There are times in life when we must sit with what is uncomfortable to us. Facing our fears is another way to put it, but that brings to mind skydiving for someone afraid of heights. I’m not talking about anything that extreme. But what about the worry for loved one relapsing with an illness? Or a financial decision by higher ups that directly impacts you? Or a vote by your community that may change how you live? It is a fear completely out of your control. The feelings of worry-waiting and helplessness are easy to bury because there is nothing active you can do- it is up to fate, God, random professionals, the resilience of your loved one, everything and everyone but you. Yet you carry a burden anyway. Jumping out of an airplane thousands of feet up to get rid of the fear seems almost easier in comparison (though really, really expensive…)
Well, first get a cup of tea. Would you jump out of an airplane without a parachute? We have to trust in something, and it doesn’t have to be big, complicated, or (hopefully) checked over twenty times by an expert. But we need to hold on to comfort when about to deal with uncomfortable shtuff. So brew your tea. Hold on to it with two hands. Feel the warmth. Concentrate on your fingers around the cup. Focus on the physical sensation. Smell the tea. Let the steam go right up your nose.
FYI: The points of fear (in energy medicine) are on your cheekbones, so that steam will go right into the fear spots. Physically helping you deal! Go tea, go!
Now think about what you are worried about. Yup. It’s right there. It’s always right there, sapping your energy because you are always spending energy trying to ignore it, tell yourself it doesn’t matter, convince yourself there isn’t anything to worry about, pushing and pushing it down. But you can’t make it go away unless you deal. So there it is.
Hold on to the cup. Feel uncomfortable. Smell the tea. Let yourself be sad, angry, nervous, worried, discouraged- you name it. Seriously, name it.
Sip the tea. Taste the tea.
Aaaand, this is the worst you have to feel. This is the discomfort. You have not dissolved into ashes. The world hasn’t completely exploded. Take another sip of tea. Rub your fingers on the cup. You make a good cup of tea.
You make a damn good cup of tea.
Put away the discomfort. No need to examine the why or how or what next; you have a cup of tea to finish. Look at you, brave soul. You pulled out your fear, looked at it, felt it, saw it true and named it. With a cup of tea in hand, you can do anything. Well, maybe not jumping out of an airplane, the tea might spill.
Rise untethered.
Move with intention.
Be grand.
