“We can make ourselves miserable or we can make ourselves strong. The amount of effort is the same.”
~Pema Chodron
Namaste community,
From where I write to you, we have been sheltering in place for 42 days, and we have been told that our order will be extended. I have had my share of days of feeling compressed, from both external and internal pressure. This is the time where we are right in the middle of the deepest forces of change. Similar to meditation, we were asked to sit and we did, but now it seems harder than ever to “stay” – the urge to move growing stronger and stronger.
It’s like the itch from a poison oak rash – the urge to scratch is so great it could make one scream, yet we know we need to resist scratching as it will only make the rash worse and last longer.
We are in the middle of transformation, literally. Our whole entire world has changed before our eyes. But the transformation is not fully complete, just like the caterpillar while still in its cocoon. Disrupted too early and it will never become the beautiful butterfly.
I know this is hard. But we have already done so much work, so don’t quit now.
And what I mean by that, is don’t quit on yourself. This time of conscious observation, self care, and self love remains important. Asking ourselves what matters most in this life and creating ways of prioritizing them is essential.
Lean into your practice, lean into yourself. You are stronger than you know. I dare say the wait will be worth it. Trust that you can evolve into a brighter more beautiful being than ever before, and if we are all doing the same together, then my my, what an even more wonderful world we can create!
I see the hard work around me and I know that I am not alone. YOU are not alone.
I see so many light workers that have committed to a practice that they share with others, every single day.
Every day Manose Newa shares his heart through song and mantra on his facebook page, chanting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra for 11 minutes at 11:11. Deva Premal & Miten do the same with the Gayatri Mantra at 1pm PST. Friends in my community are going live daily on their pages to check in on friends and create connection, some are leading spiritual groups through daily discussions, others
offering sound healing sessions, churches are live streaming services daily, and the list goes on and on. They are staying in service, staying in practice, because they know it matters. It matters for them and it matters for each of us. It is their daily prayer for all of us to be uplifted and reminded of the infinitesimal amount of love that the universe holds.
Remember that you are not a small being and all that you do matters too. Perhaps your contribution to evolution is your daily walk and offerings of gratitude for fresh air to breathe and beautiful flowers to pass by. Whatever it is that is sustaining you, keep doing it and celebrate that you can.
We are all in this together and together we will always be stronger.
‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’
~Mother Teresa
With love and light,
Laura McKinnon
Categories: Yoga & Mindfulness Blog