May You Live in Interesting Times

“May You Live in Interesting Times.” A (probably) apocryphal ancient Chinese curse you’ve most likely heard before. Well, if these aren’t “interesting” times, I don’t know what would qualify. Yes, things could certainly be a lot worse, but a global pandemic and rapidly shifting waves of political enthusiasm and disappointment, against the backdrop of climate change, extreme inequality and the rise of hateful and reactionary regimes in the US, the UK, India, and around the world is certainly…”interesting.”

What is probably the most challenging aspect for us as individuals and as a society, is the profound level of uncertainty we are experiencing now. The coronavirus pandemic progresses daily and exerts multiple impacts beyond the real and significant health effects of the disease itself. The global economy is taking major hits, and the psychosocial impact of “social isolation,” the cancellation of public events, the loss of work and income for many, is likely to be pervasive and powerful. Whatever else happens, life is going to change, probably for quite some time to come. Our routines have been disrupted, and may continue to be disrupted, in many ways, some predictable, some unforeseen.

The energies of panic and chaos seem prevalent now, and this is completely understandable. Many of us feel as if we are continually “waiting for the other shoe to drop,” and this particular type of gnawing stress, induced by a non-trivial but chronic threat to order, safety and even survival, can be extremely debilitating. What can we do to alleviate this pressure? To provide even a little relief? Of course, making sure not to get sucked into an endless spiral of news and social media reporting on the crisis is essential. Falling down a rabbit-hole of Netflix binging may have a strong appeal right now, but is probably not going to be helpful. We must constructively and actively fill the time with meaningful activities, including creative pursuits like making art, playing music, and writing. And perhaps most importantly, we need to address the void that’s going to be left by “social distancing,” by connecting as much as we can through the phenomenal online technologies now available to us. Not through liking things on Facebook, but by setting up video chats with friends and family. Maybe play music together remotely, or even put on a play! It may sound a bit hokey, but things like this can add a rich level of meaning and connection, something we need so badly right now. In a weird way, we can look to the pre-technological pursuits people engaged in in the 19th century, especially those living in more isolated areas. One activity my wife and I have been enjoying for years now is reading to each other. It is a lovely way to connect, and also offers a much more immediate and compelling experience of literature than just reading yourself.

Engaging in an expansive, meaning-oriented transcendent practice of some kind can be extremely grounding and helpful now. Whether or not you consider yourself religious, or even “spiritual,” even the most materialist of atheists can appreciate the power of deep breathwork, mindfulness, and cultivating a direct felt experience of the vast interconnectedness of all things in this incredible universe. If you are a practitioner of meditation or yoga, or if you are part of a religious tradition, then you already have a framework and a means to activate this kind of experience. Chant, prayer, meditation, contemplation, and gentle movement practices can help us connect body, mind and “spirit” (whatever that means for you). Embracing gratitude, listing a few things each day which you’re thankful for, can be a powerful practice. Visualizing positive outcomes, calmly and in great detail, with love but without attachment, can also instill a sense of well-being and optimism that itself can help yield more positive results, without even considering the ramifications of an idea like “manifestation.” Doing everything you can to feel safe, connected, grounded, and part of something bigger than yourself is, by itself, plenty of fuel for “manifesting” the good things you’d like to see in the world. There is so much over which we don’t have control, and acknowledging, and fully accepting, that, is also essential to our well-being. But by making a conscious choice to focus on small actions we can take to nurture a sense of safety, meaning and connection in ourselves and others, we can become more empowered to weather change, and to move the needle, even just a little bit, toward more positive outcomes. But regardless of outcome, the meaning and connection we create together is deeply valuable in and of itself, and is something we can rely on no matter how things change. It’s kind of the point of this whole existence thing.