When Everything Is Everywhere: The Way to Okay
Everything is Everywhere All At Once
Lately when I listen to people share their thoughts and feelings, I hear references to overwhelm or hopelessness. I know these sensations are a normal part of learning new skills and progressing through life; but I also know that their current frequency and depth are not normal or healthy. I find myself wanting to soothe and support others, to assure them that everything is going to be okay. Internally, I fall back on the cliché: “In the end it will be okay. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
So how do we get to okay?
I long ago learned that I can empathize too much and feel the despair of others, thus adding to the problem. To avoid losing my footing or falling into sadness in this fast-paced and chaotic world, I try to strengthen my own habits and skills. This helps me build resilience, stay grounded, and replenish my own sense of optimism and empowerment. I’m convinced that building my own strengths sends out powerful ripples that then buoy others.
The routines I’ve found helpful include:
daily meditation
morning contemplative reading
a consistent yoga practice
walking in nature
spending time with friends
gardening
creating (sketching, writing or painting) every day
These activities nourish both my body and soul. They help bring my thoughts, feelings, and actions into alignment. They require commitment, a belief in their value, and a desire to feel good and do good in the world. For me, they truly work.
Since we all have different goals and different ways of reaching them, I’m curious about yours. How do you maintain your equilibrium? What practices help you stay balanced? I’d love to hear from you in the comments—and let me know what you think of the poem below.
All best, dear reader!
In Contemplation
Hardest work you’ll ever do:
Transformation
requires a long, loving look
sans the lens’ of
agitation
avocation
consternation
expectation
provocation
reputation
— just
the now —
in contemplation.
“The world, my own issues and hurts, all my goals and desires gradually dissolved and fell into proper perspective… I understood what Merton meant when he said, “The gate of heaven is everywhere.” ~ Fr. Richard Rohr
Kim, I have similar practices except the gardening. Living in mid-town Manhattan my green thumb is dormant. However, I love to walk in Central Park or visit a grove of trees along the Hudson. Instead of Yoga I do Tai Chi and my creativity is all channeled through my poetry and video production of my weekly poems. Thanks for sharing your work about how to stay centered in this wildly spinning world.
Kim, you are so right. I feel and hear about the exasperation and sense of futility in others, and it is especially heart-breaking when it comes from young people.
The activities and practices you listed are many of the same that help me. I built a trail in our forest and building it, walking and maintaining it has certainly helped me focus on what remains good, benevolently powerful and rejuvenating in the face of everything else going on.
Thank you for this wonderful post and beautiful poem.