#77
FINDING YOUR ROCK IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY
Have we ever experienced such a change in the way we lead our lives? These are challenging times and we often feel swept up in the chaos of it all. You are not alone in having the occasional swirling thoughts and feelings of heaviness.
Everyone is dealing with the uncertainty of what is happening around us in different ways. However, one thing seems to be true of everyone; we are all exhausted by it. The many adjustments we have had to make in response to the global pandemic take up lots of valuable real estate in our minds and hearts. And that feels heavy.
We are all figuring our way through this, and there is no single solution.
In this Life Line, I would like to share with you strategies that have worked for me in the hopes that they may help you too.
Three Things That Help In Challenging Times:
- Get Grounded. When life feels chaotic what we need is to root ourselves firmly in the present. That heavy feeling of overwhelm comes from your mind thinking too far ahead into the future. The solution is to connect with this moment. One of my favourite ways of doing that is quite literally sitting on a rock. Or hugging a tree. Give it a try! It is powerful and calming. Of course, there isn’t always a rock or a tree available. If that’s the case I will sit, or stand and imagine I am a tree sending roots down into the ground. For the best experience immerse yourself in the visualization. Imagine the roots reaching downwards and drawing what they need from the earth. The trunk is strong and solid, and the branches laden with leaves that move in the wind. As you run through your senses you will feel soothed and calm
- Get Outside. There are many reasons this works well. You are changing your state by moving. Fresh air and gentle exercise bring you back to your body and the moment. If you are lucky enough to live near a green space nature is healing. To maximize this you can try a walking meditation. If you would like a copy of the walking meditation I put together for my last retreat in London with my colleague Darlene drop me an email and I will send it along
- Acceptance. Ugh! I know, and it is easier said than done. Trust me though, it works. When you let go of resistance to something the heaviness goes too. We imagine we have control over people and situations but it is an illusion. The more we cling to that illusion and fight what IS, the more exhausted we become. When we accept any given situation we open up a whole new realm of possibilities. For instance, travelling during the pandemic is limited as so many countries are locked down. Once I accept that I can get creative and explore the architecture of the city I live in with fresh eyes. l can’t see my family in the UK and there is no way around that. When I stop fighting the restriction I can think of other ways of connecting. For instance, I can put together a photo book and share it with them (something I probably wouldn’t have got around to before). Or, simpler still I can call them on FaceTime while I go for a walk and share the experience. I am not denying reality, I am working with it.
Be safe, happy, and grounded 🙂
