Month: February 2021

Modern Isolation

Posted on by andrew

Right now, we have never been more united, and at the same time never more alone. This global pandemic is impacting everyone’s lives in ways that – for many of us – is completely unprecedented. We have to deal with a reality where we are all being encouraged to stay home, avoid others, and choose who will be allowed within our personal “bubbles” – which of our friends and family will make the cut? Who can we not live without? Who can we not risk visiting, in case we ourselves are a danger to them? Who cares enough to stay in touch?

         As this pandemic continues to impact our daily lives, we need to find strategies to cope. There is a great deal of pressure to find a solution, and find it now. This is a novel experience of isolation and loneliness: even if we are sheltering in place while surrounded by family, we have a sense of being caged and restricted from our normal lives. We have lost the sense of freedom, relaxation, and emotional support gained from our favorite places, people, and activities. With this loss, I have seen a new sense of depression and malaise in many friends and colleagues. With this sense of sadness, it makes reaching out to friends and family that much more difficult. Negative thoughts prevent us from just starting what should be an easy conversation: “Do they even want to hear from me?”  “I could call or message them, but I have nothing to talk about.”

         It is very difficult to break out of a depressive spiral on your own, and even if you have a supportive family or partner at home, sometimes it takes a bit more. It’s okay, it’s understandable, and there are solutions available. When we feel so isolated, having a fresh group of people can bring an objective and uplifting look to help brighten up your life. It is amazing how this situation can feel so numbing and overwhelming, but as soon as you start talking about it out loud, a whole new perspective can be achieved. This is one of the best benefits of meeting with a support group like Conscious Connections – you can speak openly and candidly about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and connect with other people who are working through the same challenges.

         Conscious Connections strives to be an open and supportive space, helping those in our community who feel alone and in need of conversation and acceptance. If it’s a challenge to just get through each day, it’s so important to know that there are options out there for people who need some positivity, or who would really benefit from a new connection with peers. Your peer-sharing circle will help ease the hard times, and celebrate victories and successes with authenticity. It is always uplifting to know that we are not alone in a world that has made it all too easy to be in isolation.

 

Author: Mike Vanessa

Low Entropy

Posted on by andrew

In a time when ‘social distancing’ is the most prevalent and vital of personal health practices, isolation can put extra pressure on our emotional, and spiritual health. Distancing to protect those who are the most vulnerable in our society can make many of us feel like we’re being overlooked. Whatever gains we’ve made in our personal betterment, emotional development and spiritual enlightenment may now feel deprioritized.

 

How are we meant to stay connected and yet, maintain our sense of comfort and support? Where is the sympathetic ear, the voice of calm reasoning and firm reassurance in a period of such tumult and unrest? For those who need to be heard, and for those who need to hear that voice, it’s still here. ​We are still here.

 

In the wake of a mandate which leaves us feeling confused and isolated, Low Entropy is a resource that continues to aid personal development. It’s a support system that highlights the resilience of our community in such difficult times.

 

As an organization, we understand that self-isolation and social distancing can put a strain on the community’s psyche. Low Entropy is a group of people with a common goal: we aspire to explore the inner reaches of ourselves through mindfulness and meditation, and as a result, achieve a significant social impact from a place of compassion. We share ideas and vent feelings in a safe environment, and support our members to realize their goals outside of the community. 

 

Throughout the pandemic, we continued to offer online peer support group sessions in

an attempt to give people the tools to feel connected to themselves and their community. 

 

The response we received was outstanding. 

 

When participants were asked about their experiences, they were overwhelmingly happy. 

 

One participant commented, “It creates a space for like-minded people to share and grow in awareness. It gives participants the opportunity to raise their level of consciousness to a more cooperative and loving perspective.”

 

This was very inspiring feedback not only from an empirical perspective of an organization looking to gauge its value to its community, but also from a perspective of real social development.

 

We at Low Entropy believe in a holistic approach to social change. Positive action may only come from those with a positive and centered outlook, however, the ability to achieve and maintain this outlook requires sustained guidance from a dedicated support network.

 

A like-minded community collectively working towards social action is a valuable quality in any progressive society. A group of sound and composed minds working together for a higher state of emotional and spiritual support in these times can not only help maintain a sense of stability, but encourage a state of hope and growth. The more people work towards attaining a low entropic state, the more their influence will spread through noticeable acts of compassion. Their influence will give others the energy to rebuild in the wake of such difficult times.

