As we approach another lockdown, you anticipate uncomfortable feelings.
You notice parts of yourself vying for attention – the ones that feel fear, loneliness, and shame. The anxiety of unfinished business from the past, beckons your acknowledgment and soothing.
Without the external distractions of work, shopping, and appointments, you are forced to sit with your internal world.
There are many ways to distract yourself from this discomfort.
You can go for a walk, watch a movie, call a friend, dance in your bedroom, or take a class online. It’s a temporary “fix” but, will all this “doing” result in healing?
What if this is the time to stop doing?
What if all this doing has kept you stuck in unproductive being? And what if in not doing, you can attend to neglected parts of yourself and just be?
Start noticing and naming the feelings that come up during the course of a day.
This develops your prefrontal cortex, or observing mind, which creates a space between impulse and action.
It provides time for you to chose your next steps. It can have a soothing effect on your central nervous system. In other words, over time you become more responsive, and less reactive, and you approach the world with calmer openness.
Don’t run away, or distract yourself from uncomfortable feelings.
Notice them and your bodily sensations. What beliefs are attached to them? What would you rather believe? This is valuable information.
Can you trace this back in time? Is it connected to a trauma or stressful period of your life? What did you need then?
Can you imagine your adult self providing safety and comfort to the distressed part?
If this feels too big or scary to do on your own, get a professional to support you through it.
The fight to avoid discomfort, keeps you small and stuck in destructive patterns.
We are complex beings that need nuanced attention. In being with ourselves, we can create an open, accepting, and curious world to live in – lockdown or not.
Make time for self care and gentle self compassion. In these times of crisis, reach toward support and healing.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anaiis Nin
What if this is the time to stop doing? 
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anaiis Nin
