In this article, I hope to write to you as an individual. This particular method was taught to me in an interesting way.
Many years ago, I attended a Church of Yoga. Kriya Yoga, to be specific. It was not Religious. It was not New Agey. It was a method that promoted spiritual balance in everyone who attended. My Swamiji, Shankarananda, was from the line of Teachers including Paramahansa Yogananda (Autobiography of a Yogi).
The way he taught was riveting. He would speak to 20-40 people, yet it felt like he was sitting in a private room with you personally, lounging back in a couple of easy chairs. I believe the method was attributed to a kind of deep compassion... a non-judgment form of communication that spoke not only to the ears but to all the senses. I aspire to achieve at least a small portion of that.
What I would like to write about are the many calamitous events that we are having to deal with, all at the same time.
When these events pile up, even build upon one another, something strange happens to the psyche. Each individual deals with hardship in different ways. But something different and more severe happens when so many catastrophes occur at the same time. So many in fact, that you would have to write them down to remember them all.
The psyche reacts in the best way to preserve the optimal health of the individual it belongs to. Sometimes we might put our emotions on the shelf and look at everything with a sort of aloof distance. This is me. This is the way I react. Some people may ignore "all" the issues and just focus on one. I have found that the least healthy way is to try and take it all in at the same time. This could lead to panic attacks, anxiety, etc... because the psyche is just being overwhelmed. Others may turn to escapism... and this has a whole new array of sub-levels.
This article isn't to judge, shame or demand. It is simply to say that we are all on this journey together.
If you are passionate about a certain even but nonchalant about others, don't judge yourself too harshly. It is your psyche saying "I feel that I can make the most difference here".
If you drink more, smoke more, do more drugs, your psyche is saying that it needs more help to buffer all the catastrophes happening at the same time.
If you try to take it all in. If you are having anxiety or panic attacks, the only thing I can say is you have a support system that you can turn to. There is no requirement to put the world on your shoulders. No one will think less of you if you turn off the channel and focus on what is important to you.
We all have our own methods. We all help each other, or the world in our own unique way.
We have war. We have inflation. We have climate change. We have a corrupt administration. We have a floundering economy. We have Covid. We have elements of division. All are getting worse. All need attention and systemic change to be addressed.
But what about you? Are you ok? Will you be ok? Will you pay attention to, and take care of yourself during these hard times?
I want you to be ok. We all want you to be ok.
If you are good with yourself, things happen. The mind clears. Your efforts have more personal meaning and yields more effective results. Your focus improves and your method of helping others opens up a new level of communication.
Do what you can. I will support you. We all will support you.