01/21/2021
I think we all agree this past year has been a challenge on many levels. One of the things I have struggled with over and over is acceptance. I can think of at least a dozen scenarios where I did not want to confront reality or accept circumstances for what they were (or are). The major one was the pandemic. It took me a long time to get on board with the severity of what this virus was, how significantly it would disrupt our lives, and what would be needed to shift. At first, I let fear take over. Before long, I could not sleep, could not breathe, and could not stop my mind from running through the possibility of loss on every level.
Hanging on by a thread, my mind continued to race: how was I going to stay open? I feared the loss of our wonderful community and panicked over the demise of all the small businesses that had worked so hard to build and grow. Instead of looking for opportunity or hope, I was paralyzed by loss and doubt. I snapped myself out of it and began to reinstate practices to recalibrate my thoughts: daily mantras, prayer and meditation. SLOWLY, I accepted this new reality. I learned that thru embracing the present moment, however difficult it was, brought sleep, ease, comfort, joy, and growth.
The resistance of the truth only holds us back. There is a fear that once we accept or even acknowledge the reality it could bring hardship, pain, etc. but in truth what I have learned from this year is that with acceptance comes greater understanding and movement. You can grow, learn and then shift your perception. When I was rejecting the truth that this virus was taking my business, the fear of losing all that I created, was debilitating and depleting. Not only for me but for all those around me. There are still tough days and it's hard -- and often painful -- to grasp that which we can't fully understand but I know that I can access peace and serenity when I accept instead of object.
I know we will rise again, and I will not accept any other reality.