|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Universe Within by Gwen Randall-Young
What is the antidote for stress? Typical responses to this question might include
slowing down, going on vacation, meditation, massage, yoga, being in the moment
... a whole host of strategies with which we have become increasingly familiar
as the levels of stress in modern life escalate.
Our increasing pursuit of these practices, in itself, while helpful, does not
seem to be doing the trick. We have stress, so we counteract it. It is an ongoing
process. We may be doing fine until a really big stressor comes along and we are
thrown off balance.
Stress is not a natural state for those of us in the animal kingdom, unless we
are in fight or flight mode. Humans have the ability to create "fight
or flight" conditions in the physiology even when no external threat
is present. Our thoughts alone can do this.
The level of consciousness one brings to a situation will determine how much stress
is experienced. If ego still fights to maintain personal control, life will remain
stressful.
Being attached to particular outcomes guarantees increased levels of stress. When
we are attached to an outcome, we immediately begin to resist all other possible
outcomes. This resistance first manifests as worry that our desired outcome may
not occur. If it indeed does not, then we may run the gamut of emotions from disappointment,
sadness, anger or hurt to feeling betrayed by another, the world, or even a higher
power.
What becomes obvious is that it is not the force of what happens to us that determines
how stressful the situation, but rather the way in which we meet that force. At
higher levels of consciousness, the force of life events moves through us like
the wind moves through the leaves of the trees. It simply passes through.
When ego is still in control, those forces may seem more like a brick wall against
which ego launches a full attack, or at the very least keeps banging its head.
Transcending stress requires a different perspective on our lives. An interesting
way to think about this is to imagine you are watching a movie. There are the
central characters and the story line. We sit back and watch with interest as
events unfold.
We may have ideas about how the story will evolve, or we may hope for certain
outcomes. The best stories always seem to have an unexpected twist. We do not
come away from the movie saying it should have gone a different way. We may not
like the ending, may have preferred a different one, but we accept that "it
was what it was." No doubt when we have left our bodies, left ego
behind, we too will accept our lives were what they were. This does not mean we
should give up all personal interest in life, but rather that we find a balance
between striving to create what we want and responding with grace when the universe
has other plans.
Sometimes we see a sports event in which two very good friends are on opposing
teams. They play as hard as they can to win, but when the game is over, they let
it go and hug each other. Who they are as individuals, and their relationship
to one another is more important than anything that happens on the playing field.
Our lives are our playing field. Ultimately, whom we evolve into as individuals,
and the quality of our relationships with others and to the whole, will be more
important than any particular event or set of circumstances. Events and circumstances
are the raw materials with which we weave our evolving selves and form our connections
to the rest. Relaxing into this understanding is a powerful way to transcend all
that might otherwise be experienced as stressful.
Gwen Randall-Young is a psychotherapist and author of numerous books such as
Dancing Soul: The Voice of Spirit Evolving. She can be reached at gwendall@shaw.ca
or through her website at www.gwen.ca
 Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
