Inhabiting our uncertain world today

Welcome to my first blog which I write with some trepidation, having not blogged before, the main questions running through my mind as I write include; Who will read this? Will anyone be interested? Only time will tell, what I do know is I feel very enthusiastic about the start of this new opening for me and this is invigorating! So, here goes……….

I sit with mixed emotions and feelings as I reflect on how quickly the world, we know has changed for us all. The impact of coronavirus has been so far reaching, it has not discriminated in anyway. Money, fame, from those living in poverty to those in power have not been spared. The speed at which the virus has spread and impacted our lives has been incredible.

Who would have thought the concept of ‘working from home’ would become the norm in our lives? How many of us expected our daily commute into the office to stop or significantly reduce? How many of us thought supermarkets would be running out of toilet rolls or pasta?

In just a few short months the human condition and mind has been tested and for some, it has brought out qualities of compassion, wisdom and pragmatism to name a few but, we also know what is true is that it has bought out less favourable qualities in others such as selfishness and protectionism. The human state at its best and possibly worst.

So, I continue to reflect on whether there is a constant in all this and maybe there is, the three ‘A’s; the constant maybe the need for us all to Acknowledge, Accept and Adjust to our new way of being, in the way we inhabit the wider universe and our own worlds.

This, I hear you say is ‘easier said than done’ and I too have been reflecting on how challenging this can be for some, especially who are facing uncertainty on many levels. Health concerns, concerns about employment security and pressures around personal finances, these all are very real concerns facing many. For them hopes of an immediate solution may feel like some way away.

What can be done? Let’s look at the three ‘A’s again:

Acknowledgement is the first step, acknowledging the status quo is important. Ask yourself, what is really happening in the world now? How does it affect me? How does it affect my loved ones? The most crucial next question is, how much of this can I change? What is within my gift to change?

Acceptance is the next step, reflecting on whether we are actually accepting what is happening is important. How can we accept something we may not want to accept?

One possibility that opens up for us within this uncertainty is the invitation to reflect on what is within our control. What do we have complete control over? There will be a considerable number of things over which we do not have any control, accepting this is key. Asking oneself whether time and energy spent worrying over something one cannot change is time well spent? This is critical.

So, we move onto the last ‘A’, Adjustment. Whether we seek to, want to or need to, we are all having to make considerable adjustments to inhabit this new world and it is this adjustment that takes time and energy. A starting point is to ask ourselves are we prepared to put the time and effort into making the adjustment?

Adjusting may mean seeking out available resources and support mechanisms to support us. This may include outplacement services for those at risk of redundancy. It may mean taking a different approach to how we work, using the time saving from not commuting in a positive way. It could mean we focus on our health and wellbeing. Whatever approach we take what is important is that we do take action to adjust.

My invitation to you is to reflect on where you are in the 3 ‘A’s. Ask yourself, are you acknowledging, accepting and adjusting or are you oscillating between the three states? What are the consequences of this?

You may find it useful to reflect regularly, our thoughts and feelings adapt and change many times in a day. There are many factors that may impact on this; what we see, what we hear, what we read, how busy we are, the tasks and activities we undertake, I can go on but I think I have made my point, there are so many factors that impact our feelings.

What is important is how we react to these feelings, taking a step back and reflecting on our thoughts is critical to enable us to start to focus and rationalise. We should all ask ourselves ‘how often do we pause and reflect on a daily basis?’

Maybe this is an invitation to enable us to start the process of reflecting on the 3 ‘A’s. I leave this with you…..

None of us will know for sure how the next few months will unfold and what lies ahead but we can try to identify what we can take control of. Recognising that there will be things that we have no control over is equally important. This will enable us to better ‘Acknowledge, Accept and Adapt’.

I end my first blog with a couple of reflections which I find to be deeply moving and very appropriate in the current times. I hope you don’t mind me sharing them.

“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it”

Eckhart Tolle, A Spiritual Teacher

“We have only now, only this single eternal moment opening and unfolding before us, day and night.”

Jack Kornfield, A Vipassana Teacher

Thank you for reading through to the end, I am very grateful. I am keen to develop some of the ideas in this blog and am reflecting on whether to focus on some of the points raised here in future blogs. I would be extremely grateful for your thoughts or feedback so please do get in touch.

I look forward to sharing more thoughts with you soon. In the meantime, please keep safe.

• on October 13, 2020