 

Author: Rory MacDonald

Edited by: Karissa deGuzman

Stuck at Home Schooling

Posted on by andrew

Depending on where you are, it’s been about a year that we’ve been living with COVID-19. With the world put on hold for what seems like forever, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Özge Akdeniz had enough free time to put together a collection of insightful, optimistic lessons learned from an otherwise awful ordeal.

 

The coronavirus pandemic has been hard on everybody, myself included. But in the time left after complaining about how unfair life is, I thought about the life lessons I have learnt from this whole mess. So without further ado, let’s take a look at my ideas about the possible positive lessons we can take from the pandemic:

 

1) You’re not in control.

 

Yes, I know. It doesn’t sound that good. But bear with me. As humans, we enjoy the feeling of control. Some of us could even plan their entire life if they were given the chance. But in reality, we really don’t choose what’s going to happen to us, for the most part. Who could predict this pandemic beforehand? But here it is, changing our lives and throwing our plans off. Though it sounds depressing at first, doesn’t it make you feel better, the idea that you’re not the only reason why things aren’t going the way they were supposed to? This is just the right time to stop beating yourself up about all of your “failures”. 

 

2) Small things matter.

 

Going to a café and spending some time reading while I sip my coffee in a nice ambiance wasn’t something I appreciated enough before the pandemic. Nor was being able to meet with a friend and hug them. But after all, I learnt that life is all about those small things I enjoy. Even being able to comfortably breathe without a mask was a huge blessing. But I know that someday, I will be able to do these things again. Meanwhile, I’ll just focus on what blessings I have right now. 

 

3) Health is a priority.

 

How often do you stop to appreciate your health? Your body is working to keep you alive every single second. But oftentimes we don’t give our health the attention it deserves. It’s only when it is taken away, or when it is in danger, that we understand its importance. The most valuable thing you have is a properly working body and mind. Countries all over the world are fighting to keep people alive, despite the financial consequences of closing down businesses. I used to think that money ruled the world. But I was wrong. Nothing is more important to us than being alive and well. We are, after all, animals who are fighting to survive.

 

4) Hope is essential to survival.

 

The last thing I learnt from the pandemic is that having hope for the future truly matters. I don’t want to listen to people who say I have to be realistic, and that is the only way I will do well in life. When you stop having a positive outlook, it affects your mental health. Being stuck in the doomsday mentality only made my life even more miserable. When you focus on the negative parts of the situation, it usually doesn’t cause a fighting response from your brain. It only triggers the “flight” mode. You stop trying, because it seems like no matter what you do, you cannot overcome the huge problems in your life. You need to start seeing the bright future that is ahead of you, so that you will be motivated to actually make it come true.  

 

What lessons have you learned in the past year and how have you maintained your optimism? Comment here or join us at a Low Entropy meeting!

 

Puppy Love: A Study of the Unconditional

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Like true best friends, dogs are not just great companions – they also help us learn lessons that make us better versions of ourselves. Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Niklas Chiang introduces us to his own trusty canine pal, and recalls how she guided him to one of those revelations.

 

What is unconditional love? If you asked me anytime before today, I wouldn’t be able to answer you. Growing up in an immigrant household, I felt like love was conditional. I had to work to earn my parent’s love. If I misbehaved or didn’t get the mark I was supposed to get, then I was scolded. If the opposite happened, then I got praised, and sometimes, a gift. That was my view of love, and it lingers to this day. I believe, and still do to an extent, that there are conditions behind being loved by someone. I struggle to truly feel unconditional love, but despite these challenges, I’ve begun to understand what it means to give and receive unconditional love. When did this start to change? When my family got a second dog. I never knew this, but dogs, my dog and dogs I see on the streets, are incredible teachers. Let me explain.

