Pure Premium Powerlessness
We humans like to control things when we can. It makes us feel safe. But perhaps any feelings of control are an illusion.
"You are a ghost, driving a meat-coated skeleton, made from stardust, riding a rock, hurtling through space.”
This oft-cited anonymous quote kind of gets at the heart of the powerlessness of our existence. Of course, we can’t forget that our planet is tied by an invisible force to a giant ball of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core. And not only is the Earth moving at 67,000 miles per hour, but our entire galaxy is hurtling through space at 1.3 million miles per hour. Oh, and don’t forget our neighboring galaxy is flying towards ours at 70 miles per second. In five billion years, they will collide for some serious fireworks.
Feel better? Well, yeah. The first step toward addressing powerlessness is to recognize it and name it. Yes, we are powerless. There’s a great quote from Al-Anon, the 12-step recovery program for loved ones of addicts: “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it.” So what can we do?
Well, back to a well-worn two-step theme of this blog: Firstly, we can take care of ourselves, and secondly we can try to make a positive impact on our surroundings. Upon waking we can do breathwork, we can meditate, we can take a cold shower, we can get moving. All these things not only give our brain a nice feel-good bath of chemicals but done consistently—they strengthen our positive relationship with ourselves. Then, when we face the sometimes brutal powerlessness life has to offer—we can pause and make a decision on how to react to it. Without putting the work into caring for ourselves, we are just little reactionary pinballs bouncing off life’s bumpers.
Eventually, life will hit you with “the big ones:”
Death of a loved one
Loss of job
End of a relationship
Serious illness
There is nothing we can do to escape some of these rougher parts of the road. If we focus on self-care while we can, we do, however, have a choice about enjoying the ride no matter what. And the people we’re riding with in the car will enjoy their journey more. And maybe one will open the door and jump out from time to time. And maybe the car will break down and we’ll have to walk for a while. And perhaps We may have to carry someone part of the way. And maybe they’ll have to carry us.
With a loving relationship with ourselves, and by exercising the one power we do have—to decide our reactions to things—it can be a beautiful trip no matter what.
Until next time
Scott and Lennart