We all know how powerful language is and how our words shape our reality and perception – and there sure are a lot of words circling around this situation we find ourselves in. Take a moment today to check for yourself if the words you’re using and emphasising are helping you to feel empowered and powerful, or defensive and alone, or otherwise.
The words I’ve been most wanting to toss out and replace this week are ‘social distancing’. I know self isolating is not exactly going to do wonders for ones social life, but we’re not trying to be anti-social. What we’ve got going on is what I’d more accurately call physical distancing. I‘ve seen various terms for this lock-down situation and a couple of them feel more resourceful, empowering and nourishing than others. I like the accuracy of ‘physical distancing’ and ‘sheltering’ and the possibility of ‘retreating’.
But it’s not just about the specific words. It’s about how we can consciously create a useful frame for our situation when our nervous systems are in fear and we feel scared, protective, antsy, impatient, vulnerable and 100 other emotions that take us out of our centered, wise, loving self.
It’s also about what we think being physically separate from each other for a period of time actually means. And maybe this matters more than anything else. So here is my take on what I hope it could mean for all of us. It’s not very poetic but it is full of love.
I’d love to hear from you with anything else these words mean to you …
Physical distancing
Sheltering
Retreating
♥
A definition:
Resilience
Controlling what I can control
An act of love for self and others
A powerful choice, not a sentence
A time to pause, rest, Be
Protecting my physical body and that of my loved ones
by maintaining physical separation
Reducing the impact of this virus and being safe from it
Minimising the impact on our healthcare workers and hospitals
Remembering I’m staying physically separate but that
we’re all connected
Realising the people around me in the supermarket are as afraid of me as I am of them
Smiling at people I pass (by at least two metres!)
Writing letters like my Nana used to, perhaps by email; the old-fashioned kind that include words about my vege garden and a funny thing that happened today.
Talking on the phone or by video call to those I love,
to those I haven’t spoken to for a while or am overdue to visit
Using the safety of being at home and perhaps alone
to pray or meditate for health and harmony for all.
Staying at home but not necessarily staying inside.
Having more time out in nature.
Sprawling in the backyard for a nap or a picnic.
Sitting on the doorstep reading a book.
Remembering I can feel love in my heart for others
while I separate myself physically from others.
Being my loving self
Please feel free to share below anything else these words mean to you … let’s fill this situation with wisdom and awareness, hope and love.
Karen x
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