‘We all have within us the ability to move from struggle to grace.’

Ariana Huffington

At the moment we may well be feeling a sense of struggle and this may be looking very different for each of us. Struggle may be found in the loneliness that we are encountering in our lockdown situations as we may be away from friends and family. Struggle may be in the family and friends that we are having to live with in such close quarters, for lengths of time together that we are not used to. Struggle may be in the idea that lockdown needs to continue for some time longer or struggle may be in the fact that lockdown is now gradually changing, coming to an end and we are needing to return to work. Struggle for some is found in the fear that may be felt at the changes that are inevitably heading our way.

So how do we move from our own personal struggles, no matter how they look, towards a sense of grace? What do we mean by grace? How is this word defined? Grace can be the way we move, with smoothness and elegance. How can we move towards our next challenge with a smoothness and elegance that will help us to remain calm and at peace with what that challenge asks of us? Grace can also mean being courteous or behaving towards others with a sense of good will. How can we cope with the next challenge with a courteous manner for those around us or who we may come in contact with? How do we maintain a sense of good will even as things become difficult or new or stressful around us?

As long as we are, we will be facing changes. Our lives will always develop and grow and we must be content to know that this is how life is supposed to be. Being able to notice those changes and the effect they have on us is so important. As I move through a huge, personal change in my life I notice the feelings that are stirred up as a result of it. Current feelings range from sadness, to joy. Two extremes that actually assault my senses almost instantaneously. They make my stomach feel unsettled, my temper short. They mean I am less focused, less sure of what I am doing or should be doing moving forward. However, it is because I am noticing all of this, really noticing, and reflecting on the mixture of feelings and their physical effect on my body as well as the unsettling effect on my mood, that I know I am going to be ok. I am growing and learning even as I struggle. The struggle is molding me. I will try and cope with the struggle with grace and towards grace.

Mindful meditation will help press the pause button for all of us during this time of struggle or challenge. Press the pause button and allow us to notice, to reflect and review. To recognise that we all have within us the ability to cope with the struggle and move on towards happier times with grace.

A guided meditation to help with challenge:

Sit quietly or lie comfortably in a warm place. Try not to move, challenge your body to remain still.
Focus on the breath. Notice the in breath and the out breath and make them both move in and out through the nose.
Tell yourself that you breathe in and you breathe out.
Breathe in calm. Breathe out and smile.
Calm in. Smile out.
As you breathe in tell yourself that your body relaxes. That you find peace on the breath out.
Continue to notice the breath in and the breath out for 15 mins.
Notice how your body begins to relax.
When other thoughts come, notice these, and remind yourself with compassion to go back to focusing on the breath.
Calm in. Smile out.