Last week we considered ease in the face of stress. This week we continue with this idea. We will create space and fill it with ease, while we learn a little bit more about ourselves and how we deal with additional stress.
We have stress everyday. We have responsibilities that lead to stress. We exist with a base line of stress in our lives. We have full, or almost full, plates with family, home, work, and the attempt to find time for ourselves. So, when we encounter difficult changes in our situation we add to our base line stress. It's only a matter of personal capacity that determines when we will become overwhelmed.
The holidays are a good example of this kind of issue, but it is one we could encounter at any time. Anything unexpected and unpleasant could cause us to feel this additional stress. Car trouble was a problem for me not too long ago. More recently was Thanksgiving and work. I noticed that I was more apt to have negative thoughts and to be hard on myself when I encountered stress about my base line. I have learned to cultivate a piece of myself that sticks up for me, but when I have that extra layer of stress, I revert to an inner monologue that is harsh. My sense of self is diminished. That part of myself that has learned to stand up and demand respect for myself from myself is preoccupied with my extra layer of stress and I revert back to habits I've grown out of.
Today, open yourself up while you practice. Allow yourself the space to perceive. By the time we're through you'll have space, feel more at ease, and be able to handle whatever you've understood about yourself.
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