“I now realise that it’s okay to still feel joy when there’s so many terrible things happening in the world.” It’s not just okay, it’s imperative. But oh so hard. I am so sorry about your sister in law and all the things that weigh heavy on your heart. I feel them too and find myself wanting to separate from the world to avoid the brunt of the sorrow. I retreat into horses and dogs and little baby kittens. And I struggle to find a way to engage with the world without being overcome with sorrow. But the connection to animals helps.
Thanks Christie. It is natural I think to want to hunker down and keep away from it all. And to retreat into the simplicity of our relationships with animals, which we are so lucky to have in our lives. I’ve been watching the birds outside my window this afternoon and enjoying their joy.
Such a timely piece, Amanda. My nature has always leaned towards melancholy. Through my practices, mindfulness included in my spiritual survival kit, I've learned to live in that paradox of joy and sadness. And still, it is hard to witness and feel into the pain of others. I sometimes wonder where I'd be without the practice.
I’m glad you’ve found that balance. I’ve learned to live in it too. But yes, sometimes it’s still so hard to witness the suffering and not lean back towards the melancholy. I feel blessed to have found my spiritual and mindful path to help me. 💙
After a lifetime of running, I'm so grateful to be able to feel...all of it and to be able to feel for others. It's taken me my whole life to truly see that I'm not the center of the universe, yet in a way ~ a very special, unique, loving way, I am ~ as long as I remember I am the faucet, not the water.
It's been a challenging two weeks for me since my mother passed, even though our relationship was already quite complex. It's the connection I miss—the feeling of mutuality. And yes, sadness has washed over me more often than not. Sitting with grief is not for the faint of heart; it's heavy, and it has pulled me back to the mat, urging me to dive deeper into myself, to be with everything I need to look at and feel so intensely.
The world around me feels imbalanced and chaotic, which hasn't helped either. That’s why I’m reminding myself to be present—to seek the moments of joy that yoga, meditation, and writing offer. Even something as simple as looking out the window at the falling rain, being close to my cat, or savoring a warm cuppa can bring comfort and warmth to my heart.
Sending love and kindness right back to you, DD. Simple joys of hot tea, cats and being warm and cosy indoors make all the difference whatever we are grieving for. And hugs. I send you a big hug too 💙💙
Mindfulness has taught me how to face my emotions instead of running from them. Upon facing them, I can smile, embrace them, ask what they need/want to show me, and then compassionately send them on their way.
Thanks Gabriela. I’m glad it resonated with you. It took me a long time to get to that understanding but it has made a huge difference in my life now that I have.
The most powerful piece I’ve read this week , sadness we all have periods of melancholy 😞 as you say the world around us can be a dark depressing place at times I myself am a Yoga Therapist using “ breath work to calm my senses I find joy in music whenever I’m down
This week has not been one of my better moments in life my ethos in life is “making people’s lives better “ I do that through my teaching and charitable service providing for those less fortunate take care believe in who you are and what you do acknowledge sadness as part of being as the song says “all things must pass”
Richard Rohr says that the two agents of change in humans are Great Love and Great Suffering. These are the motivators for all transformation. Looking at it this way, we see that BOTH are required for us to evolve!
They definitely are. And in Taoist wisdom you cannot have one without the other. Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your thought. I appreciate it. I haven't heard of Richard Rohr so I will check him out.
I highly recommend his writings - he is a non-dualistic thinker with wonderful books, devotions, and podcasts. “Another Name for Everything” is phenomenal.
I'm like you, Amanda. I used to drown in sorrow (depression). I couldn't hold two things at once, so I held sorrow and let it take me. Meditation/mindfulness/therapy have helped me hold what often appear to be opposites, like sadness and joy. I do a better job of being with both than I used to. And I've learned that this holding is always the case; it's just life, always both.
I love the Kahlil Gibran quote and completely agree. Suffering digs reservoirs of strength, courage, and joy into our beings.
Blessings and love to you too 💙
“I now realise that it’s okay to still feel joy when there’s so many terrible things happening in the world.” It’s not just okay, it’s imperative. But oh so hard. I am so sorry about your sister in law and all the things that weigh heavy on your heart. I feel them too and find myself wanting to separate from the world to avoid the brunt of the sorrow. I retreat into horses and dogs and little baby kittens. And I struggle to find a way to engage with the world without being overcome with sorrow. But the connection to animals helps.