 

I was walking to the SkyTrain station in downtown Vancouver late at night because I just got off work. As I waited for the light to turn green to cross the street, I looked to the other side of the road. I saw a man, who appeared to be living in poverty, walking with his dog. I watched their interaction. Whenever the dog needed to sniff, the man would patiently wait until the dog was finished. When it was time to go, the dog followed him. Watching this was amazing because it reminded me that both the man and his dog loved each other, no matter the circumstances. Although we have many prejudices, they do not seem to exist for dogs. The dog accepted his owner and loved him for who he was without judging his wealth, or lack of it. This is no different from loving our partners, families or friends. No matter the circumstances we find ourselves facing, we love each other unconditionally. We embrace the negative qualities and celebrate the positive ones. I’m not saying this comes naturally, but having seen how happy the dog was with his owner makes me believe it’s worth the effort. 

 

When I finally got home, it was late at night. I quietly opened the door to try and not make a sound. I began untying my shoe laces when I heard some scratches on our sliding door. I looked up to see my dog. She had woken up from her sleep to say hello to me. As tired as I was, I went to see her. She became ecstatic. She couldn’t stop walking circles around me. As I was petting her, it dawned on me that this wasn’t the first time she’d done this. Whenever I’d return home, she would always get up from her sleep to greet me. In turn, I would always pause and pet her. For her, as long as she can see that I am home, she will be by my side. Even when I do work, she lies near me, observes me for a bit, and then sleeps. If I move, she moves with me. While some of us like to hear “I love you,” a dog doesn’t have that ability. They express love differently. They could give you their favourite toy, or ask you to play with them, but my dog, she shows her love by following me constantly. That is important because it highlights how we can express unconditional love differently. We will not all have the same ways to express ourselves. Sometimes we see it, and sometimes we don’t. 

 

So I ask myself: what is unconditional love? The most obvious and direct answer is love that has no conditions, but it goes beyond this. Dogs have taught me that we should love someone with no prejudice. They highlight how love is both visible and invisible. I use their lessons to think back about my life. Did I really have conditioned love? Yes, absolutely. Was there unconditional love too? Yes, absolutely. Without my family, I wouldn’t have the food to eat, nor the education I got. Even though I’m not the greatest son, and have had my highs and lows, they accepted me for that and continued to provide. Without my parents, I wouldn’t be here today. To them, I say, “Thank you.” 

Who do you love, no strings attached – four-legged or otherwise? Let us know in the comments or at a Low Entropy event.

[URGENT] Message from Your Best Friend [ACTION REQUIRED]

Posted on by vwideski

Hey there! Wait a minute! Stop scrolling! Remember me?
My name is Self-Love. You might have heard my name before because I’m actually a very important person in your life. But lately, I’ve noticed a significant shift in the way you treat me. Suddenly, late on a Wednesday night, you allowed these two criminals Anxiety and Depression to take me away into a dark corner.

So here I am, in another attempt to reach you. Risking something unusual in writing you a letter.

You see, I’m responsible for the way you see yourself, the way you talk to yourself, the way you feel and so much more. Without me, Anxiety and Depression take the wheel of life. They are thieves. They kidnapped Fun and Joy last week, and now it’s only a matter of time till they reach the main office and take Happiness as well.

Remember that time when we climbed that summit? Or the time you passed that challenging test and were so proud? Or wait, remember that trip you did all by yourself?
Pretty awesome right? Back in the good old days!
I wish we could start creating more memories together. You and me. Deep down, you know I need to be a solid figure in your life.
I make you feel proud of yourself, I make you happy, I pick you up when someone leaves and keep you standing straight when the world is trying to break you down. I make you feel at ease with yourself because I’m your very best friend. No no, it’s definitely not that dog with the big blue eyes.
I am.

So meanwhile, don’t forget how loved and how special you are. There is only one of you!
I discovered some ways you can help me break the chains and get yourself out of that rocky place you are in.

Plan to do things that you enjoy. It’s okay to put yourself first once in a while.
Dance, whenever you feel like it, wherever you feel like it. At the beach, while in the store, on a mountain top, or simply in your bedroom. Don’t care what everybody else thinks. Put some good music on and don’t hold back. Dancing has an incredible effect on your mood.
Write down what you are grateful for – not only about your surroundings, but also yourself.
Say NO. This is a form of self-love. Many people struggle with setting boundaries. However, it is healthy and necessary.
Go out for a walk or a run. Clears your mind and boosts your confidence by making you feel good about your body.
Forgive yourself for the mistakes you made. You are only human.
Ask for help. You don’t have to do it all alone. Everyone struggles and has bad days, doesn’t matter what Instagram or Social Media tells you. Nobody is perfect. Talking to someone about your problems is the purest form of self-love.

