The word VORTEX has been in the news a lot this week due to the dangerous deep freeze throughout the country being attributed to a “polar vortex” (a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth's North and South poles and flowing counter-clockwise). Over 80% of the country is experiencing record-shattering temperatures below the freezing mark and 100 million Americans live in states which have temperatures below zero...colder than Antarctica and Siberia! Forecasters have said that the extremely low temperatures, coupled with wind chills that are 40-65 degrees below zero, have created such an extreme situation that frostbite on exposed skin will occur in less than 5 minutes. States are taking precautions such as closing schools, suspending postal services, and warming train tracks with fire.
My purpose for writing to you this week is not to pontificate on the effects of this spinning mass of arctic air. The Polar Vortex did get me thinking, however, about another cultural phenomenon...the “Swirling Vortex” that so many of us get sucked into on a regular basis. A woman with whom I work (and greatly admire), uses the term “spiraling and swirling vortex” to describe the effect that negativity has on our personal psyches. She recently, and very wisely, told me “if we allow ourselves to listen to our critics, we will end up consumed with negative thoughts that will harm us as quickly as the sub-degree temperatures.”
We have all been there, haven’t we? Someone speaks to you harshly or says something that makes you feel bad about yourself, and the next thing you know, you are hosting a pity party for one. Instead of basking in the glow of a recently received compliment, we turn a spotlight on the negative words and allow them to consume us. What’s worse than listening to criticism from others?...when the harsh words are coming from within. We need to build a protective barrier around ourselves that will shield us from criticism, much like putting on a parka coat to protect us from the arctic elements.
The thing about a spiraling vortex is that it gets bigger as it swirls, similar to what happens in the eye of a hurricane. We intuitively know thatbigger things take up more space and get more attention. Which means, if we allow negative thoughts (and or people) into our personal vortex, we will be rotating in powerful negative energy and begin spiraling outward from our center!
There is a profound expression used in Qi Gong that I often tell my students: “Yi Dao, Qi Dao” which means “Where the mind goes, the energy will follow.” In Qi Gong, we make sure to breathe out negative energy and thoughts and release that which is no longer serving us. This has to happen in order to make room for fresh, new and revitalizing energy to be brought in.
We need to take the advice that we are currently being offered - to insulate ourselves and put on a few extra layers of protection.The same words of wisdom that will help you in the middle of a polar vortex, will be beneficial if you are in the middle of a spiraling one. If that doesn’t work, then follow another Qi Gong rule...breathe deeply....inhale, exhale and repeat.