A certain power
It takes a certain power to be in the world.
It takes a certain power to be in the world.
To be with the responsibilities of being an adult, to manage finances, to take care of one’s body, to parent if that is your path, to bring your work through, to be with the grief and the joy. To be with what is happening in the world - especially right now.
To be with all these things without collapsing or lashing out, or becoming rooted to the spot - paralyzed and unable to choose what to do next.
I hear many people say they are overwhelmed right now.
That there are too many things to deal with.
There are many things on top yes.
And it takes a certain power to be with that.
And a certain responsibility to build and take care of that power.
How you say?
I could give you a checklist of course, 10 hacks to build your power.
And it may help somewhat, for a while, superficially.
But it doesn’t work that way, not really.
It’s much more nuanced than that.
It’s not just a case of working through a list of practices.
It’s about how you approach the practices,
Its about how you approach anything actually.
It’s about a deep connection to self
Not just layering things on top of your already aching bones.
It requires a dismantling, loss, saying no, letting go of people pleasing, letting go of the need to fix, letting go of overworking, it requires quiet reverence, tenderness, deep wells of compassion for who you are and how you have been shaped by your life. It requires presence and patience. It is slow work, building power.
And it is not at all linear.
I am writing about it from a particular spot
I have just remembered once more what it takes. Having found myself collapsed under the weight of all the things and lovingly turning my attention back towards the importance of building my power.
One tiny heartbroken step at a time.
One tired breath at a time
Because this life asks it of us.
And it is our responsibility to respond
It’s not power over - very different - sorry Donald.
It is an internal power that is very very necessary to be fully in this world.
And it is needed now more than ever.
So here are some of the things I have found helpful (not a list of hacks but some points on the path)
Don’t go it alone - Trying to do this work alone is so hard - find teachers, groups, support, guides, find community.
Go slow - slower than you think, it’s very gradual, almost imperceptible sometimes, but stick with it.
Learn to be loving - this is so key. A gratitude practice yes but not just that, learn tender touch, softness in your heart, kind kind words internally and externally - when I am cruel to myself I lose access to my power - more on this in a future post.
Get in your body - move, dance, breath, squeeze, roll around, tap, beat, stamp your feet, get in your body, you can not build power with your mind
get in your body, get in your body, get in your body.
Stay Powerful my love,
Cat
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Fire Image credit - Joshua Newton on Unsplash