
“Yawn, yes I can.”
7. COMMUNITY / LOCALISM – ability to affect those in close proximity
Restore a nearby land base, push back on development projects, connect with neighbors.
8. SUPER HERO RELEASE – good riddance to pressure and guilt
Don’t have to fix it, solve it, fight it, save it. No purity test to pass. Hooray!
9. UNIVERSALISM – heightened connection to the Oneness of everything
Tap in to the collective coherence, look a non-human in the eyes, feel the force.
10. EMPATHY – towards self and all others
Give yourself extra grace, love, and compassion. Help, not squish, the spider. Someone flips you off? No worries, mate, I feel ya, collapse sucks.
11. PRIVILEGED PERSPECTIVE – ability to view it and use it in a radical way
Cash out retirement accounts to set others free, group up to live more affordably
12. AMENDS – forgiveness and completeness in all relationships, including with self
Right wrongs with whomever, feed birds/give back to community of life
13. DEATH COMFORT – forces the conversation and preparation
Exit strategy plan, balanced spiritually for what comes next
14. LETTING GO – of control, worry, fear, blame, shame, legacy, dreams, expectations
No need to sweat the small stuff…or any of the big stuff
15. ENJOYMENT – global hospice time to have fun with the bucket list
Honor all that has been sacrificed/taken by enjoying and loving life as much as possible
WRITTEN WORKS on the BENEFITS
15 Benefits of Collapse Acceptance – Karen Perry
The Benefits of Collapse Acceptance Part 1– Jem Bendell
The Benefits of Collapse Acceptance Part 2 – Jem Bendell
Freedom: Lose yourself to find yourself – David Baum
Urgency: All You Need is Now – David Baum
Parameters: Calculating the limit of death – David Baum
Presence: the mystery of being here now – David Baum
Gratitude: Thanks for the mixed blessing – David Baum
Calm Grounding: Don’t sweat the big stuff – David Baum