All is a Teacher
It may be hard to remember back this far, yet less than three months ago COVID-19 was largely viewed by something happening outside the United States. So, on March 10th, despite the potential for concern, I decided to proceed with a planned trip to one of my favorite beaches. A friend who had planned to join me was unable to do so, it became a solo time.
It was an invitation to observe both my reactions or responses, and those of people around me. On one of the flights, I was seated in close proximity to a person whose perfume was overwhelming. Later that evening and throughout my stay, while on my patio there was an occasional smell of a cigarette being smoked. Something like disdain was my first reaction. Yet, under this was the invitation to see how these experiences are teachers. So each time I smelled the waft of cigarettes, it was viewed as an invitation to move towards compassion. While addiction to nicotine is difficult to release, we all have a leaning towards addictive tendencies. It was interesting to notice how my dislike of something layered with my judgment around it could so easily change my experience at the moment.
Isn't this on many levels what life teaches us? We are welcomed to notice how easily we are swayed from a peaceful easy feeling to something less than that when dislikes and annoyances come forth. During this time when all of us are impacted in varying degrees by the Coronavirus, this offered another reminder to me.
During this trip, I also noticed my propensity to consume food without adequately chewing and focusing. I decided early on to avoid multitasking during this time away. The discipline required that I be present to what I was ingesting; no listening to a podcast or even poise the next fork for my mouth before the swallow was complete. It was a shift, long ago acquired habits appeared and I had my own opportunity to allow what was showing up within.
One day I spent much too much time (for me) reading the news of both the Coronavirus and the stock market. This was overwhelming to me, and quickly took me to a place of distraction. These bits of news swirled and lingered, seemingly unable to leave my awareness. This too can be a form of ‘addiction’ – both the taking in and the dwelling on. It certainly was clouding my perception, impacting my beach experience.
This added information, that I allowed in, actually sought out, was causing me not only distraction but stress. This kind of stress is subtle. Yet stress contributes to the cause of death. (“The CDC reports 110 million people die every year as a direct result of stress. That is seven people every 2 seconds”. Plus, stress has an secondary impact on most leading causes of death, CDC.gov). What we ingest physically and mentally impacts our stress level.
The day after I ingested too much, I curtailed my consumption and found my peace of mind more balanced. It is a study in awareness to notice cause-and-effect of what allows us to rest at ease and that which agitates. While we can control our thoughts, it takes intense regular practice and patience. It seems much easier to be aware of what we allow in rather than try to release that which does not support.
I am not in any way minimizing the importance of the coronavirus and staying informed. Nor am I minimizing the impact that the stock market has on portfolios. I am suggesting perspective. The data will continue to change, the stock market will continue to go down and hopefully up, and in the swirl of it my invitation is to be mindful of balance.
Just as I have been chewing my food more thoroughly and without distraction, I am invited to consider a range of opinions, a mindful approach to consumption of news and social media. This allows a place of alertness to be what guides my consumption, versus coming at this from a place of fear.
The answers are within. Only you can know what actions, if any, are appropriate for you in various circumstances. This is especially true during times as overwhelming as a pandemic.
Keep consciously breathing – it helps. Spend time unplugged – it makes a difference. Share your feelings and hear from those you trust and their perspectives. Taking a literal pause in the form of a calming virtual class may be supportive. June schedule will be posted soon, please join me if this helps support your movement to that still, quiet space within where the swirl slows down, and perhaps, sometimes, for a breath or more, the swirl actually pauses.
Be willing to voice your fears and concerns without dwelling on them. Exterior life has changed; we can remain kind, considerate, and supportive, perhaps even more so now, as we experience dynamic and unpredictable shifts, and also rest in that which is unchanging.