I understand that I’m not an easy person. I need attention and care every day and can be very stubborn. However, in the end, I’m always here for you. Be kind, not only to others, but to yourself. For the world, you are just somebody – but for somebody, you are the world.

Your self-love.

For more on self-love from Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Anna Bernsteiner, check out this companion piece on Instagram. Leave your comments on any of our social media platforms, or in person at a Low Entropy gathering, and celebrate the love within all of us.

Live Aloha

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Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Nicole Riglietti takes us on a transformative voyage, escaping from despair and self-contempt to Hawaii and the curative love of the Aloha Spirit.

 

With the carefully constructed confines of society, it is amazingly easy to feel lost in the day to day, in the moments and minutes of a grim reality. Lost in the crippling anxiety, lost in pleasing everyone, lost in self-neglect. A few years back, I was lost to who I was. On an unglamourous healing journey of self-discovery, I found kindness, compassion and self-love. Drowning in my own skin, stuck in the wretched grasp of my tormented mind. I felt like a captive prisoner held hostage to past hardships. It terrorized me as fierce flames engulf a house burning from the inside out. There was nowhere left to run. I felt my heart, mind and soul fill with self-loathing, unworthiness and the inescapable illusion of being unlovable. I felt it deep within my core, a belief I carried and held on to for years. Staring at myself in the mirror, screaming, begging, pleading for me to love me – all of me. Mocking tears gushed down my cheeks, and I had enough. I couldn’t escape my painful existence, so I escaped my surroundings and all the people in it. 

 

“The Aloha Spirit” . . . her words echoed as they left her lips, bouncing off the corners of my racing mind. ‘Aloha’ was nothing but a greeting, simply ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’. How could it mean anything more? On the plane I ruminated over my self-destructive ways and inability to feel love for myself, only  interrupted briefly by the flight attendant’s safety plan. 

 

“When the oxygen masks eject, put one over yourself first before helping the child beside you.” Even in the greatest heights of tragedy, one must help themselves first, before helping another. One must love themselves first, before loving another. What a concept. At the time it was completely foreign to me. ‘Self-love’ – what does that even mean?

 

Landing in Hawaii, I felt a sacred energy buzzing throughout the majestic island of Maui. Aloha. Just one word held so much power indeed. I saw it everywhere. Black bumper stickers with bright red lettering read ‘Practice Aloha’, and these bumper stickers were posted all over, hidden in plain sight to the untrained eye. When the locals said “Aloha,” it carried great weight. I discovered Aloha meant respect, honour, kindness, compassion, love, hope, responsibility, acceptance, openness and joy. All these profound words, these attributes embody the Aloha Spirit. Given to others, and especially to one’s self first. It never occurred to me that I should be treating myself in this way. Holding enough respect for myself to take care of me. Honour my worth, my skills and talents. Have the responsibility to fill my life with that which brings me joy. Speaking to myself with gentle kindness and compassion. Accepting all of me just as I am. Showing up for myself, having the courage to fight for a love I can be proud of and feeling completely whole.

 

Like trust, love has many layers that take years to build. I’m still building these layers. After much grueling inner work, I have a foundation which grows stronger daily. I found myself accepting my sorrow and celebrating my joy, for they are two sides of the same coin, forever intertwined. As I released the resistance, I also let go of all the fear, shame and doubt. I had courage to follow my heart.

 

I went on a hunt for this bumper sticker so that I might be reminded to practice Aloha. A woman stared at me oddly at my request, as I was not a local, just some woman clearly struggling with her own self-worth, held together by her faulty insecurities. Before I could grasp the bumper sticker in my hand, she told me I had to promise to practice Aloha. This calmed some of my anxieties, yet doubt is a persistent thing, always lurking in the shadows, pouncing on the vulnerable. Especially when one had been battling the darkness within, it was difficult to trust a newfound freedom.

