What’s Blossoming: Embracing Our Ability to Pivot in a Time of Uncertainty
Redirecting our fear of the unknown and letting go of the way things ‘used to be’ — allows us to see what is trying to be seen, what ‘can be’
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Let’s face it, things feel totally whacky right now. In whatseemed like a very short period of time, life as we knew it was abruptly flippedupside down — no more business as usual, almost everything disrupted.
In times when you-know-what-hits-the-fan…our first instinctis often to scramble to put the pieces back together. But what if everythingwas not meant to go back to ‘business as usual’, what if instead we were meantto sit in stillness, breathe, assess and allow something else to blossom withinus? What if we are not supposed to just ‘get through this’ but rather ‘gothrough it’?
I’ll admit, I definitely was one of those who thought itwould pass and never could have imagined this — whatever ‘this’ is. And as I’vewritten in the last few blogs, I did get onboard — got provisions, tookprecautions and ultimately hunkered down with my family responsibly. It wentfrom feeling like I was preparing for a blizzard to suddenly feeling theenormity of this ever-evolving global shift.
But here’s the thing: I’m OK. Really OK. And so are you, ifyou choose to be.
No, I don’t have any superpowers and I’ll refrain from thespiritual posturing that implies that any of us is above this. We’re not. We’rehuman and we’re marching through this sometimes glorious, sometimes messyexperience together — feeling the feels as we go. Different things will arisefor each of us in different ways.
And while I may not be hurting in one aspect, I know thatothers are and vice versa. If one is hurting, we are all hurting. Now more thanever, we are recognizing our interconnectedness as individuals, communities andthe planet. There is no separateness, no us versus them.
The truth is that I definitely got triggered initially. Mymoney fears stormed through the door like uninvited guests and took a seat atmy dining room table. During those first days, I fed them. But alas, I grewweary and declared, ENOUGH! Out with you all!
Our wounds and limited thinking can show up at the frontdoor unannounced at any point (and often do). However, here’s the kicker — wearen’t obliged to invite them in. The reality is that sitting here worryingabout potential financial Armageddon wouldn’t prevent it from happening. CouldI control it? No. Could I stop it? No. So, should I sit here andtorture myself with a slew of worst-case-scenarios? No and more No.
What are we left with? Asking ourselves, what CAN I do.
It presented me with a gift in a round-about manner — areminder of where to look, what needed my attention, what needed myself-compassion. This is part of my emotional healing, my spiritual work, my lifejourney. My job is recognizing it. And when we get quiet, we can hear what iscalling to us. We can reclaim the unfinished business.
A lot is coming up for each of us right now. The realquestion is; what are you going to do with it?
I bet if you are anything like me…your inbox has beenbombarded by COVID-19 messages. In some ways the Internet and social mediafeeds have been enormously helpful in spreading useful information. But manyhave been equally fear-inducing and distracting. The bottom line is that we allhave to settle into these current circumstances the best we can, and make peacewith it. But we must also remind ourselves of our power to navigate it all — tosteer the ship in the direction we desire.
Personally, I’m being mindful of how much news I consume, despiteits seduction. I say, get the soundbites and move on. Be informed but don’t getsucked down the rabbit hole. Sure we can repeat our old patterns. We can staybusy. We can self-medicate. Or we can embrace this collective exhale. As we arebeing forced to stay home, we are also being called to reflect and to goinward. It is an opportunity to listen and to look around, most of all to letgo of all that isn’t serving your highest good and potential.
After the distractions are removed, the layers and masks we put on when we go out into the world, the make-up, nail polish and hair dyes — who are we underneath it all?
A friend and I joked about how we’d finally begin to see everyone’s true hair color (I wasn’t laughing, ha!). But seriously, we are gaining back a great deal of time through this strange moment.
I’ve found myself feeling very sensitive and emotional in aheart-opening way. I’ve shed tears… we all have in our house. But I have to saythey have been some of the most beautiful, sentimental tears that haveconnected our family in profound ways. They have grounded us and reminded us ofthe things that are most important — the things that matter. We have allowedourselves to feel things that we have shoved aside.
