Strange times generate Creative Love
During these times things have really changed, for everyone. In unique and different ways.
Some people are dealing with losing their jobs, some people are dealing with being stood down but still being paid, some people are at home with children, some people are in the front line helping the thousands of people in need, and some people life hasn’t changed that much and they are still working as usual.
So, to not identify and acknowledge this, would be wrong and improper.
To all of you out there, I hear you, I feel for you in these times, what ever your situation. And I hope you come out from this whole situation on top in some way, what ever that is.
I wanted change the scene a little and pose the question.
How can you make today EPIC with what you have?
How can you create beauty when theres tragedy occurring?
Or how can you show up in the best way possible, with the resources you have?
Each and every individual one of us has unique traits and abilities, and sometimes when things are hard like this, they can be pushed to the back of our minds.
However, I ask you to change that.
How can you make the most out of this opportunity?
Do you now have more time to focus on yourself?
Do you have more time to quieten your mind and focus on the things you’ve always been ‘too busy for’?
Can you harness your ability to learn or retrain and teach? or to organise and plan things in a way you hadn’t considered?
At any moment we have a choice.
We can choose the way we approach a situation. We can choose whether we want to fight or to run, or to just be present and deal with the situation at hand.
Becoming present to a situation, and recognising an emotion that is coming up for you, where by you accept the emotion is where we reach equanimity (*a word I only just learnt the context of - calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation).
There are many amazing opportunities that will arise from this situation, they maybe hard to see at the moment, but in the future, hopefully you will have used this time in the best way you could and you will look back and appreciate what this time gave you.
During this time, you may feel ups and downs of emotions - sometimes feeling high’s and positives, then followed by lows - uncertainty- fear and overwhelm, then followed by acceptance.
These kind of patterns can be seen to be like waves.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf” Jon Kabat-Zinn. Be with them as they are, know and acknowledge they will come and go, and look for the silver linings or the learnings you can take away.
Finally, humans need 4 things in life.
Belonging
Contribution
Transcendence
Purpose.
If we acknowledge these 4 things on a daily basis, or try and align ourselves with these we will start to show up in the way.
How can you have more of a sense of Belonging?
Could you join an online group? Could you call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while? Could you go and show love to those in your bubble.
How can you contribute more at this time?
Can you do more of what ever it is that you can offer (in a way that doesn’t jeopardise yourself or anyone else?)
How can you incorporate transcendence into your life?
Can you connect with your spiritual self - or just reconnect with a mediation, otherwise could you alternatively get to know yourself a little better. Look into your values, strengths, insights about yourself.
Have you looked into your purpose lately?
Do you know what that is? or what you should be doing? Get to know your purpose more, and then lean into that. If it’s helping people - do more of that. If it’s helping the environment, get outside and do your part. If it’s teaching others - do more of that. Find a way to follow your purpose more day to day.
I hope these have helped in some ways, and if not, I hope this has been useful to make you think a little differently for the day.
