Chaos and Openings

Geez, I can’t think of Openings right now, things are crazy all around me.

The Environment of Openings

The environment we are in affects us at many levels. It could affect our sense of well-being, either positively or negatively. It can have a direct impact on our stress level – increasing or decreasing it. The people in our environment can influence how we see and experience what is occurring. The space that surrounds us can influence how we feel about where we are.

We often focus on an Opening alone, without acknowledging that the environment within which an Opening arrives greatly influences our experience of it. We know there are all kinds of environments within which Openings can appear – still ones, busy ones, chaotic ones, challenging ones and welcoming ones are just a few. Considering the environment within which an Opening appears helps us in making our decision whether to enter it.

As we see an Opening appear, we make better choices by stepping back and considering the environment within which the Opening is appearing. This pertains to both our inner and outer environments. How are we feeling and thinking as we see an Opening appear? What is the current state of our life? Does the environment we are in put us in a good position to assess the Opening? Is where we are conducive to making choices that serve our best interests?

Chaos

What happens when an Opening appears amid chaos? It’s not boring, that’s for sure. Think of a hurricane and how we respond to its winds, rain and the chaos it brings. It is not an environment in which to take a leisurely stroll. We are pushed around and are not in control. We are focused on the hurricane and seeking safety. We can be pushed to our limits, unable to focus on anything else.

Within chaos, our focus may be on all that is surrounding us and we may not even see the Opening. We may lose our center and our grounding. The chaos may be weakening us, with its power to disrupt. The path we were on before the chaos came may have disappeared. We’re not sure where we are, much less in a position to carefully consider an Opening before us.

Chaos, however, brings opportunity for change. It shakes and loosens things up in our lives Our steady state is interrupted. Within our disorientation, we may see things that we did not see before. Chaos can bring both new elements and new Openings into our lives that travel on its winds. New strategies are called for. Flexibility is mandatory. When an Opening appears, we are asked to transcend the chaos and create something new.

Moving through Chaos

How do we move through chaos when an Opening appears and we have a choice before us? Here are some thoughts:

• Number one, find our center and ground. This is not an easy thing to do amid chaos. However, it is essential. Develop techniques to find our center and strengthen.
• Act fully from the present moment. Stay out of the past and future in order to assess where we are and how to manage in the chaos.
• If an Opening appears amid chaos, stop and assess. Acknowledge the Opening’s existence. From a place of centering, make a choice whether to enter it. We should give ourselves time to make a choice, as the chaos can distract us. Keep returning to the Opening until the choice is made.