Support during difficult times

Living in Los Angeles during these last few weeks has been the greatest test.

Spiritual teachers often talk about riding the waves of change with equanimity. It's a concept that is rooted in not trying to avoid hardship, but rather about facing all that comes your way with peace. With an ability to ride the wave no matter how uprooted or ungrounded we may feel. The saying isn't asking you to ride the wave well, it's not asking you to know how to even be in the wave. It's simply saying ride it. The hope is that we can ride it with a sense of composure, with an even temper, but if that's not possible then at the very least, be in the wave with an understanding that this wave will pass and we can find peace in that knowing.

These last few weeks living in Los Angeles have been the greatest test of this. Maybe you've felt that wherever you are too. In LA there have been many moments I have failed at riding with equanimity. Moments where I've let anxiety, fear, sadness, the collective devastation take me out. There have been moments of deep survivor's guilt for still having my home. Moments of guilt for wanting to talk about my business and exciting things I've got planned. Then I remembered each time I got sucked into one of these moments, that my only job right now is to show-up. Meet the moment. However I meet it, is perfectly imperfect. 

I'm reminded right now more than ever that spiritual practices are about having faith when things are hard. When we are not shown any reason to believe. When we have been knocked down and don't see a path forward for standing up. So here we are having faith. Believing that our city will be rebuilt. Believing that we will show-up for one another. Believing that we can create the country we want to live in.

If you're going through a hard time right now, no matter what it may be, whether it's personal, or you're triggered by what's going on in our government, dig deep and find your belief. Find that inner knowing that WE will get through this. Connect to that deep sense of self that reminds you to trust in your community, to trust in one another.

For my Los Angeles community, I grieve with you. I love with you. I stand with you. You are not alone in processing the whirlwind of emotions that these last weeks of devastation are bringing us. We will keep rebuilding together. A friend told me recently - people need you to show up right now as you are. So here I am showing up as my messy, beautifully imperfect human self. I care deeply about you.