We notice shifts in the seasons, as well as each full moon, sunrise, and sunset. As we age, we change and become different from who we were in our 20s. Our social life, relationships, and preferences for likes and dislikes change over time. Change is constant, even if our daily routines seem unchanged.
You may have noticed some changes, whether anticipated or not; sometimes, they occur so quickly that they catch us off guard. At other times, these changes arise subtly, and we often fail to notice them. Sometimes, we resist change and continue to do so for the sake of stability.
Eventually, however, everything finds its course, much like a river when it needs to flow.
In Buddhism, there is a teaching called impermanence. I have yet to understand the concept fully, but here’s my interpretation. According to this teaching, everything is temporary, and nothing lasts forever. Therefore, we must let go of our attachments and become comfortable with uncertainty. It’s about cultivating open-mindedness, flexibility, and compassion.
As a species, we are not adept at dealing with detachment and uncertainty. We tend to become attached to people, ideas, possessions, and this life. When we attach ourselves, it becomes difficult to detach. We can become fearful, trigger the fight-flight or freeze response, and significantly increase stress and worry. We can also experience grief—a loss we believed we owned, which is an illusion of the mind.
In summary, everything is temporary, a concept we often dislike and find hard to accept. We tend to attach to things, believing that nothing will change. As a result, we often find ourselves feeling more worried and anxious.
Can you resonate with it?
So, how to handle uncertainty? Or, instead, how can we embrace it?
Change is inevitable; we need to learn to accept impermanence and go with the flow. Though it sounds simple when I say it, believe me, it’s not. Acceptance is a more complex concept than it sounds and is often overused, a topic we will discuss at another time.
There are things we can’t control, but there are things we can control.
So what can we control?
We can control how we react and respond to change. We can be open-minded and curious about it. We can question our attachments, habits, and beliefs. We can learn to sit with the discomfort of it all. And practice awareness. We can ask ourselves what opportunities are here on this shaky ground? Is this all bad, or am I scared because it feels unfamiliar? The practise that you need to do!
However, some simple tips can ease the mind and nourish the body during challenging times.
The simple approach is to balance it out. If there is too much stress and anxiety, do more good and nourishing things that help reduce stress.
Here are my favourite tips:
Eat nourishing food and drink herbal teas.
Have a good rest and sleep.
Get out and connect with nature.
Socialise with friends and family.
Engage in activities that you like
Meditate and practice mindfulness to observe your mind & relax your body.
Do something with your hands; be creative.
Limit your time on social media and reduce screen time.
Engage in learning something new.
We all have different interests, so sprinkle them around your week.
If you are going through a significant change, may these suggestions help you find calm and peace during these difficult times.
With love
Nalan