And like others, I’ve had to let go of a lot: the freedom tomove about — to go to yoga class, the gym or share a meal with friends. I cancelleda much anticipated vacation to London with my Mom and sister, postponed a BestSelf business program launch, and was forced to get creative in figuring outhow to celebrate my family’s Aries birthdays (including my own). I think youget it. Our creature comforts have been removed. But we’re all in a collectivepause. Dare I say, there has been something nice about it? Actually…reallynice.
When I stopped reacting to every newsflash and ceased from subscribing to the scarcity mentality (got toilet paper?) — my entire nervous system calmed down.
When I began to reclaim the time that used to be filled with running around in and out — life actually felt spacious. In fact, it’s beginning to feel like a nurturing creative incubator. Many things that have dropped off aren’t even missed.
It didn’t happen overnight. I grappled with both my fear andmy faith. And yet, I decided to wage my bet on hope and the things that made mefeel good. It was OK not to know the outcome.
I could give you lists of things to do to stay calm andfocused, to feed yourself body, mind and spirit, to refrain from resisting thecurrent status quo, etc. — but you actually don’t need any of it. While it’snice to receive useful suggestions from others who are navigating the same — theyaren’t you, walking through your life, your house, your relationships, yourhead. You simply need to embrace this time and space with yourself.
Start by answering these questions:
What do I want life to look like on the other side ofthis?
And who do I want to be at that point?
Where am I being called to look?
Is there something within me that I’ve been ignoring,pushing off for another day?
We run through this life at an over-scheduled, frenzied pace.What if we were to embrace this experience to be home with ourselves, ourfamilies and our pets as a great reset? Have you noticed a new awareness or heightenedsenses? Your best defense is to refrain from resistance. Look your fears in theface. Remind them who’s boss and who calls the shots around here. I’m serious.
The moment you clear space, something else arrives…newclarity comes to the surface, a new vision for your life. It can start as asubtle whisper…Uh, can you speak up? What did you say? But suddenly itwill grow stronger, louder, more definitive. Go there.
I’m not making light of the enormous adjustments many havehad to make, like working from home for the first time (if you are fortunateenough to still have work), dealing with home-schooling of children (especiallylittle ones) and having to face the realities of our relationships and fears.
I work from home so there were no big shifts there. I loveworking with my partner so no added conflict there. Yes, my laundry,dishwashing, food prepping quotient increased drastically with the return ofthe college sophomore, but be still my Momma heart. My dining room has beentransformed into a college classroom, so be it. The guys created a gym/workoutspace in our unfinished basement. This is a time that requires flexibility, butalso provides us with the opportunity to push forward rather than back.
I’m giving my energy to new thought patterns, new horizons,both personally and professionally and things are percolating big time. Becausethat’s how it works. There are things I don’t want to return to. When I lookaround my house and my life now, I see it through new eyes and a new lens.
Perhaps there is no coincidence that this is occurringduring Spring, the season of awakening and rebirth. Take a big restorativebreathe and ask what is awakening within…don’t be afraid. Lean in and listen.Your beautiful soul will never lead you astray.
Trust in your resilience — trust in your ability to awaken dormant forces within — trust in your knowing what you need.
The day before an unexpected spring snowstorm, I ran outside to collect some forsythia branches from my backyard. I feared that they were vulnerable. Though they are referred to as the ‘Woodstock weed’ and may be pedestrian to some — I think they are glorious. They are the first to bloom, our entree into a new season and they brighten our landscape with their bold yellow flowers.
A few years ago, a cold snap and snow took them down…noflowers bloomed. Honestly, in the midst of this current situation…I couldn’thandle that. I didn’t want one other thing taken away…so I brought them in. Butthey did in fact survive outside…and so will we.
If this experience thus far has shown us anything — it isthat we are all vulnerable, life can shift in an instant — but it also remindsus of our resiliency and our ability to reconnect with our Best Selves, eachother and to awaken to all that is possible.
In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.
— Dave Hollis
Has this disruption stirred any possibility within you — any notion that some things aren’t meant to go back as they once were? Please let us know how you are experiencing this time of quarantine and what is coming up for you in the comments below. This is the place we can commune and embrace, uplift and hold one another.