The Reluctant Return - Meditation Builds Resilience and Adaptability

Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash

Last night I had dinner in a restaurant. This banal statement is packed with meaning as we start our first week returning to a semblance of life as we knew it over year ago. I must admit that there was a thrill when my food arrived but very quickly the novelty of the occasion wore off. The past twelve months, packed with uncertainty and a relentless feeling it would never end, faded into a far distant dream.

Uncertainty and a lack of control

Uncertainty and a lack of control have been constant triggers we have had to contend with on an almost daily basis during this time. How we have been feeling and what we have been experiencing will now determine how prepared we are to emerge from a year of social constraint and begin the next phase.

A reluctant return

A year ago we wouldn't have thought we might be reluctant, or even desperately keen to return to our workplace after a long break, but our attitude and feelings have changed.

Pre-lockdown the daily commute for some of us was something that went with the job - however uncomfortable, time-consuming and disagreeable it was we slogged our way into work and back again, bookending a day that might have been boring, challenging or fulfilling. All those exhausting commutes, long office hours and rushing between meetings were the perfect ingredients for ‘burnout’.

Even working from home can produce the same feeling and for some people returning to the office is a welcome respite from the loneliness, poor bandwidth and endless slog of lengthy days. 

The next phase

As we move into the next phase many of us are looking back at just how much effort went into our previous working lives from turning up, meeting or exceeding our employer's expectations and probably suffering from the occasional bout of 'presenteeism' and wondering how we had the energy to do all that. 

Reflection and re-calibration

Whilst the past year may have had its upsetting and challenging moments there has also been time to prioritise what really matters to us. Those moments of reflection and re-calibration should not be discarded as redundant and worthless now that we are about to 'go back to normal'. That's how we felt when relatively calm and away from the pressures of the workplace and those feelings should be honoured and respected. Understanding that things have changed and will never be the same is an important first step in becoming more resilient.

Meditation helps build resilience and adaptability

Over the many years I have meditated one of the most important benefits I have received is the ability to be adaptable. Many people think that resilience is based on ‘holding on tight’, but that nearly always results in great discomfort, and varying degrees of suffering. The more fluid we can be, taking things in our stride and maintaining a broad perspective on what is going on, the more nimble and adept at manoeuvring we will be at staying on top of things.

It’s a bit like being a surfer on top of a large wave. As we stand on our board we can harness the massive energy beneath us and decide which direction we want to go, and how quickly. But if we are standing waist-high in the water on the beach the full force of that wave is going to come crashing down on top of us, even when we can see it coming, and it's probably going to hurt. 

Recognising that life is going to be different, and accepting that this isn’t going to change, will help us go a long way to ‘surfing’ out the next phase without getting dumped on by something that is out of our control.

Getting back into the workplace

Getting back into the workplace may be daunting. I know of several people who have been recently employed but never physically met their colleagues. The endless Zoom meetings not only disguise the height of our fellow attendees, but also prevent us from detecting pheromones, body language and eye contact which are essential in developing relationships and helping us work out what is going on and making a grounded connection.

Those first encounters at the water-cooler no doubt will be fraught but remembering to take it easy and be kind to yourself will help you go far in holding on to your sense of self and maintaining a sense of calm and connection.

My meditation practice provides a strong foundation for the days ahead, giving me the ability to process stress quickly and be creative and bold when the situation demands I get out of my comfort zone.

 Vedic Meditation is a natural, effortless technique that has numerous benefits including relief from stress and anxiety, increased energy and productivity, better focus and clarity of mind, improved sleep and better relationships. Attend one of our Free Introductory Talks and find out how Vedic Meditation may be able to support you in your journey to a happier, healthier life.