 

Waiting for a bus to take me to the airport. Doubt and chaos controlling my mind, questioning the hallmark advertisement of ‘Aloha’, a kind “Hello” brought me back to my surroundings. On my left there was a cute old man who wanted to talk. To my amazement he brought up the ‘Aloha Spirit’, filling me with absolute hope. It raised my vibrations. How could he know that I’ve been focused on this phrase? I felt connected to him, connected to the ebbs and flows of the universe. As a native to Maui, he had a deep understanding of what the Aloha Spirit meant. His late wife, born and raised in New Jersey, had had it. He didn’t think it possible for a person not native to Hawaii to be filled with the Aloha Spirit.  In that moment, for different reasons, we both marveled at the possibility. 

 

After being strangled for years by suffering, when I gave into the idea of self-compassion, I began to feel lighter. Self-compassion opened the doors to the ‘Aloha Spirit’ and living in Aloha led me to the unconditional love I feel for myself, where I truly feel wholeheartedly complete. Self-love has shifted my perception on life, and I am genuinely able to spread the joy within me to those around me. Though the healing journey is a long, winding road, feeling like utter destruction at times, don’t give up. Keep going. Practice self-love. Live Aloha. 

 

Everybody has a spirituality specific to them – tell us about yours in the comments or at a Low Entropy meet-up . . . who knows? You could be one of those special moments on someone’s journey to self-love.

Love Yourself Like You Love Yourself

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During this time of year, the world reverberates with proclamations of love for families, friends and partners, but Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Satkar BK reminds us that we also need to love ourselves with that same energy. 

 

Every February, I can’t help but see all the love in the air. Whether it be watching rom-coms or marriage proposal videos on YouTube, I find myself drawn to the idea of love during the most romantic month of the year. It’s easy to imagine a lot of us being attracted to the idea of love. We, humans, are social creatures by nature, and love is another way for us to be connected. Although science may say love is purely a chemical reaction to help us reproduce as a species, anyone who has ever been in love will tell you that it is so much more. Love can be the greatest feeling in the world, or one of the most terrifying, sometimes at the same time. The feeling of love has fueled incredible things throughout history, from the story of The Iliad to the invention of medical gloves. When we have someone we care for so deeply, we can seemingly accomplish anything. 

 

This leads me to the topic for today’s blog. What would happen if we loved ourselves like we love the ones around us? What if we surprised ourselves with flowers? What if we stayed up late to watch our favorite shows? What if we helped ourselves through our toughest times without any hesitation? It’s remarkable to think of the many things we could do at a drop of a hat for our parents, friends and loved ones, in contrast to how difficult it may be to give ourselves even one compliment. I could tell my partner how her smile could outshine a supernova, but I cringe when I stare too long into a mirror. I could shower my cat with all the affection she can handle, but I struggle with patting myself on the back. What I’ve discovered is the love that I feel for others is so much stronger than the love I allow for myself. 

 

The reason I and many others struggle with treating ourselves the same way we treat others is because we see ourselves for our mistakes and imperfections, and see others for the best versions of themselves. We accept that no one is perfect, but expect perfection from ourselves. This Valentine’s Day, why don’t we take the challenge to love ourselves like we love others. To see ourselves as amazing in the way that others do, and to look past the little problems that exist only to us. This is a difficult concept that I haven’t come close to mastering, but it’s one that is incredibly important. We have an infinite amount of love to give throughout our lives and it would be a shame if we could not give some of that love to ourselves. Even if it’s just a little bit, I ask every single person who reads this to take just a moment, look at all the wonderful things you’ve done in your life, look towards the wonderful things you will continue to do and say, “I love you.” 

 

Loving yourself can be challenging. We all need help in one way or another. Low Entropy is dedicated to helping you . . . yes, you! . . . appreciate how wonderful you truly are: keep an eye on some of the programs we offer and start by telling us what you love about yourself this Valentine’s Day.

Our Only Duty

Posted on by vwideski

He wasn’t out of the woods yet, but that didn’t keep him from seeing the forest for the trees. Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Salem Ziani takes us back a year to Bosnia-Herzegovina with a series of vignettes from a trying time and a difficult place, right on the cusp of the COVID-19 outbreak.

March 2020, somewhere in the heart of a forest in Bosnia-Herzegovina. We’re getting ready to cross the last border and finally reach the European Union, and realize a kind of dream. The wait is too long. Despite a somewhat familiar atmosphere – reminds me of home – my chest is tight; I am overcome with fear. 3:26 a.m. The smuggler arrives and tells us that no one is going to cross today. Maybe never. “Beginning of the lockdown,” he said.

