Disorientation as Opportunity?

Sometimes the externals must change.

Sometimes it all shifts—it has to.  

The form of what sustained us in the past must morph, must wiggle, must recalibrate itself.

Wiggling becomes mandatory.

Have you ever in your life watched the structure around you disintegrate; the daily schedule, the whereabouts of things, the physical architecture of your life?

How did it feel?

I find myself in that time of forced recalibration.  

The orientation points are all different now.  

I am—disorientated.

And that, in itself, is disorientating.

For reasons beyond the scope of this blog or this blogosphere, I am reporting simply that life as I have known it is in turmoil. There is not enough room on the World Wide Web for me to tell the tale; suffice to say, the structure of my life is tap-dancing its way toward a new rhythm.  No blog could be strong enough could carry that tune, nor could the Broadway play or the NBC series by the same name.

Hence, I am offering you all the condensed version—how to respond to turmoil, upheaval, and the trauma of change, 101.

First let’s consider this word that has been dancing around in my brain; turmoil, a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.

That sounds pleasant!

How do we possibly live into the turmoil?

How do we be present with the disruptions, those “where the f___ is my phone” moments?  How do we, as gracefully as possible, keep present?

Here are my riverbanks, into which I choose to swim, as the forms around me seem to be disintegrating.  Here are my suggested guidelines for Times of Disorientation:

• Leave plenty of time for everything, especially driving.
• Drive several clicks BELOW the speed limit.  Receive and surrender to this dare, America.
• Let everybody pass you.  Always.
• Get to all destinations 22 minutes early.
• Do not, I repeat, do not ingest news, any form of news from the dominant culture.  Step away from the radio dial.
• At all intersections, stop, breathe, let everybody else go before you.
• Creep cautiously forward.
• Consistency is your friend!  Eat three meals at—(when?, you might ask).  At mealtime.

Those of us who are so committed to the illusion of control (we know who we are), these times of upheaval are challenging, indeed.  But what if we might imagine that, in the midst of the uncertainty (Where the f___ are my keys?), in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of the transition, there is great stability, ultimate support, and infinite blessing?

Even and especially in the breakdown, do the greatest blessings unfold.  

Letting go of the structure triggers our humanness; it opens the door for great and profound possibility.

Here are my suggested prayers for Times of Uncertainty and Perceived Turmoil:

I pray
For
Courage,
Faith,
And
The
Willingness
To surrender.

I pray
That
The
Highest
May
Unfold
For all.

I pray
That
Hidden
Deeply
Within
This turmoil,
I see
I receive
The jewel,
The
Opportunity
For
Growth
And
Healing.

May it be so.

~~~

Dear Readers, how is September unfolding for you?  What are you noticing? What’s easy? What isn’t? What can you take from this blog to weave into the architecture of your life?  Keep me posted. I am aruni@rnetworx.com

All blessings
From the land of chaos,
From the land of grace,
Aruni