Resilience & Sense making ( Part 1 )

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go to someone who knew all the answers? Guru’s, oracles and priests used to provide answers. Many traditions tell us that we do have a reliable source of innate wisdom with in us, but for reasons like we’re too busy, stressed and / or preoccupied we rarely take time or make the effort to go ‘within’ and consider what we think or feel about anything too deeply.

One of the tenets of Yoga philosophy: ‘Learning to sort the real from the unreal.’ In other words sorting fantasy from reality.

Now we find ourselves with multiple narratives to contend with. BUT What is real ? In the past we had a few sources of news; three or four TV channels, radio and newspapers. Now we have multiple news channels, 24 hours a day from across the globe offering different narratives and viewpoints. One expert says something, another says the opposite. And then there’s constant memes on Facebook we have to contend with.

So, if we are going to sort the real from the unreal in any significant way, we’re going to need a lot of time. Who has that now ? So we delegate our agency and trust to these sources rather than sit and think and be selective about what we engage with and enquire into topics for ourselves. AND in so doing, consciously or unconsciously, this indirectly creates in us neurotic behaviours such as being triggered, being compelled to join in- groups, impulsivity. Or worse we don’t participate and try and convince ourselves its nothing to do with us.

Apparently, Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis believed, ‘…we avoid authentic suffering by creating neurotic suffering…’

Neurosis; according to the dictionary is: ‘a relatively mild mental illness not caused by organic disease, involving symptoms of stress (depression, anxiety, obsessive behaviour, hypochondria) but not a radical loss of touch with reality.’

Wow!

Neurotic behaviours that are now more or less accepted as normal:

1. Addiction; a behaviour you have no control over that may lead to the neglect of your health, your job and your family. Addiction is a great way to avoid authentic suffering.

2. Keeping busy; you don’t stop or sit still for one moment to inquire into the nature of your suffering because you don’t have/make time for it. Another fine avoidance technique.

3. Obsessing; focusing on something; or something/someone focusing on you so you can’t relax and can’t stop thinking.

4. Hyper overreaction.

What is real…

We have certain biological essentials or requirements for human survival: air, food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, physical contact and sleep. And we put most effort into attaining them. Beyond these fundamental needs are our desires and wants.

Ask your self these questions regularly…

1. Do you have all your needs met?

2. If not, which are missing, and can you get them?

3. Does not having all your needs met cause problems for you?

4. Can you imagine/remember a time when there wasn’t stress in your life?

5. What can we do about all this?

6. What do you think and feel about things ?

The opposites of resilience are lack of agency, neuroticism, rigidity, fragility, weakness. I believe hard work in the form of a challenging Yoga practice is resilience training of the highest order. The deep relaxation brought about by practicing Asana and Pranayama allows the mind to relax enough for deep enquiry to begin to sort the real from the unreal. Now we are at the start of something palpable, something that can and will help us.

Essentially, we like to be comfortable. If you cannot handle any discomfort ( authentic suffering ) your life will revolve in ever decreasing circles until you evaporate into nothingness. Worse case scenario; sitting in front of a TV set all day on tranquillisers.

Hmmm, ☺ sounds pretty good ☺.

Some things you can do to develop resilience.

1. Go against the grain.

2. Tell the truth, or don't lie.

3. Do something that makes you feel uncomfortable.

4. Try doing something you know you can't do. (apply caution)

5. Pick your hardest Yoga posture and do it every day.

6. Try having cold showers every day for a week.

7. Sleep on the floor.

8. Do a class every day for a month.

I think you get the point…

Good luck

Terry