Everything had tipped over: courage and hope left me, and fear immediately took hold of my whole body. From now on, the only concern was surviving.

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

The city takes on an air of war. Finding myself in the middle and with nowhere to go, I feel jealous of those people who have homes and families during this lockdown, and a little upset with those who complain about nothing.

Confused between memories and regrets, I remember all the beautiful things that I left. I regret most terribly my ingratitude for the joys I once had. It’s a lesson to love what you have, so that you’re not left loving something already lost.

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

This same city that was once friendly and full of good atmosphere is now apocalyptic; I find myself surrounded by fear and angst.

It is under a bridge that we found a makeshift shelter with some homeless people. We share our food, received from humanitarian associations, and we discuss the pandemic and the tragedies of life to become familiar with each other.

Another lesson learned here, of humanism: help your neighbours.

“No man is tired of receiving what is useful. But it is useful to act according to nature. Do not then be tired of receiving what is useful by doing it to others.”

– Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (translated by George Long)

§§§§§§§§§§§§§

Unpleasant news about us was circulating, so we were forced to leave the city and go to a small village where we were hosted by a monk who told us, “It doesn’t matter who you are, God does not abandon anybody.”

Fifth day, we are awakened by our friend’s screams. The pandemic has just taken the life of his mother. Is there anything more painful than attending your mother’s funeral and saying your last goodbye by video call? We were all scared and extremely sad. We all cried.

The lesson is compassion.

“Now, when you recognize that all beings are equal in both their desire for happiness and their right to obtain it, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them. Through accustoming your mind to this sense of universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively overcome their problems. Nor is this wish selective; it applies equally to all.”

– Tenzin Gyatso; The Fourteenth Dalai Lama, “Compassion and the Individual”

§§§§§§§§§§§§§

All discussion revolves around the pandemic: when will it end? When will the lockdown end? Are we going to get back to normal life? Undoubtedly, there are people who have other questions – people who face the pandemic on the front line, people who have lost loved ones, who have lost their businesses or their jobs. Mine were, “Will I survive? Will I ever go home and see my family again?” All of this had dragged me into a depression.

COVID-19 has brought us all to our knees; we have all been confronted with fear, anger and anxiety.

But we must have the wisdom to get the best out of it all. We must know that, no matter our situation, there is always worse. Our only duty is gratitude and, above all, patience. That’s what helped me find the will to overcome this ordeal.

With time, empathy and patience, we can overcome everything. Everyone will learn from this uncommon period in our lives. 

Will this situation bring us to a better world, full of love, compassion and mutual aid or, per contra, a world worse than the existing one, full of individualism, greed and hatred? From my side, I am optimistic that the human being is able to accomplish wonderful things, as he has demonstrated time and time again. The glow of light is approaching, and each of us will find their right path toward dreams and hope.

Tell us your stories of when you found your strength. Leave a memory in the comments section, or let us know in person at a Low Entropy meet up.

A Quiet Fix: Holistic Healing through Yin Yoga

Posted on by vwideski

What started as a quest for increased flexibility led Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Kathy Woudzia to emotional sanctuary via breath and meditation. 

As a person living alone, I have had a difficult time coping with the social isolation associated with COVID. Before January 2020, I spent my time raising a family and all duties that entailed. For 18 years I was a stay-at-home mom, spending my days looking after the household. I worked out, shopped, cleaned and prepared dinners, finding little time for building friendships.

In January 2020, it all fell apart. I found myself newly single, and with all of my children having flown the nest, COVID was the icing on the proverbial cake.

In order to cope, I would do an intense workout everyday. Fitness was not only a great way to keep fit, but more importantly, helped me keep my sanity. There is a feeling of euphoria after each and every workout. It’s not just the endorphins that course through your body after an intense fitness session, but also the general sense of accomplishment that would carry me through the day.

Unfortunately, I overworked my body to save my mind, and my body rebelled. The frequent workouts were taking a toll. I got to the point where I could barely walk without pain.  

