A lesson from Olympic Swimming Team
Whether you are into the Olympics or not, it won’t have escaped you that the Ozzie swim team have had their most successful Olympic campaign. There were so many races in this Olympics that the swimmers managed to step up when it counted. If you missed it, watch the women’s relay races.
The Dolphins' ability to perform at their best under stressful and uncertain conditions had been missing in past meets. For this Olympics, they practised and trained (with the help of ADF) on staying focus on what was within their locus of control - in this case, to swim the best they can during times of uncertainty. For instance, swimmers were woken up unexpectedly at a recent swim camp, taken to an unfamiliar, noisy environment, and asked to race. Their ability to adapt and perform in stressful and uncertain environments was evident in this Olympics.
This is not dissimilar to how we can navigate these unusual times of a pandemic. The emotion coronacoaster that we continue to ride is real. Even when we were all experiencing some degree of normalcy (even us in Victoria), all of a sudden, there were varying degrees of lockdowns all over Australia. In fact, Victoria just announced its 6th snap lockdown at the time of writing.
As a result, we are back into the territory of not knowing, dealing with uncertainty, longing for the end of remote learning, and wishing for the end of the pandemic. These are all-natural yearnings of the mind regardless of where we stand on the public health measures taken.
So how do we deal with this ever-present uncertainty and ‘ not knowing' without languishing?
Like the swimmers, our practice helps us deal with it the way we deal with the rest of our lives. We open to what is in the moment and go into deep listening to how to respond. This is not limited to our meditation cushion.
Research has shown that a degree of autonomy and the ability to make choices in our lives is essential for our well-being. The ability to chose what we occupy our mind with is a practice within our locus of control.
Here are a few ways that you may find helpful to bring more ease and calm in your life during these times of ‘not knowing’.
Pause for a moment of gratitude of the beauty that is the life around you and savour the experience - could be as simple as being grateful for the miraculous breath and indeed receive it (no need to control it)
When anxiety, fear and anger arises (no doubt it will in all of us at some point), can it be met with compassion and kindness rather than attaching it to a judgemental and evaluating mind?
Do something kind for yourself or someone else every day.
Forgive yourself from your heart of compassion.
These little practices are within the locus of your control. Like the swimmers focussing on their swim stroke rate, these little practices can help you navigate and see clearly during these times of uncertainty. However, please don’t take my word for it; try it out for yourself.