Finding Hope in Challenging Times: A Journey of Self-Discovery

There are many reasons to feel hopeless these days…the changing climate, the wars and genocides churning, the economy which feels brutal and cruel at times, the endless duties of daily life…There are times I feel it. And lately, this feeling has been coming up.

When I feel hopeless, I take a moment to be with the feeling. I notice how it feels in all of it’s dimensions. The weight of it, the emptiness, the texture, the shape, the temperature. I slow down and allow myself time to fully experience the feeling. Lately, my hopelessness has felt heavy and cold; wet and gritty. I remind myself that hopelessness is a feeling, not an accurate description of reality. And I remind myself of what is real, that I am powerful, that I have many choices, that I am a dynamic part of creating any predicament I may find myself in. I give myself a moment to explore with loving eyes, what are the things I can do to remediate whatever situation feels so dire and hopeless to me? What is my agency and power in it? What do I have time and energy for? How can I respond with love for myself and everyone else involved?

I remind myself that if there is nothing I can do in the physical world, I can always pray. I can always send Reiki to it. I can always hold the situation with positive regard in my mind, making room for the possibility that things will change. I remind myself that I am an energetic being having a temporary human experience, and that I can move things on the energetic level.

Thich Nhat Hanh shared in The Art of Mindful Living that when difficult feelings like anger and sadness arise, the mindful way through is to first notice and acknowledge, I am angry, anger is with me. And then to shine your awareness upon that anger, just as the sun shines upon a flower. Just as the flower cannot help but to bloom under the warm light of the sun, so too must your anger or sadness or hopelessness bloom into something new.

Somatic processing is relatively new to me, and something I am incorporating into my practice. It gives me another tool to be with the painful feelings. I deepen my mindfulness by noticing the somatic experience of the emotion to the extent I can hold it. With this loving noticing, I find my emotions processing through automatically, through the innate healing process in the body. This doesn’t mean the feeling won’t arise again, but often with less intensity. I continue to work with it until it is fully processed. I am often left with profound insights and a new sense of gratitude and hope.

Love is the way, and the work begins in our hearts. Wishing you much strength and courage as you find your way.

I hope this reflection helps you. If you’d like more help with this, I am currently available to take new clients. Please email me to schedule a consultation.