Change is in the Air
September is coming with CHANGE. PERIOD.
That is the only way to describe what lies ahead. There is a sense of recursiveness, we’ve done September before. We’ve done the first day/week of school before. We’ve done the “back to” routines and structure before. But, there is nothing familiar about this fall. EVERYTHING is different. Some kids are doing online learning and don’t yet know what that will look like (my son). Some kids are back to school with masks and social distancing. Some kids are facing enormous anxiety and uncertainty about this year. Parents and teachers are also navigating these changes with fear, anxiety and uncertainty. The world is opening up its access to itself (gyms, yoga studios, events etc) and yet, Covid19 remains a real threat. My own personal life has flipped upside down and I am still trying to figure that out. For sure, this change is unprecedented, and I feel you all. Me too.
Those who know me know that my favourite expression is by Dr. Wayne Dyer:
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
So, how do we look at this year differently? How do you shift your narrative about what is happening in the world, in your community, in your family, in your home, in your heart and in your nervous system?
First, it’s not about trying to feel better or make sense of what’s going on (cuz we really can’t at this time). The path of the spiritual warrior (and you all are that and more) is about using the tools that you have inside you to move forward and be able to navigate the changes. You have prepared all of your life for this and if you forget you will feel defeated. YOU CAN DO THIS. You’ve been doing it for 6 months. For some of you, you’ve been doing it for years/decades. As a Spiritual Warrior, today is the day you need to change the way you are looking at yourself and remember what you already know:
You are powerful
You are resilient
You are unf*ckwithable
AND
4. You are vulnerable
If you want to change the way you look at things? If you want to resist the full collapse into fear and anxiety. If you trust that your beliefs create your thoughts which create your feelings which create your actions which support your beliefs. If you know these to be true, then you MUST be willing to acknowledge that you may not be able to control what is happening but you can control your responses so…. here is your chance, oh dear Spiritual Warrior, to pull out your metaphoric surf board. To hop on. To adjust your stance to the waves and to practice finding your balance while surrendering to the current of change. If you’ve ever stepped onto a stand-up paddle board you know how to do this. It requires a tender balance of:
Presence
Groundedness
Trust
Clarity
Engagement
Softening
Microadjustments
Non attachment (to falling and to standing on the board and in life as well as non attachment to the news)
Letting go
And constant perspective shifts
These are the qualities that will allow us all to navigate the rapid shifts of this season. It is critical to check in daily: What will my surfboard look like today. What winds are showing up? What challenges will I face? What microadjustments do I need to make for the health and wellness of myself and my family? How will I use these skills when I watch my little ones go off to school? How will I use these skills when my kids are feeling overwhelmed with remote learning and no social connections? How will I use these skills when I am faced with my own immortality and fear and work or lack of work stresses and fatigue and grief and whatever else you face daily? And here are some of the tools that you already have (I have worked with you so I know you have these) as a reminder:
Every morning, do a tune in. How is your body, heart, mind, nervous system? Take a few moments to be with yourself in this space and honour what is present. It is in the honouring that you can allow a soft space to replace tension. And while you are there…..do step 2:
Meditation: You’ve got the skills. If you were waiting for a rainy day to use them… it’s here. Meditation is not a vacation from your deep feelings, it is an opportunity to tenderly meet whatever arises without pushing it away, without defence and without judgement. Only when you get to meet what is moving in you can you practice holding space for it. Remember, one breath is an entire meditation (E. Tolle), so don’t think that your meditation needs to be structured and long and scheduled (although that will make it more likely). Take micro meditations throughout the day whenever you feel yourself recognizing tension, grief, anger, fatigue etc. You need to do this for yourself for greater clarity, decision making and to be able to be present for whatever you need to attend to in your life. Plus, if you have kiddos, this is the best thing that you can teach them today.
