I,ve noticed that the themes relative to the experiences of the pandemic are infiltrating many adverts, and if you are anything like me you would have, in the past paused the Television until they were over and felt some frustration at the interruption they cause to your favourite viewing.
A current advert for ‘Pension Bee’ uses the notion of controlling and co-ordinating pensions by bringing what you thought uncontrollable into the one domain, whilst a further current advert highlights how marines have to deal with the unknown which is scarey, even creepy for humankind.
I’ve noticed that a key element of these adverts is subliminal touching on issues such as relaxation and quality institutions who are worthy of trust, and it is these very elements that are difficult to hold onto in our everyday life at the moment.
Thanks to those of you who forwarded comments from the last blog’ Let the vulnerable speak.’ One of these comments included an extract from a young man who found the answer to his problem with a stammer and the resulting self esteem. His answer was actually within himself fuelled by his desire to control something which was hindering his progress towards his desired goals.Motivation ‘to become’ enabled him to travel to training and defeat and control that which he had thought previously uncontrollable.
Central to this young person’s development was his excellent parents who gave their unstinting and continuing support. I have noticed that it is lack of support that is often absent in these present days.Feelings fluctuate through traumatic fluctuating flatness,sadness, to crazy joy and despair.
In order to control this movement of feelings we need to relax control our breathing and look at what is going on.Try to imagine whilst sitting quietly, facing forward, you are centred in a place of reality, now turn your head to the right and subsequently to the left observing what is present at each point.Return to the centre and process what you have observed, such a process is calming and may pull you back from hopelessness and despair. Use your imagination to develop the centre perhaps it is a beautiful island or a sandy sea shore the possibilities are endless. Close your eyes and travel with your imagination concentrate and see what is there. Rest! Return to the everyday reality empowered and able to use your personal strength to carry you through.
We do not need to go to the shops to buy imagination, or get on a plane to go abroad the personal power is within us but is often dimmed by disability and the brands of ‘reactive depression’ attached to the pandemic.However this human capacity is lost for some at the moment due to stress, bereavement, illness, or other issues so we need to support others with loving compassion and it is as we sit quietly we sometimes see a way to be supportive to another.
Another comment I received recently reminded me that we need to be released in order to adapt if we are held back by feelings of depression we are often unable to move forward and need released. Much anger and possibly rage has been awakened by being locked down and is struggling for healthy ways of release.
I grew up on a farm and developed the notion that a period on a farm should be part of all our growth so much is available for learning and if we allow them the animals will teach us.I have always loved cows and dairy cows have their calves removed after birth so that they can produce milk for sale, when the calves are removed the cows roar in pain at their loss it is an awful sound and my mother used to take us up to the loft so we wouldn’t hear the noise so clearly.
We can find strength in quietness and stillness and we need to use this strength for release from loss and lockdown in self and in everyday life. Use the cows as an example find a safe place and roar to find release. Cows support each other through their group herding rituals we can do this too we can space, distance, and still find ways of supporting each other.Let’s not be afraid to roar and compassionate enough to find new and old ways of giving support to our herd.
TAG SUPPORT CONTROL RELEASE
aoibheann thoughtful reflections 