“To be fully alive, fully human and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.”
― Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart
With my father-in-law’s recent diagnosis of Leukemia, our family has been thrown out of the nest. Still waiting for test results, we have so much uncertainty. What is certain is the bond among us, as evidenced by the way the family has leapt to Mike’s side.
Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön, author of When Things Fall Apart, emphasizes how developing resilience can help us thrive, even during times of great challenge. If we ourselves are depleted, we don’t have the energy to nurture others.
Just as we are advised to put on our own oxygen mask on an airplane before helping a child, taking care of ourselves helps us stay grounded, focused and healthy. In my case, journaling, yoga, meditation, nature walks and time with my friends refuel me. On days I visit the hospital, I try to do at least one of those. I’ve been encouraging my husband to keep up his cardio and weight-lifting routine after work before he visits his dad at the hospital. By refilling our own wells, we can increase our resilience to uncertainty.
How do you refill your well? How can you become more resilient during challenging times?
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