"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Riding the Waves: Finding Grace on the Rougher Days of Being Human

"You cannot stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." - Jon Kabat-Zinn

Let's be honest, being human can be a wild ride. Amidst the joy and connection, there are those days that feel… rough. High emotions surge, stressors pile up, and sometimes, we even navigate the echoes of painful experiences. It's part of the deal, this beautiful, messy human existence.

In these moments, our instinct might be to brace ourselves, to run, or to wish it all away. We crave comfort, a quick escape from the discomfort. But what if I told you there's another way? What if the key isn't to avoid the waves, but to learn to ride them with a different kind of strength – a gentle, yet powerful, grace?

The wisdom of Ram Dass echoes here: it's often our resistance to what is that fuels the struggle. Think about it. When a wave crashes, fighting against its force only leaves you tumbled and breathless. But yielding, finding a way to move with it, allows you to emerge on the other side.

This is where the beautiful integration of our human and spirit comes into play. As humans, we will feel the intensity of these rough days. Our hearts will ache, our minds might race, and our bodies might tense. This is natural. It's part of our incredible capacity to feel and experience life fully.

But beneath this human experience lies our spirit – that unwavering essence, that deep well of resilience and peace within us. It's the part of us that knows these moments, while intense, are also temporary. It's the part that can hold the bigger picture, even when our human eyes are clouded by the storm.

So, how do we navigate these rougher days with grace, leaning into this human-spirit collaboration?

Acknowledge and Allow: The first step is often the hardest: to simply acknowledge what is present without judgment. Name the emotion. Recognize the stress. Allow yourself to feel it, without immediately trying to fix or suppress it. This isn't about wallowing, but about meeting your experience with honesty.
Breathe and Ground: When the waves feel overwhelming, our breath can be an anchor. Take a few deep, slow breaths. Feel your feet on the ground. Connect to the physical sensations in your body. This simple act can bring you back to the present moment, offering a pause in the intensity.
Connect to Your Inner Knowing: Remember that deeper part of you, your spirit. Even amidst the turmoil, can you find a sliver of that inner stillness? Perhaps it's a quiet whisper, a sense of underlying peace. Tune into it. Remind yourself of your inherent strength and the transient nature of these feelings.
Practice Gentle Self-Compassion: Rough days can be tough on our inner critic. Instead of adding fuel to the fire with harsh self-talk, offer yourself kindness. Speak to yourself as you would a dear friend going through a hard time.
Seek Support Wisely: Reaching out can be a powerful act of grace. Connect with trusted friends, family, or practitioners who can offer a listening ear or helpful perspective. However, also be mindful of not getting lost in external validation or solutions, remembering your own inner resources.

Navigating the rougher days of being human isn't about finding constant comfort. It's about cultivating a graceful way of moving through the discomfort, knowing that both our human vulnerability and our inherent spiritual strength are valuable parts of the journey. By leaning into this integration, we can learn to ride the waves with more ease, emerging with a deeper understanding of ourselves and the resilient spirit that resides within.

Reminder:
You don’t have to do life perfectly. (That’s impossible anyway.)
Just be willing to do it—consciously, deliberately, and with connection.