As a person with an “advocate” personality type, the capacity for dangerous amounts of empathy, an easily triggered pain body* and an American, these times are troubling.
This isn’t a political blog, but it is a blog about people, peace, and loss. So I think this topic is relevant. Whether you’re suffering from a loss or watching others in pain, the feelings of powerlessness are the same.
I learned a teaching from an Abraham-Hicks video years ago that has helped me over and over again when witnessing world events that seem too disturbing to be true and too painful to imagine.
It goes something like this:
The spectrum of human experience is incredibly vast. There are people living in more abundance than you could ever imagine, and there are people living in more extreme poverty than you could ever imagine. There are people experiencing unbelievable health, and those experiencing incomprehensible illness. There are people living in conditions so awful that it could bring you to your knees. But the spectrum of human emotion is relatively limited. The feeling of joy is universal, no matter what the conditions. The feeling of pain is universal, no matter what the conditions.
What does this mean for us?
It means we need to trust that others, no matter how awful the conditions, are able to handle their own load.
I know this is really freaking hard. But stick with me here.
If we get too attached to the pain of the victims, too involved in the story, too preoccupied with the conditions, or so outraged that we’re paralyzed, we suffer a loss of our own power and are therefore prevented from helping to our fullest potential.
You don’t need to apply this to the current state of world affairs, you can apply this to anything. A sick relative. Parenting. Injustices in the workplace.
You need to breathe. You need to trust.
You have very likely heard of metta, or loving kindness, meditation. This is a meditation or prayer which cultivates and bestows good will, love, and kindness upon others. I have found it to be particularly helpful in times of trouble, especially when feeling powerless and unable to do anything immediate or constructive to help.
This time, I’m encouraging you to try this metta meditation while focusing on those who are suffering, those who may be causing the suffering, yourself, and the world.
My version goes like this:
Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Take several deep breaths, really focusing on coming into your body and feeling grounded and centered there.
Now picture the person/people/animal(s) in need, the being(s) you would like to help. With their image in mind, say or think the following:
May you feel safe and protected. May you feel the support of the universe wrapping its arms around you.
May you feel loved and respected.
May you feel healthy and well.
May you be at peace.
Now speak to yourself, remembering that you, too, are hurting and are worthy of love and compassion. Say or think these words to yourself:
May I feel safe and protected. May I feel the support of the universe wrapping its arms around me.
May I feel loved and respected.
May I feel healthy and well.
May I be at peace.
Now picture those who are the so-called “perpetrators”. It is important that you don’t skip this step. If you feel anger rising, go back to focusing your attention on the victims and/or on yourself, until you feel comfortable enough to continue with this step.
May you feel safe and protected. May you feel the support of the universe wrapping its arms around you.
May you feel loved and respected.
May you feel healthy and well.
May you be at peace.
Now use this energy to surround all beings in our world.
May all beings feel safe and protected. May they feel the support of the universe.
May all beings feel loved and respected.
May all beings feel healthy and well.
May all beings be at peace.
Continue to sit in this peaceful space, returning your focus to this feeling of loving kindness. Keep breathing and sitting with this energy. Let time expand.
Get really, very, still.
And now…? Listen.
Listen more.
What do you feel inspired to do? What is the next step to take? What is your heart telling you?
We use metta meditation to calm our hearts, soothe our pain, extend light to other beings, and to get our power back.
We use the silence that follows to listen to our hearts and take empowered, loving action that has been inspired by a greater power.
*You can learn more about the pain body in any of Eckhart Tolle’s books, especially The Power of Now.