Even worse than the physical pain was the emotional despondency of not being able to work out anymore. The fact is that I don’t feel good about myself when I don’t perform a fitness activity daily.  In too much pain to do another workout, I resorted to something I never thought I would ever do, much less enjoy: Yin Yoga.

Yin is a type of yoga where you hold poses for a minimum of three to five minutes each. I was reluctant to try this because I knew it was going to incite a different kind of physical pain from my current injury.   I’d neglected stretching for a good portion of my life, which is exactly why I was now having problems with my IT band. With a background in kinesiology, I knew about the three components to physical fitness: cardio, strength, and flexibility. I possessed the first two but I was sorely missing the third. If I wanted to repair my injury and work out again, I would need to improve my flexibility. 

I looked up Yin Yoga online. I found it to be equal parts science and spirit. Combining the practices of Yin Yoga and mindfulness meditation creates powerful possibilities for transformation and holistic healing in all layers of our being: body, mind and heart. I knew there were obvious benefits to Yin Yoga for the physical body, but it would be a very welcome surprise if it were to have a positive effect on my mind as well.

I began with some deep breathing and found that this immediately relaxed me. Next were some poses, which could be potentially painful, but the instructor said something important: only go into the pose deep enough so that you are feeling a five out of 10 in the stretch and, above all, stay present.

This made a world of difference to me. While in each three-minute pose, I focused on my breath and on being in the moment. I do not usually take the time to meditate, but I found that for three minutes at a time I could be in a complete meditative state. The video was 45 minutes long, which provided me with almost a full hour of meditation. By the end of the Yin Yoga session, not only did my body feel better, but I felt a sense of calm that regular exercise didn’t provide for me. I am now going to stick with Yin Yoga even when my body no longer needs it for repair. For me, Yin Yoga and meditation is a repair of the mind.

Where do you find your inner peace? Let us know in the comments section, or attend one of Low Entropy’s supportive meetings to exchange ideas and experiences. 

Oh, the Places You’ll Grow!

Posted on by vwideski

You don’t have to be in a Dr. Seuss book to see something astonishing: our world is a multifarious and magical place all on its own, and there’s always something to fill your heart or energize your spirit. In her reflections on the act of leaving the familiar, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Anna Bernsteiner examines how we evolve when the where we go becomes where we’ve been.

Your eyes open promptly; the alarm clock is ringing. It’s Monday, 8 a.m. The first thought that comes to mind is the fact that today is THE DAY. A new start. You are already stressed: blood pumping, heart racing, and thoughts rushing.

You are about to leave home. To leave that old house and the small backyard that now seems to be the greatest place you have ever been. To leave all your lovely neighbors behind, who you couldn’t stand before. Last but not least, you are about to leave all your friends and family, quitting all their opinions to form your own. 

Suddenly all the drama seems meaningless, all the excitement of moving away is gone, and what stays?

The paralyzing fear of the unknown. 

Not having an Amazon delivery guy that you know personally because he has been at your house more frequently than his own. Not knowing the best pizza place, where you taste tested the entire menu (even the ones you knew you wouldn’t like). Not having anyone to rescue you with toilet paper when you realized too late that you forgot to refill the roll.

Inconvenience is terrifying to some, and yet it’s what pushes us forward. Stepping out of our comfort zone and realizing that development happens when we face some kind of adversity or obstacle in life is beneficial. 

And how amazing new places and new experiences can be: the adrenaline of doing something you have never done before, meeting new people and sharing your story with others. Just getting different perspectives and views on life can be so refreshing. Moving to a new place doesn’t have to be scary.

So far, I have lived in four countries, with their own languages, cultures and perspectives, all away from family and familiar things at home in Austria. I was fourteen when I first decided, out of curiosity and some inner voice telling me so, to live in the U.K. for a short time. 

It opened many doors for me later in life, but the first few days were pure adrenaline. Spending time with people I didn’t know and who spoke a different language was an inconvenience, to say the least. Yet I discovered a great passion for traveling and experiencing different cultures that still drives me today. Had I not done it, who knows where I would be. 

Two years later I spent a good amount of time in Spain, which was another daring adventure that challenged me differently. Speaking a language in which I wasn’t fluent, working with people from different backgrounds and switching languages more often than clothes was not easy, and left me frustrated and exhausted most days. I was working as a waitress at the time. My coworkers spoke Spanish and Arabic, hardly any English. Most of our customers came from France, Germany, the U.K. and Sweden, which required me to jump from English to German to Spanish constantly.

