The past few months have gone by in the strangest and most unexpected ways. At no point in history have we been faced with an issue that would have an impact on everybody, everywhere, all at the same time. 

And my country, as many others, has gone through a period of lockdown which lasted for two months (unable to leave our homes unless strictly necessary and having to fill in a declaration). I don’t believe anything could’ve prepared me for something like this at the beginning of 2020. Bewildering to say the least.

Many of us have been feeling confused, out of touch with reality, disconnected, lethargic, uneasy, anxious, or plain terrified of the future that lies ahead. 

Yet as with every hardship in life, the experience has had so many nuggets of gold in store and big reminders. It has brought so much change in me and I feel in many others, that the way we now move forward is asking that we embody and live our personal truth more fully, and align with what’s truly meaningful for us. This is the time. 

And doing that will require that we process and integrate this experience as well, with all of ourselves, and also add to our resilience toolbox what this has been here to teach us. So that we can use it for what lies ahead, as a stepping stone on our path to evolving and stepping into our grandest expression of what we can be, of what we’re here to do.

#1: EMBRACING MOVING BACKWARD SO YOU CAN TRULY MOVE FORWARD

There is a verse in the Chinese Taoist text known as the “Tao Te Ching” that says:

“The path into the light seems dark/ The path forward seems to go back”.

I think so many of us felt at the beginning of the decade that this will be the start of real progress, going for our goals and dreams and seeing a new world ahead. And yet once the pandemic hit, it felt like everything halted or even seemed to move backward. So much was stirred up emotionally while being suspended in what felt like a big void. 

What was really happening was that suddenly, all of our focus which was so outwardly oriented, was forced inward. We had nowhere else to turn our attention when collectively, unresolved issues of safety in the world, fear of the unknown, lack of personal control, powerlessness in front of the situation, being trapped, and fear of authority even – simply rushed forward.

We had to go in. We had to be with ourselves. We had to face our shadow parts. We had to reach the depths of our wounds. 

Because this is the way life moves forward. Through the motions of the circle, forward and back, out in the world and back in within ourselves. Forward into our new, updated ways of being, then back to those old parts of ourselves that still need healing and integrating. 

This is a powerful reminder to accept this natural cycle of life and when old wounds, old ways, obstacles that seem to take us backwards rather than forward towards what we desire to be or have – embrace them, go with them. Know them for what they are: the actual way forward. 
 

(This is also why using EFT Tapping speaks to me so deeply: because it allows us to gently approach our issues, verbalize them, feel them when we’re ready, and release them from our systems by making room for the real, authentic, positive that springs from within.)

#2: TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES AND LOVING OURSELVES THROUGH IT ALL IS OUR TRUE BEDROCK

One of the biggest realizations I’ve had about life that will always stay with me is that self-care and self-love are truly the pillar, the bedrock of our lives. When the storms hit (and we will all go through many), we get off-center, emotions run high, old patterns resurface, and our first response is often to try to fix the outer circumstances so that we feel better. 

Now during this pandemic, so much seems to be outside our control. So much so, that this has been the perfect opportunity to strengthen that pillar of stability and well-being from within. The outer circumstances will change, will be in flux and will depend on so many factors.  And yet that ability, that confidence that we can find our inner oasis, our inner safe and loving haven is what we can truly count on to be there at any time. 

I’ve learned that when situations feel overwhelming, when scary changes take place, when things seem to fall apart, what I first need to reach for, are my self-care and self-love practices. And only after I’ve found my center and I’ve tended to my well-being, will I be actually ready start to look at what I am called to do about the exernal. 

Finding our center in this way is really about being present with ourselves, being there with our emotions, gathering the tools to process and release them, taking care of our body, and scheduling into our day those things that fill us back with energy (such as time to sit in nature, and things that make us feel sheer joy). 

One thing here that’s been the most helpful for me (and which may sound unexpected when talking about self-care), has been childlike play. Yes, that joyful, light, fun, pretending you’re a carefree child all over again and like your only job in the world is to play and be in wonder! (Because that’s what we’re also meant to remember, that life really can be a fun, joyful adventure if we align with our Highest Purpose for being here).  

Being in this space for just 1 or 2 hours a couple times a week can be incredibly revitalizing and recharging when being emotionally drained and swimming in low energy vibration for longer periods of time. 

#3: AS SENSITIVES AND EMPATHS, HEALTHY BOUNDARIES AND LEARNING TO TEND TO OUR “BEING WELL” SPACE IS KEY

I believe this whole period has been more challenging for those of us sensitives and empaths. When the whole world is in turmoil, when so many people experience fear and low vibration simultaneously, we feel it down to our cores. 

So I know it’s been even harder to feel like our usual selves or to hold a space of feeling good. Many have felt the need to contribute in some way with their own resources (maybe you’ve donated, maybe you’ve sent your intentions and compassion for the world during your meditations, maybe you’ve taken the time to acknowledge the pain of healthcare workers or those dying without being able to hug their relatives) and this is absolutely wonderful and needed!

Yet it can be very draining, I know. So the lesson here has been remembering that although we are connected to everything and everyone, and we will feel compelled to contribute, we are also individuals who need to learn to hold their own personal light and well-being. 

And the way we do this is through having strong boundaries, like being very clear about spending only a set amount of time a day reading about what’s happening in the world. Visualisation and setting boundaries around our energy space with our intention is really helpful as well.   

Or simply deciding that what we did was enough and telling ourselves “now is the time for me to tend to my own well-being, my own vibration, because this is also an incredibly valuable contribution to the field of energy of the Planet”.

Becoming a highly resilient person is really something we develop over time. It’s like a muscle we train which then attains “muscle memory”. And that happens with every difficult experience we choose to dive into with increased awareness, with every self-care practice we really implement over time, and with every moment in which choose to take action that supports our well-being versus that which reinforces unresourceful past programming.

Keep staying present. Keep practicing. Keep tuning into your resourcefulness. You will soon learn you’ve really got your back no matter what.

With much love,

Adelina

P.S. How have you been feeling throughout this whole experience? What’s been coming up for you? I’d love to hear in a comment below!

P.P.S. If you know someone who would need to hear this right now, please share this with them!