Calm in the Eye of the Storm

Dear Reader,

I have a question for you. During this pandemic, we are experiencing tremendous highs and lows. Circumstances are bringing out both the best and the worst in people. We are looking for guidance, reason, insight, inspiration, solace, humor, connection and healing as we navigate through this coronavirus storm.

My question is this:

What would it take for you to provide calm in the eye of the storm right now?

I have a feeling that if you are reading this, even if you are looking for insight or solace yourself, you are open to being a support and an inspiration to others. What would that take, for you?

I am not mainly thinking of what you could do for others, but how you could be for others.

Doing and being

No doubt, there is plenty you could do. You may already be active as a first responder, a health care professional, a worker providing an essential service like food provision or vehicle repair. If so, my admiration goes out to you.

But those activities aren’t the only ways to be of service, to be the calm in the storm.

You might provide a few words of encouragement to a loved one who is feeling down. You might reach out to a struggling friend or stranger on social media. Or, you might simply hold space for another to work through their own fear or frustration without you feeding it, fixing it or letting it drag you down.

More important than any of that, I believe, is how you are being – how you are showing up during this time. How you show up influences every choice you make about what action to take, or not to take.

You have everything you need within you to show up during these times in a powerful way, for yourself and for others. So for today, I have three simple suggestions for aspects of yourself you can draw on:

Compassionate

You are capable of great compassion, by simply engaging your human heart and remembering that we are all fearful at different times, for different reasons, and we are all in this together.

Compassion is part of who you are. Perhaps the most powerful use of compassion is to direct it inward first, toward your own beautiful, imperfect self. Being calm in the eye of the storm does not mean being perfect! It means being real.

Open-Hearted

You have an amazing heart, with a tremendous capacity for love. An open heart is the channel for your sense of compassion. Fear and anger can make it difficult to cultivate an open heart. On the other hand, cultivating an open heart will reduce fear and anger.

Having an open heart does not mean being swept away by your emotions! It means being willing to feel your emotions, even the deepest ones, and direct them in positive ways.

Intuitive

All human beings are intuitive. You have access to great inner wisdom, and the ability to gain tremendous insight, in unexpected ways – and often at unexpected times.

Think back. You can probably remember at least one (more likely many) times in your life when your intuition has helped you know what to do or which choice to make. When you trust your intuition, you know how and when to be a calm force in the eye of the storm.

Putting it all together

If you are thinking that you don’t feel capable of any of those ways of being right now, don’t worry!

I do not focus on these aspects of self as a challenge to live up to. Consider them as ways of being you can focus on, play with, and allow in yourself as they feel right. They are tools on your spiritual path – simply focal points for a chance to practice.

You have already experienced each of these powerful human qualities – and many more – many times in your life. Even now, no matter what you are experiencing during these times, you have the capacity to experience them again.

Consider this an opportunity to use self-compassion, in how and when you engage with these tools. Are you being compassionate with yourself?

Notice when your heart feels open, and when it feels closed. What do those states feel like? When is it easy to open your heart, and when is it difficult? And are you willing to open your heart just a little bit more, even when the going is tough?

Finally, practice letting your intuition guide you in knowing what you can do to provide calm for others (and for yourself!) in the eye of the storm. Know that by paying attention to your experience and trusting your intuition, you can remove the pressure of trying to “figure out” how to do it.

This way is much more light-hearted.

I honor your loving heart,

John