Photo credit: www.mindful.org
Regardless of individual political beliefs, many people share a pervasive sense of chaos and distress in today’s world, often characterizing the current era as particularly bleak and filled with anxiety. Amid feelings of helplessness, there is a collective yearning to take action, but clarity on how to engage effectively remains elusive. In recent discussions, the potential benefits of meditation, mindfulness, and awareness have come to the forefront as tools for coping in these turbulent times, though they may seem insignificant in the face of overwhelming challenges.
However, if mindfulness practices cannot offer assistance in these troubling times, one might question their value altogether.
Before determining the actions we can take, mindfulness serves to guide how we exist in this moment, and that is where we must focus our attention. During periods of adversity, it is essential to return to fundamental principles.
4 Ways Mindfulness Can Help Us Right Now
1. Be in the Body
A vital aspect of mindfulness meditation that is especially beneficial during stressful times is its ability to reconnect us with our bodies. Distressing news, whether personal, like the loss of a loved one, or global, such as reports of conflict, can sometimes cause a disconnection from our physical selves. In these moments, it may feel as though we are detached from our surroundings. Such mental escapism leads our thoughts to spiral, overshadowing our immediate reality. Practicing mindfulness, even by focusing on our breath and feeling the weight of our bodies, can help anchor us back to the present.
The nature of media consumption plays a crucial role in this detachment. It may prove useful to consider a “news diet” to mitigate the emotional toll of constant updates. Oliver Burkeman, author of Meditations for Mortals, emphasizes the importance of critically assessing the time spent engaging with news. Much of what we encounter through social media is crafted to provoke emotional reactions rather than convey critical information. Returning our focus to bodily sensations and the present moment can be healing. Observing the natural world around us—like a bird landing on a branch—offers an alternative experience, one that exists outside the frenetic pace of news cycles. Burkeman also advocates for cultivating “news resilience” by consuming news intentionally and balancing it with positive stories, as well as engaging in informative content that promotes thoughtful reflection.
2. Rest in Choiceless Awareness
The grounding aspect of mindfulness allows for a spacious, panoramic view of our experiences, which enables us to detach from our habitual reactions. Such deep awareness is described as “choiceless” since it remains accessible regardless of external circumstances. This form of awareness observes anxiety without embodying it, imparting a sense of steadiness akin to a mountain’s enduring presence. In this way, we cultivate a profound courage that recognizes the continuity of awareness irrespective of life’s fluctuations.
Importantly, this awareness does not equate to emotional detachment. Rather, it enriches our capacity to experience genuine feelings in response to distressing stimuli, allowing us to bring humor and perspective to situations that might otherwise overwhelm us. Through this lens of awareness, we gain the ability to process discomfort while maintaining a compassionate stance toward ourselves and others.
3. Feel the Wonder of Not Knowing
When we cling to certainty, our awareness becomes clouded. By contrast, embracing the state of “not knowing,” as promoted by great Zen masters and artists like Maira Kalman, opens us up to fresh perspectives. Kalman suggests that at the conclusion of life, many come to realize the limits of their understanding. Instead of succumbing to the noise that bombards us daily, we can find liberation in questioning our beliefs and refraining from rigid opinions. This inquisitive mindset allows us to experience the world with renewed wonder and appreciation for its complexities.
4. Cultivate Compassion and Community
In addition to recognizing life’s beauty, we can also confront its more painful realities. This is where action becomes significant. The approach we take can vary widely based on circumstances, but compassion—our innate connection to others—is always available, even when it feels obscured.
As we establish a solid connection with our bodies and cultivate awareness, we can tap into our compassionate instincts to guide our actions. Acknowledging our limitations and the uncertainty of outcomes fosters humility and resilience. The most impactful advocates for social change often operate from this understanding, nurturing hope and progress through their actions without the expectation of seeing results in their lifetime, as captured in the expression “Making a Way Out of No Way.”
Ultimately, we all share an intrinsic bond with one another, and fostering connections within our communities can serve as a valuable starting point for collective action.
Source
www.mindful.org