Flexibility is Essential During Rapidly Changing Conditions

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

In light of the recent Corona Virus pandemic and the rapidly changing conditions and requirements for safety, I am moving all of my offerings online for the time being. It quickly changed from just a few days ago offering an OPTION for online participation to needing to cancel all my in person engagements. It's a matter of safety for us all.

The flexibility required during this time reminds me of when I was a passenger on a friend's 40-foot sailboat for a two-week inter-island sailing adventure in the state of Hawaii.

We launched from Honolulu towards Moloka'i on a calm sea and within moments I felt nauseous. I grasped onto the boat rails and stiffened my legs and arms, intent on holding on and stopping the motion my body was experiencing.

It wasn't working and within a few minutes upon seeing my struggle, my good friend, Jake said, "Just let go. Holding on actually makes it worse."

But, I couldn't! I had to control this or I was going to throw up. Jake knew better, being a seasoned seaman, explained that by letting go, and, yes, possibly throwing up, I would eventually feel better and be more likely to withstand the journey.

Needless to say, within a short time, I threw up all over the tiny head in the cabin and, embarrassed, laid on the floor, stomach empty but churning, cleaning up the vomit as the boat tossed and turned as we made way to the open waters of the Pacific.

Did I really think I could control the ocean?!
Well, in the beginning I guess I did and that was my downfall.

When I finally returned to the top deck, Jake encouraged me to keep my legs and arms flexible and just roll with the waves, bending my legs to absorb some of the wave and keeping my eyes toward land or the horizon--a stable and steady object.

Did I really think I could control the ocean?! Well, in the beginning I guess I did and that was my downfall. Once I could recognize that what was in charge--the ocean--was bigger than me, once I could let go of the need to control and actually become responsive to things as they were, I not only could manage the journey, I could enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

I didn't feel nauseous again except one time when we were anchored offshore in the open waters. I was told to just jump overboard when I felt sick and let the waves hold me. It worked. Incredulous, I just bobbed up and down in the warm waters until my stomach settled.

I was getting the hang of this sailing thing and the advice I was given translated into life as well. Stay in the moment and be buoyantly reflexive to conditions happening around me.

Mindfulness, this practice of staying open to moment by moment experience with a curious openness and allowance, has helped me grow this capacity. So when challenging and quickly changing situations arise, I can just bend my proverbial knees and bring a flexible, calm attention to it. I'm much better able to not only make wiser choices than if I were fighting the truth of the situation, I can even enjoy the journey along the way.

So here we are with moment by moment changes in the evolving Corona Virus situation and I'm taking it as it comes and reflecting with gratitude on the flexibility I've gained through practice. I'm also reminded of the famous quote a mindfulness teacher once said, "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."

I'm curious, what has helped you stay flexible through difficult times? What are you turning to now? I invite you to find nourishing ways to take care of yourself during this challenging time.

JoAnn Saccato, MA, is a certified teacher with the Mindfulness Training Institute, life coach, author and consultant. She is the author of Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice and Mindful and Intentional Living: A Path to Peace Clarity and Freedom.

Mindfulness is an umbrella term used for a large body of popular health and wellness practices based on purposefully bringing a curious, kind and non-judgmental attention to moment by moment experience. It is a scientifically proven approach that helps reduce stress and stress-related illnesses, increase focus and attention, decrease incidences of and relapses with depression, reduce anxiety, reduce relapses in addiction, and aids in sleep and digestive disorders. It has also been shown to increase well being, life satisfaction and happiness, as well as improved social relationships.

You can reach JoAnn at [email protected]. To follow her visit: www.MindfulAndIntentionalLiving.com