Go With The Flow: Observe Resistance and Nurture Resilience
“As with any change, there is a period of transition that cannot be ignored. As I look at my maple tree, I see that it has lost most of its leaves, but there are still some that stubbornly cling to their branches, even with the wind blowing over 40 miles an hour. Eventually, they will fall. That is the way of nature. It’s useless to go out and try to convince the leaves and even though they seem stubborn, they are part of the same tree as all the rest. Patience is the key.”
—Mo Abdelbaki, from 12House.com astrological newsletter
How are you resisting your forward flow, change, or truth?
Resistance is defined as not accepting, not surrendering, or not letting go. You can see examples of this right now in the world (the macro view) with stubborn leaves yet to fall from trees and in President Trump and his Republicans unwilling to accept the election outcome. We are in a moment that expresses our current pause and stuckness. As humans we may reassemble, review, or even reverse based upon our fears or passions, but at some point, we inevitably choose a direction forward again. Nature shows us there is a time for everything. (Remember, what you resist, persists!)
Many expected Trump’s resistance to accept the results of the November 3rd election. He continues to expound the claims of election fraud, but he and his attorneys give no real evidence of this, so most of his legal actions have been dismissed. Most believe (though they accept that Trump is afraid to believe he has lost a contest he did everything to win, including cheat) that he is likely positioning himself or someone close to him for a future political run. He continues to ask his followers to pay for his outstanding bills, calling it future ‘legal support.’ Like some leaves this time of year, he is stubbornly clinging to his branch not yet ready to fall.
How are you resisting your forward flow, change, or truth? This is a time for great inner processing of our feelings, and some ‘secrets’ or hidden information may be surfacing for you as you slow down and pay attention to the small voice within.
The answer to everything always seems to be self-care, which I have written about almost every month. When you feel stuck or anxious, increase your self-care. Being patient with yourself is one profound act of self-care that you can think of as ‘going with the flow’.
Here are some other ideas for self-care:
eat appropriately
exercise
nap/sleep enough
be with friends and family (online and phone counts)
laugh/play
relax (especially the inner critic/mental chatter)
balance your energy (ground, center, increase flow)
receive
give
be in the moment
focus on joy
learn something new
take breaks (from all things, including electronics)
wear a mask, wash your hands, avoid close proximity to those who you don’t live with
Choose what speaks to you at any given moment (except for the last one, which right now should be a constant) to engage in healthy self-care practices! Variety and moderation are helpful steps toward establishing an ongoing habit of good self-care as well.
Let’s Talk Resilience
Resilience means different things to different people, and its meaning varies by culture, age, and even by the way the word is used. Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, such as adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, threats, or significant stress. Such stress may include family and relationship problems, serious health issues, or workplace and financial stressors.
In an email about resilience Gregg Braden writes:
“In recent years, it’s become customary to hear “resilience” mentioned when describing the attitude and physical fortitude of entire communities, even nations, as they recover from the devastation of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks.
While the American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity” and “‘bouncing back’ from difficult experiences,” the Stockholm Resilience Centre identifies resilience as the “capacity of a system to continually change and adapt yet remain within critical thresholds.
[So] we’re talking about a way of thinking and living that gives us the flexibility to change and adapt to new conditions. This is the key to transformation in our time of extremes. While much of the research on this topic is offered with respect to whole communities and society, the place where resilience begins is with us. So, what does it take to create, develop, and sustain a resilient lifestyle—to live in a resilient way?”
The goal is for us to come back stronger from the challenges experienced. In order to do this, you need to first believe in your ability to cope.
Try these seven suggestions to move from chaos and fear to inner control.
Stay connected to your support systems and people.
Communicate and process your feelings, needs and challenges with those you trust.
Reach out and be helpful to others, which decreases the importance of your own struggle in the moment.
Focus on and manifest positive emotions toward yourself and your ability to cope.
Seek meaning in what is happening to and around you.
See yourself as a survivor and make that the attitude you carry into each day.
Remind yourself that like the leaves that fall from the autumn trees, all things have an appropriate timing. You just may not yet see it.
Then try four more steps to increase peace, growth and resilience:
Change the story you tell yourself. Watch your inner talk. Look for possibilities.
Face your fears. What is the worst that could happen? How likely is that and can you prepare for that? Communicate and journal for insight. Allow others to emotionally support you.
Meditate. Practice the pause, or stillness. Focus on your breath and center/ground.
Cultivate forgiveness of yourself and of others.
Good news! Resilience also boosts your immune system.
May you allow yourself the space to calmly observe how you feel and what is needed to keep your life aligned with your passion in this time of chaos and the unknown. May you trust nature to flow as it is intended for you. When you are ready to fall from your branch and embrace a new structure, may you land in the soft pile of those who have leapt before you. We are in this together for the greater good.
If You Missed “Live With Janna” On December 1st, 2020, The Video Is Below:
