Stepping Into Uncertainty
Life-changing events like a death in the family, a sudden illness, or, indeed, a worldwide pandemic, teach us that the only certainty in life is uncertainty.
As we balance our work, family, and social lives, we may sometimes notice a sense of unease brought about by a sudden glimpse of how uncertain things are – how precariously balanced it all is. Thoughts like these can bring on anxiety and even depression.
Times like these are very uncertain. It's been more than one hundred years since the human race has faced an invisible enemy like the Coronavirus. For many, this can be terrifying.
For business leaders, one of the most unsettling things is the loss of control over whatever the outcome will be. We can see the veil of certainty slipping day by day as we lurch from one expert opinion to another, leaving us without the slightest idea of where things will ultimately end up.
"The root of suffering is resisting the certainty that no matter what the circumstances, uncertainty is all we truly have." – Pema Chodron
Truthfully though, this is the way life has always been. No one knows anything in a sense, at least no one knows what's next, there is nothing to hold on to. Reality is all we have, which is that moment existing somewhere between the past and the future. We call this the now.
Mindfulness meditation practice helps us to see the instability of knowing. It reveals the true groundlessness of our existence. It teaches us that life is genuinely uncertain, no matter what we choose to believe – there is no hiding from this. The training enables us to sit comfortably, settle into our breath, and rest with this uncertainty, gaining comfort from this "not-knowing."
Mindfulness meditation builds within us the capacity to experience the ever-changing nature of our lives as we move from this uncertain moment to the next – and the next.
As you settle into these uncertain times, take even five minutes every day to sit alone quietly, relaxing your shoulders, noticing our breath rising and falling. Allow your thoughts to ramble without clinging to them or pondering. Stay focused on your breath rising and falling. As fears and anxieties arise in your mind, notice them and return to following your breath.
The simple act of following your breath will bring you relief in uncertainty. As you get better at it through practice, you will begin to notice you are doing it as you go about your daily routine. This awareness of breath will anchor you to what we call the now as you take each mindful step towards our always uncertain future.
Workshops and Coaching
If you are interested in having your organization get started on the exciting and rewarding path to mindfulness, I am available for coaching and workshops. To learn more, Click Here
