Recognizing that this is an immensely challenging and trying time for most of us, we wanted to reach out and connect with all of you. We are currently facing, a rapidly changing, collective crisis that is unprecedented for our time. It is more important then ever that we come together as a community and we wanted to share some thoughts and strategies that may help cope with what’s going on around us.
We are all being given an opportunity to hit pause…to slow down…to go inside and connect deep with ourselves. The time to spend with loved ones (ones in your home and FaceTiming ones who aren’t), to revaluate our priorities and values and to connect to a higher dimension of consciousness accessible for everyone. We must understand that relationships exist between everyone and everything. That we are experiencing a collective demonstration of fear and but at the same, vulnerability, courage and love. When we are ready to accept and live in our reality it is only then that we are able to transform it. This is no doubt pushing us into discomfort…this pain it is only meant to pivot us, to change our trajectory, and to bring us closer to our truth. A chance to lean in, to reset, to rebirth new ideas and a new way of existence here on this fragile earth. An opportunity to stand and unite together as a whole, to embrace love and community and to be brave for ourselves and others.
With social media exposure and readily available world and local news it is easy to be consumed with fear and feelings of lack of control. These are, with no doubt, uncertain and scary times and feeling that way is completely understandable…but stay with me for a minute while we try to unpack, FEAR. Fear is a vital and primal emotion, one that is absolutely essential to keep us safe and away from danger. When fear is activated it has a cascading impact on our physiology and our body’s stress response system. When we are afraid, stressed or anxious – our brains go offline, our nervous and hormonal systems are activated and we go into survival mode. So with that said, let’s take a moment…get back into your body, and see if you can evaluate if fear is really what you’re feeling…Or are you activating an old pattern, strategy or stress response to something that is learned, not in the present moment, or perhaps something that ancestrally belongs to someone else. Yes, it is important to make decisions for preparedness that will keep you and your family safe, but ask yourself…is this fear or panic response being guided by old patterning and/or beliefs? Is there an opportunity to be more present, to remain in our body, to shift stagnant energy and to be more solution focused, rather then reactive? Fear is merely a thought form of emotion, projecting into a future moment…so, what if we remained present, in this exact moment, is there anything to fear?
I was in Peru when things began to escalate here in Canada and it was interesting watching the capitalistic, fear-dominant behaviour from afar. There was no doubt a sense of worry and inquiry displayed among the Peruvians but toilet paper, hand sanitizer and soap were still on the shelves. Where was this hoarding and “all for one” demonstration of human behaviour coming from? Were we allowing the media to influence our behaviour in a fearful way?…is it because COVID-19 is a contagious infection that we would rather think of “self” and create distance, rather then coming together as a community and helping our neighbors…an “us” verses “them” mentality? Or…was it an epigenetic reaction – triggered by war, famine and ancestral responses to the other great pandemics of the plague, cholera, or the Spanish flu?…Certainly worth the inquiry? And, if we sat with those possibilities…would our perception and consciousness change around our reaction(s). If we had the chance to express or shift our own stagnant energy and vibration around these ancestral trauma(s) as well as the reality of our current global trauma – could we express togetherness as a united front, rather then separateness, scarcity and fear?…Could we dissolve these energetic vibrations, observing and feeling our emotions deeply, moving them through us rather then suppressing or holding onto them. Can our response to this global pandemic be expressed in such a way that it won’t negatively impact our own future generations?
What I do know is that I love hearing the stories of the clear water in the canals in Venice and seeing the satellite images of less pollution and emissions in the air. A positive consequence of these difficult times is that Mother Earth has found a way to heal. In just a short period of time we can undoubtedly see how a different way of living can heal our planet. Mother Earth is clearly demonstrating to us that we can combat climate change and reverse its impact if we are all in it together. Can we use this time to explore our own carbon foot-print, to redefine our responsibility of over-consumption and “necessity”…and how our human activity is negatively impacting our planet?
During this time, it is imperative that we double down on our self-care practises. We’re offering you a few suggestions and strategies, as well as, some thought provoking inquires to explore deeper.
1. Stay grounded – this can be a powerful and simple strategy to help manage and detach from stress, fear and anxiety. Shift your attention away from the negative feelings that you have from the outside world and stay focus, grounded inside and present in the moment.
2. Daily gratitude practice – large or small..mindful and with a new perspective. It’s really quite inspiring seeing all the random acts of kindness, support and love among our community. I’m beyond grateful to be a part of it.
3. Deep breathing – activates your relaxation and Vagus nerve response, reducing your heart rate and blood pressure, acting as a brake on our stress response.
4. Daily meditation – even if it’s sitting in stillness for 5 min
5. Self compassion practice – be open and show kindness toward oneself. Show non-judgment for any emotion(s) that are coming…simply observe, acknowledge and let them pass. And….even though we all likely have more time then we’ve had before – explore being still and quiet, rather then being busy and having feelings that we need to be doing something.
6. Exercise and movement – there are amazing resources emerging online to keep us connected to our exercise community.
7. Limit social media and news exposure – be informed but and observe your response to too much.
8. Practice togetherness – small acts of reaching out to neighbours, loved one, friends you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Re-establish connection. Ask someone how they are doing? Share and hold space for one another. You may be feeling isolated but you are not alone.
9. Sleep and Rest
Here are some Journaling or thought provoking questions for you to explore:
- Who do you want to become during this global pandemic?
o It is not why we exist but rather how we exist. How do you want to exist for you, for your loved ones, for your community, for mother earth? - What am I holding on to just so that I feel held and heard during this pandemic?
- Does my response and/or belief system triggered during this pandemic belong to me or someone else?
- What do you want to surrender and let go of during this global pandemic?
o Why are you holding on to it, how is it serving you, how it is not?
o How you will you feel once you surrender and let go of what ever is keeping you small or in a dysfunction pattern? - What will you be willing to shift during the pandemic?
- What will you value and prioritize most during and after this global pandemic?
- How will I give and receive during this pandemic?
- What are ready to let in?
As you know we have temporally closed our clinic but know that we are here for you. Perhaps it may not be in the most conventional Osteopathic way of service but we are here to help you navigate your way through this. Please feel free to reach out anytime by email (info@anantaosteopathy.com) or direct message on Instagram (@anantaosteopathy).
We are all in this together.
Will love,
Your Ananta Family