Anti-anxiety Cocktails & Elephants: Pausing at the doorway of 2023
Once again we stand at the threshold of a new year. For some, the impending ball drop brings feelings of elation about the upcoming year. However, for many people, like me, this day is full of loneliness, sadness, and feelings of unworthiness. Why does this seemingly celebratory event leave so many feeling depressed and anxious?
Seated at the doorway of 2023 and at every doorway is Ganesha, the elephant headed god from Hindu mythology of new beginnings. He invites us to take off the disco-glittered- mantel -of- urgency and have a seat right where we are. Ganesha is an elephant, heavy grounded, earthy. He is rooted in confidence and joy. He is not distracted by his instagram stories or nagging unanswered emails . He is grounded to what is true, real, and worthy of his attention. One myth tells a story of how Ganesha’s parents challenged him and his brother to a race around the world. While Ganesha’s brother Skanda circumnavigated the globe deftly; Ganesha won the race by making a simple circle around both his parents before sitting down on the ground. The gesture not only demonstrated his wit but showed that for Ganesha his world was his family and his home was arriving back in the seat of himself. He was not distracted or deterred by the wonders of the world, external pressure, or social media. He was focused, connected and wise. He was also happy.
Perhaps because we are not mythological gods, we humans tend to be easier to distract. We despair around this time of year because we are not focused on ourselves and the present moment. We get swallowed up in comparison . We see the dawning of a new year as a time to focus on what we are supposed to look like or have accomplished. Our phones make it all too easy to compare whenever we feel like a dose of self doubt or anxiety. The ultimate distraction right at our fingertips.
Society sees the new year as a time to celebrate: to take stock, set goals, and manifest what we want to bring into our lives. Maybe it is the distraction of setting resolutions which causes us to feel ungrounded and unsatisfied around this time of year. While resolutions wear the mask of goal setting, instead of setting positive goals, most of us resolve to change what is not quite yet good enough about us. We focus on what we lack physically, financially, in our love lives, with our accomplishments, and in our material possessions. We choose to focus on perceived lack instead of the good that Is.
I believe the feelings of loneliness and sadness we feel are magnified by our inablity to see what is real, important, and good right now? Today, can we bypass anticipation of a big night or setting resolutions and just exist? Maybe champagne cocktails and great expectations aren’t really what you need to ring in the new year.
Let us get cozy with the idea that we are already good enough right now. The notion that our divinity exists and always has in this very moment. We are worthy not when we change but this instant. That what we wish for already exists in the heart of the now.
Ganesha reminds us that we are flesh and bone, inherently grounded. We are spiritual beings but we are here in a body for a reason.
We belong here. What ever comes into our lives we are able to stand with rooted feet and open palms. We are grounded and we are also free.
This is a thought that is worth repeating:
You were born in a body.
You are here for a reason
We don;t need a calendar date to come to this realization, we need less distractions. We need more time in nature, more time for face to face authentic connection. We need time to find out who we are and clarity about the path we are on. The time to sit with our divinity is here. The time to appreciate each of our collective selves is now, by staying aligned to the path, moving towards positive action, and not allowing internal or external obstacles to distract. Instead of ushering this new year in with a champagne cocktail of great expectations, give yourself the gift of a pause. Take all the time you need to find peace with what is, what was, and all that might be.
May we cross the threshold of 2023 and open a door within ourselves to find a place which divine, complete, eternal, and free.
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha