Guided Journaling for Uncertain Times — Day One: Groundlessness
Take a moment to pause and check-in with yourself.
“As we practice moving into the present moment this way, we become more familiar with groundlessness, a fresh state of being that is available to us on an ongoing basis. This moving away from comfort and security, this stepping out into what is unknown, uncharted, and shaky — that’s called liberation.” — Pema Chödrön, Contemporary Buddhist Teacher
Explore how you are and how you can be during these tumultuous times — as leaders, parents, friends, citizens and of course…humans. Being ‘present’ is been a key touchstone, and is more important than ever. Likely, however, all kinds of emotions have surfaced including some old or perhaps hidden ‘favorites’ like fear, anxiety, vulnerability, and uncertainty. Love, care, support, and kindness are also likely alive for us as we encounter the actions of others and we may be able to find these even within ourselves. This ‘emotion ocean’ of jumbled together feelings could be described as groundlessness — an apparent inability to find a reliable solid base from which to stand, be, and act. But Pema seems to be saying that groundlessness is not the monster we might think it is. With that conundrum in mind:
- Am I feeling groundless? If so, how and why?
- If this is not an aspect (or prominent aspect) of what is going on for me, what is coming up?
- Does it seem situational or particularly acute in this moment with all that I/we are contending with?
- How do I tend to act from these feelings?
- Do I try to do anything with them/it? Does it help?
- What do you make of Pema’s statement?
Access Day Two of this series here.
