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This week, Susie will facilitate.
Water, mainly natural bodies of water, are anxiety producing for me. When I was little, I got a stomach ache, and resisted every time I had to prepare for my swim lesson.
Eventually I became a confident swimmer. And as a teenager, I would stay in the ocean for hours when I visited my grandmother.
On our camping trip last weekend, we went canoeing in a creek with "No Swimming" postings. Our 85 pound muscular and determined dog was in the canoe, and I was holding him while my husband and son rowed. I could feel my dog’s anxiety, heart racing, panting, shifting his weight. As we rebalanced against his shifts, I knew I was anxious too. Maybe if I was less anxious, he would feel calmer. I did some mindful breathing, and soon we headed back for shore.
What’s the worst that could happen?
The dog jumps in the creek. We swim him to shore as there would be no way of getting him back in the boat. Actually, there are many more dire scenarios including capsizing, injury, concussion, drowning, death.
The news shows us the cruelty, injustice, terror close by and in the distance. We have more anxiety and stress because we know how badly things can go. How much can we control by worrying? What can we do with our feelings of anxiety and stress? Being mindful about what I have the power to affect versus accepting what I can’t change is helping me find a balance. I know if I take a breath and sort through my thoughts, I can make a conscious choice of how to handle my anxiety.
This mantra, What’s the worst thing that could happen? allowed me to let go of future catastrophizing and drop back into the present moment.
On my trip home, I looked at several of my minor personal challenges using this mantra. I recognize that everyone’s life experiences are different, and my list of anxieties is unique to me as a relatively privileged white woman:
What’s the worst that could happen if I skip exercise today?
What’s the worst that could happen if I visit my Mom two times a week instead of three times a week?
What’s the worst that could happen if I wait till morning to respond to an email?
Worrying about the bigger problems:
What’s the worst that could happen if I can’t work?
What’s the worst that could happen if I lose my job or my house?
What’s the worst that could happen if I get Covid?
What’s the worst that could happen ______? (fill in what is worrisome for you right now)
This practice helped me start to lay my anxiety down for a rest.
Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us that we can find fearlessness when we stay in the present moment:
“Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive… The first part of looking at our fear is just inviting it into our awareness without judgment. We just acknowledge gently that it is there. This brings a lot of relief already. Then, once our fear has calmed down, we can embrace it tenderly and look deeply into its roots, its sources… Fearlessness is not only possible, it is the ultimate joy. When you touch nonfear, you are free.”
Let's take a mindful, healing breath together.
Please join us on Monday, August 30th.