Prolonged Uncertainty

I have started this newsletter many, many times over the past few years with words about how heavy the world feels. I’m at a loss as to how to make sense of the war in Ukraine - though it’s futile to attempt to make sense of war. All I can do is keep my thoughts with the people of Ukraine and do what I can to contribute in ways that don’t feel like they’re enough.

That’s been a lesson of this time of prolonged uncertainty: that the things we do may never feel like enough in the face of the suffering of the world around us. And yet we have to believe that it is enough, that even the smallest acts of kindness ripple out and have an effect on the world at large. And that focussing on what’s right in front of us is also important.

This week the patron saint of relational work, Esther Perel, wrote about ways to cope in periods of prolonged uncertainty (from which I nabbed the above phrase). She wrote the original article in 2020, but it's just as relevant today. It talks about strategies on how to cope: it helps to identify and articulate our feelings (rather than stuffing them, or simply diagnosing ourselves as ‘stressed’), focus on small, rapid interventions (one breath at a time, get outside for a walk, take a bath), take action (volunteer, donate). Read the whole article for everything she suggests - but it's a good reminder for right now. I'd also add putting a song on and just dancing for the entire thing. Do not underestimate how helpful this can be: we tend to dismiss our needs as silly in moments of overwhelm, but it's when we need to resource ourselves more than ever.

This weekend I'm teaching a workshop on Cultivating a Sense of Worth with The Stack World. This community has been so regenerative for me over the past year: what they're doing is unique and so needed. If you feel so moved you can sign up here - this weekend is the last chance you have to sign up as a member before the prices go up on Monday. When you sign up, you'll have access to all the clubs in The Stack (and loads of events), if you navigate to my club, Meditation + Breathwork, you'll be able to RSVP for the event for free.

Then, later on in March I'm taking part in a really exciting new course led by Adriana Rizzolo and Body Temple Church. It's a 21 Day Embodied Writing Course called Divine Desire. I’ll be teaching a class on one of the live calls and also offering some writing prompts. Read more about it below and sign up here.

Cultivating a Sense of Worth

6 March 2022 2 pm EST/ 7 pm GMT

Zoom

90 minutes

You can sign up to the Stack here.