Transitions: Seeking Meaning, Understanding and Purpose.
An invitation to deepen your relationship with the experience of going through the pandemic through mindful writing and active imagination.
It’s all about finding meaning, understanding and purpose.
“During the pandemic I deepened my connection with nature, became more introspected and revisited some of my beliefs, values and goals”.
“The birds reminded me of what is above, the immense blue sky. Now I can see the spetacular dance, right in front of me. Somehow I feel held by something bigger than me…held from within”.
Removed from the screen,
my eyes found rest
and took in the horizon.
Mindfully Writing : An invitation to deepen your relationship with your authentic experience of going through the pandemic.
What did I find out about myself during the pandemic?
In this question, there is the “finding out” about oneself. Perhaps, the experience of being in a pandemic enhanced certain aspects of yourself that was already there…
What have I gained from this time of social isolation?
Perhaps the question is already implying that there was a gain. In this positive worldview, experiences are taken as gifts, opportunities to engage with and in the world on a different note.
If you gained something, name it.
When the experience gained during times of distress is consciously honored, we become more intimately connected to our own life, and the events that shape us. Life can be a teacher.
Let’s practice some mindful writing
I’d like to invite you to practice a 10-20 minutes mindful writing session. You may follow these simple steps:
Ask yourself this question:" “What have I gained from this time of social isolation?”.
Meditate on this question for a couples of minutes.
You may choose to close your eyes and notice the free associations that are emerging.
Write down on a piece of paper whatever comes to your mind. This is called a “free association” snipped.
Without reading what you just wrote, now focus your attention to the images that come to your mind.
Draw the image/symbol that stayed with you. If you don’t have an image, seek one intentionally. An image that captures your feelings, sensations and thoughts.
Now, sit with your image/symbol for about 2 minutes and repeat the initial question slightly differently. This time ask the image: “What do you have to say?”
Write down your thoughts, associations, images.
If you forgot why you are asking these questions, remind yourself that this practice is an invitation to deepen your relationship with your authentic experience of social isolation during the pandemic.
May you find meaning, understanding and purpose.
Nadia Thalji, Ph.D.
Dr. Nadia Thalji is a culturally sensitive and relational psychotherapist offering psychodynamic psychotherapy in San Francisco, Bay Area. She supervises doctoral students at Psychological Services Center (PSC), as part of the Doctoral Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and offers TED circles, support groups, lectures and consultation on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Interested in Psychotherapy and Cross-Cultural Initiatives?
Learn more about Dr. Nadia Thalji.
