Shock and confusion seem to be the constant state of being these days. I either find I’m obsessed with the drama of it, which fuels my anger, or avoiding it in a desperate attempt to find peace of mind. But this past week, the school-yard bullying of President Zelensky, a brave leader amid a 3+ year existential threat to his country and people, pushed me over the edge. How about you?
I have been asking WHAT CAN I DO?!?! I want to be doing something useful, rather than be stuck in shock, confusion and anger.
We find ourselves in conversations about it, but any conflicting views seem to just raise blood pressure all around. I started looking around for “the helpers” for inspiration. One friend has begun supporting the local immigrant community by attending their church services to demonstrate solidarity and be the link to broader community support. One cousin has started making short reels on social media focused on explaining the constitution and oaths taken by our Congressional leaders. I was introduced by someone to the “5 CALLS” app, which I LOVE, and I have started tracking my frequent calls to my Representative. I also pinned the 50501 Movement webpage to my search bar, so I remember to keep abreast of the planned/legal protests and events in my area.
The real question I asked myself is, how can I use any of my special skills or interests to offer further support to my community. That’s when I realized my offering to the world these days is through my mindfulness and meditation coaching. These skills I’ve learned reduce burnout, increase motivation, and enable a person to turn anger into action.
You see, I know that resilience is built only when we face difficulty, over and over, knowing we are resourced enough to manage through it. This requires clearly understanding the difference between struggling against what is NOT in our control and engaging where we DO have choices. Resistance against what already IS, is just exhausting. Instead, we can tap into our full capacity by remembering our resources, feeling supported by connection to others, and taking wise action in each present moment.
I know that a meditation practice creates a space for a feeling of resilience to take hold. Psychologist, neurologist and Holocaust survivor Viktor E. Frankl wrote, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. And in that space lies our power … and our freedom.”
If along this journey I can help others maintain a somewhat balanced peace of mind while focusing their spare energy on community activism, then maybe we’ll glimpse more hope, and less despair and complacency. Maybe we’ll all access our power and freedom, rather than be stuck in reactivity and fear.
Thus, in collaboration with artist & musician Téa Renee, Smoky Hills Insight is launching weekly meditations on multiple platforms to build a free library of guided meditations for anyone to access. Every Monday, starting March 3rd, we will release a new meditation video on our YouTube Channel. Simultaneously, the audio of that guided meditation will be released everywhere you can stream music, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and all social media platforms. Just search for Smoky Hills Insight.
Another super exciting development is these tracks will also be found on Insight Timer, my favorite free meditation app, which I have been a daily user of since 2015. While I have many favorite teachers on the app myself, I know that each person must find the voice and style of a meditation teacher that fits their needs. I am simply offering my voice and style to the mix, just in case it is helpful for someone out there.
I hope that you learn to create the space between the provocation and your instinctual reaction, and in that space find your power. We live in a country where we have the freedom to take wise action. Let’s do that now, before it’s too late!
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