Why I'm Committing to 30 Days of Stillness

How are you faring through this global health crisis? If you're anything like me, you might be finding it challenging to stay consistent in your self-care practices right now, including quiet time and meditation. 

My inbox has been full of advice about how to work with the fear, anxiety, and more, as we navigate COVID-19. And intellectually, my understanding of my practices gives me all the tools I need. But as the anxiety hanging in the air has gotten thicker and thicker, I started noticing myself gravitating to older patterns and coping mechanisms that, ahem... we'll just call, not-so-skillful.

It's at times like these, when life (or the world) is chaotic, that I most need my practice. And it isn't even that I completely neglected it. The reality is that when times get tough, we need to lean in on the practice, rather than expecting whatever we're doing for maintenance, to do the trick. Why?

It's time to get REAL

And it's time to let go of an old friend named Fear

Sometimes you gotta just do it. That's how I'm feeling at the moment. Have you ever felt this burning need to do something, anything, and didn't know where to start? Or maybe you aren't sure exactly where you're going because you lack clarity? Sometimes you gotta just take that first step. And then take the first step again. That's what I feel like I'm doing right now as I sit down to write for a blog I don't really have. Ok, so I do have a blog. One I started so long ago it's growing mold and I even un-linked it from my website because it felt like it was only spreading mold to the rest of my web presence (But not anymore! It's back!!!). As a business owner, I've often felt some kind of pressure that I should be doing all the things that are "proven" to make you successful out on the web (and hopefully in your business). You gotta be on social media, maintain a blog, offer online programs, etc, etc. And you know what? None of that is easy to do when you're so gripped by fear that you can't even sit down to write a few sentences for your own benefit, much less the benefit of others.

Last night I had a bit of a break-down and break-though, as my recent ex would have put it. Sometimes we sludge along in our lives feeling like we're moving forward but not exactly at the pace we'd like, and then BOOM something knocks us over and we're so dizzy we are forced to re-organize our internal resources in order to get back up and keep taking more steps forward.

I think this often comes with a feeling of being catapulted forward into the abyss. And it's no accident either, because were we really going to
just take a flying leap into the abyss without being pushed? That's how the universe works, in my experience. It gives me that shove when I

The Mindful Step

This step, the one right now, is the only one that matters.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by to-do lists and the busyness of everyday life. It’s easy to feel intimidated by our dreams and aspirations. It’s easy to forget that all the stress, all the worry, and all our fears, are just mental chatter. We so easily identify with the stories we play in our minds, soon believing that we are being asked to take an impossible leap, far beyond our potential.

The truth is, we aren't. All we need to do is come back to this step, the present moment, and what it holds. We may need to face the stress, the worry, and the fears straight on, but eventually they dissolve in the light of our awareness.

Sure, this all sounds wonderful, but what does it really mean? What do I have to do? Is it really possible for a “regular” person like me? I asked many of these questions myself, and this is what I’ve learned.