Cabin Fever

Those of us on the east coast have begun the routine of winter weather closing schools and keeping us indoors for extended periods of time. This will push the limits of any family, healthy or otherwise. While the go to strategy is "finding something to do", I want to address a more fundamental aspect of these experiences.

Restlessness and boredom are subtle expressions of being unfulfilled. An underlying factor of this is the fear of inadequacy. Fear of inadequacy is something we all contend with in our lives. The restlessness of being indoors is often expressed in a way that suggests not doing what you think you should be doing. We get caught up in the other place we want to be and forget to attend to why we are unhappy with where we are now. That is where the fear sits, very quietly but very present in our unconscious mind. Our aversion to it makes a lot of sense and is the knee jerk reaction we all have when faced with it. 

Being inside can be a time to sit quietly . Gentle and slow breathing gives the entire body a break from the tasks and worries of the day. This frees up our conscious mind to be more curious about those fears that dwell in the unconscious. Wondering about these things strengthens our identity as a seeker of truth and understanding. Our identification with these fears will weaken and will eventually be understood as self imposed. The space we gain is the breath we take as we sit and explore our cabin fever.