These are definitely challenging times in history! So many more of us, around the globe, have been experiencing life with political instability in ways we haven’t before. It threatens to touch our personal lives with rampant violence and racism, the loss or absence of healthcare, separation from family through deportation. And just in the past few weeks, I’m not sure when I’ve seen such a confluence of natural disasters – devastating fires, floods and hurricanes all happening at the same time. All of these experiences bring up extreme survival fear.
If you’re someone watching these events from afar, you may not realize the degree to which you are also feeling those natural energies and the stress and anxiety of those that are affected. We are each being affected in our own unique ways, but we are all also being touched in universal ways.
Do you feel more stressed about your day-to-day life? Does your future feel uncertain?
Do your relationships feel a bit (or a lot) more strained? Do your own emotions feel more intense?
Do you feel more uncertain about the meaning of your own life, what you’re trying to accomplish, where you’re headed and if any of it makes sense?
Perhaps what’s most noticeable for many is the increase in our desire to escape! Do you find yourself feeling tired and wanting to sleep more? Or to escape into distraction with TV, food or a glass or two of wine?
Perhaps you have read that there is some scientific evidence that the rotation of the earth is speeding up. That may sound hard to believe – but the truth is that you don’t need evidence to feel the uncertainty and confusion that is all around us. These feelings are the natural consequence of change at any level. But imagine how you would feel if change wasn’t just happening in one small corner of your own life, but to the whole planet? Does this help validate the intensity of what you are feeling?
I experience all of this myself on a daily basis! This includes intense desires to escape! What I find though, when I do try to escape, is that sometimes I find momentary relief, but then I feel worse when the distraction inevitably comes to an end. Sometimes I can’t distract myself at all! So what’s actually more helpful for me is to create the time and space to connect deeply with myself and my own sources of wisdom. In some moments, I drop in and ask for clarity and understanding; in others, I ask what action I can take to be of service, that will alleviate my own suffering and that of others.
Invariably, I hear this message:
These are challenging times for sure. But they are only challenging to the degree that we choose to fight change! What’s actually happening is that we are all being asked to step up right now — to change ourselves through increasing our capacity for love for ourselves, our compassion for others and our capacity to be with uncertainty.
BUT, you can trust that you will not be asked to expand beyond what you are already capable of! Allow yourself to stretch and know that it may be momentarily uncomfortable, but each time you stretch yourself just a little, you are developing your own capacity or challenge but also for joy, for God, and for divine love!
What does it mean to stretch ourselves? Here are five of the most impactful ways to do this:
The most impactful thing of all is this: next time whatever you are feeling seems too intense to be with, see if you can sit still for just 5-10 minutes longer than you are usually able to before you take an action to alleviate that discomfort. Know that it’s just 5-10 minutes and that you can handle it! Each time you do this, your own capacity will grow. And… this small action and its resulting growth will benefit you personally as well as everyone on the planet in ways you cannot imagine!
Each and every time you notice that you are feeling some emotional or physical discomfort, it is absolutely vital to respond in the kindest way possible! We are so conditioned to believe that “thinking about ourselves” is selfish, but the opposite is true! Each time we offer ourselves some kindness, we heal something in ourselves and we relax. And, simultaneously, our capacity to give to others expands exponentially. So being kind to ourselves is in fact the kindest thing we can do for others.
Each and every time you notice that you are judging someone else, notice what you are feeling emotionally. You may be thinking they are rude, inconsiderate, mean, unintelligent, downright wrong, mentally ill or different; but look for signs of fear inside yourself, underneath the surface. Notice if your judgment is actually a (misguided) attempt to protect yourself from something that feels threatening! And if you do notice that, then this is now another opportunity to be kind to yourself first. Can you genuinely comfort that scared part in you? Then, after you have offered yourself some kindness and reassurance, notice if you still feel judgment about the other person, or has it dissipated?
See if you can develop a new habit of asking yourself, “How do I want to show up in the world today?” Do this as many times every day as you can. Set reminders on your phone, or place sticky notes around the house or at your desk. Each time you remember to do this, notice that you have this choice! No matter what is happening around you, you always have the power to choose how you show up.
When you do find yourself able to stay with some discomfort, offer kindness to yourself or shift out of judgment, can you take a moment to breathe in love and breathe out a blessing to all those who are suffering right now? Whether they are in areas affected storms or fires, or experiencing violence or racism, or faced with the separation of their families – can you simply send some heartfelt love and kindness to each one of them?
This is the guidance given to me, that I practice daily. Notice what resonates for you.
What I also invite you to do is to get quiet and see what your own highest wisdom is telling you? Here are some tips for doing this:
Plan a time in your day when you can take 15-20 minutes of time purely for yourself without feeling distracted.
Choose a physical location that you feel relaxed in, perhaps even nurtured or inspired. Maybe this is a quiet space in your home or in your garden. Maybe it’s in a park or at the beach. Wherever it is, make sure you have something comfortable to sit on and anything else that will help you feel safe and at ease.
Once you’re sitting comfortably, set an intention to receive your own highest wisdom. Decide how you’d like to receive that and how you’d like to feel, or you can also choose to let it happen organically, with ease.
Know (and remind yourself!) that you don’t have to have any experience or meet any particular standards of meditation for this to work! All you need is sincere intention.
Start by taking some deep breaths and gently connecting with your body. You can try a brief body scan, or you can simply find a place in your body that feels good, comforting. You might feel inspired to place a hand there to anchor your attention.
Now, as you’re comfortable and anchored into your breath or your body, and in the moment, simply ask for your own highest wisdom. What is needed for your own growth and highest good? What action might you take to support yourself and the world? What is in your deepest alignment? Ask any other questions you feel inspired to ask.
And then…. simply notice what happens. Perhaps an idea might come to you suddenly. Or, you might find yourself thinking of a memory, or of someone you know. Maybe an image comes to mind. Are there sounds you are hearing? Notice also how your body feels and see if there’s a message in that. It’s also possible that you will be aware only of silence and stillness; if so, know that this is not an absence of information. This may actually even be the highest response possible – a communion with God, divinity, love… If you do find yourself experiencing silence and stillness, soak that in… let your mind and body absorb that and notice how this feels.
If this practice benefits you in any way, see if you can make time for this a few times a week. In this way, you are learning how to and developing the habit of connecting to your own highest knowing. Over time, it will become accessible to you in any moment.
Most of all, know that challenging times like these present the greatest opportunities in our lives. But… it’s only an opportunity if we choose to stick around for it, rather than distract ourselves.
So I invite you to take advantage of the opportunity to get to know yourself and what you are really capable of! Choose again how you want to live, what you want to create, and decide what you want to leave behind. Be and express even more of your authentic self! And do as much of it as you can with as much love and kindness to yourself as possible!
