I watched how naturally the wind blew the grasses – they bent based upon a timing that was directed by the wind. I got the sense that the grasses were blowing with the wind, rather than in the wind. The former felt like more control (even if it wasn’t) and the latter idea suggested the grasses were a victim being tossed by the whims of the wind.
One way or another, most of us like to be in control of the dynamics that drive our lives. That’s one of the many reasons COVID-19 has been challenging for most. So much has changed so fast, we struggle to keep up with the protocol and rules.
Of course, this grass analogy isn’t going to work for everything you may have encountered during 2020 – but let’s look at what these grasses teach us from a standpoint of our attitudes, how we feel and believe about what’s before us.
Our emotions are a powerful force — They direct how we respond or react to the circumstances and changes in our lives. My attitude is a choice. I can adjust and move with what is before me — at least I can try! As a result, my internal sense of being is calm, less agitated and more determined to bend as need be. It’s not necessarily an easy choice to make.
However, when my attitude fights against circumstances that are beyond my control, my emotions of anxiety and fear increase and I’m not able to think as clearly. The result? I may not have the foresight to remember that the weather and tides are cyclical, and that more likely than not, they will eventually neutralize any turmoil.
On the mountain, we say “attitude then altitude” – we can’t move in any direction until we harness our internal power. This harnessing requires us to be connected to our internal compass — it requires us to be still, aware and flexible, all at the same time.
The next time you are frustrated by a wind that is beyond your control, just remember it may be much easier to move with it than to fight against it.
Blow with the wind,
