Listening to an interview with André De Shields, the well-known Broadway actor, one thing he said jumped out at me and stayed with me. I keep reflecting on it. I wrote it down but only as a paraphrase, my apologies to the actor. It goes something like this, “all problems are porous when you approach them, so there are ways to work through them.”
Immediately I understood what he was saying. I forget the problem or problems he was referring to, but that doesn’t matter. His observation is perceptive and helpful, especially during these times. His description or perhaps the better word is prescription, offers a path to take and a way to start moving.
Unpacking his statement, first, it requires courage to start the process. You need to dare to look closely at the problem, no matter how big, or how seemingly hopeless the problem appears. This is not easy to do. It can seem easier to shrug, and just accept what appears to be an inevitable and negative outcome. However, ignored problems usually get worse.
Next, you need to make a clear, accurate assessment of the problem. Girded with courage, this requires a truthful accounting of the difficulties the problem presents. During this assessment, the porousness of the problem will become apparent.
Then, you need to assess what actions to take, and how. This can be a galvanizing step. Positive action feels like relief. Acting releases pent up anxiety and transforms negativity.
There is one more ingredient required at throughout the process, hope. Knowing that problems are porous can engender the hope needed to start. And going through the steps described above also engenders more hope. Hope is of enormous importance today. It is the other ingredient in the prescription that helps to make action possible.
The process that André De Shields gives us is the means we need to tackle existential problems like climate change, or any problem large or small.