Leadership posts
3 Ways to Find Peace, Joy and Connection in Uncertainty
Posted by Laurie J Cameron
"I'm grateful for always this moment, the now, no matter what form it takes."
-Eckhart Tolle
I woke up this morning to the sound of Solo's dog tags jingling as she ran up the stairs and popped in to the bedrooms, checking in on humans and other animals sleeping in the quiet early morning. Solo is visiting us with her own humans for our traditional Thanksgiving gathering.
The faces around the table will be mostly the same as the prior Thanksgiving festivities in this 107 year-old house. Our menu, which we paint in watercolors each year, is lovingly curated from family recipe classics. Granddad's Stuffing, Ava's Cranberry Sauce, Lena's Sweet Potatoes, Natasha's Apple Pie...
Some things, however, are evolving and shifting in significant ways. My husband and I have separated after twenty-five years together. Twenty-five means many Thanksgiving turkeys. It was a slow, conscious, compassionate change process of small steps over two years. We are envisioning the "next phase" relationship we can consciously create together for our family. We communicate our intentions with each decision (mostly) and gather for twice-weekly dinners to cook together and connect as a family. We are hosting the extended tribe this year in the old schoolhouse as always, and we move like a well-rehearsed ballet in the kitchen. And it's not easy. I lean on all of my tools for grounding, centering and dropping below the storytelling, protective mind.
Being human with presence means we experience the "full catastrophe" of life as Jon Kabat Zinn calls it. Sadness, grief, joy, delight, flow states, love, heartbreak, and simple moments of wonder and awe. What helps is that we allow it all, instead of resisting, fighting, blaming or denying whatever our current experience is. We feel it in the body. We see it, name it and allow it with kind awareness.
Last week I attended the celebration of the life of Gigi, who lived with a mixture of simplicity, color, parties and connection for almost 102 years. She was a magnet for bringing people together. Laughter, fresh flowers, speaking authentically and dancing were part of Gigi's recipe for longevity. With a splash of scotch. And she will be missed. My dear friend K. and her children are spending their first Thanksgiving without her husband who suffered from brain cancer. Devastating. The earth is in a climate crisis. Loss, change, pain, uncertainty.
And there are the joys... My teen daughter discovered a passion for Physics and Astronomy and keeps me riveted with her explanations of the mystery of the universe. My book The Mindful Day just landed on the bestseller list at #2 this month. Inspiring collaborators are becoming partners in our work - from London to Sydney. We spent Sunday night dancing in a jubilant crowd to the music of siblings Jaden and Willow Smith. We are about to gather with loved ones, eat pie and share from the heart. And so it goes, as the Buddha says... 10,000 sorrows and 10,000 joys.
And we are not alone in this… in navigating a beautiful life at home, work, and the places in-between. As you gather this week in the US, and for the many of you in this community who are in other countries around the world, I have an invitation. Perhaps we can open our hearts and turn with compassion and gratitude towards ourselves and each other this week- knowing we are all practicing at being human. We all belong.
Practices to work with this Thanksgiving week:
- Allow. When your cousin arrives late, mishaps occur in the kitchen, your feelings get hurt over a comment... just pause and breathe. Allow the moment to be what it is. "It's like this" is my go-to mantra for cultivating a mindset of allowing and acceptance in the present moment.
- Savor. As you return to being present and aware, again and again, keep your eyes open for beauty, acts of kindness, generosity, awe, and love. When you notice a moment that delights you or warms your heart: pause. Stop and savor by inviting all of your senses to expand what you are experiencing and deepen your connection to what's good in your life. Do so for a full breath. In my book I call this practice Take in the Good, adapted from Rick Hanson. It's how we gladden the heart. We make regular deposits of joy to offset the hard parts.
- Appreciate. Gratitude is one of the most powerful gateways to well-being and happiness. As you intentionally invite the question of what you are grateful for, and answers arise, share them out loud. Tell people directly what you appreciate about them. Send a text or email- or actually telephone those who are not with you. Expressing appreciation warms the heart and creates connection. Gratitude invites joy. I appreciate this community, and your emails, stories and experiences you share with me.
As a footnote:
I received the text below this morning from Mariya... and I thought it was a wonderful instruction on gratitude, thankfulness and connection in everyday life:
Hi Laurie,
I would like to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and also thank you for the gift of awareness. It’s the process of becoming aware of my awareness that was new to me :). But I have been meaning to write you a note ? for a while now ; ever since taking your Mindful Leader 1 & 2 programs, I loved the idea of taking in the good and setting intentions. So, I decided that very same night to implement it with my almost 5 year old and 2 year old children. This has been an incredible practice for us and my kids absolutely love doing it and if I skip it, my 5 year old reminds me we need to do it. It’s such a great way for me to have them go to bed with a positive thought, so we do “taking in the good” but more of a being thankful practice right before bedtime. It’s sweet to see that theirs are mostly related to food and the sweets they were able to have that day but my older one sometimes sneaks in “thank you for mommy and daddy” or “thank you for mommy and me time today.” Most importantly, I benefit from this the most because not only does this allow me to understand what stood out to them during the day, but it forces me to think of the good things and not the chaos. So, for that, thank you so much!
Thank you Laurie for sharing the shifts in your life so graciously. I also love the email from Mariya. I am reminded of a song/hymn I heard recently:
Teach Me to Fly
“Like a bird who has fallen, I rest in your hands, hoping and praying you will understand, and fill in the pieces never fully there, healing my soul, Lord with your love and care.
Can you make up the difference, will you teach me to fly? Can you lift me to freedom in the boundless sky? Can I dwell in your safety? Will you fill my heart? Can you ready me for a brand new start?
Oh, you can make up the difference, you can teach me to fly, you can raise up my spirit past reasons why. I can dwell in your safety, you will fill my heart. Lord, please ready me for a brand new start.”
Namaste, Laurie, enjoy your family.
Mary Jo
Laurie, when we met years ago I felt immediately drawn to your energy and inner peace. I am thankful for being connected to you and deeply appreciate your beautiful and inspirational message. Sending you wishes for a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday. With love and gratitude, Sandra
I love this so much! Thank you Laurie and happy thanksgiving! ?
Laurie,
I just read your newsletter and wanted to let you know I am thinking of you during this changing time for you and your family. One of the many things I appreciate about you is your authenticity and willingness to be open. My older brother is going through a separation after 31 years of marriage, and as his sister, I feel the loss. I know your union touched many people.
I am saying a special prayer for you today. With love.