A lot has happened since I last wrote. The election is over, leaving many of us shell-shocked and feeling like we’ve been sucker punched. We fear the progress made as far as human rights, reproductive rights, freedom to love who we want, read what we want, might be in peril. Mostly, our feeling of safety has been challenged.
Of course, we are not the first to feel this way. Humans have struggled with uncertainty since we first had the opportunity to consider the existential question, “Now what?” Our crops have failed, our children get sick, how do we navigate and ride this roller coaster of life, how do we keep going.
There is evidence that around 3,000 BCE, these discussions were formalized into a technology called yoga. This ancient philosophy took many twists and turns for another thousand or so years, until around 200 BCE, it was compiled into a terse 196 sutras (sentences) called the Yoga Sutras. The first sentence summarizes the other 195, “Atha yoga-anushasanam,” which can be translated as “Now, the teachings of yoga begin.” or “Now begins the teaching of yoga.” The key word is “now.” It’s all happening in this very moment and it’s right here in the present. As the Yoga Sutras continue into four sections or “padas”, the compiler(s) grow the philosophy into specific techniques and practices that are still relevant today. Especially, when we are feeling that the ground is shifting under our feet. In the following paragraphs, I’ll share what I feel are especially helpful today.
2700 BCE, the earliest archaeological evidence of yoga seen in the Steatite Seal of a yogi seated in meditation carved in stone and recovered from the Indus Valley Civilization (2700 B.C.E.). 1900 BCE Indus-Sarasvati Civilization, highly advanced culture. The pashupati seal discovered depicts the Indian deity Shiva meditating in a very advanced yoga pose called mulabandhasana (below).These dates are based on the drying up of the Sarasvati River (Rig-Veda mentions the flowing river).
1. Come home to the present with breath work and give your brain an opportunity to chill.
The first sentence of the Yoga Sutras is to come into the present. The second sentence, Yoga is the Stilling of the Mind, give your brain space to calm down. Through careful observation, the yogis learned that the only thing we have some control over is happening right now with ourselves. When the ground is shifting, we search for it within ourselves. Like a puppy frightened by outside noises, we seek safety….sometimes, it looks irrational and it can be false, so it’s important to search for resources that are real. Sometimes, it seems that certain familiar habits will provide that safety. Sometimes, as in the puppy metaphor, they can lead us into even more confusion. So practicing techniques to take care of ourselves in a healthy way can be very useful here. Teaching your puppy to “stay” or “come” can help in a stressful situation. Teaching ourselves to come…..into the present by observing our breath calms the nervous system, helps us move out of the panicky “fight or flight” response and helps prevent us descending into knee jerk, unhealthy responses that are not kind to ourselves or others. Taking a moment to be completely in the present by observing your breath gives you the time and space to react more consciously. Give yourself space to be alone and as Joseph Campbell says “to not know what was in the papers that morning.”
2. Nurture yourself with compassion.
The second part of the Yoga Sutras begins with a list of ten ethical concepts that are helpful for us to apply. The first of these, compassion encapsulates all the others. As we treat ourselves with compassion…body, mind and spirit, we feel better, we regain the sense of control, we feel empowered. So in step 2, soothe yourself body-mind-spirit. Do the little things that you know are nurturing to you. Allow yourself time to indulge it what brings joy to your heart.
3. Nurture others, be of service.
This follows naturally from nurturing yourself. Look for connection with those you love, family, furry family, neighbors, friends…especially those who you know might be suffering now. Consider this as “chicken soup for the soul” not only for them, but for yourself. Just spending time with others can feed your soul.
4. Feed your soul with joy!
And speaking of soul, consider what feeds your soul. What do you love to do? What is your deepest desire? What would yu do if you could let of fear or others’ expectations. When you were young, what did you hope for? And, if you could talk to your future self, what would they tell you? Daydream, journal or meditate on joy and where you find it. Make a list.
5. Do something!
As Michele Obama said in her wonderful speech during this election, “Do something! When you feel tired, when you feel despair….Do one small thing”. Look at your work in Step four, is there one thing you could do right now to bring you closer to that source of joy? Start very small so you can strengthen your “courage muscle”. Maybe it’s moving….moving to or from something, maybe it’s creating something or saying “yes” to a project or “no” to a source of discontent or an obstacle to your own growth. Yes, it takes courage to “do something” but those first steps empower you to continue. Remember the 14th century proverb, “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow”.
6. Reward yourself
Eventually, your reward will be intrinsic, the way you feel that little tingle of courage when you risk doing something. Intrinsic is a much more powerful reward….eventually. But at first, you’ll find that extrinsic rewards are a good way to keep you on track. Go back to the earlier steps to consider what extrinsic rewards might compel you to keep going. Maybe it’s taking time for yourself or conversely, calling up a friend for a night out or even posting positive notes or self-congratulatory flowers throughout your house. Maybe a bath or a nice long nap. What brings you joy? But, I’ve found that taking time to give myself a big thank you works great!
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