“The word for crisis in Chinese means both danger and opportunity at the same time,” said Brian Keane, an interviewee on “The Yoga Life” podcast I listened to when I was out for a hike the other morning. Two seemingly different words, in Chinese, are tied together in one word: wéijī. Keane’s words resonated with me so much. This short phrase felt like exactly what I’ve been turning around in my head for quite a few weeks.
We find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, including the shelter-in-place mandate and social distancing, as well as the momentum of an antiracism movement. All incredibly life-changing events have affected each and every one of us in a very short period of time. A great deal of fear and uncertainty has become part of our lives, as well as a total shift in the way we used to live, work, socialize, learn, and even shop.
Among so many other things, it has personally meant that I haven’t been able to see my family in Mexico, including my mom, who is very ill. My son, who lives in Denmark (and I already miss very much), seems even further away. Furthermore, my job situation has changed so much that it is difficult to know what it will look like in just a few weeks. This is not an ideal situation and certainly not one I would ever choose, had I been given the option.
During the first few weeks of sheltering in place (SIP), it made sense to stay at home and social distance – all with the common purpose of taking care of ourselves and one another. The stakes were that high. Eventually, time passed and what began as a protective and necessary measure for all has evolved into a very uncertain time, challenging businesses, as well as the national and global economy. The consequences are really hard to predict.
As for today, the uncertainty in California continues. Some counties are now opening for most businesses, activities, and jobs, while some are still being held back. We don’t really know when gyms, yoga studios, indoor dining, and places of worship will be able to open. What I do know though, is that change has already happened. It isn’t a question about if we will be able to go back to what we used to perceive as normal. The question is: who will we be moving forward? What story will we tell? Will it be a story of fear, danger, and risk? Or will it be a story of opportunity, transformation, growth, and evolution? Maybe it will be a story of both, of how one led to the other.
I believe in the latter. The changes within my own work life, my family, and my friends are already happening. Technology has brought us closer together, more than ever before. In my work life, for example, yoga teachers have evolved and adapted to the challenge by learning video production, lighting, editing, and publishing (to name a few).
Examples of opportunities and potential growth are already all around us. To name a few, we can see how certain jobs have grown because of the SIP. For instance, the usage of the virtual meeting service Zoom exploded, as so many of us need to continue working through virtual means. SIP has created an opportunity for us to redefine the way we work, learn, shop, and socialize. People are intentionally buying local, supporting and consuming in more conscious and sustainable ways. Traveling has, in a way, gone back to basics; people are taking road trips and camping, instead of flying or sailing, resulting in a positive impact on our environment.
In yoga (asana), we learn that the practice is not about the pose; it is about who we choose to be as we “do the pose” – an analogy for our lives off the mat. It is not about the challenge, but about how we choose to react to the challenge. Do we let ourselves get stuck and resist? Or do we explore, face the challenge, learn, grow, and allow ourselves to discover the opportunities it offers?
In these very uncertain times, transformation is inevitable. Should we choose to see it this way, transformation offers a great deal of opportunities to grow, create, and, consequently, evolve. This time offers us the chance to learn, explore, and discover. I believe that, for every single challenge, whether big or small, there will always be an opportunity to grow, learn, and transform – opportunities that, if we allow ourselves to see as such, can radically change the experience in our lives.
