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Hey ,
You are not all over the place. You are in process.
Navigating the in between of who we've been and who we are becoming can be intolerable. The discomfort of not-knowing, the fear of uncertainty, the anxiety of chaos, the grief of anticipation, while overwhelming, is a perfectly normal feeling. In fact, to reject or deny these feelings can often lead to MORE suffering, not less. This hits not just at a personal level, but at a collective level given how much is at stake in this election and around the world.
There is constant pressure from our culture to both make people feel helpless and simultaneously sell them the promise that they can control it. Control is essential to the American Dream - our belief that we can do anything we want keeps the Dream alive and keeps us locked in a cycle of trying and failing and thinking it is our fault. All of which is a massive cover up of the painful truth that we are not in control. Our attempts to find security, to manipulate others, to over plan our future is futile. But the suffering is not in the thing itself; it is in trying to find solid ground, it is in our attachment to control and certainty and it is in our refusal to let go. Pema Chodron reminds us:
“It’s not impermanence per se, or even knowing we’re going to die, that is the cause of our suffering, the Buddha taught. Rather, it’s our resistance to the fundamental uncertainty of our situation. Our discomfort arises from all of our efforts to put ground under our feet, to realize our dream of constant okayness. When we resist change, it’s called suffering. But when we can completely let go and not struggle against it, when we can embrace the groundlessness of our situation and relax into its dynamic quality, that’s called enlightenment, or awakening to our true nature, to our fundamental goodness. Another word for that is freedom — freedom from struggling against the fundamental ambiguity of being human.”
RIDING THE WAVE
Each moment of discomfort or uncertainty is an opportunity for reflection, learning, and transformation. Every move you make away from habitual patterns AND towards possibility - whether grounded or wobbly—is an expression of growth. Riding the wave of this moment is building the capacity to be with discomfort and groundlessness, detach from old ways of doing so that we can be free to discover the many undiscovered pathways of being and working towards a better future. Here are some invitations for how to co-regulate and resource for this moment and the next:
- Take breaks. Liberation is not a season, it is an ongoing practice to confront the systems that are in the way of healing and co-build something better. Pace yourself during this election and prepare to engage in the joyful work ahead.
- Breathe. Set a timer at the bottom of each hour to take three breaths to return to yourself.
- Get grounded. Whenever possible, remember to feel your feet on the ground. Let it remind you that you are supported.
- Reach out. Make a practice of calling a friend and asking for what you need or offering support. Mutual care is how we survive and grow together.
- Listen to your body. Tune into your bodies needs/signals and notice when it needs rest or nourishment. Trust that this is not selfish but essential to how we build the capacity to keep going.
MAKING TIME TO RESET
Creating the space and time to build this capacity and reorganize ourselves around what matters most is what inspired RESET 2025. This retreat is designed to help you reclaim your center and find clarity amidst the chaos.
✨Experience: Movement retreat to support your transition into the new year.
✨Dates: December 28, 2024 - January 2, 2025
✨ Location: El Triángulo, Mazunte, Mexico—a place known for its soothing energy and natural beauty.
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