Showing up with your whole self

In the fast paced, digital age of pandemics, change and crises, how can students fully show up for themselves, their responsibilities, and for the people in their lives? Those with the economic means to own electronic devices may show up for a class or meeting, take notes on a laptop, and get easily distracted by messages and notifications coming in on the screen. As an educator, I've noticed that students more frequently come to class sleep deprived, staying up half the night studying or because of anxiety or other health or social stressors. Can you still learn if you aren’t 100% there, or even 50% there, or if half of you isn’t actually present in the room or webinar?

Showing up means not just physically being in the room, but being there mentally, emotionally, psychologically, energetically, and spiritually.

Physically

Particularly during a pandemic, it goes without saying that we should fully attend to our body's needs as much as possible so that we can be alert, awake and ready to go. Practically, experts say that we should make getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals, and following any exercise and medical regimens a priority. This means engaging in movement that is joyful and supportive to our bodies if we are able, and eliminating abuses such as movement that causes repetitive strain and addictions. Being physically present also means noticing and taking care of any physical pain, illness, or problems early enough, if possible, to avoid crises. It means being kind to ourselves and giving ourselves a break if we are exhausted or overwhelmed. It means responsibly communicating ahead of time to superiors, professors, supervisors, and those who depend on us if we need to call in sick or request an extension, or find someone to pick up a family member. It also means having accessible transportation options available so we can move and travel where we need to go. In many cases this is not just an individual responsibility but a systemic problem that those of us who are not affected by must pressure entire communities and our government to address. Attending to our basic physical needs sets the foundation for us to be productive, learn, and grow. Physically being present in the room, or the webinar, is the first step.

Mentally

Showing up mentally means being fully available to the best of our ability to concentrate, listen, analyze, take in new material, and be open to new ideas. It involves training ourselves to focus on what is happening right in this moment, and not worrying about what happened earlier in the day, or what will happen later. It means noticing when we are using electronic devices, food or work to repeatedly avoid or distract ourselves from an unpleasant thought, feeling or experience, and being disciplined and conscious about using social media. It means being aware of what we are actually thinking, the beliefs we hold, as well as the stories we tell ourselves, being flexible about changing the scripts as necessary to achieve optimum health and well being. However, it is also about recognizing that the core of who we are is beyond our thought patterns, about having enough empty space in our lives so that we learn to listen to the silences in between our thoughts.

For students who are teaching, healing, or working with others, being 'mindful' in these ways sharpens our focus to notice the details of the person in front of us without judgment. It allows us to assess a tense situation calmly and clearly, and can help us be more aware of our own biases in the moment. It can help us learn and retain material at an exponentially faster rate, and reduce the time needed to study, write, read, learn music, and complete assignments and tasks. Whether we choose to formally meditate or simply pay attention to the sounds of, say, the ocean waves every morning, increasing our cognitive awareness takes us a step closer to reaching our potential, to getting the most out of our education, projects, relationships and ultimately, our life.

Emotionally

Showing up emotionally requires a deeper level of commitment. Emotional presence is about being aware of what we are feeling and addressing our emotional needs before we begin our day. This could mean simply paying attention to how we feel first thing in the morning, journaling about any anxiety we might feel, talking to a friend about a difficult situation, listening to music, or scheduling in time to do so later in the day. It means allowing ourselves to cry or laugh when we need to, without talking ourselves out of it or engaging in impulsive behavior. Leaving space for healthy emotional expression allows us to show up with an open heart when we serve or interact with others, and opens up the door to intuition, empathy, and sensitivity to others’ needs. It prevents any backlog of unresolved emotions from getting in our way when we need to focus on homework or learn a new skill. Developing this kind of emotional intelligence also prevents our own emotional intensity from spilling over onto other people, and assists us in navigating interpersonal conflict with peers, family members, patients, clients, students, employers, professors, or supervisors.

Psychologically

Showing up psychologically builds on our emotional availability. It involves reaching out for the support that we may need to be able to simply begin a task. It means being persistent at finding community and providers that will support us in the ways that we need, affirm and validate our identities, and understand the systemic, personal, and environmental struggles that we might be facing. It means investing in right community, communicating to others about our needs, and developing the tools we need to empower ourselves. Perhaps most importantly, taking care of ourselves psychologically allows us to put aside any challenges we may be experiencing, face them courageously when we are ready, and as a result, show up more deeply in our internships, work, studies, relationships, and projects.

Spiritually

Showing up spiritually can lead to an entirely different level. Spiritual presence requires paying attention to a higher consciousness, whether in the classroom, internship site, school, home, or office. On a practical level, this could include finding religious or spiritual sources of support, engaging in meditation, music, yoga, poetry, the study of sacred texts, prayer, contemplation in nature, or any source of inspiration that focuses on the big picture and meaning of life. Showing up spiritually and energetically can allow flashes of insight and transformation, channeling creative energies, and openness to synchronicity between ourselves and others where everything just seems to fall in place. When we show up spiritually, our classes, meetings, projects, responsibilities, and jobs can become about much more than just getting through the day or completing tasks or lists. Instead, responsibilities can become a vehicle to tap into a higher purpose in life, connecting ourselves and those around us to higher truths and invisible sources of support. It's in this place where we can experience the joy, humor, hope and inspiration in learning, living, and discovering.

#tips #change