No Answers & One Certainty
I often get asked big questions like, “how do I not fall into despair living in these times with all of the pain, the unconsciousness, the hatred, the lack of humanity and basic care of each other and our earth?” And, “how can ‘living in the present’ possibly help the state of the world?”
These are questions that I receive not just from clients and students. These are the questions that I wrestle with on a daily basis. I have for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, it felt almost impossible to bear the pain and heartbreak I witnessed in the world. Perhaps, especially, that which we inflicted on each other and our planet. I was always told that I shouldn’t / couldn’t carry the weight of the world but I saw no other way.
And I have never discovered any answers — then or now — that I can offer to explain or justify why we are as we are. I don’t have any answers to how this will continue to unfold or what will happen. I cannot assure you with something I do not know. I won’t comfort you with something none of us know.
But I will tell you what I do know. Sadness and anger (deep pain) are alive and organic and often relative and rightful. These emotional experiences can surge through us and show us a path forward, an action to take. These emotions very much shape how we choose to be in relationship to life, to each other, and to our planet.
But when we attach to those feelings, when we feel gripped by them, we fall into despair or rage or hatred. All of which will only increase that which we wish to reduce. We get stuck in cycling that same negativity inside and outside of ourselves. Attachment of any kind will bring us no place better than where we are. It’s really the only way we, as humans, have known to live. And this is where it’s gotten us.
So though I have no answers, I do know, with certainty, that any attempt to live as presently as possible, as consciously as possible, as sensitive to life’s experiences as possible, is an attempt AT possibility. Our path forward must be found from an unknown place. One that moves us away from deep attachment and into deep presence.
To be clear, 'living in the present' does not equal 'bliss.' Enlightenment has nothing to do with feeling good. It has everything to do with feeling ALL and converting our human relationship to life to a Conscious one.
Upcoming opportunities for practice, guidance and growth:
Half-Day Silent Meditation Retreat at The Yellow House - August 3rd, 9am-12:30pm
1:1 Coaching - now accepting new clients for Fall
Small Group Coaching - now enrolling for Fall/Winter Session
Meditation & Coaching Groups - weekly/ongoing
Fall Meditation Retreat - Oct 18-20 - waitlist only!
With Love,
