Comments on: Uncertainty: The Invite We’ve all Been Waiting For

By: Ellsea

Ellsea — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:43:30 +0000

Thank you for posting this. It has reminded me, in the middle of another manic week with more than its fair share of alarms and excursions, that just taking a moment to acknowledge it all rather than trying to shrug it off relieves so much of the pressure and worry in the situation. It’s also a good reminder of how far I’ve come since I decided to let go of paid employment and see how far I could realise my dreams.

By: Jennifer Louden

Jennifer Louden — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:59:16 +0000

Thanks Joely and KMG for your insights – thanks everybody. It helps to feel less alone in the uncertainty. Here we are, together, putting our feet on the floor and seeing what’s next. Just wrote another post about all this http://is.gd/fLvn

By: Joely Black

Joely Black — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:08:53 +0000

I feel a great deal of uncertainty at the moment. This felt timely for me, it reminded me how uncertain I’m feeling, how afraid I am of trusting, and also how difficult I find it to welcome those feelings. I want them to go away! So instead, I’m starting with the process of welcoming the fact that I don’t want to welcome the feelings, which is actually working rather well!

By: KMG

KMG — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:43:20 +0000

Christine, along the lines “invite your feelings in for a chat”:

I’ve been experimenting with something similar. If you have difficulty catching those feelings, you can try to watch for the physical feeling that usually accompanies emotional distress. For instance, a churning in your belly or a pang in your heart as you thing about something upsetting. If you can fully pay attention to this physical feeling and allow it to exist without ruminating on the stressful event (in other words FEEL it, not think it), you might find that it dissipates fairly quickly and takes the stress and fear with it. Eckhart Tolle mentions this in his books. I always thought it would be really obvious, like “Oh, I’m so angry and my stomach is killing me!” but instead, I find that these physical feelings sit below my everyday radar most of the time. Awareness takes practice.

Thanks, this is a timely post for many people.

By: Cynthia LaLuna | Rowboat Media

Cynthia LaLuna | Rowboat Media — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:00:20 +0000

Thank you so much – the right post at exactly the right time. I have Pema’s book on my bedside table at this very moment! Her teachings are deceptively simple, but not easy. I have never so been uncertain of so many things – and been forced to release the exact details of solutions to current crises to the Universe – as I am now. But today the sun is shining (finally), the sky is brilliant blue, and my backside is leaving this office chair to go put my feet on the ground and remind myself of what “here” really means before I return to the electronic world of things that just don’t matter all that much.

This post was a gift.

By: Lance

Lance — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:45:41 +0000

Hi Jennifer (and Christine),

This is wonderful writing. Uncertainty…is that not a good way to describe life. It is all so uncertain. Even when things seem certain. Even when all seems okay. Uncertainty looms. It always does, even if we don’t see it as such. And that’s all for living in the now. Interestingly, there’s been a good discussion going on about living in the moment over on my blog the last couple of days. And it has made me realize, more and more, how much this very moment, right now, means. It is all we have for certain…

Jennifer, thank you for writing this, for reminding me, that I am really okay. And that is something I can hold onto…

By: Jennifer Louden

Jennifer Louden — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:40:16 +0000

Thanks every one for the thoughtful comments! I hope some of you can join in at the retreat http://www.comfortretreats.com – it will help!

And Lillithmother I know how you feel, I feel like I learn this, get it, write about it, and then bam, what was that I learned?

I wrote a whole bunch more in the last five days at my blog, should you need anymore.

By: Keena

Keena — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:39:25 +0000

This is such a simple concept, but so hard to remember when we are reacting – and resisting – all the chaos that life throws at us every single day. We need to be present, and remember that it is our thoughts that creates our emotions, which in turn causes our stress, our racing hearts and minds. We need to remember to stop – just stop. Breathe. And know that in this very moment we are okay, and that whatever it is we can get through it. We are strong and capable. We are the creators of our own experiences – let’s make them what we want!

By: Giulietta

Giulietta — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:43:11 +0000

Thanks for the great post Jennifer. Your virtual retreat looks good.

We spend our entire lives asking others for permission to feel o.k. when the only real way to feel o.k. is to give ourselves permission.

We are born o.k. and we have always been o.k.

Giulietta
Dare to be different. Dare to be you!

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:26:41 +0000

wow. what an amazing post. I think you’ve summed it up. uncertainty. it is uncomfortable but is truly a gift. I’ve been trying to figure out what is keeping me on the couch and I think that’s it. Uncertainty in the world, uncertainty with my career, our finances, uncertainty about what’s next for people I love struggling with transition even more than I am. I love the quote from David Waggoner. The line that jumped out at me was “Wherever you are is called Here.” Today I am getting up off the couch. I am going outside. I am putting my feet on the ground and will reflect on this post. Thank you for giving me the inspiration I need to move forward today.