A Radical Act Of Compassion And Action

Hey friends, 

We are all swimming in a stormy sea of emotions after the election.

Some of you may be thrilled and others may feel concerned, anxious, or rage.

Wherever you land I’d like to share some things that are helping me to feel more in control, grounded, and mindful.

At first I just needed to distract myself with the usual stuff. Scrolling through Instagram, doing housework, exercising, and meditating.

Actually, I meditate first.  Every morning I make my coffee, light a candle, set my butt on the cushion, take a few deep breaths, smell my coffee, place the cup down, and listen.

Each time I meditate it is different. Some folks like a routine to settle in because it is helpful for them.

But, sometimes it’s nice to see what arises naturally. Like what do you notice first.  Is it sounds, or physical sensations?

If I  gently focus my full attention on the sounds around me it helps me orient more fully to the space I am in.  This is a trauma informed practice. It helps to ground your mind and body in the present moment as well as regulate your nervous system.

As I listen to the sounds I purposefully notice where they are coming from: on my left, right, behind me, or in front of me.

When I feel ready to move on l might gently focus on physical sensations.  It is interesting how physical sensations can also have an emotional component. If this happens try and stay with the discomfort in the body and the emotion attached to it.  Look at it with curiosity and non-judgement, like a detective.  For example, the pain and stiffness throughout my spine holds memories, emotions, and stories from scoliosis. I wore a back brace 23 hours a day, 1 hour was allowed for bathing, for 6 years.  It was between 7th-12th grade. Painful memories of looking very different from the other kids my own age as I tried fruitlessly to hide my brace under huge shirts my mother sewed for me. Giving up sports, my horse, and ballet. The upside was I discovered band, choir, and drama! Mixed emotions live in my spine.

Using curiosity and non-judgement grants me permission to acknowledge all that I suffered and survived. This compassionate acknowledgment gives me permission to hold the pain and stiffness with love. Taking deep breaths I can create some space, soften, and be with the discomfort instead of pushing it away. Pushing away creates more pain and suffering.

At this point my mind has slowed down, breath  deepened, and I am centered.

I’ve heard it said that meditation, curiosity, love, and non-judgement are a radical act of compassion and I’d like to add to that phrase and ACTION.

I feel a deep sense of digging in. Not hiding but a drive to focus on what I can create to cultivate a better way of living for me and my community.

Everything from housework, mindfulness studies, meditating, exercising, writing, playing guitar, reaching out to friends, enjoying nature, arts and crafts, learning a new language from an app, and volunteering my time to help others in need.

Action decreases anxiety.

Any action. Wash the dishes by hand and like in meditation, focus with curiosity on the temperature of the water, the texture of the sponge, plate, soap, is there a smell.  You get the picture.  

Action decreases anxiety and meditation is a radical act of compassion for yourself and others.

The more grounded, thoughtful, curious, compassionate, and kind you are to yourself the more you can help cultivate those attributes in the people you interact with each day from the barista to your bestie, to people you disagree with and to those you relate easily too.

What do you do to decrease worry, stress, or anxiety?

Contact me to let me know, Us the contact form on this website.

Gratefully, 

Mary