Autumn embraces change, even when she is falling to pieces.
~Angie Weiland Crosby

THE ELUSIVE STATE OF RESILIENCE

Cool winds are beginning to blow. The sun is arching a little lower in the sky these days.  Kids are preparing for the return to an unfamiliar world and teachers are grappling with new formats superimposed onto old routines.  The undercurrent of change is being felt:  how are we all doing?

One would think that after eighteen months of opening, closing, staying home, going to school, distancing, masking and zooming, we would be better equipped to navigate change. But most of us are still feeling out of sorts, reactive and uneasy.

Resilience has been a buzz word for a while now but what exactly does it look like?  Pop culture understands resilience as an ability to overcome adversity. Does that mean that somehow we climb over the difficulty and get to the other side, leaving the challenge behind us and embark on a wide-open, sunny road ahead? It all seems too good to be true – and it just may be! It is not wrong to want things to be different but a portion of our struggle to cultivate resilience lies in the pervasive desire for things to feel comfortable or for us to at least meet a comfortable end.

Throwing comfort out the window, researchers at the University of Brighton define resilience as the ability to positively adapt to adversity despite serious challenges to development. Resilience embraces a situation with the intention for growth. Perhaps then, instead of striving for that sunny road ahead, we should work towards becoming more comfortable with the uncomfortable. Cultivating resilience does not necessarily mean that the situation will feel nice, cozy, supportive or stable. It does mean however, that we willingly undertake a journey of personal growth.

Changes will keep coming in the days, weeks and months ahead. Perhaps we can simply accept how things are with the intention for positive adaptation, personal development and a strengthening of spirit.  Aspects of these changes may not feel nice. Instead of focusing on the discomfort, can we pay attention and recognize our own growth?

~ Gail Sauer ND

FALL MINDFULNESS IS HERE, NOW!

  • MBCT 8-WEEK COURSE:  SATURDAY OCTOBER 16th – SATURDAY DECEMBER 4th: 9am-11:45am + FULL DAY RETREAT on SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21st.  For cost and registration information, please email contact@silverspruce.ca or call 905-554-5599.
  • MINDFULNESS OFFERINGS TO THE PUBLIC – please contact Silver Spruce to register: 
    • September 25th, 9am-10am
    • December 18th, 9am-10am
  • MINDFULNESS MAINTENANCE for MBCT grads only – please contact Silver Spruce to register:
    • October 16th, 1pm – 3pm
    • November 6th, 1pm-3pm
    • November 20th, 1pm-3pm
    • December 4th, 1pm-3pm

DONATIONS for PUBLIC PROGRAMS and MAINTENANCE are appreciated and welcome.
Please follow this link to sign up for the PUBLIC PROGRAMS and MAINTENANCE if you are interested in partaking:
https://form.jotform.com/SilverSpruce/mbct-maintenance

ANNOUNCEMENT:  SILVER SPRUCE NATUROPATHIC IS MOVING!  
Don’t worry: we will still be around the corner. 
Stay tuned for updates!

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