I honestly have no concept of dates anymore. For me, there is little difference to it being a Tuesday or a Saturday! My office has been closed since March 18th. In the past 6 weeks I have been oscillating between moments of feeling deep sadness and moments of being overcome with awe and gratitude. I have seen acts of selfishness and also some of the most beautiful acts of kindness and love. Sometimes these extreme emotions can take a toll. I know for me, there have been a lot of times when I was trying not to feel anything at all.
In times of uncertainty, we look for someone or something to assure us of the right thing to do. I know for me, every time I look on social media or the news there are debates about everything ranging from the existence of Covid-19 to best practices and nobody seems to know the answer. I am looking for answers, something to reassure me that I am doing all the right things. In times like these, where there is no way for someone else to give you all the answers, you have to dig deep within and reassure yourself.
When certainty is questioned, fear can take over and further distance your thoughts, actions or reactions from those that are aligned with YOU. I don’t know a better way to express this, but lately I have not felt like “me”. I do know when I meditate I do feel more like me. The body’s regulating system that takes place automatically is called the autonomic system and is responsible for regulating involuntary body functions, such as heartbeat, blood flow, breathing, and digestion. When activated, it automatically and instantaneously triggers either the parasympathetic (rest or digest) or the sympathetic (fight or flight) response.
The body then prepares for fight or flight by releasing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. This results in increased blood pressure and blood sugar. The heart pumps faster and breathing is accelerated. Blood flow is diverted to the limbs. Other systems, such as digestion and reproduction, are shut down. I know in the past few weeks there has been an underlying feeling of uneasiness in my body. Practicing deep breathing exercises and meditation have greatly impacted my ability to feel present in my body. Activation of the parasympathetic (rest or digest) system also has an automatic and immediate response. But in this case, it allows the body to relax and repair. Heart rate and blood pressure are lowered, muscles relax and digestive enzymes are released.
So, how can we find certainty when there are so many unanswered concerns?
Reassuring yourself means that you first need to be in touch with YOURSELF. It is that part of YOU that is always there; you get glimpses of it but often it is silenced in favour of your louder parts. The louder parts are those that are concerned with memories, fears or beliefs. Sometimes you just need to find that YOU that innately knows that everything will work out the way that it is supposed to work out. An awareness that everything is okay and there is no need to feel threatened calms the mind, allows the body to release tension and the breath deepens.
“An unquestionable certainty emerges when we observe through our unclouded lens.” Dr. Julie Doobay
If you’re new to meditation I’ve found this meditation from my friend Manali Scott to be very beneficial to putting the rest of the world on pause.
You can find more info on https://www.zenforyou.ca/
Copyright 2020 Dr. Julie Doobay