Please subscribe to our YouTube channel using this link.
In This Article:
- The hidden emotioanl and physical cost of living in “interesting times”
- How choosing love over fear - or vice versa - shapes our reality
- The myth of the external savior and discovering your inner power
- The quiet power of presence and compassion
- How everyday choices build a better, more connected world
The Savior is Already Here (It’s You)
by Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com
There is no doubt that we are living in interesting times. And I don’t mean that in the “ooh, how exciting!” way. No, that old expression—“May you live in interesting times”—is usually meant with a knowing wink, a touch of irony and sarcasm. It’s a way of saying, “Buckle up, because here comes upheaval, chaos, and a whole lot of uncertainty.”
But that got me thinking... If we had to choose an “interesting life,” would we really choose one that’s filled with confusion, fear, and nonstop crises? Personally? No! Hell no!
I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of horror movies. I’m not big on jump scares, blood-spattered chaos, or anything that keeps me awake at night wondering if the creaking floorboard is a murderer or just the house settling, or if the deluge I hear outside is a prelude to a hurricane or a flood. Some people enjoy the thrill. Not me. I don’t need my nervous system constantly on high alert. I find that stressful and exhausting.
Personally, truly interesting times are those when life feels full—when I have the space to breathe deeply, to laugh with friends, to take a long walk in the woods, or to sit quietly and watch the sun rise. That’s when life feels rich. That’s when it gets truly meaningful and—yes—interesting in the best sense of the word.
What Kind of "Interesting" Are We Choosing?
Of course, some people seem to thrive on drama, adrenaline, and high-stakes situations. And that’s okay—if that's truly what feels best for them. Maybe those folks see chaos as exciting. Maybe they find the rapid stressful pace to be exhilarating. After all, chaos can be intellectually stimulating, like watching a nature documentary about a pack of jackals or observing the social dynamics of a starving rat colony. It’s fascinating—in a detached, scientific kind of way. But for those of us who are empaths, it can be heart-breaking. And when we see the similarities between the animal kingdom and the human one, it can be even more troubling.
So the real question is: does the stressful and chaotic kind of “interesting” bring you joy? Does it feed your soul and your heart? Or does it leave you feeling drained, anxious, and perpetually off balance?
I can’t answer that for you. Only you can. But I know what fills my own cup. Love. Joy. Harmony. A deep connection with others. And a Vision—yes, a real, grounded, soul-nourishing vision—of a better life for myself and for others.
The Quiet Power of Harmony
We’ve been trained—especially in the media and culture at large—to think that action is the only path to purpose. We chase productivity, progress, headlines, and heroes. But what if real change comes not from rushing, but from listening? What if it’s not in the roar of the crowd, but in the quiet moment shared between two people? What if the most profound kind of healing happens when we slow down long enough to hear our own heart speak?
This is why I believe the world doesn’t need more noise. It needs more silence and more presence. It needs more of us to show up with open hearts, willing to speak gently, to love fiercely, and to care deeply. That, to me, is the kind of “interesting” worth showing up for.
We Are the Ones
Here’s one message that keeps bubbling to the surface, time and time again:
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
It’s not just a beautiful idea—it’s a profound truth. We keep looking outward for the hero to save us. Maybe we think it’s a politician, a movement, a mystical guide, or even some divine messenger riding in on a white steed. But here’s the truth: no one is coming to save us. That’s not cause for despair—it’s a call to action, to agency, to self-trust. We must rescue ourselves. And we do that by choosing—consciously, repeatedly, lovingly—what kind of world we want to live in and help create.
Choosing Love Over Fear
Every day, in every moment, we face a choice: Love or Fear. Compassion or Judgment. Unity or Division. These aren't just abstract values—they’re decisions we make in small, everyday ways. Do we listen with patience, or snap back in frustration? Do we open the door for someone, or walk by, lost in our own thoughts? Do we reach out to help—or pull away out of suspicion or burnout?
These micro-choices build the world. They shape our families, our communities, our future. So when we talk about creating a better, more loving, more sustainable world—it starts with us. Right here. Right now. In the moment when you could choose kindness over cynicism. Forgiveness over blame. Faith in humanity over despair.
Flipping the Script
You’ve probably heard that old saying from the comic strip Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” It’s clever. It’s true. And it’s sobering. But I want to turn that on its head today. What if we said this instead:
“We have met the Savior, and It is us.”
Yes, we are the ones we’ve been waiting for—but even more than that, we are the ones we must trust, empower, and uplift. The Savior isn’t someone “out there.” The Savior is each of us, in every act of Grace, Love, and Compassion we choose to embody. We don’t need to be perfect. We don’t need to be saints. But we do need to show up—and believe in our power to shape a better story.
Vision with Feet on the Ground
This isn’t about wishful thinking or spiritual bypassing. I’m not suggesting we float off into the clouds and pretend the world’s suffering isn’t real. It is. People are hurting. Systems are broken. The world can feel like it’s on fire. But even so—especially so—we must hold a higher vision.
Not just for ourselves, but for each other. For the planet. For the generations to come. And that vision needs feet. It needs hands. It needs action. We create a better world by believing it's possible—and then doing the sometimes small, often unglamorous, always vital work of tending, healing, and loving it into being.
Hold the Vision, Walk the Path
So as you move through your days—through the noise, the demands, the distractions—remember this: You are the spark. You are the hope. You are the heart of the change you want to see.
Hold that vision in your heart and your mind. Don’t wait for a superhero. Don’t wait for the storm to pass. Begin now--with your Presence, your Intention, your Love.
Let’s make a better, healthier, more joyful, more compassionate future not just a possibility—but a reality.
And then we'll discover that the most interesting times are the ones where we finally remember who we really are: Children of Love.
Music Interlude
About The Author
Marie T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from 1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own inner source of joy and creativity.
Creative Commons 3.0: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License. Attribute the author: Marie T. Russell, InnerSelf.com. Link back to the article: This article originally appeared on InnerSelf.com
Related Book:
The Shaman's Mind
The Shaman’s Mind – Huna Wisdom to Change Your Life
by Jonathan Hammond
To learn to think like a shaman is to attune yourself to a magical spectrum of infinite possibilities, unseen truths, alternative realities, and spiritual support. When a shaman likes what’s happening, they know how to make it better, and when they don’t, they know how to change it. The Shaman’s Mind is a book that teaches the reader how to align and transform their own mind into one that sees the world through the lens of the indigenous healers of old. Based on the Omega workshop by the same name.
For more info, or to order this book, click here. (Also available as a Kindle edition, an Audiobook and an Audio CD.)
Article Recap:
Marie T. Russell invites us to reflect on the type of world we’re creating through our daily choices. Instead of waiting for external saviors, she reminds us that true power and healing come from within—through love, intentional action, and spiritual awareness. In “interesting times,” we are called to become, and thus create, the change we seek.
#WeAreTheSavior #ChooseLove #MarieTRussell #InnerSelf #Empowerment #SpiritualAwakening #LiveWithPurpose #ConsciousLiving
