Importance of finding a silver lining during challenging times

Spring is in the air! Can you feel it? 🌷 ☀️ 🌱

Tomorrow is spring equinox (at 11:33 AM EST), which marks the transition from winter to spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Yeah! I'm so ready for spring. How about you?

Daffodils and tulips are starting to emerge from the ground; the days are longer; and all around us, nature is reminding us that new beginnings, new adventures, and new possibilities await.

At the same time, I'm deeply aware of how fragile and dark the world feels with the remainder of the pandemic and the eruption of war in Europe. Many of us are more stressed than ever.

During these fraught times, it's important we remember that there's always light after darkness. We witness it every year when spring blooms again.

The past two years have thrown lots of adversity at us. In times like these, it's helpful to look for silver linings. Is there something positive emerging from this adversity?

Actively looking for silver linings is a good strategy to improve your resilience during tough times.

When I think about the pandemic, I mourn the 6 million people around the world who have died from Covid. At the same time, I'm grateful for the amazing medical advances achieved during the pandemic, a renewed sense of the importance of family and friends, and a heightened awareness that we need to take care of our health and well-being.

My pandemic silver lining is the creation of my online yoga business. It's only because of the shutdown that I had the courage to start teaching yoga online. I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to help improve my clients' lives one yoga class at a time.

Yoga philosophy often speaks of light and darkness.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which is a collection of Sanskrit sutras (aphorisms) on the theory and practice of yoga, says “We can be free of suffering by paying attention to the light within” (Yoga Sutras 1.36). Imagine a brilliant light inside you, a light that is beyond all anxieties, fear, and worry. Or imagine there is a beautiful glowing lotus flower inside your heart.

The lotus flower has very humble beginnings.

I'm carrying this lotus flower theme into my latest 8-week Sunday yoga series: the blossoming of the lotus flower.

I've always loved the lotus flower and what it stands for. Aside from being beautiful, it's a pretty amazing flower. The lotus flower has its roots down in the mud and dirt, yet it rises through the dirty water to blossom into this most gorgeous flower.

A good metaphor for life? I think so.

The past two years have thrown lots of adversity at you, but maybe some beautiful things have emerged for you during this time despite (or maybe because of) the challenges? I invite you to sit down with a cup of tea and ponder whether you can find any silver linings for yourself.

And remember to make time for self-care during these stressful times.

Best,

Christine

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