There are various words that come to mind when seeking a way to represent the events of the past few months – virus, pandemic, chaos, uncertainty, sadness and fear, among others. As well, there are other words associated with the same stream of events – gratitude, calming, social connection, reconnecting to what’s important, and slowing down. Hope isn’t easy to come by and it is okay to honor your experience just as it is. There is no right or wrong way to feel as you navigate the personal or global ripples of the last few weeks. Perhaps you’ve missed birthdays, coffee dates, or simply being able to give a friend a hug. Or you’ve realized that you miss things like seeing people around you as you shop communally at a grocery store without having to socially distance, going to a movie theatre or hockey game, or to the dog park. The routines we’d taken for granted have been turned upside down, as daily mileposts have dissolved overnight. Getting up to go to work, dropping the kids off at school, taking the bus, writing an exam, packing to go on a holiday – these routines have shifted for many of us and nothing is as it used to be. Adjusting to this way of life is challenging and sad and may feel hard to accept. During such moments, fighting reality can be a draining process to engage in. Accepting our new realities can be the way through such experiences, however numbing they may seem. How can we start this journey of acceptance? How can we hold on to ourselves through such times? In other words, how can we stay connected to our true selves, to what we value and what we know as true? We invite you to try some mindfulness practices to do just that and to stay grounded today.
One of the simplest and most powerful gifts that you can offer yourself right now is to focus on one breath, then another breath, and then the one after. Allow your entire attentional space to immerse in your breathing, and in noticing the sensations of breathing in, then breathing out and then breathing in again. Feel the breaths, and pay attention to the physical sensations of your body inhaling and exhaling through each moment. This can be an immediate way to feel reconnected in your body, or grounded in the right now.
One practice does not fit all of us in the same way, and so the practice of noticing whatever is arising right now can happen in several ways. Such ways could be;
counting your breaths,
paying attention to your five senses, i.e. what you see, hear, feel, smell and taste in the present moment or,
reminding yourself that you only have this present moment, by speaking aloud a preferred phrase such as ‘this too shall pass’.
Noticing the present moment may mean;
holding yourself in a hug,
petting your dog or cat,
breathing in a favorite scent, or
noticing the feel of your feet on the ground.
It could mean walking outside and feeling the cold wind in your hair, or paying attention to the sound of your boots on the snow and ice.
It could even be quietly noticing all the sounds surrounding you right in this moment.
It could be resting in full awareness of a daily ritual that brings you joy, such as making yourself a cup of coffee, speaking to a loved one, or grooming your horse.
What do all of these things have in common? Well, for one thing, none of these practices are inaccessible or artificially constructed; rather, they are about tuning in to things you do every day. The shift is that you embrace these moments in a particular way, which is to pay close attention with an attitude of curiosity and gentleness with yourselves and with what you notice. Rather than exerting effort or miring oneself in thoughts of being perfect or noticing in a certain way, the process of attending in these examples is about being with things as they are, and intentionally capturing instants that one takes for granted or rushes by unconsciously in daily life. This is how we can be mindfully aware in our everyday routines.
We invite you to step into such daily mindful moments, since they are opportunities for you to feel connected to who you are despite external chaos. Mindful moments such as these help you to feel grounded or connected to your values and identity through times of uncertainty. Also, if there is internal chaos or a sense of being emotionally overwhelmed, these mindful moments help you to stay anchored to your true self and offer you brief glimpses of “being okay” when nothing seems to go as expected. Even these practices may feel forced or unhelpful sometimes. If that seems to be the experience, embrace that as well. There is no right or wrong experience, there is only your experience right now. We hope to offer ideas of how to stay mindfully connected to your present moments through the next few weeks, with and without horses. Stay safe and stay grounded!