If you’re freaking out about COVID-19, it’s not just you. Each day brings a crush of new information that reinforces the precariousness and unpredictability of our situation.
As a result, we’re spending more and more time glued to our screens to find signs of hope and safety amidst the chaos. And I feel you.
As a meditation teacher in training, though, I’m also encouraging you to stop. As Brian discussed last week, it’s time to focus on boosting your immune system, and a key way is to lower your stress.
Hint: Inner peace isn’t found by trying to control the uncontrollables out there. Recent research actually shows that our unprecedented levels of digital connectivity has heightened our intolerance of uncertainty.
Instead, in this time of social distancing, consider a neuroscience-backed trip to achieve “psychological distance” from the terrifying narrative your brain (and the news) is telling you.
Catch some calm
While personal growth during a pandemic may seem absurd, it’s worth noting that even the CDC recommends deep breathing and meditation to help you cope. The good news is meditative practices aren’t one-size-fits-all. Mindfulness meditation, in particular, doesn’t have to be a formal, sit-down practice; it can be done while taking a walk, cleaning the house, or gardening.
For some, present moment awareness may feel counterproductive — after all, won’t that heighten anxiety by surfacing submerged fears? The point is to do what you can to find what psychologist and Buddhist meditation teacher Tara Brach calls “an inner refuge of calm:”
When things fall apart, it’s a really horrible time in the sense that there’s so much suffering, but it’s also an opportunity for us to wake up our hearts in an unprecedented way. The ultimate gift of meditation is that it helps us come home to a space of presence that is large enough for whatever we encounter. And it’s from that space that we can actually live from who we most want to be.
Resources for your inner journey
Mindfulness kicks in quickly — research from Headspace shows just 10-20 minutes three times weekly can bolster your mood and decrease stress and anxiety. Here are a few ideas to summon a sense of safety and comfort in this challenging time.
“Our calm is contagious”: How to use mindfulness in a pandemic (Vox)
Further articles:
The Mainstreaming of Meditation
How to Choose the Best Meditation Practice for You
Videos:
The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: Short videos from masters including Brach, Pema Chödrön, and more.
F*ck That: An Honest Meditation: Mindfulness for those on the saltier side.
Podcasts:
Krista Tippett, Becoming Wise (a shorter version of her signature podcast, On Being).
Brené Brown’s new podcast, Unlocking Us.
Apps:
Insight Timer: Free meditation guided meditations, plus mindfulness tools.
Aura: supports sleep and emotional regulation.
