Reflections

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  1. b
    mr
    8 months ago

    I mean, it’s difficult. Uncertainty is uncomfortable, and for me it brings on anxiety.

    My girlfriend is a huge support, who grounds me very well. If i were to look inside myself, well, this website is a start – staying grateful. Also, staying open minded to the fact that i have the ability to make good and intentional steps in the right direction, wherever that may be. Practicing mindfulness comes to mind, too. And not blaming myself. As well as looking for the simple things that move me, and try to find my faith in humanity if it has been lost.

  2. Ose
    Ose
    8 months ago

    To relate to the Love perceived.

  3. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    8 months ago

    Going to church, prayer, coming to this site and taking walks in nature. I needed one today as a matter of fact! I also try to do yoga when I can and talk therapy has been added recently to assist me with anxious times.

  4. Don
    Don Jones
    8 months ago

    When I am falling into the abyss, where there isn’t even ground to plant myself upon, all I have left is faith.

  5. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    8 months ago

    All of my practices help me relax into
    uncertainty and the constant feeling
    of being on loose ground. Accepting
    change and uncertainty has been a
    ongoing project for me. Being present
    and coming back to this moment, this
    breath, has been helpful.

  6. C
    Carissa Thomas
    8 months ago

    My workout, yoga, and meditation routine as well as journalling. I am grateful for these routines because they keep me grounded and remind me of what is really important, my peace.

  7. Barb C
    Barb C
    8 months ago

    Staying consistent with my morning practice of reading poetry and coming to this site gives me a space before whatever the day holds. Reminding myself that everything is temporary, including my reactions in the moment, helps me–when I remember to do it, that is! When I was a frazzled, worried divorced mother of two toddlers and feeling as if I wasn’t giving them everything they needed and deserved I read advice that I go back to again and again: In any given moment, I was doing the best that I could *in that moment*.

    Prompted by my thoughts about this question I went in search of the Hebrew for “This too shall pass.” I found it on a piece from the earliest days of the pandemic (https://www.ansheamunim.org/gam_zeh_yaavor).

    That made me think back to walking in the streets empty of cars and waving to others from a safe distance, disinfecting our mail because we didn’t yet know how it was transmitted and we were ordering a lot more online, picking up the groceries that we ordered online without going into the store, witnessing the sense of solidarity and support for essential workers that we haven’t been able to sustain, reaching out to friends I haven’t talked to in a long time to reconnect… those really were both the best of times and the worst of times.

    Every day brings the unknown. We are always in times of uncertainty. We do the best we can.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      8 months ago

      “We do the best we can.”
      Thank you Barb.

    2. Charlie T
      Charlie T
      8 months ago

      Thanks for this reminder, Barb.
      How soon we forget. And yes,
      Strangely, there was a feeling of
      community and shared project
      among most of us. Such strange
      times. But here we are!

  8. Pilgrim
    Pilgrim
    8 months ago

    Deep, slow breathing. Focus on the outdoors. Watch the movement/growth of trees and plants, and enjoy the wildlife, the birdsong. The daffodils are growing tall and some have flowers. The “sticks” in the ground are growing greenery. The robins are arriving and busy. Life gives me life … grateful!

  9. Nannette
    Nannette
    8 months ago

    During times of uncertainty I always turn to prayer. Uncertainty leads to anxiousness and prayer seems to calm me…for the moment anyway. I know of no other way to deal with those feelings than prayer.

  10. Yram
    Yram
    8 months ago

    I have few “go tos” that several folks have mentioned. What I do know is that I have survived 100% of uncertain times.

    1. Charlie T
      Charlie T
      8 months ago

      I love this, Yram.
      When expressing uncertainty
      to my therapist, he always reminds
      me that, “ but so far, you’ve done okay. Right?” Makes me laugh, because
      of course he’s right. 😁

  11. Butterfly
    Butterfly
    8 months ago

    Focusing on my breathing helps me alot. Breathing in to a count of 4, holding for 4, sighing out for 4 until I feel calm. Another thing I have discovered recently is vagus nerve stimulation. One of the methods in this is massaging certain parts of your ears. I have found a couple of spots that make me feel really chilled out. No wonder my cats used to love having their ears massaged! 😸 There are some instructions on various Youtube sites.
    I talk things over with my children too.
    I also remind myself that “This too shall pass” and so far I have survived all past times of uncertainty and stress by 100%.

    1. Josie
      Josie
      8 months ago

      Love these suggestions, Butterfly. Thanks.

  12. Michele
    Michele
    8 months ago

    Prayer/Meditation
    Positivity
    Kindness

  13. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol
    8 months ago

    Music…laughter…reaching out to a friend and just remembering to smile!
    Kurt Vonnegut tells his wife he’s going out to buy an envelope:
    “Oh, she says, well, you’re not a poor man. You know, why don’t you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I’m going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope.
    I meet a lot of people. And see some great looking babies. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And I’ll ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don’t know. The moral of the story is – we’re here on Earth to fart around.
    And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And what the computer people don’t realize, or they don’t care, is we’re dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And it’s like we’re not supposed to dance at all anymore.”
    Let’s all get up and move around a bit right now… or at least dance.

    1. Charlie T
      Charlie T
      8 months ago

      Yes! I 100% agree with this.
      I find it very strange that we
      keep trying to put ourselves out
      of any interaction. “Self driving
      cars?” are at the top of my list.
      Okay, I can see how it might be
      Cool to have your car come get you
      (and pick up a burrito along the
      way), but to spend billions of
      dollars on this fantasy is beyond
      baffling to me. How about a new rule,
      we can’t have self driving cars or
      rockets to mars, until everyone on earth
      has access to fresh drinking water
      and decent sanitation. 😁

      1. Joseph
        Joseph McCann
        8 months ago

        Sounds ’bout right, Charlie. Thank you.

      2. Carol Ann Conner
        Carol
        8 months ago

        Charlie, I totally agree. I imagine that Mother Earth does, too.

    2. Barb C
      Barb C
      8 months ago

      Love this! Definitely a dancing animal.

    3. Michele
      Michele
      8 months ago

      ‘we’re here on Earth to fart around’. – I totally LOL reading that, loved this:)

  14. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    8 months ago

    When I encounter uncertainty, I first ask myself a question: Am I able to make any changes? Answering this question helps guide me in a direction to remain grounded. If the answer is “yes,” I search for a solution. If not, I search for ways to live in peaceful acceptance.

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      8 months ago

      Well said, my Ngoc. There’s only so much control we have. The answer usually comes out as a “No.” It’s the case more often as we age whether it’s through more people coming into our lives or our health deteriorating in the later stages.

      1. Barb C
        Barb C
        8 months ago

        We can only control (or seek to control) our own responses to what happens.

  15. Patti
    sunnypatti
    8 months ago

    Mostly meditation & prayer, but also getting out into nature – taking the dogs to the beach or one of the parks in our area, and, when I can, being in the ocean on my board… being a part of that energy, surfing and sitting in between the waves always reminds me that I am a part of something so much bigger than myself and helps me feel more grounded.

    1. Joseph
      Joseph McCann
      8 months ago

      The ocean has a way of humbling me. Thanks for the reminder, Sunny Patti.

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