Read/Watch/Listen

READ >>> In Monday's newsletter I wrote about the importance of slowing down – about whether taking care of yourself is your work as an environmentalist, rather than something you do so that you can do the work. As if by magic, a book I had pre-ordered ages ago dropped through my door this week – Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, founder of the Nap Ministry. She is writing about resisting capitalism and white supremacy, but given how intertwined those things are with the climate crisis, I am looking forward to her take.

WATCH >>> I saw a fascinating TED Talk by social psychologist Dannagal G Young the other day about how people who believe the world is predominantly safe and good, and are therefore comfortable with uncertainty, tend to be more liberal – and how people who perceive more threats in their environment prioritise order and certainty and tend to vote conservative. Interesting then how social media and news outlets constantly communicate threat, danger and outrage, isn't it?

LISTEN >>> Part of both of those two things is about communicating safety to your body – remaining open to uncertainty, even as the world feels less kind. The oldest part of your brain doesn't process language, so using somatic techniques can be really helpful in calming your central nervous system. Kate Northrup is exploring this on her podcast Plenty at the moment. Her goal is to help you make more money and (a) you deserve that as a purpose-driven creative and (b) I think the same theory applies no matter your goals.

That's it from me this week – I'm off to take a nap! ;)

Stay curious, imperfect and defiantly hopeful,

P.S. We have 12 new short courses on the Making Design Circular website and I would LOVE you to check them out. As a newsletter subscriber, you are entitled to 10% off – use this unique code I generated for you, : MMXYYHEAQG

P.P.S. When I share a book, it's often an affiliate link to Bookshop.org – a socially conscious way to buy books online. They dedicate most of their profits to supporting independent bookshops, authors, and publications that cover books. Authors can become affiliates and earn 10% of every purchase made from their Bookshop sales, with a matching 10% going to support independent bookshops, so if you buy anything through those links, you can count that as your good deed for the day. Dyb, dyb, dyb! ;)