Get Outside. As the weather gets cooler it is easy to long to cocoon but keep going outside. Not only is the air fresher there but the connection with nature is a gentle healing opportunity
Exercise daily. This may not be the time to push yourself to run a marathon (unless you want to) but do get some movement into your body daily. The chemicals that you activate are absolutely mood changing. Yoga, walking, hiking etc. as well as strength training to remind yourself and your body of your power. The added bonus is exercise will boost your immune system making you (hopefully) more Covid resistant.
Connect with your people. Go for distance walks or visits, do zoom calls. For some of you who are returning to work after 6 months, you may feel the overwhelm of being around people all day but remember to reach out to your friends who “get you” on the weekends
If you are not returning to work and the days are feeling a bit like “groundhog day”, consider taking an online class. What have you always wanted to do but had no time…maybe now is the time.
Be patient with yourself, your family and others. I’ve heard this many times in the last few months: “we may all have different boats right now but we are all in the same storm.”
Be gentle with your journey. It may be a piece of cake or it may be the hardest thing you’ve ever gone through (like me). Know that you are loved no matter what you are going through and find moments in your day to be kind and gentle to yourself. In Buddhism this practice is called Maitri which means "loving-kindness," "benevolence," or "friendliness" towards yourself. What can you do today that is an act of self kindness?
In addition to so many painful changes in my own life these last few months, one of the ones that brings me so much grief is stepping away from teaching at Prayati. Some of you may know that Dan and I are uncoupled at this time and with that, came my need to step away from Prayati which has always been his business. With that change comes so much pain that I will miss all of you so very much. I will miss being in a live community and sharing stories, circles, jokes, yoga, YTT. I truly hope we can stay connected virtually for now until we can all figure out this Covid business and where we can meet in the future. For now, my yoga classes will remain online. There are over 50 classes now recorded so please feel free to access any of these and I will add 1-2 per week. If you have a request please contact me. I am also launching my “Realign to Thrive in a Minute Coaching Tips” on my Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5WF3Krv1PQWn324zbaqjSA?view_as=subscriber I would love to respond to any questions or challenges that you have as during these coaching minutes so please send me your questions/comments at realignmentcoach@gmail.com
Charles Darwin had a theory about survival. Many believe he said it was called “survival of the fittest” but what he actually found was that those species that adapted best to their changing environment had the greatest chance of survival. So, let’s adapt this fall to these changes and do the work that we need to do to not only survive but to look back and be able to say “I thrived”.
With love and gratitude
Diana
Xo
Upcoming events:
1. Beginning Sept 19th: Special Needs Teacher Training: Yoga/Mindfulness/Coaching 50 hour program for anyone who longs to offer a unique and beautiful experience to a child with special needs. This will include teachers, parents, yoga teachers and will offer a balance of your own personal development work with skills and tools and scripts to use with your children. Please let your parent and teacher friends know of this unique opportunity that comes with my merging for the first time my career as a Speech-Language Pathologist for 30 years, yoga instructor, mindfulness educator and coach. For more details please contact me or check out my website here: https://www.dianalockett.com/ysn
2. 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training: My next YTT will begin in December online and end with a beautiful live retreat in June at an off the grid farm in southern Ontario. For more information please click: https://www.dianalockett.com/ytt
3. My 8 week online program: “Realign To Thrive Fundamentals” will be launched this fall with a special bonus: Weekly group meditation and coaching sessions. I am offering this with so many special bonuses at a reduced price as I acknowledge that times are tough for many. I will share details in a separate email
4. As I am surrounded by parents and educators who are managing stress and anxiety, I will offer a FREE weekly 15 minute morning meditation for anyone that has a longing and a need to calm their nervous system beginning next Wed., the 16th Sept at 7:00 am. I will do this as a live facebook so it will be recorded and you can access it anytime. Feel free to drop in anytime and bring your kiddos if they need to relax into these changes. Give yourself this gift of nurturing your nervous system, your body, your mind and your heart. https://www.facebook.com/dm.lockett