Every day is a new adventure. We would like to believe that it is possible to live each day as a blank slate, creating anew each time we open our eyes. Unless you are a Buddhist monk working towards enlightenment, he may not be in the cards for most of us. What is in the letters are the memories and reflections that we carry with us from birth. We rely on these memories for comfort, guidance, and as lessons upon which we make decisions in our present lives.
Unfortunately, not all memories have been joyous for many. Over and over again we hear and read about stories of violence, hunger, injustice, poverty and health problems. We hear self-help “gurus” tell us to get over it by facing our fears, challenging our assumptions, and making lemonade out of lemons. It is very idealistic and for some quite harmful to believe that their misfortune was their fault and it is up to them to change course.
We live in anxiety-producing times. We are experiencing political, social and physical unrest. If you ever saw the movie The ten Commandments, there is a scene where they represent the descent of the last plague, the slaughter of the firstborn. The plague is depicted as a cloud or mist or trail of mist descending from the heavens. It’s an ominous sight, and it sends chills to the gut as the horrifying turn of events besets Egypt.
Rewriting history is not an option, but reframing our history is certainly a possibility. What keeps us awake at night? What has a grip on us that affects our mental health and colors our world in shades of grey?
If you think of haunted house stories, the spirit often resides in space in an effort to find closure to something in their physical lives. It is your own open and unanswered questions that cause your concern. Our lives today are filled with an overwhelming number of unanswered questions. Uncertainty seems to be more the norm than the exception. It is causing many to isolate themselves, increasing their stress and anxiety.
The events of our world today exponentially intensify the emotional and spiritual discomfort felt for years. Events come together, hand in hand, wreaking havoc on our ability to cope with the stresses of daily life. Alcohol consumption since the start of the pandemic has increased by forty-six percent. Calls to crisis lines have increased at an alarming rate. Layoffs and closures have left many feeling hopeless and, in their own minds, left them with no other options than to take their own lives and end the suffering.
In the end, what are we looking for? Are we seeking healing or resolution? Are we working on developing our resilience muscles to defend ourselves against negativity? During turbulent times, it’s important to find an anchor. It can be a person, a faith, a practice, or some other activity or belief that you can take root in. We never plant a tree without stabilizing posts until it has been anchored in the ground. The same must happen with our emotional life in moments of intense stress. We need places or people we can return to knowing the comfort they provide. Practices like this will allow us to be more adaptable during these uncertain times.