Getting around to that sacred pause?

I’ve got an image of Grace trimming Frankie’s throw rug.

We will do anything to distract ourselves.

We have been asked to stop, to do things differently. For our physical health. But it’s not just that, is it?

As the many beautiful reflections and film clips circulating are communicating, such as #Ascolta this is a sacred time for us to indeed, stop.   And reflect. On our health, and that of the world. And how we live our lives.

We may be stopping some physical and social habits, but mentally, well our minds are probably busier than ever.  In a state of anxiety for what is, and what may come. So, it can be a struggle to actually stop. Pause. To actually feel the sacredness of this moment.

Not feeling so sacred

It would be fair to say, that from my leadership conversations last week, no one was feeling things were sacred.    There were leaders frantically trying to mobilise the team to convert to digital to keep up with the speed of change.  Others concerned that they will have to fold their business.  Some were seeing it as an opportunity to step up and busying themselves to support others. There were those juggling multiple roles because they are anxious about the future and grateful to have a job. Others who started this crisis already feeling overwhelmed, and who are now even more so. The boundaries of private and professional life blurred in a virtual reality.  Now as full-time parents, workers, homecarers and homeschool teachers all in a confined space 24 hours a day. And then others whose main comfort was to feel grateful, aware that there are those in worse circumstances.

Pascal’s problem to pause

French philosopher Blaise Pascal observed, all of humanity’s problems stem from our inability to sit quietly alone.

On one hand, the events have provided us with the unique opportunity to do that on a global collective scale.  On the other hand, homes are ranging from feeling lonely to overcrowded, hostile to any sacred pausing.

For sure, to physically stop is one thing. To consciously observe ourselves, and sit with the thoughts and emotions that rise, takes some courage and discipline.  We would rather organise our sock draw, consume whatever, alphabetise our spices or trim that throw rug.

Chaos to calm

Even if we stop, to say, get on the meditation cushion, we will squirm.  Our clever mind will want to get busy and ruminate on what we did, or plan what to do.

But if we are aware and compassionate with ourselves, and patient and persistent, our mind will get calmer.  We can get out of its grip.

This is our chance to come home, to ourselves. Yes to the home improvement projects, if it also includes the project of our own mind training.   It is time to clean our hands. And our minds.  And our earth home.

As some will say, this global pause is what we have been waiting for.

A movement to still

There has been a movement to be still. A 2,500 years old movement. As the Buddha taught,  everyone suffers and there is a way out of that suffering. To those enlightened, thank you for the light you are shining.  For those who have been training their mind through the likes of meditation and contemplation, keep going with your practice.  For those who have thought it would be a good thing or are looking for coping strategies but haven’t started. Start.

We may be currently constrained in our freedom. But we are free to choose how we train our mind. We have it as our individual, family and societal responsibly to do that. To use this lockdown time wisely.  The more conscious we are, the more freedom we have. Even if we are being controlled by the 1% as David Icke says in his interview.  We can be free.

We’ve got this.

Starting to stop

So treating this as a sacred time.

We recognise when we may feel too busy to pause.

Even for a moment.

And then we are already a little more out of our habitual grip.

There is no need to judge.

We just give ourselves a good dose of compassion.

And know we have a choice.

It may be that we just start at this point.

And take a breath.

Just start with one conscious breath.

Perhaps extend it for 2 minutes.

Maybe more.

It’s a start to stopping.

And if you want to continue, you may appreciate this beautiful offering from Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman: Creating a Home Retreat: Finding Freedom Wherever You Are.