Optimism and yoga hinge on the idea that the potential for positive change is always possible. It's been a challenge to espouse optimism right now when so many systems, institutions and situations are going inexorably wrong. But I believe it is still possible to do so.

While it's true that hyper-individualistic anti-vax sentiments are raging, I am also seeing fresh tendrils of insight. Staunch advocates of personal responsibility are starting to soften their viewpoint and acknowledge the pressures of the pandemic and climate change. As more and more of us are struggling, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps bravado feels less and less relevant and potentially quite cruel.

I personally catch myself fixating on animal body feelings of the Earth in peril. To shut off those sensations and thoughts requires an effort that might, over time, result in physical, mental, or spiritual breakdown--an increase in pain and a decrease in immunity. As I have been preparing to write to all of you, I have been working with these feelings as a kind of offering--questioning their function and importance.

Any time, I fixate in anxious way. I know I am protecting myself from unsafe feelings--ones that might flood the barriers at a time where I need to be focused on something else.

While our defenses spare us overwhelm, they keep us from being able to show up with a tender heart. Acceptance feels like the place where we can take time to ease into our discomfort. It is the space before action where we can sit with clarity. We can slowly face the depth of the challenges in front of us with the maturity to understand how to best access our potential. Optimism reflects our capacity to be courageous enough to feel our feelings--to engage in acceptance. Then we can make our way from the shores of paralysis to safer ground where we can access our ability to contribute.

I find that the body goes through very uncomfortable and intensive processes when trying to digest a new reality. The psyche does, too. With acceptance, we acknowledge the starting point in an open and undefended way. Then we can make an effort. Then we can heal and hopefully, possibly, even progress.