The Power In Welcoming Impermanence
Just when we thought we were getting out from living under the grim veil of caution and apprehension from covid-19, these historical atrocities that are happening around the world and in the U.S. feels as if there’s a new variant of intense sorrow that’s spreading.
And this additional layer of looming, indefinite uncertainty while our emotions are still raw from enduring this pandemic, may have us descending into a very somber perspective for what the future might be. We may be feeling as if we’re drowning in fear, doubts, worries, and overall distress.
There’s a phrase I’m going to start using here to describe when we’re in that place with all the dark, heavy feelings that weigh us down, “Prison of Gloom” (aka POG). POG is a rough situation to be in as we’re not sure how long of a sentence we’re serving out, we’re chained to a weighty mood, and this joint can be hard to break out of.
Being trapped in this space can send our imagination into a free fall, creating fictional scenarios for how our livelihood could be threatened or demolished. And being consumed by all of this peril tends to smother the one ray of hope that we can grasp onto to pull us into a lighter condition…impermanence.
In fact, impermanence is one of the few permanent concepts that defines our existence. Whether we lose a material object, earn a job promotion, or our weight fluctuates; for better or worse, certain forms of change are just more bearable than others.
Enduring uncertainty with some measure of grace is an advanced survival skill that takes mental strength training. We may not even realize that our most subtle convictions can serve as some of our greatest weapons of protection from being attacked by anxiety and dread.
It’s not an easy feat but when we can muster cognitive curls and repeatedly remind ourselves that somehow our circumstances will be different, we’re able to build strength by tapping into a new force of possibility that provides an escape plan out of POG.
Recognizing that change is an inevitable reality can prompt our attention to notice two distinct actualities; it helps to summon us to the present moment to be grateful for the good and to remember that we’re not stuck in the gunk either.
By embracing impermanence we’re proactively prepared to be open and to let go which helps us to be more fluid and flexible, so we can keep moving forward in the meantime.
That’s the best anyone can do…soldier on and not become paralyzed or stagnated by our troubles.
**A different version of this topic was published on Evolving Yogi. You can find it here if you’d like to read more.**