It’s an interesting time right now, not just in the United States, but also around the world. Our collective crap is being dug up and brought out for us to see, and it’s happening so blatantly and powerfully, that we can no longer ignore it’s there.
It is far easier to ignore our own deep, deep wounds, our own darkness, our own anger that builds and never gets felt and expressed and released. Even when it’s hurting us, it’s easy to ignore.
Because it’s not pretty or comfortable. Because we tell ourselves we are supposed to be positive and jump straight to that, instead of feeling something we have been taught is negative (even if it’s not).
Then, when it shows up as children crying in pain and fear in Aleppo, as confusion over Brexit, or as Confederate flags and swastikas popping up overnight on November 9, it becomes much harder to turn away.
You might have even had your own personal rock bottom, your own turning point following something too big to ignore: your child’s death, a devastating breakup, being diagnosed with a chronic illness.
And so, this is not a political post; it is an invitation.
As I sat down to write this blog post, my head and heart were suddenly flooded with the questions I’ve learned to ask myself when things are confusing, when I’ve lost touch with myself, when I’m scared or in pain, or simply when my spiritual posse – my teachers, guides, angels, and higher self – nudges me forward, inviting me to reunite with the Truth.
I offer these up to you now and trust they will serve you somehow.
Perhaps one or two of them will resonate deeply and stay with you for years to come. Perhaps they’ll remind you of a long-forgotten truth, something you knew as a child and thought (or was told) was wrong. Perhaps your own spiritual posse will swoop in with questions truer to you.
Lean in and trust whatever feels best for you.
Here are some of my favorite questions to turn to for growth, deeper love, and reunion with my truest self.
Where is my body? Where is my breath?
Inevitably, even when it takes a few seconds longer than I anticipate, the answer to this is, “My body is here, my breath is here.” This has done wonders for bringing me back to the present moment, calming my nervous system, and reminding me that I can always count on myself. I say it constantly – sometimes several times in an hour.
What’s here for me?
There is always an opportunity or lesson available, even amid confusion or chaos. This is the simplest way for me to explore that, and it helps me remain curious, which is one of the best ways to live life.
Who do I choose to be in this moment?
It’s amazing what happens when I get quiet, tune into my heart, and ask myself this question. The answers are diverse (some recent ones include: “someone who feels her feelings,” “powerful and tender,” “a woman who knows her strength,” “someone who realizes how silly I’m being and can laugh out loud at herself”), and they always invite me to reframe my situation, go deeper into the truth of who I am, and surrender more bravely into whatever is happening.
What does little me have to say about this?
There’s a lot of wisdom in the young versions of ourselves, whether it’s through our memory of who we were or by connecting to our own inner child. When I need to simplify things, loosen up, understand a deep fear, or embrace the courage and curiosity of a child, this question takes me straight there.
Remember, what grows in the dark is still growing. Whatever is festering inside of you or around you is asking to be seen.
It is when we meet it, embrace it, and move through it into the light that we can find wholeness and relish in the miracle of being alive. Whether you get there through prayer, a specific practice, working with a mentor, or simply asking yourself some questions, I invite you to dive in and do the work.
