How to Create from What's Happening when we Don't Know What's Happening

Lately, I've found myself grappling with how to 'create from what's happening around us' (an idea that I fully embrace, deeply believe in, and regularly teach about) and the massive uncertainty related to 'what is happening around us' and 'what will continue to happen around us.'

(As in - really, what the #@#$ is going on??!!)

I've been working to read and learn and plan while also holding things lightly, since of course, everything can change in a year or a week or a day or a moment.

It’s been leading me back to the following questions:

How do we create from what’s happening around us, when we don’t know what’s happening?
How can we embrace the reality that is before us, when that reality is changing every day?
How can we plan for the future, when the future feels wildly unknown?

While I certainly don’t have any answers that fit into neat and tidy boxes with bows on top, here are a few things that I’ve been finding helpful.

Considering: What do we know for sure?

While many things are changing and unknown, there are usually a few things we know for sure.

For example, for me, no matter what is happening around me, I know that I feel better if I spend as much time as possible outside every day.

I know that I feel better if I go for frequent walks and move my body.

And I know that talking with soul sisters is something that lifts my spirits and provides nourishment, joy, and light to my days.

So the questions then become - no matter what is happening around me or outside of me, how can I prioritize these things that I know for sure? How can I put at least a little bit of energy into these things each day?

Focusing on what we can influence or impact.

There’s much to be concerned about right now. Many people I’ve talked with in recent weeks are experiencing new levels of anxiety and worry.

Friends and colleagues who have never been ‘stockers’ are buying double of everything - from toilet paper to dried goods to their favorite shampoo and body wash.

Friends and colleagues who have never experienced anxiety and insomnia suddenly are.

The weight of the world currently feels heavy, and if we try to hold it all on our shoulders, we will certainly collapse.

What we can do instead is focus on what we can impact, what we can influence, and what we have some level of control over. We can do that by considering the following questions:

What am I currently concerned about? (Make a list - and don’t worry about filtering it. Allow yourself to go wild, including all of the concerns, big and small, that are currently swirling in your head).
Of these concerns, what are the things that I can impact, influence, or control in some way? (Make another list. Allow the items to be big or small. Again, don’t worry about filtering or judging - just write).
Then, pick a few things from the second list to focus on. Consider one per week, or one per day. Revisit your list often.

I recommend doing this exercise anytime you feel overwhelmed, anytime the list of concerns and worries feels heavy, and anytime you want to feel more in control of your time, your energy, and your days.

Connecting to our Daily Anchors

I wrote a couple months ago about the idea of Daily Anchors. These are the things that ground us, that fill us, and that help us to have a pretty good day every day. These are small things that are within our sphere of influence.

I’ve found that connecting to daily anchors and being committed to doing at least one of them each day has a massive impact on how I feel and how the rest of my day goes.

While we can’t always directly control what’s happening in the world around us, we can directly influence how we show up, how we feel, and how we can put ourselves in a state of mind to navigate this chaotic world with as much calmness, groundedness, and ease as possible.

These are a few things that I’ve found helpful.

What have you been finding helpful in these chaotic times?

Thank you as always for reading!

Sarah