Sitting with the Discomfort
These last few months in particular, a lot of ugliness has been stirred up & into our awareness. Natural disasters, wars, famine, political distress, disease - you name it & it is likely already in our faces. In this age of technology, there are very few places left to hide in blissful ignorance anymore. It’s impacting us on a collective level as well as an individual level.
I’ve been learning that it is necessary to feel the pain, the heaviness, the fear & the raw vulnerability that is left in its wake. We have to sit with the discomfort. We have to face what scares us. We have to see the uglier parts of ourselves. We have to give ourselves the time and the space it takes to process all of it.
While all this muck is drawn up to the surface, trust that you are safe. You can face whatever scares you, whatever brings up heavy emotions, and you are still safe. You are OK and you are still breathing through it. You must open yourself to it all rather than squashing it down. We have to feel what comes up in order to let it go. If we don’t, the energy just sits in our bodies and festers, keeping us blocked OR in this loop of re-experiencing the same uncomfortable situation until we choose to work with it.
This is all a part of our experience. How can we have joy if we never experience the lack of it? How can we remain grateful for the good if we never had the bad? Discomfort is not our enemy; it is a powerful teacher, always guiding us toward deeper self-awareness and growth. Instead of shying away, let’s lean into these moments, allowing them to shape us into the individuals we are meant to be. As we learn to sit with discomfort, we often find it leads to profound breakthroughs. Many of our most significant lessons come from times of struggle.
Give yourself extra space and more compassion these days. Extend the same courtesy to your neighbors and the strangers you meet, since they’re also experiencing the same things. Be kind, be gentle to yourself & others while we’re all navigating this raw, uncomfortable phase. Practice loving the aspects of yourself that you would consider flaws or imperfections.
Let us remember that discomfort is a natural part of our spiritual journey. Embrace it with an open heart, and allow it to lead you toward greater wisdom and compassion.
How to sit with the discomfort:
#1 Rule: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: slow down and rest unapologetically. Enjoy your simple pleasures. Reconnect with nature. Eat nutritious food. Move your body gently.
True healing often lies in stillness. Sit quietly with your feelings. Breathe deeply and acknowledge the discomfort. When discomfort arises, visualize it as a wave—allow it to rise and fall, without resisting it.
Allow yourself to feel the feels! Let it come up and then let it go so you can process fully. Cry, scream, laugh, sprint, dance - however you need to express yourself and let it go without harming yourself or others of course.
Journal to process: Write down what comes up! What is triggering you? How does it feel in your body? What is this feeling trying to teach you? This practice can transform discomfort into insight, allowing us to navigate life with greater clarity and resilience.
Share your experiences with trusted friends or a support group or ME ALWAYS. Simply knowing you’re not alone can ease the burden of discomfort.
Please, please, be kind to others. Don’t scream at someone in the car, don’t belittle someone at the grocery store, don’t be cruel to each other. We have no real idea what the next person is going through - but it is a guarantee that they are going through something. Rather than spreading anger, spread your love instead! The world needs more love.
“Be not afraid of discomfort. If you can’t put yourself in a situation where you are uncomfortable, then you will never grow. You will never change. You’ll never learn.”
Jason Reynolds