Thanks Christie. It is natural I think to want to hunker down and keep away from it all. And to retreat into the simplicity of our relationships with animals, which we are so lucky to have in our lives. I’ve been watching the birds outside my window this afternoon and enjoying their joy.
Animals are such amazing healers for
us humans.
They are indeed. They’re amazing in so many ways.
Such a timely piece, Amanda. My nature has always leaned towards melancholy. Through my practices, mindfulness included in my spiritual survival kit, I've learned to live in that paradox of joy and sadness. And still, it is hard to witness and feel into the pain of others. I sometimes wonder where I'd be without the practice.
I’m glad you’ve found that balance. I’ve learned to live in it too. But yes, sometimes it’s still so hard to witness the suffering and not lean back towards the melancholy. I feel blessed to have found my spiritual and mindful path to help me. 💙
I’m a work in progress.
Me too. Always.
Agreed, Paulette, leaning into the paradox, and still it's hard.
After a lifetime of running, I'm so grateful to be able to feel...all of it and to be able to feel for others. It's taken me my whole life to truly see that I'm not the center of the universe, yet in a way ~ a very special, unique, loving way, I am ~ as long as I remember I am the faucet, not the water.
Ha! Great analogy! 🚰
It's been a challenging two weeks for me since my mother passed, even though our relationship was already quite complex. It's the connection I miss—the feeling of mutuality. And yes, sadness has washed over me more often than not. Sitting with grief is not for the faint of heart; it's heavy, and it has pulled me back to the mat, urging me to dive deeper into myself, to be with everything I need to look at and feel so intensely.
The world around me feels imbalanced and chaotic, which hasn't helped either. That’s why I’m reminding myself to be present—to seek the moments of joy that yoga, meditation, and writing offer. Even something as simple as looking out the window at the falling rain, being close to my cat, or savoring a warm cuppa can bring comfort and warmth to my heart.
Sending so much love and kindness ❤️
Sending love and kindness right back to you, DD. Simple joys of hot tea, cats and being warm and cosy indoors make all the difference whatever we are grieving for. And hugs. I send you a big hug too 💙💙
Mindfulness has taught me how to face my emotions instead of running from them. Upon facing them, I can smile, embrace them, ask what they need/want to show me, and then compassionately send them on their way.
Yes. No longer so consuming. Thanks for sharing, Derek.
Love that Derek so true!
This was lovely , Amanda. Your line about being ‘more than my sorrow’ really gave me such a powerful sense of understanding!
Thanks Gabriela. I’m glad it resonated with you. It took me a long time to get to that understanding but it has made a huge difference in my life now that I have.
I know what you mean about the time it takes for these levels of understanding to come about!
Always learning, growing and changing!
The most powerful piece I’ve read this week , sadness we all have periods of melancholy 😞 as you say the world around us can be a dark depressing place at times I myself am a Yoga Therapist using “ breath work to calm my senses I find joy in music whenever I’m down
This week has not been one of my better moments in life my ethos in life is “making people’s lives better “ I do that through my teaching and charitable service providing for those less fortunate take care believe in who you are and what you do acknowledge sadness as part of being as the song says “all things must pass”
Thank you, Marcel. Music is wonderful for lifting us out of ourselves. I’m sorry to hear your week hasn’t been great. It will indeed pass.
Richard Rohr says that the two agents of change in humans are Great Love and Great Suffering. These are the motivators for all transformation. Looking at it this way, we see that BOTH are required for us to evolve!
They definitely are. And in Taoist wisdom you cannot have one without the other. Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your thought. I appreciate it. I haven't heard of Richard Rohr so I will check him out.
I highly recommend his writings - he is a non-dualistic thinker with wonderful books, devotions, and podcasts. “Another Name for Everything” is phenomenal.
I'm like you, Amanda. I used to drown in sorrow (depression). I couldn't hold two things at once, so I held sorrow and let it take me. Meditation/mindfulness/therapy have helped me hold what often appear to be opposites, like sadness and joy. I do a better job of being with both than I used to. And I've learned that this holding is always the case; it's just life, always both.
I love the Kahlil Gibran quote and completely agree. Suffering digs reservoirs of strength, courage, and joy into our beings.
Yes it used to be so hard for me to find the balance. I am much better at it now. And yep, all the suffering has really taught me how to be happier. 💙
So true.