By Raquel Issenberg
How can I live in the “now” in times of uncertainty?
“Uncertainty” is a term that can bring up unsettling thoughts due to our survival instincts: not knowing what is going to happen next it’s supposed to make us feel unease.
It is perfectly normal to have these emotions, especially in circumstances that affect us all and are out of our control.
And here is where mindful awareness can become an important tool to avoid “bottling-up” toxic feelings.
Fact 1: We are inherently designed to feel because we’re human beings.
Therefore, we should allow ourselves to notice our emotions in “full color”, and by doing so we start to live in the “now”.
Fact 2: “Now” is what we have today, and that is enough.
For most people, it was devastating to realize that their social, physical, and economic lives were turned upside down in a matter of weeks during COVID-19’s first outbreak.
I remember that feeling of powerlessness just trying to make sense out of this health crisis, added to an extremely divided political climate, and the frustration to be unheard and judged as we protested on social injustices.
But our reality is not as hopeless as sometimes we might think. If we just take our emotions one by one, breath by breath, we might get closer to a settled space where we can gather our thoughts to keep going.
To keep a neutral mind does not mean that you are careless about others and the world in general. To keep a neutral mind is about going back to yourself, so you can take actions that come from a balanced and compassionate mindset.
It is so important to ground ourselves, to feel connected to this Earth again. There lies the real inner strength, from total dependence on “what we think should happen”, into a healthy interdependence of accepting life and making adjustments along the way.
Fact 3: You are doing the best you can, and it only takes a second to look at others doing the same. Ask yourself, how can I help? How can I give back to my community? How can I be of service?
We are in this together and we are fine. We have learned so much in the past few months. We now know that we can adapt to the circumstances, and keep each other safe if we are committed to it.
In my perspective, this is how we live in the “now”, and this is how we deal with “uncertainty”, by doing the best we can today.
Allow yourself to feel your humanness, chin up, and wear your mask!
