I just want to offer very briefly: If right now you’re feeling anxious, excited, grief-stricken, hopeful, fearful, ambivalent, numb, unsure, fiery, disappointed, angry, despondent, pleased, worried, content, ready, engaged, detached — or any other number of emotions — this. is. NORMAL.

We’re in such a weird time! And I can’t help but reflect on the fact that the system under which our feelings and sensations operate is called a “NERVOUS” system, which brings me both a bit of understanding and levity.

Of COURSE our body’s way of surviving has to be a bit nervous to survive. We must detect threat (evolutionarily speaking) to achieve getting to where we are. Our brain must look/feel for what could be death-influencing for us to respond in a way that ensures our life.

We also like to make-meaning as Humans, and so there are often intellectual measures of deciding when/if how we respond to something through “overreaction” or “out of line”. Now, I still observe & comprehend that this value is important, so as to cultivate an invitation of pause or awareness that can support growth in a relational context, a work conflict, and so on.

However — I want to reiterate, we are built for survival. Your re-actions (REsponse through BEhavior or ACTion) are welcomed as. they. ARE.

Let’s attempt to save judgments of how folx are understanding and interacting with the multitude of challenges among political, health-related, social, and peripheral experiences among the US election, occupational or academic roles, and global pandemic.

Perhaps ceasing as much self-induced judgment as possible. If this short post is any simple offering, consider it permission to let yourself embody whatever you consciously or unconsciously need to at this moment.