However, the struggle paid off. I improved my Spanish, which would get me through tough exams the following years. I learned how to step out of my comfort zone, and working with international visitors gave me a greater understanding for people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Inconvenience and the unknown improved the person I am and that I am still becoming. Don’t be afraid to jump into cold water. Don’t be afraid of the unknown. When the world opens up again, embrace newness. It will make you stronger, more open-minded, and ready for bigger challenges.

Where have you been, and where do you want to go? Now more than ever, we’d love to hear your stories of exploration. Head over to the comments section to share it with the world, or join a Low Entropy meeting to start a whole new journey of personal growth.

Practicing Self-Compassion to Improve Mental Health: My Personal Experience

Posted on by vwideski

Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Vivien Hannos discusses how being kind to herself creates opportunities for personal growth and improved mental health.

It was 1980, on Valentine’s Day, when I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic. I was only five years old. It was a life-altering diagnosis and the end of my childhood innocence. I had to learn how to administer my own shots of insulin and deal with both high and low blood sugar difficulties.

Low blood sugar reactions happen when there is not enough sugar in the bloodstream due to an excess of insulin. They cause me to become confused and shaky, and it is a life-threatening situation if I do not consume juice or sugar immediately. High blood sugar, on the other hand, is equally bad and, over time, can require limb amputation or result in kidney issues or blindness. 

My parents, at the time of diagnosis, thought that I needed to do a sport so that I would not lose my limbs to diabetic complications. My dad signed me up to learn to skate at Kerrisdale Arena, and that is where my love of skating started. It wasn’t long before I was wrapped up heavily in the competitive figure skating way of life. I practiced for hours and fell many times in my attempts to land new jumps so I could compete at a high level of skating.

Figure skating, being a subjective sport, relies on judges to determine the rankings of the competitors. I believe that over time, as a result of my disordered thinking of being judged continuously and my desperation to try to advance my ranking, I often examined myself in my attempts to fix my faults and gain a competitive edge. Unfortunately, all I accomplished was learning how to be too self-critical. For example, judges would look at how you behaved, what you wore, your facial expressions and how your body looked, and these were all factors in how one would place in rankings. I dwelt on my negative attributes daily and gave myself constant self-criticism.

According to Dr. Aaron T. Beck, the creator of cognitive behavioral therapy, depression can be caused by negative thinking. Therefore, spending a lot of time in a state of negative self-reflection as I did, can and did lead to an altered mood.

To make matters worse, severe depression, if left untreated, can cause a shift into psychosis, which leaves a person unable to tell what is real and not real while in that state. 

This is exactly what happened to me. I got sick with psychosis in 2006 after suffering unknowingly with depression for many years. At the time, leading up to the diagnosis and after already completing my university degree in communications, I was in a school that was training me for medical transcription and under a lot of stress, which put further strain on my brain.

This mental illness devastated me because of many factors. Not only was I humiliated to have a mental illness because of the stigma around mental health issues, but I also felt unlovable and rejected by society.

Psychosis is a serious mental illness, but is treatable with proper medication, which can bring the individual back into reality. As long as the medication is taken at an appropriate dosage, the state of being disconnected from society can be rectified. However, all you hear in the news are stories of people who are violent with mental illness. This is actually quite rare, but stigma remains.

I was brought under the careful watch of a psychiatrist, and with medication and talk therapy (cognitive behavioural therapy), I was told and shown that I was actually very hard on myself. This was the turning point.

I needed to change, and changing is very hard to do. It takes practice. I started to look at myself as imperfect beauty: I am beautiful because of the flaws that I have, not ugly because of my flaws. After retraining my brain to think in this manner by writing in my journal daily, I found that relationships were easier to maintain, and my confidence in myself grew.

I also found that allowing myself to make mistakes frequently, without judging myself, helped as well. It wasn’t long before I noticed that my mood was improving. My mood was further helped with an antidepressant, but the real benefit is from the positive self-compassion I have now.

Have you experienced your own journey toward self-compassion and kindness? Share your stories in the comments, or check out Low Entropy’s services for opportunities to spread positivity to others in a virtual meeting.