Hello First name / Community—
Waterlogged. So filled with water to be heavy or hard to manage.
That theme has been coming up several times recently:
- Thinking about last month's camping trip when an overnight torrential downpour drowned our hiking shoes.
- A birthday walk where I splashed and stomped through muddy puddles with equal parts catharsis and glee.
- And a response to last newsletter where they mentioned feeling like a log washed up on the beach and I realized “yeah. I get that”.
Got me thinking: What are some things that you try to do to wring out the excess when you feel saturated? Where do you go to look for answers?
With a little shade and snark, I can summarize what I see for a majority of answers on Google or social media in one word - "garbage". Many look like this: “11 Obvious Life Hacks to Be A Better Human Because You Are Obviously a Failure for Feeling Overwhelmed So You Need A Shortcut”. That, or another similar flavor of click-bait, hacky bullshit that benefits from some sweet SEO.
In fairness, sometimes there are kernels of truth depending on the source. And if you find something helpful, I am not here to rain on your picnic at all. I know we need all the help we can get. I am not even offended or surprised for those that toss my words into that same camp.
My concern is that our fast-paced, mass/social media shaped culture tries to sell you the promise of a quick fix. And there is a real danger and risk in further creating harm when we seek the shortcuts to solutions. The reality is developing the skills through practice takes a sustained, consistent, repetitious effort.
So, what’s the answer? As always – it depends. It depends on you, your circumstance, your needs. But if you’ve been following along all this journey, you know where I am going already. It all starts with your awareness.
What are you observing in body, mind, heart, and spirit? What does your breath tell you? What is calling for your attention? What/Where/Who is your energy used on?
The answers to these questions are not necessarily to be viewed as good, bad, right, wrong, etc. It is only information. It is data. Like Johnny 5 we all need "input". The act of awareness is what sits as the keystone to the mindfulness practice. Awareness can lead to informed action and choices. And when viewed with compassionate curiosity and kindness, you can create an opportunity to choose what comes next.
What will help bring ease, relief, or peace for you in this moment?
What can you choose that will HELP relieve the suffering, conflict, or overwhelm?
Between every action and reaction is a pause. Like your breath: inhale, pause, exhale, pause. Same thing with the space between heartbeats. It is in this space where you receive input, process it, and react to it. Subconscious readings become conscious thoughts become actions.
Creating space is one effective and powerful way to take mindful action. With more space, comes increased opportunity for more awareness. With increased awareness is more freedom to decide how you will respond to your observations.
How do you create more space? How do you increase the size of the pause? You guessed it – with your practice.
Here is what that list of “87 Tips & Tricks To Not Become Angry And Throat Punch Someone For Taking Too Long To Order A Coffee” won’t tell you. The practice is cumulative. The effect amplified by consistent practice. Small steps still get you there. You don’t have to make it a big thing. It’s sure as hell not a onetime thing either!
Often students and clients tell me of discouragement. You don’t have time to meditate for 137 minutes twice a day. Or you can’t afford the pricey routine of in-studio practice. Or you don’t live in a monastery on top of a mountain. Or... or.... or... the list goes on.
Absolutely and of course! Same for me my friend. But that’s OKAY!!!
Mindfulness and awareness practices can take place in a few seconds. Anytime. Anywhere. All you need to do is start. Wherever you are. You can stop. Breathe. And observe.
- What is happening around you?
- What do you feel in your physical body?
- What is present in your mind?
- What feelings are flowing in the heart?
Ask one, some, or all these questions. What it looks like doesn’t matter.
With the repetition of practice, comes the expanse of space. With the expanse of space is more opportunity to choose how you respond to and move through each moment. With each choice is an opportunity to offer more kindness, compassion, equanimity, and peace for yourself and for others.
One final, important note to consider: the practice in of itself may not resolve the challenges that you may be facing on its own. Meditating won't pay the bills. Mindful movements of the body won't fix relationships. Cultivating awareness and mindfulness won't solve the pressures and complexities you face.
What it will do, is offer you tools and resources to help you. It can help ground you in what you are feeling, thinking, and doing right now. And that can lead to intentional, purposeful action.
And who knows, maybe you’ll avoid ending up feeling like a sopping wet sweatshirt draped over a picnic table or having mud filled, squishy shoes along the way!
Above all else, and as always, be compassionate and kind to yourself. You’re an epic and amazing human, with a limitless heart, doing the absolute best you can. Nobody is more worthy of love, kindness and support than you.
This being a human thing is hard sometimes. Take a deep breathe in and let it all out. You are okay. You are doing fine.
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