Today [Jan 20] is Just Another Day

Turn off the news, log out of social media and get outside

Photo by Aperture Vintage on Unsplash

ETA: I wrote this before the destruction of American democracy. I’m leaving this post as is, because staying in each moment is the inner work of revolution—and eventually, this too will pass. This is by no means is this intended to blame or shame any individual who can’t access this viscerally. Rather it’s a call to action for those of us who are called to do this work.

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“[What time is it?] The oak tree or the eagle would be bemused by such a question. “What time?” they would ask. “Well, of course, it’s now. The time is now. What else is there?” —Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

As part of my practice of learning how to stay in the present moment, I spent years treating Christmas, New Year’s and my birthday as ‘just another day.’

Of course it’s not ‘just another day’…and also, it is

On a human level, of course, today is a day that may bring up a lot of fear in a lot of people, including me. Feeling fear, trepidation or rage is not a moral obligation, and it isn’t going to change the facts of the situation. It’s only going to make me, or you, or anyone, feel bad and contribute to the collective Painbody. What often makes us most miserable are our thoughts about what might happen in the future.

From the perspective of nature, though, today is just another day. The sun rose this morning, and it will set tonight. It’s still winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in Australia and New Zealand. There will be sun or rain or snow or heat or clouds. Birds are flying, singing and squawking; trees are soaking up water from the earth. There will be high tides and low tides guided by the moon, just like every other day. What happens today is not going to affect the transit of the Earth around the sun. We humans, and this planet, are just one part of a vast mystery about which we really know nothing at all.

This is a screenshot, because staying off social media is important for your mental health.

I highly recommend turning off the news (perhaps permenently), logging out of social accounts and getting outdoors, regardless of the weather. Let the trees remind you of who you really are. Listen to uplifting music, play with your animal friends and remember that this, too, shall pass.

We are not in control (Much)

Those of us with extensive Western education have been taught to believe we’re pretty much in control, and that we can shape what happens. That particular belief is part of what causes our distress. We try and try and try to control external events (and by “we” I mean “I”), and when they go differently than we would like—or completely awry—we feel angry and miserable.

One of the biggest realizations I’ve experienced—and a huge contributor to inner peace—is that I’m not in control of anything except my actions. Other peoples’ actions, especially right now, are far above my pay grade. No matter how educated we are, we don’t have the full picture of what’s happening. The media is reporting, interpreting and opining based on incomplete data sets, and many are trying to curry favour. Therefore, we can’t possibly understand, much less control what is happening in this moment. (Wait! I’m not saying “ignore it, kick back and have a beer.” Keep reading.)

When I stop trying to control the outcome, that frees up an enormous amount of energy for other things, like paying attention to the sensations (not the story) of this very moment and putting my energy where it can make a positive difference.

Take action as needed

By all means, support nonprofits that are helping people whose human rights may be at risk. Volunteer where you can. Participate in nonviolent civil disobedience if that’s your thing. Be kind, compassionate and take action from a place of love, rather than hostility (remember, hostility leads to futility).

Side note: In my youth, I participated in a number of civil disobedience actions;
I gave my name as either Nancy Reagan or Anita Bryant.

Detach from identification with the painbody

The collective energy field is very heavy right now, and it’s easy to get sucked up into that collective despair. This is the collective painbody, and it’s important not to latch onto it, but to try and release your identification with it. The ego loves to declare how right it is, though often the insistence to prove that right-ness comes at the expense of inner peace.

Find alignment however you can. Beyond getting outside and connecting with nature, this could be: listening to uplifting music, working up a sweat, taking a bath or shower, meditating, spending meaningful time with your animal friends, having coffee with a friend (but don’t talk current events!), doing yoga, or whatever brings you a sense of deep inner peace.

Then, if you feel called to take action, take action from a place of creating a new world.

Lean into the collective good (Be the change)

You and I are connected with hundreds of millions of people who want to create a more equitable culture. Can you feel your connection with so, so many people who want the same world you want? Close your eyes and just imagine an illuminated rope connecting you with all these people around the world.

It’s easy—and it’s human nature—to fixate on what we perceive as negative (and understandably so!). As the saying goes, we’re “Velcro for negative and Teflon for positive.” It takes considerable practice to rewire the brain to notice the positive—in this case, that we are not alone in our desires. Today, just see if you can feel your connection with all the other people who share your values and your vision of a more peaceful world. Try starting with the 720 people who receive this newsletter.

Learn how to meditate

If you’ve wanted to learn to meditate but haven’t yet, I highly recommend Sharon Salzberg’s 28-day True Happiness Meditation Challenge. Every day, she releases new guided meditations (4-8 minutes long) that offer different approaches to meditation.

The Meditation Challenge brings together tens of thousands of people who all are looking for a way to navigate challenges and find inner peace during a time of extreme uncertainty. Sharon Salzberg is a legendary meditation teacher for a reason: Her guided meditations are short, relatable and easy to follow.

I will be pausing many times today to breathe and connect with all of you, and with the greater view of nature. Be kind to yourselves and each other.